SPEAKOUT

Vote fraud still looks fishy

MAYBE I have become skeptical, but it's hard for me to believe that Gene Copeland is innocent. From national to local government, illegal acts have taken place. And now Copeland expects us to believe he is innocent. Copeland's former campaign worker has pleaded guilty, so something suspicious did take place. It's my belief that Copeland knew what was going on in 1996, and that is how he got elected to 19 consecutive terms.

Employer should give termination notice

I WAS in the working world for 50 years of my life before I retired. I wouldn't go back to it for anything in the world. The young people today didn't have the jobs that we had. We could get a job much easier than them. And it's much more demanding on them. We also had much more job protection because the unions were stronger then because there was more American productivity. Why is it that employers expect you to give them notice if you leave or they will blackball you and give you a bad working record? But I have seen people work at some of the bigger companies. They didn't belong to a union unfortunately. They were told they were through. They were told they weren't needed any more, just because of various personal reasons, like an employer who fires at will. Employees are supposed to be humble and give their employer lots of notice. The employer evidently is exempt from that, so he can do what he wants. So fair is fair. If an employer isn't happy with you, he should give you fair notice. We should eliminate fire at will and give people more job security. No employer has the right to just cut you off like that for no reason.

No need to blame others

I WAS calling about Gene Copeland. He says that the accusations against him are blatantly false and malicious. One of his campaign workers pleaded guilty. It seems he should start blaming the people in his own campaign and not Republicans, Jo Ann Emerson and Lannie Black. I voted for Gene Copeland in the last election, but I might have to re-evaluate that vote in the next election.

REPLY: The decision about whether or not to vote for Gene Copeland again should be easy. He isn't running for re-election.

Local docs are TV naturals

A RECENTLY televised "Ask Your Doctor" program featuring Cape urologists Paul Thompson and Russell Felker and hostess Martha Minch was one of the best programs I have seen in a long time. It was educational, informative and at times hilarious. I urge Channel 5 operatives to rerun the program with plenty of prior notification about when it is going to be on. It was priceless. Felker and Thompson are excellent physicians and a downright dynamic comedy duo.

Clinton-Gore Internet tax is too much

I JUST received my AT&T bill with this national access tax. Guess what? The Clinton-Gore tax is not 93 cents. It's $1.83 a month. All you diehard Democrats who voted for these two yahoos, I hope you are satisfied. Do you think the economy is in an upswing now? People who are on fixed incomes have to watch every dollar. And for this to go for what it is going for, I couldn't care less if the schools or library have access to the Internet. The Clinton-Gore tax is a scheme to get more taxes for the Democrats.

Trucker offended by drug reference

TO THE person who called in about President Clinton's record on drugs: You really should watch who you offend when you are mouthing off about a subject and be more informed. We do not have tractor trailers full of drugs coming into the U.S. I am offended by your statement, and I am a trucker. I go over the border regularly. It would be a cold day in hell before that would go on with my rig with my company. That would be like me saying your job is a drug dealer or transporter. If you want to badmouth the president, do it without hurting innocent bystanders and their professions. You are an adult, so act like one.

Be consistent with news coverage

I WANTED to commend the Southeast Missourian on the Randy Curl story. You put him on the front page during the trial and regardless of the decision. KFVS made him top story until the night of the decision. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other if he won or not, but his story was 10 minutes was after the top story about something happening in Southern Illinois. If you are going to make him top story during the trial, you need to make him top story when a decision is made. If you are going to do that to someone, you need to do it consistently.