SPEAKOUT

We want to help

I SEE in the paper Alec Baldwin has been quoted saying that if George Bush wins the election in November that the is moving out of the United States. I just wanted to know if the Southeast Missourian can get me an address where I can send a donation for his trip.

Vietnam: Too late

TO BILL Clinton on his proposed visit to Vietnam: Sorry, Bill, you missed the jet. It flew a long time ago -- about 1969 -- and you should have been on it, but you weren't. You didn't go then, and shouldn't go now. You had your chance to got to Vietnam, and you didn't take it. Your country didn't ask you to go now. It asked you to go 30 years ago, and you spit it its face and hid behind lies and dodged the draft. While hundreds and thousands of young men found the honor to answer their nation's call, you failed. You showed yourself to be a coward and a liar, putting yourself above service.

Light sentence

I'M CALLING about the sentencing of Bradley McIntyre for stealing over a half million dollars from B.W. Harrison. I find the sentencing abysmal. It means McIntyre was able to steal $175,000 a year for three years of punishment. What a payoff. I am afraid this sends the wrong signal to our youths. For the grand scale of theft, he should have to serve at least 20 years.

Not wide enough

THE CITY Council is fixing to put the bike trail through to Sprigg Street. It is looking at making it 4 feet wide. This is absurd. People are going to get hurt. They are asking for injuries. It needs to be a minimum of 8 feet wide. Please, everybody, go out and look at the trail that is being used. It is a great facility that we have now, but 4 feet wide is just asking for people to get hurt. So please advise your city council member to look at 8 feet or go out and sit and watch the trail and know that 4 feet is just to narrow.

Too simpleminded

ACCORDING TO those talking heads on TV, Al Gore has not had a press conference since early summer. He can't face reporters. He would rather go on the simpleminded "Oprah" or David Letterman shows where the audience can't ask questions and they clap when the sign comes on. George Bush is doing the same things. For God's sake, people, vote third party this year and put a stop to this garbage.

Powerful comments

KEEP THOSE Speak Out comments coming. According to The Washington Post, Missouri may predict the outcome of the presidential election. Missouri has voted for 23 of the last 25 presidential winners, and The Post considers it a microcosm of the United States. It goes without saying that Speak Out is the most powerful influence on public opinion in Missouri. Your comment may be crucial to deciding the winner.

Union influence

AS THE Democrats and unions continue to scratch one another's backs, we soon will have a federally backed union. Sounds kind of like what the Soviet Union had: the worker's party, the Communist Party. I thought unions hated NAFTA. Yet Bill Clinton signed it into law. Still the unions follow Mr. Clinton so close if he stopped quickly he would have to have hemorrhoid surgery.

On the plus side ...

I WANT to comment about the unfair politics that is going on and one of the dirtiest tricks right now that is being pulled. It seems like Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger said that if George W. Bush wins they are going to leave the United States. I think this is a dirty way to try to get people to vote for Al Gore. Sure, I would like to see them leave, but not enough to vote for him. On the other hand, if they get Oprah and Rosie O'Donnell and Barbra Streisand to leave, maybe I'll decide to vote for Gore. After all, you have to weigh the benefits against what you lose. Losing them from the Unites States would be a great plus. They could take Dan Rather and all the leftist news media with them too.

Burning cornstalks

WELL, IT'S cornstalk burning season again. When is the EPA ever going to stop this dangerous and unhealthy practice? The farmers are only hurting themselves by burning this valuable fertilizer. I am a retired farmer.

Fuel solutions

THERE ARE two actions that can be taken to lower fuel prices. First we need to increase domestic oil production. The United States controls huge oil reserves off the Pacific Coast and in Alaska. With today's oil extractions technology, there is no reason to let all that oil sit uselessly in the ground. Using modern techniques, it can be drawn out without harm to the environment. Apparently Clinton, Gore and the radical environmentalists would rather see our economy crippled than permit the American people to have access to affordable energy. Fuel taxes need to be lowed. Taxes account for between 50 to 75 cents per gallon, depending on what state you live in. The government ought to return at least a portion of that money to the people who earned it.

Amazing teacher

I WOULD like to comment on the letter on climate warming written by Ken Aldrich. I was lucky enough to have Mr. Aldrich as a junior-high science teacher. He was one of the most impressive teachers I have ever had from kindergarten through college. He used to show us pictures and lecture on his involvement with Operation Deep Freeze. If he says the world is going to be all right, I believe him. Hats off to you Mr. Aldrich. You are still an amazing teacher.

Oregon's beauty

WE SPENT a week touring Oregon, and the scenery was beautiful. There were very few billboards -- none outside of city limits -- and all the tourist seemed to have no problem finding housing and food. We came back to Missouri, and we are covered with billboards. Our roads are atrocious. Oregon's roads were superb.

Questionable advice

LIBERTARIAN JAMES Nall is trying to convince Republicans to become more like Libertarians. I would urge Republicans to take Nall's advice -- if it is their desire to become extinct.