SPEAKOUT

A winning ploy

Nice try, Mr. Brant, trying to get people to vote for a third-party candidate for president. It has already been done. Remember Ross Perot? He didn't want George W. Bush's father to win, so he convinced people to vote for his third party, and that is how Bill Clinton got into office. Is there anything Democrats won't do to try and win this election?

Party matters

Since there is no other newspaper in Cape Girardeau, I am forced to read the columns written by Peter Kinder and David Limbaugh. In Sunday's paper I bet Peter wished the things he said were true. Or are you, Peter, bitter about being stuck in the wrong party?

Stooping lower

A press leak that the president was soon to be investigated on his Monica scandal was jumped on by the Democrats as a dirty Republican election trick. As usual, the judge who slipped the news was a Democrat and said he made a mistake. The character of these liberals will stoop lower than a snake's belly.

Booing and hissing

At the Democratic convention a group of Boy Scouts on stage was booed and hissed by the delegates. I think it is an outrage the Democratic Party which professes to be inclusive would boo children because of the Supreme Court decision allowing the Boy Scouts to not have gay leaders.

Spending our money

Al Gore, declaring he will fight for the working men and women, is nothing but a fake ploy. He and Clinton have got the working people so highly taxed that they only get to keep half of their income. The other half goes to supporting Clinton and Gore's autocratic huge government spending.

Too many promises

There have been plenty of opportunities for eight years for Bill Clinton and Al Gore to get things done. The truth is that Gore and Clinton would rather play politics with issues than get anything done. Wake up, Americans. A vote for Gore means more taxes, more government control, more government programs and a divided government. Don't believe Gore and his long list of promises.

Expensive promises

Mr. Gore says he will fight against the special-interest groups. Well, Al, does that mean special-interest groups such as abortion right, gays, NAACP, ACLU and so on? Will you fight for all the people such as businesses, reduce some taxes, Christian rights, school's choice, a right to bear arms, equal employment rights? Saying you will fight for all people is a joke, and if everything you promised for votes was acted upon, our country would be broke in a year.

No character

There are so many media people and other people of a political nature who are making a lot out of Joe Lieberman's great character and principle and saying a man of great value is going to help Gore because he has been nominated for vice president. I thought the cartoon in Sunday's Southeast Missourian was really appropriate to counter that feeling everybody has. It shows Joe Lieberman debating himself. In one panel it showed him before he was a nominee, and it shows he is for parental notification for abortion, for Social Security privatization, for school vouchers and against affirmative action. Then it shows him in the other panel as the vice presidential nominee: no parental notification for abortion, no Social Security privatization, no school vouchers and he is for affirmative action. Every kind of principle and conviction that he had before he was nominated changed overnight, and he is, in my estimation, not a man of principle anymore than he was when he stood up and made the big speech about the conduct of President Clinton being immoral or unethical and ought to be kicked out of the White House and then voted against impeachment. I think the man doesn't have the character he is supposed to have.

Needed cost cutting

Chaffee school superintendent Dr. Arnold Bell received a well-deserved tribute in a Southeast Missourian editorial. Though Dr. Bell has been on the scene only a short time, he has done a bang-up job implementing a much needed cost cutting and other reforms.

Total agreement

I think the Speak Out comment "Farming illusions" is the most eloquent summation of the problem with farm aid in this country that I have ever seen articulated. It really showed the tightrope that Americans face in providing aid to farmers. I have to agree wholeheartedly with the caller. Why should the farming industry and the farmers receive more government aid then any other industry? Why should they receive more tax breaks and other types of taxpayer-funded aid than any other industry in this country?

Questionable math

This is just another reason why I am not encouraged by our public school system. I am reading a sheet that was sent home with my child today describing the new point-of-service system that they are using for their cafeteria. It says parents or students "are encouraged to pay for at least one month's worth of meals at a time or as much as possible. Please do not pay for meals by the day as this will slow the process and cause more work for the cafeteria staff. One month's meals based on a 20 day month at a $1.10 totals $25. Parents can set a daily limit if they desire." My point is this: Who taught these people to multiply?

Needs updating

Concerning Sikeston's example in Speak Out: I am from Sikeston and live in Cape now. I go back to Sikeston frequently. I liked living there, and I like living in Cape. But the person who commented about the four-lane highway on Malone doesn't know anything, because that street was made in the 1960s, and this is 2000. They need a middle lane for turning between the lanes. Evidently this person has only driven down that street once.

Appropriate proverb

The situation in Jackson reminds me of an old Japanese proverb: "The nail that sticks up gets pounded down."

Struggling with TV

AS ELECTION 2000 draws near I am reminded of the good old days when, between the mudslinging commercials, we were at least treated to a breather of some mildly entertaining sitcoms. However, in the new millennium, television seems to be in a four-way struggle between political rhetoric, Viagra commercials, commercials for the show "Survivor" and finally the actual show "Survivor" and speaking of the latter, I think the true survivors are the people who can actually sit and watch the program from start to finish.

Can this be real?

I was just reading the recent article in the Southeast Missourian about the state trooper who was arrested for smoking marijuana but they decided that they are not going to fire him. I would like to know from any law enforcement in this area: How can someone do that when a regular person gets caught with something like that and gets in trouble they get punished and put in jail? This man was put on paid suspension, and now he is going to get to go back to his job. I just would like to know an answer to that and how any other police officer could allow that to happen and support an officer who has broken the law like that.

