SPEAKOUT

It's all made up

I WOULD like to make a comment where these people the news media are showing who are burning themselves up by pouring gasoline over themselves in this foreign country where they supposedly took over these other cities. Record that on the VCR, rewind it and watch it slowly. You can tell that it's made up.

On a downward path

THOSE WHO would sacrifice truth for security have. Whether they know it or not, they have chosen a downward path. Ronald Reagan said it best: Majority rule is nothing more than mob rule it when it violates the law and the truth. Right and wrong matter. Individuals are responsible and accountable for their actions. Retribution should be swift and sure for those adults who prey on young innocence. Liberalism is no longer the answer. It is the problem.

Against bargaining for teachers

I JUST want to say that I am a public school teacher in Cape Girardeau County, and I am very much opposed to the collective bargaining issue, because not only will it hurt the children, but it will also hurt us as educators. I do not believe in somebody telling me when I have to work and when I have to strike. I'm very much against this. I urge others to write your representatives and senators of Missouri to let them know this. I feel sorry for the downtrodden of the municipal government, the city workers. If you really think it, band together and get it for yourselves. Do not force it upon all employees of the state, because we don't all want it. The issue also is that we don't have the choice as to whether or not we want it. If it passes, we all have to have it. We have money taken out of our checks for it. Again, please vote against this. This is a very bad thing. Urge your legislator to vote against it.

Look at the sentencing

REP. MIKE Shilling from Springfield says he want mandatory jail time for DWIs. Well, I wonder how much mandatory jail time would there be for somebody with nine DWIs? I guess, maybe 120 days, or would that be too stiff? It seems like that guy up there in Cape sure got a stiff sentence with only having to spend 120 days for his ninth DWI.

Get all your money

WHAT IF a person started a savings account at age 21 and by age 65 that account had grown to $400,000? However, when that person attempted to withdraw his money, the bank would only give him $200,0000 and keep the rest for itself. Well, that's exactly how our present Social Security system works. Most of today's workers would not live long enough after retirement to withdraw the entire amount of money they contributed. I can understand the reasoning of some of these retired Speak Out callers who continually praise the system. Most of these people have received much more than they ever contributed, but the average person who retired after 1994 will have to live well beyond normal life expectancy just to get back what they put in. Social Security contributions should be earmarked for the person who contributed those funds, and that person should be able to direct how his funds are invested. Social Security in its present form is no more than a government scam.

Just take care of me

A COUNTRY which has no moral values isn't worth fighting for. That's why if we have a national emergency draft. How many wouldn't go? Many wouldn't fight for this country because the values are so low. We have lobbyists for every group: AARP, NAACP, Rainbow Coalition, animal rights, abortion rights, veterans groups, homosexual groups, nature groups, welfare groups, racial groups -- all wanting something from the government and blaming it all on them being so selfish. Most don't care about the children's national debt or the character of our country. Just take care of me. Patriotism is a thing of the past, as our nation will be soon.

There once was a boy ...

THERE ONCE was a boy named Billy. He grew up to become Slick Willie. His policies were a bummer, but the voters were dumber. So we're stuck with a leader so silly.