SPEAKOUT

That's a lot of running

ACCORDING TO press reports, John Ashcroft will run for the Republican presidential nomination as well as for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2000. That has convinced me to run for my life.

Suggested new city slogan

I WOULD like to suggest a new slogan for Cape Girardeau. It's kind of long, but I think it would be a good one. "Welcome to Cape Girardeau, land where global warming doesn't exist, PCBs aren't dangerous and the emperor still wears clothes."

A lesson on PCBs

SINCE THE editors of the Southeast Missourian especially seem to be uneducated on the topic of PCBs, I hope I can enlighten them. PCBs are introduced into the food chain through spills, leakage and illegal dumping. They can interfere with calcium metabolism in birds causing soft-shelled eggs and malformed young. They can also impair reproduction in some carnivorous animals. In humans, PCBs are known to cause cancer. They also mimic sex hormones, causing interference with the body's reproductive and developmental functions. As of yet, safe levels of PCBs are undefined due to the great potential for delayed effects on the human body. I hope the editors will do a little research of their own now so they can make rational conclusions about the problem of toxic spills in our community and the nation.

Where's the story?

I FIND nothing in the paper about the college's 40th year celebration for the nursing program. I just wonder why it wasn't noteworthy when so many of the bad things are.

REPLY: There was a front-page story Nov. 23 about the program's 40th anniversary, and there was a laudatory editorial Nov. 28.

A matter of justice

TO THE caller who says that if you don't impeach Clinton, you've got to release all of those felons who perjured themselves for equal justice. When Ford pardoned Nixon, he didn't pardon everybody else, he just pardoned Nixon. That was Republican justice. And as far as those who keep calling Clinton a pervert, I think you're right. But you have to admit to that Mr. Starr is a perverted purveyor of pornography. That's the truth whether you like to swallow it or not.

Democrats would make changes

I WANT the Republicans and the House of Representatives to definitely impeach the president because in the next election I want everyone of them thrown out. I want to see a liberal House and a liberal Senate and a Democratic president so maybe people like me who worked for years and years to get national health care can get our prescriptions paid for. I don't need it because I'm a veteran. I would like to see the minimum wage raised way up. I would like to see fire-at-will eliminated. And I'd like to see a good semi-strong national health care program. I would like to see the poor people and the working poor and the people on welfare who need it to get good service. I think the amount of hours for workers should be six hours a day, and anything over would be overtime. Six hours is long enough to work in any hot coal mine or any hot steel mill or in any sweat shop or any hard construction job where you're digging ditches. Six hours is long enough. I don't care if my forefathers worked 10 hours or 12 hours. My grandfather did this, but that's no reason the younger generation should do it. We're supposed to make it easier for them.

Get prepared for 2000

THIS PAST week I saw a news documentary that at midnight at the start of the year 2000 the computers are all going to shut down because they're not going to be able to turn over to the year 2000. The computers won't know what to do. I was wondering if anybody really is taking this seriously and what is being done about it. Most everything works off a computer: electricity, gas pumps. The year 2000 starts at Dec. 31, and it's usually the coldest time of year. If people aren't preparing for it, there's going to be a lot of anger towards the other people and there's going to be a lot of fighting. It should be brought to the public's attention, because it's only right for people to be prepared.

Burn flag and take money

I SAW in the paper where some Palestinians were burning the American flag and the draft dodger who's in the White House wants to send this country $500 million. I don't think so. What's our country coming to when we send money to countries that turn around and burn our flag? If I happen to be around somebody who burns the American flag, I will be hurt because I will jump them. I cannot stand to see people destroy this flag. This has got to stop. Let these people fight their own battles, take care of their own problems. It's not the United States' place to do it. Use that tax money for other things besides giving it to foreign countries and dictatorships.

Not a decent door stop

TO THE Southeast Missourian: You are a disgrace to allow these Speak Out people to use the term pervert. You're just as bad as they are, if not worse. They may call the president a stonewaller. They may call him a liar. They may call him anything else, but to call him a pervert is evil. I don't care what the man did or whether Republican or Democrat, you have no right to allow this slanderous remark in your newspaper. If I were Clinton, I would sue the ink right off you, so help my I would. You are a terrible newspaper to allow people to use the words "old pervert" or "Mr. Pervert." I have never seen a newspaper like you. You are a one big disgrace. I don't mind you being a one-sided Republican newspaper. I don't mind them saying the president lied under oath. But no person has the right to speak out against any public official. They should have respect for the office. You are one big ulcer. I just happened to pick up the column. Your newspaper wouldn't even make a good door stop.

Show some consideration

IT'S NICE to be in the position to say that I no longer care about clothes, money or prestige. I no longer care about what other people may think of me because my lifelong reputation answers to that. I care only about my children showing me consideration, at least for my age.

They haven't done anything

HAVE YOU ever considered how much land, room and money the lion, tiger, bear, snake and gator have taken away from man? To my limited knowledge, not one of those animals has ever done anything to help man. I think man could survive without any of them. Carnivores are a danger to man unless you want to be eaten by one.

Solve parking first

A GREAT many more citizens of Cape would support university projects if the university provided adequate parking for students instead of dumping that problem on its neighbors. If the university continues to refuse to use its resources to solve problem, why should it be given more resources?

Global cooling is here

IN MY opinion, Tuesday was the first day of global cooling. Keep up the good work, Jo Ann Emerson.

Not a dangerous place

I DON'T believe Missouri is one of the most dangerous places to be a conservation agent. I was born and raised in Missouri, and most of the people from here are fine, upstanding citizens. As far as how dangerous it is, how many conservation agents have been hurt in the line of duty in Missouri? My bet is none, unless you count a twisted ankle.

Taking off for appointments

IN RESPONSE to the retired guidance counselor who is supportive of not excusing orthodontic appointments in the school attendance policy: I'm not paying $4,000 of my hard-earned income to ever allow this to happen, and I know I have the support of every parent behind me. Do you expect orthodontics to work evenings only? This is ludicrous. Many are already providing a shuttle service for students so that we don't have to miss work. Thank God for this, as my employer doesn't even recognize a emergency room doctor's note as an excused absence. I bet when you were working as a school guidance counselor, you took off many days out of the year to go to the doctor, the dentist, or other medical-service provider.

Rake, don't complain

MAYBE THE person who complains about the leaves in the street is living by a neighbor who is physically incapable of raking them up. Wouldn't it be a nice Christmas present for the complainer to rake the leaves?

Leave him alone

WHY DON'T they leave our president alone? He's done nothing wrong. And who wouldn't lie if he was caught with another woman? Mrs. Clinton should be the one who would be angry. She's put up with this before. So if she can stand it, I can. As far as being a role model for your children, you don't tell them about it. It's your job as a parent to watch your children and keep things like this from them. So don't blame the president.