SPEAKOUT

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I AM a resident of Scott City. I just think it's ridiculous how a couple of our council members approach things. In an open meeting, they called people who did not stop on the railroad tracks "fools." Well, these so-called fools happen to be me. I think consideration needs to be taken of the individual who made the statement, and I think we need a councilman for that ward.

Things he didn't say

THE PRESIDENT sold another bill of goods to the American people in his State of the Union speech. When a man is in trouble, he will do and say desperate things. Of course, we, the people, believe anything Bill Clinton says when it comes to the almighty dollar and to heck with everything else. The president failed to tell us that middle-class consumer debt is the highest it has ever been. He failed to tell us that bankruptcies are the highest they have ever been. If the economy is so good, why is it the consumer debt and bankruptcies have hit an all-time high? If we have such a good economy, why are all of us constantly borrowing money from the banks and finance companies? The president also failed to tell us about the financial struggles that small businesses are facing and the small farmers of this country. The president didn't mention nothing about the Americans who are squeezed in the middle and are hit from both ends by taking care of the rich and the poor. The president also failed to mention anything about giving the middle class a tax cut because it was under his watch in 1993 that the single most largest income-tax increase was passed, making our net income very slim. We better have a surplus after that huge Clinton tax hike in 1993.

No mention of drugs

THE BIGGEST problem in the United States today was not even mentioned in the Clinton speech; drugs coming into our country. Where are the resources to stop this problem?

Stay out of stock market

THE GOVERNMENT is proposing to get its hands in the stock market. It has messed up every system it has gotten its hands on. It got into health care, and we got Medicare. Now it's messed up. It got into the school system, and now it demands from the schools to do things that are completely unrelated. Now the school system is messed up. Everything it touches gets messed up. Bill Clinton, keep your hands off the stock market. We can't afford you there.

Censure will not do

I AM appalled at the way the trial of Bill Clinton is going in the Senate. They already know they are not going to convict him. If they do not, it will be the most significant travesty of justice ever known in this country. They and we all know he is guilty and should be removed from office. He is immoral and amoral. He has diminished the office of the president to the lowest level in history. His lawyers' definitions of what sex is, the meaning of "is" and "alone" are absolutely ludicrous. They are just as guilty as he is for upholding him. He should be prosecuted and all of his lawyers along with him. A censure will not do. It will mean nothing to this man. His arrogance makes him think he is above the law. The Republican managers presented a very convincing case and it is disgusting to see Clinton's lawyers deny the facts. It will take years to repair the damage this man has done to our country. I know that two years is not long enough for me to ever have confidence in this man again.

Revolutionary stamp

THIS COUNTRY'S society has enough problems with crime and violence the way it is without our government promoting a postage stamp for someone because they were a revolutionist among us. All they're going to do is encourage more people to do the same. I think it's in very poor taste.

It's not rocket science

AT THE top of the front page, the Southeast Missourian seems surprised that Gov. Mel Carnahan didn't spend money on the Southeast Missouri State University. Well, don't you understand about reverse bribery? The government in Missouri -- the governor, the Senate and the House -- are all Democratic. The city of Cape Girardeau has the gall to elect Republicans to a Democratic government and then ask for money. You ought to know that if you want money from a Democratic government, you have to elect Democrats. This is reverse bribery, and you cannot get money from Democrats if you're a Republican.

What's wrong with this picture?

WHAT IS wrong when a person gets nine DUIs and get a slap on the wrist? Or when two men can be involved in a drive-by shooting and not be sent to jail? What is wrong when employers in this area cannot get anyone to work for them because men around here think working is too hard and they'd rather sit at home? There are tons of jobs here, some career material, but more people sit at home receiving public aid and food stamps. Why not place these people in these jobs and take away their support so, like the rest of us, they can support themselves like real men? Men who get DUIs, are in drive-by shootings and are on aid when they can be working are not men.

A cause for outrage

I WAS wondering why Prosecutor Morley Swingle didn't charge that nine-time DWI offender as a prior and persistent offender, push the guy to trial and ask the judge to max him at 10 years. He seems hell-bent on passing laws to keep Peeping Toms from peeking in windows but not at keeping drunk drivers off the streets. If I was associated with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, I would be outraged.

Brainwashing the brain dead

HOW CAN people support Clinton who wouldn't go to war when his president ordered it? Yet he is willing to order other men to do what he wouldn't do. He couldn't stand the heat, so he should get out of the kitchen. His fancy rhetoric doesn't fool people even though he's brainwashed the brain dead. Senators, relieve us of this devious man who has proven he's not fit for leadership.

It it gullibility?

TO LISTEN to the Clinton lawyers defend his lies is such a joke. You must want to believe this deception or you're so gullible or have no intelligence. He has lied by his own mouth to a grand jury as he has lied to the public and his cohorts. It's a way of life for him. Trying to split hairs on every word he says is so degrading to anyone's intelligence. Are most just gullible, or has the character of our country dropped so low?

Getting off easy

A MAN convicted of nine DUIs can get off on a treatment program. This guy doesn't need a treatment program. He needs serious punishment.

What did absent students do?

I WOULD just like to ask the students who decided not to go to school on Martin Luther King Day: What you did with your day? Did you do anything to improve the situation around us or to help advance Dr. King's dream, or was it just an excuse to stay home and play video games, watch TV and sleep in? Just curious. I'd be interested to know from the students who missed school.

Parents: Lay down the law

IN RESPONSE to the caller who said a spanking is child abuse: At first, I was angry. Then I had to stop and laugh at how silly a statement that was. If you think a spanking is child abuse, I have oceanfront property for sale. I have several children of my own. When they were very small children growing up and learning yes and no and right from wrong, there were a couple of times when I had to give them a swat or two, but I haven't had to do that since then. You know why? Because they know I will. Therefore, I don't have to. When my children are contemplating doing something they know is wrong, they first think, Well, I'd better not or I'll get into trouble. I'm sure you kids think and scream Let's go for it. All Mom will do is sit down and have another chit-chat with us. Which brings me to the question: Who's in charge at your household, the children or the adults? It's definitely not the adults. Who is in charge at my house, the adults or the children? It's definitely not the children. Your household is probably like some friends of ours who also have three children. They don't spank either. When you go for a visit at their house, it's like walking into a zoo. The kids are screaming, standing on the kitchen table, walking on the countertops, pushing buttons on the phone, making long-distance calls to China and Australia, pushing buttons on the computer, deleting all programs and files, pushing every conceivable buttons on TVs, VCRs and sound equipment, dragging stuff out, and when Mom says, Honey, pick it up, they just say no. And what's funny, when I watch them at my house, they're great. That's because they aren't sure about me like they are Mom and Dad. So if you don't believe in spanking, that's fine, that's your choice, that's your opinion. But to publicly comment that parents who do believe in spankings are abusing their children, then you truly are showing your ignorance, and you seriously should seek some kind of counseling.

No confidence in Gore?

SEN. DALE Bumpers says the situation will be completely out of control if Clinton is removed from his office. That to me means the Democrats have no confidence in Mr. Gore, the vice president, who would take his place. That is what he's there for.

Stiff prison term

I'D LIKE to comment on the man with nine DWIs. I think the man needs to be put in jail for 10 years. I think he needs to serve time. He could have hurt or killed a lot of people.

Something is fishy

I HAVE been keeping up with this thing in the paper about the man with nine DWIs. My personal opinion is something's fishy somewhere. What is the deal? Most normal citizens get a heck of a lot more for one DWI, and this man has had nine.