OpinionMarch 11, 1999
SPEAKOUT
CLINTON ALLOWED technological war material to go to China in 1992 in exchange for China's campaign money for him to win the presidential election again in 1996. Janet Reno will not open a campaign finance investigation. Of course not, she's a Clinton appointee, part of the corruption. ...
Our Chinese relations
CLINTON ALLOWED technological war material to go to China in 1992 in exchange for China's campaign money for him to win the presidential election again in 1996. Janet Reno will not open a campaign finance investigation. Of course not, she's a Clinton appointee, part of the corruption. Al Gore was over there in a Buddhist temple making similar campaign money arrangements and trade promises, and now the United States is out of favor with China. And China has nuclear weapons pointed at the U.S. These political crooks from both countries make strange bedfellows, and they'll be the trigger to world conflagration. We had better get a leader who can make world peace, or we're all in danger.
Neighborhood nuisances
I'M CALLING in reference to the old RV that's parked in the back of the house of 1200 block of North Spanish. It is visible from Main Street. I'm also complaining about the 700 block of North Spanish Street. Are the city officials aware of what this looks like and how it degrades our neighborhoods? The City Council really should address these problems. They are a terrible nuisance.
Do something about bus stop
I JUST read the comment about Jackson's bus stop. I've had these feelings for a long time. Jackson really needs to do something about this situation. This is not a proper place for people to get off a bus or to wait to get on a bus. It's a terribly inhospitable thing for such a progressive city to do. Let's do something about this. Come on, Jackson, you can certainly do better than this.
Time to stop lying
IN THE Southeast Missourian of Feb. 28 there were some very chilling figures given showing our state of affairs concerning the Social Security fund. When are we going to stop lying to ourselves about this very important issue? The article stated that since President Lyndon Johnson's term we have been borrowing from the Social Security fund to show a surplus which U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson calls accounting fiction. She would like for Congress to approve a constitutional amendment that would require the nation to have a balanced budget without any Social Security surplus. Hooray for her. This amendment would have to be ratified by three-fourths of the states. I would gladly vote for this amendment. The time for us to stop lying to ourselves is long passed.
An inspiration to all of us
I'M CALLING in response to Daniel Dirnberger's essay "Service to America" which was printed in Saturday's newspaper. Great job, Daniel. This is a wonderful essay. If you hang on to that attitude, you'll be a success no matter what you do with the rest of your life, and you are an inspiration to the rest of us.
Faith is being restored
I WEPT when I read Daniel Dirnberger's essay. It brought back all the memories of World War II and how it affected me. The two important men in my life were taken from my home, my husband and my brother. They both came back and lived a good life. I also read David Limbaugh's column on freedom of religion. God bless you all, Daniel, David, the teacher and the editors of the Southeast Missourian, all for restoring my faith that our great country will awaken and will recover from its scars.
Can't cut taxes, pay debts
I HAVE just finished reading the column called "A prescription for Republicans" by David Limbaugh. I decided he must have overdosed on something and been asleep for several years when suddenly he woke up and saw this nation's highest prosperity and then he thought Reagan's wealthy tax cuts were the cause some 12-14 years later. Now, come on, Mr. Limbaugh. Take two aspirins and a cup of coffee and get really woke up. There have been tax increases while you were asleep to pay off some of the $5.2 trillion debt caused by Reagan's voodoo economics. Get real, David. I think most people realize you can't pay off this kind of debt by cutting taxes.
When will the lying stop?
I HAVE received an issue of the magazine from AARP, and this along with other things that are published by most politicians talk about using part of the budget surplus to bail out Social Security. Now our representative, Jo Ann Emerson, has said in the paper that this is not true. But most of all our politicians, AARP included, act as if this is something that is given to Social Security. This is ridiculous. This is Social Security's money. They're not giving it back to Social Security. They're just not stealing it from Social Security. So when are our politicians going to start getting honest with us and quit lying to us?
Playing dirty pool
THE JUANITA Broderick story is one of the weird deals concocted by Juanita's buddy, an ultra-right-wing Republican. In the first place, the statute of limitations has gone over several times, so there is no chance of legal action. In the second place, there are no witnesses to corroborate her story. In the third place, Bill Clinton has no office to run for in the future. Now we come to the fourth place, which I think is the real reason for the shouting by this right-wing Republican group. The leaders in the year 2000 race for president have some known skeletons in their closets. So by threatening to oust the sinners, the Jerry Falwell wing will scare off G.W. Bush, and John McCain and several others, and then we will get those wonderful people like Gary Bowers, Pat Buchanan from the Republican right. Think it over before you get agreeable with this crowd. What they are playing is dirty pool, and these are the same people who are calling Bill Clinton an underhanded phony. Those people would have to change a lot to be that good.
