SPEAKOUT

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.

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.