SPEAKOUT

Who has those files now?

I WANT to comment about something that was in your paper about the investigation into Travelgate and Filegate. Have they got those 900 FBI files back from the White House yet? I'll tell you what, I'd be interested to know what's in the files of these Republicans who voted against Clinton being convicted. Surely you can't go into a FBI headquarters and just get people's raw data files. I realize that Janet Reno is the head of the Justice Department, but surely that can't be without signing out. Surely someone signed those files out, and they give to someone, and someone has them at this time, whether it's James Carville or Larry Flynt.

He should get an award

NOW THAT the Senate showcase is over, I would like to nominate Bill Clinton for the Grammy award for the best liar and obstruction-of-justice performance and 55 of the senators for their support. Now this tells me if you want to be above the law, you must become a politician. Then you can kill, lie, bounce checks, rape or just about anything else you choose to do. They have no morals anymore, and none of them will get my vote from this day forward.

Republicans did it too

WELL, FELLOW citizens, let's go on from here, accepting the good that the last year has brought us. Don't be too upset. In 1987, President Reagan and Vice President Bush got away with the Iran-Contra scandal. Why? Because Reagan was so popular. The Democrats just couldn't understand how they could get away with casting aside the government set up by our forefathers. Reagan, Bush and North decided that they were running the country. They didn't need congressional approval. Republicans were yelling, "You're wasting the dollars investigating." The Democrats were furious. It was political, and it was partisan just as it is now.

Need help with turn lanes

I HAVE a question for the city of Cape. I'd like to know when they're going to fix the lines at West End Boulevard and Bertling Streets. It's really hard to turn right off of West End Boulevard onto Bertling if there's a car sitting there on the double-yellow line. As you turn the corner, you meet him head-on. You can't turn the corner because it's not wide enough there to make a right turn off of West End.

Start printing the truth

I WANT to comment about this front-page article, "Media must restore its credibility." I thoroughly agree with that. I have lived in Missouri over 70 years, It's about time the media started printing the truth.

Number could be misused

THIS IS in regards to the comments about Social Security numbers that I've been reading about in the paper. We must remember that the Social Security number is to be used for financial purposes and financial purposes only. It is the master key to your financial world. People who have access to your Social Security can misuse it. The fewer people who have access it, the safer your financial world is. So when you give it out to people who want it for no other reason than to track you in case your are a bad person, you are asking for trouble down the road, because your Social Security number can be misused by people other than you.

Eliminate tax for seniors

WHY DOESN'T the government exempt senior citizens from paying real-estate property taxes? They have paid for years on their homes, and sometimes it's a hardship for widows to pay it again. The government subsidizes apartments, so why not homes?

Just doing their duty?

YES, THESE Republican representatives and senators are saying that, regardless of public-opinion polls about the president, they had to do their sworn duty as much as it may be unpopular. That last time I can recall that being used was the Nuremberg trials when the Gestapo officers said they did their duty, they were under orders. I just don't think that dog, as President Clinton said, is going to hunt this coming election.

Some of Jefferson's thoughts

I THOUGHT that because of the troubles our country has gone through, it would be interesting to read to you Thomas Jefferson's opinion on public opinion: "It will always interesting to me to know the impression made by any particular thing on the public mind. It is rare that the public sentiment decides universally or unwisely and the individuals who differs from it ought to distrust and examine well his own opinion."

It's up to the people

I'M ASHAMED of this nation for not having the interest in reducing the debt for our children. I'm ashamed of the public for not insisting on character for our president. I'm ashamed of our lawmakers for not supporting the Constitution instead of the poll watchers. I'm ashamed of the greed and moral decline of our citizens. The only thing that will help or change our nation isn't the politicians. The politicians do what the people want. The people's character and morals must change.

Are the workers covered?

I HAD some construction work done on my home. To make a long story short, a worker was hurt. Now I'm being sued. I since found out all contractors are supposed to have workers' compensation. Make sure if you have work done in your home that the contractor does carry workers' comp, or you'll find yourself in the same boat I am in.