SPEAKOUT

Plan for Social Security

MR. TONY Heckemeyer has the best idea for Social Security. Mrs. Emerson is often seen in TV commercials talking to senior citizens about using the budget surplus to save Social Security. Do you realize how many surpluses we would have to have to do that? The surplus we are now enjoying might be very rare in coming years. Mr. Heckemeyer would establish a separate fund that Congress could not touch to fund other programs and where monies paid in for recipients could not be incorporated into the general fund to bolster the economy.

Send message to boats in moats

ADS CONCERNING concerning Amendment 9 have contained the usual gloom-and-doom implications if the amendment fails. Others want you to believe failure to pass will eliminate gambling -- oops, gaming -- entirely. I do not think either to be true. Amendment 9 tells me gambling will continue with certain restrictions on the so-called boats in moats. According to my information five boats will continue to wholly operate as they meet the requirements of the current amendment. Voting no on Amendment 9 would require the boats in moats to move to the river, where according to the Missouri Supreme Court they should have been originally located. Defeat of Amendment 9 will not cause a cessation of gaming as we know it. It will send a clear message to the boats in moats that compliance with the current amendment is required. To make a new law to satisfy a few seems a waste.

Let people decide on name

I DON'T think the school board or any organization should be making the decision for the naming of the new school. If the taxpayers want it named for Melvin Gateley, then it should be named for him. The school board does not pay for the building, but the taxpayers do. I think this should come to a vote if the board feels it should make all the decisions about this. I certainly think Melvin Gateley has far more right to have a school named for him than any other person in this city at this time. He gives of himself and his time every day for the school system and the citizens of this community. Take a vote. That would be the fairest way. We do not want this new school named for a deceased person. Listen to the ones paying the bill.

Who's paying for teachers?

WHERE DO you suppose the money is coming from to put 100,000 new teachers in our schools? Hmm. Going to cost a lot of money. I have no idea what one teacher earns per year, but I guarantee you it is a very livable wage.

More restrooms in parks

I WOULD like to make a comment on the Arena Park and Capaha Park. I think they need more restrooms for people, especially if they're handicapped and can't walk very far. I would appreciate some bathrooms put in these two parks a little closer for handicapped people.

Loitering and bad behavior

I HAVE lived in the Sunset area for many years. Parking is not the only problem in this area. Loitering and the behavior of the students before school, at lunch and after school are major problems in this area. If the school has a code of conduct for the students, it is forgotten when they leave the school. We have received little or no cooperation from the school or the police regarding this problem.

Phones in cars are dangerous

I JUST got through reading Dear Abby. This woman said her lawyer friend was killed in an accident. She said this woman in her car reached over to answer a cell phone and in doing so crossed a median and killed this woman's lawyer friend. I'm just wondering why isn't she charged with manslaughter just like drunken drivers are? I mean, that man is just as dead, no matter who killed him. And if you're going to charge one with manslaughter, charge the other with manslaughter. If you're going to let one go, then let the other go. After all, that's only justice, isn't it?

Deadbeat grandparents

THIS IS about a law that needs changing now. I am sure most Missouri residents, like myself, are unaware of many laws imposed on us by elected officials. One law that we are expected to tolerate is the grandparent visitation law. This law, which is in desperate need of an overhaul, enables grandparents to force their children to allow visitation, even if the grandparents are both violent and involved in criminal proceedings such as forgery and credit-card fraud. People of this type of low character don't have the constitutional right to force anyone to let them near their children, much less their own grandchildren. I am a grandparent, and I feel that my grandchildren have the right to have their parents protect them from any negative influence in their lives. This responsibility is not for any judge to decide. It is the right of the child's parents. I think it is time we force our politicians to stop catering to special voting groups and pass laws that are fair to everyone. Deadbeat grandparents are no different than any undesirable element in our society, and they need to have their rights denied.

Democrats need to be heard

IT'S GETTING close to election time, and all I hear is about Bill Clinton's allegedly lying and sex scandals. That's all they see. So Republicans really are all running against Bill Clinton. It's certainly not the issue in this midterm election. As much as you want to bring him into this congressional election, that's not the issue. So let's be fair. Democrats have a right to call in and Speak Out too.

No need for special laws

THIS IS in regard to the caller in Speak Out complaining about the homosexuals wanting special rights. I agree wholeheartedly with the person. We don't need special laws for anybody, whether it's a hate crime or not. What those boys did was wrong. It was murder pure and simple. They will suffer for their action. Period. End of story. We don't need special rights for homosexuals. They chose their lifestyle. They deal with the consequences of their lifestyle. I'm not condoning murder of anybody.

