SPEAKOUT

Promises he can't keep

I WANT to comment about the 1,001 promises that Bill Clinton made in the State of the Union address. The day after, he said he couldn't give people tax breaks because the average person wouldn't know how to spend it, like the government knows more about how to spend our money than the average person. But Clinton promises everything. He can't give any of that stuff because it's the House of Representatives that appropriates money. Hillary and Bill want more money for abortion and to protect abortion clinics. So what if they want it? The Republicans are pro-life, and they won't give them another dime. Another group that backed Clinton is the gays, and I see that more gays were discharged in 1998 than any previous year. So Clinton has even put it to the gays along with everyone else. The blacks are in worse condition than they ever were, but they still back old Clinton.

Independent from now on

I'VE DECIDED after watching this Senate-biased farce that I can no longer be a Democrat or Republican. My thoughts and feelings are to be independent, not media driven or politically motivated but to think for myself and to recognize a snake when I see one and not have someone tell me that snake is an innocent babe wrapped in disguise. So I'll be an independent-thinking voter from here on. Power corrupts, and this latest fiasco is a perfect example.

Need public transportation

I'D LIKE to speak out on the need for public transportation here in Cape Girardeau and its surrounding areas. I'm an individual who cannot afford an automobile, and it's going to take a lot to get my driver's license back from the state of Missouri. I recently received a job out at Procter & Gamble, and public transportation out to Jackson and Fruitland and the surrounding areas would be more than desirable. Cape Girardeau needs to address this situation, as there are many people often in the cabs saying the same thing. Cape Girardeau has been trying to address this for years. Well, if we're going to be a large city with a major industry out here, we need more public transportation to get to and from our jobs. I realize this is not St. Louis, but Cape Girardeau is one of the biggest, fastest growing areas in Missouri. It needs to be addressed.

Humans are responsible

I'VE HEARD some comments recently after reading the article on the front page last week related to the Humane Society and the number of animals they receive, more importantly the number of animals they have to euthanize. Those comments were not favorable toward the Humane Society. I just want to say I don't know what the Humane Society could do about this problem. How could they keep 4,000 animals and then another 4,000 next year and another 4,000? The problem isn't the Humane Society. They don't have the means to adopt all of these animals out or to decrease the number of animals brought in. I'm sure they want the animals be brought there if need be, but there just needs to be fewer animals. The pet overpopulation is the real problem. Actually, the real problem is inconsiderate and irresponsible humans who are allowing their pets to continue to breed, adding to this terrible problem. So I hope people won't blame the Humane Society. I hope they will be responsible and remind others to be responsible. Every single litter that is born is adding and adding and adding to this problem.

Hogs wore them first

I ENJOYED the picture of the nose ring on the front page of the paper. It reminded me of years ago down on the farm when we put rings in pigs' noses to discourage them from digging up the pigsty.

Consider adoption

WHY DO some think a woman has the right to abort a child? Where does it say God prefers her instead of her unborn? How can she be the judge over life and death? To many it's just birth control, too much of an embarrassment, an inconvenience, a financial burden when many want to adopt and are turned away while many are scarred by abortion. Some shout "What about rape and incest?" Well, that's less than 2 percent. Maybe we could save the other 98 percent and work on 2 percent by adoption instead of this slaughter day by day.

Hyde is obsessed

MR. HYDE doesn't know what the American people are hungry for. This man is obsessed.

SIU attracts big names

I WAS reading the Sunday paper and noticed that Elton John is going to be at the SIU Arena in February. We have purchased tickets to see Bob Dylan at SIU in a couple of weeks as well. In a recent article in the Missourian, the Show Me Center manager insisted that the Show Me Center cannot get group performers to come to this area. With the SIU Arena having a seating capacity similar to the Show Me Center and Carbondale being a smaller community than Cape, I fail to understand why Carbondale can get these events and Cape cannot.

Getting the message

WHAT IS it going to take for the university to get the message? The local voters spoke, and did not approve a bond issue to develop the River Campus. The governor spoke when he did not include funding for the development of the River Campus in his budget. The university ought to eliminate future unpopular expenditures by donating the real estate to the city for a park or similar use. Mr. Harrison's generosity would continue to be appreciated.

Thanks for helping pets

I WOULD like to thank Schnucks for collecting for the Humane Society. They have a box out in front where you can put in cans of dog and cat food. I would also like to thank the organizations and stores in town Like Super D and Pasta House that have cans where you can put money for the Humane Society. I like to contribute to them. I can't always make it down there, but I really appreciate having them do that service for our dogs and cats that are homeless.

Pets: It's up to us

I WANT to comment on the Southeast Missourian editorial on the Humane Society and the article on the front page. I really want to commend the paper for doing that. I think the Humane Society is extremely vital and necessary to our community. I want to commend the Southeast Missourian for being concerned about this issue and doing something about it. These are serious issues, and something needs done about it. I really am very pleased that people are going to become aware of the fact that animals are stolen and used for research purposes. A lot of people are not aware that that happens in our community. It happened to a friend of mine's dog, and it's just heartbreaking. People leave their dogs outside and let their dogs run loose and think nothing will happen in their neighborhood. But these people go to neighborhoods and stalk pets. A doctor once told me that at med school they had a dog that they doing research on. He knew it was a pet. As heartbreaking as this is, only we can do something to stop it. And that's by enforcing and supporting the microchip ID technology, being responsible for our pets and, if we're going to own an animal, realizing they are in our care and are defenseless. And by supporting our local Humane Society.

Feel-good over morality

MANY SAY Bill Clinton should resign. Many say he should be impeached. How will that change the moral and Christian values of our nation? No matter who is in the office, The ratings will be high if the economy is good and there's no threat of war. This is the most important thing to most Americans, not character, moral values or honor. The greed of our nation has far surpassed our values. Most of all, old folks would give up their values for a Social Security promise. Many, not all, Christians would look the other way when supporting a political candidate with less character. It's a shame, but in America moral values won't you get out of the White House or won't get you into the White House.

Take care of litter

THE ROAD crew, bless them, came through Bloomfield Road picking up litter that thoughtless people throw everywhere along our country roads. It looks so nice now, but in a day or two here comes more trash. We property owners, and some of us aren't so young anymore, end up washing bottles and cans to be recycled, and then there are all those paper cups, napkins and so forth that we have to pick up forever. You people come to Cape Girardeau to work and shop. Please take care of your own litter. Have you never heard of a litter bag? If only you could help us, our road sides could be beautiful.

Sweeping may be needed

YOU ARE correct about the nine-time DWI. What does this man have on the prosecuting attorney and the judge to receive such a light sentence? If the two officials won't sweep drunks off our streets, we can sweep both of them out of office, and we should.

Thanks for donations

SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence wishes to thank the fine people who generously donated items to be sold at the Osage Centre Community Garage Sale. We really appreciate the things you brought, and we will assure you again that these proceeds raised from this effort with be used for community service.