SPEAKOUT

We need campaign-finance reform

I NOTICED with interest Bond's, Ashcroft's, Emerson's and our local people's great efforts to stop voter fraud. I applaud them. However, I'd like to know when Ashcroft, Bond, Emerson and our local people plan to have campaign-finance reform. Where's that package, people? That's a sister to voter fraud: having our representatives and senators bought off. Where's the plan, people?

Heavy book bags are a burden

I FEEL so sorry for these young kids. Many of them are thin, tired-looking children who are lugging these heavy book bags around schools. It seems like by the time they get in high school, they should be allowed to sit through longer classes, maybe two days a week or three days a week, and only have to take about half the books around with them all day that day. It seems like it could be arranged where every other day they would have a class of one type and not have to carry these heavy book bags all day. It's hard for me as an adult to pick up their book bags, and it just seems like an extra-heavy burden for them.

Coverage for kids costs taxpayers

WHO IS going to pay for all these kids' insurance coverage that Mel Carnahan signed into law? The working man can't afford insurance at the job he's got now. I don't guess any elected officials know the working people pay for Medicaid. If people can't afford insurance for their kids, why do they have them? Only to get welfare handouts. Now they will have more money for alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

Thinking about eternity

I SUPPOSE when the saints go marching in, they will all be Republicans since they are free from sin and whiter than the driven snow. Since I'm a Democrat, I suppose that is a blessing. To listen to them whine and bellyache throughout eternity would really be hell.

Not many Republicans in Perry County

WHY DON'T Democrats ask them to check out Perry County? Hardly any Democrats ever vote up there, so there must be something wrong. Must be voter fraud because there are too many Republicans in Perry County. So maybe the Democrats ought to check into Perry County.

Stop the monopolies

WELL, AT&T with the Gore tax and TCI merge together. If AT&T can't get you because of computer competition, AT&T will get you through your TV. AT&T knows you won't give up your TV. These monopolies have got to stop.

There are other issues too

WE HAVE lots of other things to go on about. Homeless, neglected children. Freeloaders on welfare. Our police officers not getting paid enough. More teachers in our school. Outrageous rent. And Jackson, please clean up the water in the pond. Let's start discussing all these things, people.

Why are utility bills estimated?

I JUST received my utility bill. I'd like for AmerenUE to explain to me why it is estimating our bills. We haven't had any bad weather. This is the second estimated bill I've received this year, and I'm getting sick and tired of it because one month it's down and the next month it's way high. If these people can't read the meters, then we need another utility in Cape Girardeau. You cannot call them. If you do, you're on the line for 30 to 40 minutes waiting for somebody to talk to. You keep getting the computer. They know how to work it, seems to me like, to aggravate the people. Apparently they don't have meter readers or they don't have anybody who can read a meter. I think it's time that they straighten this out once and for all. If there's a big snow on the ground or 10 below zero, we could understand it. But in weather like we've been having, there's no excuse for estimated meter reading.

REPLY: AmerenUE is aware of this situation and is in the process of filling vacancies in the meter-reading area. This should be taken care of in a week or so, which means more meters will be read instead of being estimated.