Smoking at cancer event
WHY IS it that a major contributor is allowed to smoke in the ballroom at the Cancer Gala when it is a nonsmoking area. When I asked about him smoking, I was told, "it's because he is who he is." Does that mean that if I donate more money than him I'm allowed to use meth? I don't understand. And then he put his cigar out at someone else's table. I just don't understand.
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Good word for car wash
I WAS reading in the paper about some lady who got some bad attention at a car wash here in town. I would just like to say to the lady that I have been in the city of Cape Girardeau for nearly 40 years, and I have been using a car wash in our part of town that's the cleanest car wash I've ever been to. We do get the nicest, friendliest help that I've ever been acquainted with in my life. If this lady is referring to this car wash of which I'm speaking, they keep it clean as a pin, and everyone is so helpful to even the elderly people, young, old, whatever. It's the nicest bunch of guys down there, and there's one particular guy that's been there since I've been here, and he is the nicest guy. I would like for this lady to come around our car wash, and she'll find out that the people at our car wash will change her opinion about the treatment she has been getting.
Thanks to basketball teams
I JUST wanted to congratulate the Jackson boys and girls and the SEMO boys and girls for a wonderful year.
All should be desirable
I'M CALLING about the issue of school redistricting and property values. Some callers have criticized the new redistricting as being unfair to people who bought houses in the most desirable school districts. It seems to me that every district should be equally desirable. It's not fair for people to have to pay more to live in a desirable district or for sellers to get less money because they live in a district which is less desirable. All districts should be equally desirable and they should all be good. This is what fairness requires.
Let school board hear
THIS IS in response to all the concerned citizens who have called in to voice their concerns over the new school boundaries, especially the secretive manner in which the meetings have been held and the decisions have been made without consideration from the same taxpayers who voted for the proposal in 1997. I challenge each and every one of you to attend the school board meeting on Monday, March 15, at 6 p.m. at the junior high to let the school board know that they are not going to get away with changing the rules that the taxpayers voted for back in 1997. They need to stick with the proposals as they presented them to the public in 1997.
Try giving the Bible
I WATCHED the Monica interview. I never have been one of those who said I've heard all I want to hear, let's get on with it. I still wanted to hear more. But one thing that really struck me. Bill Clinton gave Monica the book "Leaves of Grass," the same book he gave Hillary some time earlier. I have a suggestion for Clinton. I believe he should start giving women a copy of the Bible. I believe both of them should start reading it. I believe that could help all parties involved.
Ultra-conservative writing
IN REFERENCE to your new Limbaugh column, I noticed that the references he quoted are all ultra-conservative. One thing that I learned in college in a writing class was that my papers would be more effective if I quoted sources who generally would disagree with my point of view or whose slant was the opposite but were forced to admit the real statistics. What I would suggest is that he read some liberal things, and if they support his views, then he will be able to make a much stronger point. If he's just going to parrot what all these other ultra-conservative publications are saying, then there's no point in writing anything.
No political appointments
POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS should be done away with. The people are expecting a position for their work and support for a candidate should have to qualify for the jobs doled out by the elected officials. Appointments by good old donations and favors aren't any different than a mob or crime syndicate would do.
Waiting for him to resign
I WOULD like to make a comment on how the news media is disconcerting American citizens on not reporting as truth is happening up here in the White House like when this Monica Lewinsky story first came out. Why don't the news media report what Hillary Rodham Clinton said on NBC's "Today" when that one news announcer asked her, "Is there any truth to this Monica Lewinsky?" And Hillary said, "No, when this is all over and done, people will realize it's not true." And then he asked her again, "What happens if it is true?" She said, "If it is true, the American people need to come forward and ask Bill Clinton to resign." The only thing I'd like to add to that is, "Mr. Clinton, why don't you do what the American people want you do to? Resign, get out of office."
Little things mean a lot
I WAS very impressed with the essay by Daniel Dirnberger of Oran. I wish everyone could have read it and related to it. A part of the article is what can I as a young person do for my country? His services were to try to do well in school, be a good citizen and obey the laws. Many of these rules apply just as strongly to adults as to young people. Think what a difference it would make in our great country if we all tried just a little bit harder to be the best we can be. Little things mean so very much if we do them for others, for our country and for ourselves. Read this essay by this young student if you haven't. It will be well worth your time.
Racial divisions highlighted
THE PAPER paper called everyone's attention to our race division. When such terms as Black Caucus, Black History Month, black beauty pageant and other race-related functions are publicized as such, the difference is being advertised. How can people become colorblind when the people who complain keep reminding us of the difference? How loud would blacks complain if there were equal notoriety for white functions? Would the Missourian publish the announcement of a white function? I think not. It implies that the other is excluded and not welcome. Many people who holler about racism are not only making a living off of it, but most get rich because there is racism. Racism is the goose that laid the golden egg for many leaders. Without racism, many leaders would probably be in need of a job for a living. What a sad commentary that they would have to work.
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