SPEAKOUT

Work on the bridge

I THINK the amount of time it's taking to build the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is pathetic. The old bridge was built in less than two years' time. What is the holdup on this new bridge? They say people are working on it, but you never see anybody out working. Why don't they work on the Missouri side and finish up that pier? Why doesn't the city cut those weeds along the road by the bridge? This bridge started out costing $51 million. Now they say it's going to cost $100 million. Something is terribly wrong somewhere. Somebody goofed, and I think some heads should roll on account of it. This bridge should have been up and completed by this time.

Candidates from Oz

THOSE BUSHES really have a problem with picking vice presidents. They remind me of the Wizard of Oz. Pappa Bush picked the candidate who didn't have a brain, and his son, Dubya Bush, picked a candidate who didn't have a heart in most every sense of the word. After three heart attacks and a quadruple bypass, his blood pump is in a precarious state. His votes as a congressman were, as a whole, cruel and uncaring. So he also lacks an emotional heart. I would suggest that you read the Aug. 7 issue of Time magazine if you doubt what I say.

It's a bigger issue

I'VE BEEN reading a lot about prayer in school. Needless to say, many people are unhappy. One thing I've noticed is that people say this country was founded on Christianity. It was not. It was founded on freedom of choice of religion, not Christianity only. I happen to be a Christian, but I believe we should not allow for prayer in school if it infringes on the rights of other religious beliefs. What if your child went to school with Muslims or Jews, or others who are not Christians? Should the schools allow time for all religions to have a moment of prayer? Which would bring out the folks like the Satan-worshipers. If people want their children to be exposed to Christian beliefs, it starts at home and at church during the week and on Sundays. More people spend time with their children in athletics than at church. Christianity has helped me become a better person and I practice my Christian beliefs seven days a week. I don't attend church on Sunday because it's good for business or because it's a good place to be seen. I go because I owe it to God. Religion is more than prayer in school.

A SADD thank you

I'M A student at Cape Central High School. I'm in a club called SADD (Students Against Driving Drunk). There was show at the Victorian Inn. I just want to thank T&T Karaoke Sound Systems for coming out. They did a real great job, and I hope they'll come back next year. Thanks, guys, you did a great job. Keep it up.

No new Bush

IN TYPICAL Newt Gingrich style, Dick Cheney made a snide remark about the Clintons' moving to New York. This is the same man who left his home in Texas to fly to Wyoming to register there as a voter to get by the Constitutional ban on having the president and the vice president from the same state. I hope you American voters and workers saw Cheney get in his Lexus the other day. If a politician doesn't stand for the American workers when he's running for office, what do you think he'll do when he's elected? You people in the area who owe your jobs to the American auto industry know what he'll do for you and to you. It looks like Pappa Bush is orchestrating the show, and he's the same old goat who was thrown out of office after one term. Read my lips: No new Bush.

Mean-spirited call

I HAVE quietly followed the calls concerning the new Mississippi bridge. So when a caller specifically mentioned my hometown of Thebes, I had to respond. First, the caller is right: Many of us do have jobs in Missouri, for which we are grateful. But by working out of state, we pay taxes in both states. In my particular case, I pay income tax to Missouri and property tax to Illinois. Second, I'd like to point out that the bridge is two ways. Judging by my drive to Cape every morning, many Missouri residents use the bridge as well. Many teachers in our schools are Missouri residents, and Missouri residents commute each day to classes at Shawnee College and SIU. So I really don't understand the mean-spiritedness of this caller's comments.

Not the real issue

THIS IS in response to the comment that said several socialist Democrats are in error in claiming that the repeal of the marriage penalty will benefit the rich. Actually, it's a true statement. The Democrats have already offered to let married couples file at either the married or individual rates, whichever works to their benefit. This is a matter of record that can be confirmed with the Congressional Record. The reason that it is accurate to say the bill that President Clinton is going to veto is merely to give tax cuts to the rich is because this bill does much more than merely eliminate the marriage penalty, which the Democrats have already offered to do. The point is, the Democrats have already offered what the Republican callers are concentrating on. The Republican callers are being duped into believing that this issue about something that it's not.

GOP translation

IF YOU'D like an easy and sure-fire method to know how a conservative has lost an argument at the intellectual level, all you need to do is wait for the name-calling to begin. An example is in Saturday's Speak Out, where the caller begins his comment with "Several socialist Democrats." For Republicans, when they start using the word "socialist," what they're really saying is "Uncle! Uncle!"

It's his baseball

I DON'T think the criticism of Dr. Dale Nitzschke has anything to do with his fund-raising efforts. Everyone knows he has been very successful. However, the fact that he resides in Cincinnati makes many of us very suspicious that he is engaging in intolerable behavior, namely rooting for the Cincinnati Reds.