No special title needed

I QUESTION the motives of women who have to have a special title in the church in order to perform their duties. I believe women can be used to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They don't need a special title. In fact, the glory all goes to God anyway.

Let Clinton fire Starr

I WOULD like to make a comment about the people calling in and complaining about Kenneth Starr's activities. Well, here's the problem. Why don't you just tell your leader, President Bill Clinton, to fire him? After all, he and Janet Reno are the ones who hired him.

No praise for first lady

IF A news reporter asked Mrs. Clinton about the Monica affair, it's considered bad taste and an outrage by the Democrats like she's some kind of saint. I think they should be outraged by his despicable conduct and her conduct time after time accepting and planning strategy for defending him. She's almost as shameless as he is. The Democrats praise her for her courage and him for his perseverance. They should praise her for stupidity and his filth and lack of character.

Don't use that crutch

ONCE AGAIN I read in the paper about one of your reporters saying one of the reasons she did not get to be a cheerleader is because her skin was too dark. Give me a break. We have all been discriminated at least once in my lives. I watched my tall, thin, white daughter who is an excellent volleyball player be taken out of the game time and time again for a less competent player. Don't get me wrong. I think everyone should get a chance to play, but there are some players who never get pulled out of the game, and this is a parochial school. So quit using your color of skin as a crutch -- or should I say you try to use it to your advantage?

Suggestion for the hospitals

AFTER WATCHING the hospital merger talks this year, may I offer this suggestion? Have St. Francis merge with a major Catholic hospital corporation that has a St. Louis or Memphis affiliation. Then have Southeast merge with a major non-Catholic hospital corporation from St. Louis or Memphis, either for-profit or not-for-profit. This will preserve the local competition everyone requests. It will keep local men on the respected board. It will continue the existing high-tech procedures locally. It will allow local health-care professionals to continue working in Cape, which is very desirable for most, rather than losing these jobs.

Don't punish them all

I'M 78 years old and I've been voting since I was 21 years old. I always voted a split ticket. This year I plan voting a straight Democratic ticket because I have no intention of punishing a group of people because one man broke his marriage vows and one of the commandments.

Shoving was hilarious

I READ in the paper about the Nixon ad showing Bond shoving a reporter. Well, I saw that when it came on the show "Inside Edition." There should have been a lot more on there than what was in the paper, because it was hilarious. He should crawl in a hole somewhere and hide.

Good job at transfer station

BECAUSE WE are remodeling, we made three trips to the city's transfer station during Cape's cleanup week. On each trip, we were very impressed with all of the workers there. They were all friendly and very hardworking. We were in and out in a very short while. We want to take this opportunity thank them again and let the city officials know what a good job everyone did.

Street work appreciated, but...

I WOULD like to thank the city for the repair work on the North Main Street levee on Big Bend Road. Apparently there are only a couple of sections that were replaced on this heavily traveled thoroughfare. More of this replacing the concrete at this location would greatly be appreciated by motorists who use this area every day to and from work. A lot of this concrete is still broken up and in bad shape. If nothing is done before bad weather sets in, it's only going to get worse. Thank you very much.

Mudslinging sets tone

I AGREE with the person who changed the TV channel when negative ads for election come on. I think this is a very big factor why people don't vote. If all candidates are as bad as their opponents say they are, very few are qualified to be in office. There are several I would never vote for, and they are those who do the most mudslinging. Let's clean up our act.

Somebody was watching

THIS IS for the woman in the Cadillac who parked her car across the driveway at a garage sale last Saturday, blocking another car in while she leisurely looked over the goods. I saw you change the price sticker on two pair of socks so you could get the 50-cent pair for 10 cents. By your actions, I could tell what kind of person you are. You're not only rude and inconsiderate of others, but you're also a thief. I can't help feeling sorry for you, because you are missing the joy of honesty and servitude, both which would create inner peace and happiness for you and also create a better world for others.

Lives are being ruined

I WOULD like to comment on the recent sting operation going on in Cape Girardeau County concerning sexual misconduct in public parks, specifically homosexual conduct. First of all, it's not that I condone homosexuality, and I don't feel it should be allowed, especially in a public place, but I'm sure there's heterosexual activity that goes on too. I realize it's against the law, but these young gentlemen who have been arrested have ruined their lives. We live in a homophobic society here in Cape Girardeau, and I just think that it's really sad. These people have not even been given a trial yet, they have just had alleged crimes, but they're just the same as convicted at this point. I just think that it's sad, and I believe some of the issues should be addressed here concerning the misconduct in the parks or wherever it's occurring. But to make it such a big news item, showing pictures and stating what they do -- their position, their career, whatever -- it's ruining lives.

Thanks for the help

I WOULD like to say thank you to St. Vincent's Church for helping me out in my time of need. Thank you very, very much.