SPEAKOUT

Reflectors needed

I WANT to issue a warning to people who remove reflectors from the driveways along rural lanes. It makes it very dangerous. People can't see that there is a deep ditch there and could end up in the ditch. My parents are elderly, and if this is a kick for kids, then they should be made to understand that it could be dangerous. I think MoDOT also is responsible for removing some of them because they slow down their mowing efforts.

Farmers get checks

I UNDERSTAND the government aid checks for farmers are starting to come out. Everybody get ready. Those poor, broken-down farmers -- the ones fighting to save the family farm and the American way of life -- are so vulnerable to the market that they have to have the government boost their prices for them. Now they will be out struggling as they buy brand new trucks, make huge house payments, buy new cars for their wives and buy huge amounts of new farm equipment this year while other industries are suffering to a greater degree than the farmers ever have and will do what Americans as a rule have always had to do: tighten their belts and weather the storm. I feel awful for these farmers who have to struggle so hard.

What's affordable?

WHO'S ASHCROFT trying to kid, wanting to make prescription drugs affordable? Just what's affordable? People on fixed incomes have to wait and do without medicine. I sometimes have to wait to go to the doctor until the end of the month so I can get my prescriptions. A lot of people my age have to go without either food or their medicine, one of the two. When these Republicans say affordable, I don't know what they consider affordable.

The party's over

THERE ARE a few things that the person who suggested drilling some more oil wells should know: Of the world's supply of oil reserves, the United States has 22.5 billion barrels. This is 2.2 percent of the known oil reserves. In 1998, we were importing approximately 9.5 million barrels a day. We are using in excess of 18 million barrels of oil per day. If we were using only our own known oil reserves, we would use up all of them in less than four years. The day of the gas-guzzler SUVs and the big pickup trucks may well be coming to an end unless we can make very fast progress to alternative fuels, fuel cells. OPEC knows our situation, and only a fool would expect them to lower prices to less than $25 per barrel, which is the price that their economists say that we will not move rapidly ahead with such things as coal gasification and the use of carboniferous waste for distillation to make ethanol fuels. Unless OPEC gets to fighting among themselves, the days of low-priced fuel is over, and we'd better hurry up and get ready for it. The party's over, boys.

A classy mural

DOES THE River Heritage Mural Association have anything to do with the mural that's on the wall down by the parking lot? That's such an eyesore for the city. It's an embarrassment for the city. If they're the ones who had anything to do with that, please don't let them put another mural on the wall. The one on the river side is beautiful. Why can't we have something classy like that?

Party history

I'M CALLING about the Speak Out item titled "History lesson" where the caller said the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln is the Democratic Party. This caller either doesn't know or has Alzheimer's, if he thinks the Democrats were what the Republicans used to be. Anyone who used to be a Democrat, if they believed what the Democrats used to believe, would be a Republican today. The caller doesn't know what he's talking about.

Thrilled with Heidi

I'M SO thrilled that Heidi is back. I love her column. I send it to my daughter in Maryland who enjoys it very much. Her wit reminds me of another of my favorite columnists, Erma Bombeck. Would it be possible for me to meet Heidi sometime?