SPEAKOUT

Memories of this century

CLINTON SAID in his state of the union speech that a child born today would have not memory of this century. They may not remember but they will be constantly reminded of this century as they pay off the $5 trillion national debt with huge taxes withheld from their paycheck that they earn after they've crossed the bankrupt bridge into the 21st century.

Story wasn't relevant

I'M A steady reader of the Southeast Missourian, and I'm usually pretty tolerant of the newspaper's foibles but the recent article on New Hampshire's unorthodox legislators impels me to comment. What is newsworthy about that story? It seems to be the story of a man who's learning disabled who's never really been able to hold a job who's been elected to the New Hampshire legislature. This may be a good story as a human interest story on one of your society or lifestyle pages. What about it deserves the prominent place of the headline on the front page of the newspaper? What makes it particularly relevant? I'm afraid this is just an indication of the steady decline in quality of the Missourian. There's less and less news. Rates go up, and the quantity of news go down. Please put more effort into making this a quality newspaper of interest to people in Southeast Missouri. I would have rather seen some national story on the front page than this pitiful little, second-hand story which is obviously just there to fill the space.

Sales taxes and water

TO THE person who thinks that us country folks should pay for the Cape city water system via higher sales tax on everything we buy in Cape: We already are paying in the price of the goods. We drilled a well three years ago, and it costs us $5,000. I don't remember one single person in the city of Cape sending us money to help pay for our well. And if our pump goes out, I know that not one single person in the city of Cape will come to help us fix it. We pay for our own water in the country, and we don't come to Cape whining about a handout. Maybe the city of Cape should do the same. Keep raising the sales tax, and we'll find somewhere else to shop.

Less city control

TALKING OF control: The city plans to have all electricians report to city hall, give them a personal update of where they live and other information. They will then tell the individual electrician how much insurance he must have to operate as an electrician. That will deprive older folks and people that do not have the money a less chance for hiring any work done whatsoever.

Fix the problem

I WOULD like to make a comment on the death penalty. If it is unfair to the blacks, then fix it. Don't stop it. If you at all think the death penalty is barbaric, talk to the mother of the 9-year-old girl in Chicago or talk to the two boys in Texas that their own mother killed. Fix the problem and go on with the death penalty.

A lot of spewing

WHEN WE voted for gambling a couple years ago, I voted for it, not really wanting the gambling but felt this would be a way to get the area cleaned up in the north end along the flood wall. It sounds like Boyd Co. is not going to get a license for the gambling. Does this mean nothing will be done to improve the land they purchased? If so, there was an awful lot of spewing around about nothing.

You pay if it passes

ALL CAPE Girardeau property owners, you pay a school tax. If you rent a house, a business or any real estate, your landlord is charging for school taxes. So all the people who rent real estate, you will pay for the Cape school building and repairs and whatever is on the school bond issue. So get out and vote for or against the school bond issue. You pay if it passes.

Unsanitary food handling

I SURE agree with Sue Penzel when she wrote in your paper about sanitation and contaminated food. Let me tell you something. I've lived here a short while and have suffered a many an upset stomach. I have never been where there's been such nastiness in handling the food in the restaurants and grocery stores as I found here. They never use any gloves. If you watch on television, the prisons, when they feed them, they put plastic gloves on.

A lawyer with sense

MORLEY SWINGLE'S disagreement with the ABA proves he is at least one lawyer with common sense.

More parking needed

AT OUR house we have several drivers who have their own cars, and we can hardly ever park out in front of our house because we have a neighbor who uses his side of the street and our side of the street too. I would appreciate it if we had more parking spaces.

Get up earlier

I HAVE a suggestion for Mark Bliss and his family: Try getting up a little earlier. What in the world would you and your wife do if you had to get up and bet at work at 6 or 7? It must be nice to have until 9 a.m. to get to work. Not all of us have that luxury.