Looking for a plan

Concerning a recent article about Jackson school funding, perhaps the board should look closely at what Mark Baker is saying. He apparently is speaking for the majority of taxpayers out here who continue to vote down the bond issue. We are looking for a plan as to our building facilities and a plan of how the budget will be controlled.

Attacking one member

Sorry to say that our Jackson Board of Education has stooped to hammering one board member just because he doesn't always agree with them. It is a free country, people. We are not electing sheep to run for those offices and just to follow whatever somebody says. I would like for them to think for themselves, come up with ideas and vote the way they think and feel.

Real road test

Someone suggested we copy Sikeston's Malone Avenue instead of widening Mount Auburn Road. I think that is a good idea particularly if you want to get a feel for what it would be like to drive in the Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, monster truck competition, drag racing or the dodge 'em cars at the SEMO District Fair.

Plenty of clothes

There's an old story about an emperor who was naked, and only the courage and the candor of a little boy brought out the truth. Richard Bruce writes with that same courage and candor daring to tell the emperor in Jackson that he has plenty of clothes and does not need more money for more clothes.

An easy choice

I see where the Democrats are leading a nationwide boycott against the Boy Scouts. I am a registered Democrat, and my son is a Boy Scout. But if I had to choose between the morality of the Democratic Party and the Boy Scouts, I'll choose the Boy Scouts every time.

Meet at coffee shop

I am a coffee klatcher. I think you dissed coffee klatchers in an editorial. The gist of it was that we coffee klatchers sit around and, after the caffeine kicks in, complain about public issues but never go to public meeting where decisions are made pertaining to said issues. Well, the reason for that is simple. The caffeine high has long run its course by the time the meeting begins, and we coffee klatchers have been reduced to little more than couch potatoes. The solution is simple: If they are serious about getting public input, they'll bring the meetings to the coffee shop.

It's not allowed

It is obvious Richard Bruce is not a Jackson native. Obviously he doesn't know you can't hold an opinion contrary to the prevailing authorities.

Let them loose

The president of the United States released from federal prison over objections from the Justice Departments 11 Puerto Rican nationalists guilty of setting off bombs in Washington, D.C., killing innocent bystanders. The sole purpose for the parole is to garner both sympathy and vote of New York Puerto Ricans for his wife Hillary, currently running for the Senate in that state. With Vice President Al Gore trailing in all the polls, expect the president to unleash all federal prisoners on us in order to reap their families' Democratic vote. He is certainly capable of it, as he is already so ably demonstrated.

Just two words

I have two words in response to Richard Bruce's letter to the editor about the Jackson school vote: Amen, brother.

Having an impact

I'm calling in response to Richard Bruce's Aug. 22 letter. If you look at the trend in housing in Jackson, you will see that housing sales have declined since the initial failure of the school funding issues in April, whereas residential building permits have remained constant. How could anyone assume that the Jackson school system has not been a factor in the increased property value for Jackson residents?

Thanks for the help

There are still good Samaritans in the world. I'm a 64-year-old woman, and I had a flat tire at Dutchtown Friday. There was a young man named Bob who changed my tire and wouldn't take a penny for it. He works for a body repair shop in Scott City. God bless you, Bob, and thanks again.

Farewell and greetings

Read my lips: Goodbye, George. Hello, Al.

Very inspirational

I have read several AP articles in which Democratic National Convention delegates said they were inspired by Al Gore's acceptance speech. Although I am an Independent who usually votes Republican, I too was very inspired. In fact I am so inspired I am going to bring home a homosexual for dinner tonight. Then I think I'll go out and find a rich person or two to mug since I deserve a share of what they've got. After Al's speech, I told my sons and daughters to quit work. Why work? Al will take care of them. Besides, he needs their jobs to give to less-qualified people. I was getting a little nervous about the stock market, but after Al's inspirational speech my confidence in market has rebounded. I think I'll ask Al and Joe if they know a good porn video stock that is about ready to take off. I may even put a few bucks into a company that manufactures surgical scissors and suction devices. Heck, I am so inspired after watching Al I might even kiss my wife today.

Schools are magnet

I just wanted to say that we moved to Jackson because of its good school district. Yes, good schools absolutely increase property values. So let's keep Jackson schools first.

Yes to tax cuts

Bush is right on to cut taxes. Some say it puts too much money in the economy. Everyone is not going to spend tax money. I will save most of mine if we get one. Gore says to pay off the national debt. It would be OK if the Congress sometime later would not borrow it back. That is what the Democrats would do.

Remember this

As you fill your car up with high-priced gas think about an environmentalist who says the internal-combustion engine is the single greatest threat to the environment and the best way to deter driving is high gas prices. He is also against domestic oil drilling. Don't believe me. Read his book, "Earth in the Balance."

Which party?

Self-described Reagan conservative, acquaintance of the conservative guru William F. Buckley Jr., astute political philosopher columnist extraordinaire and rising star in the state and national Republican Party, state Sen. Peter Kinder, recently raised the question as to whether or not our grandfathers would have recognized today's Democratic Party. I think both of mine would have. They both predicted the Democratic Party would favor continuing government oversight of the economy to make sure people played by the rules. However, I think they both would still be rock-ribbed Republicans in large part because they were so opposed to the Democratic Party's leadership in creating Social Security and Medicare.