SPEAKOUT

Government squanders Social Security funds

IN HIS July 28 letter, Gil Degenhardt, a defender of government programs, more or less admitted that the federal government's borrowing from surplus Social Security funds is the primary reason for future shortages in Social Security and Medicare. I agree with him except for one point. When one borrows, it's assumed that the funds will eventually be paid back. When Uncle Sam borrows the money that taxpayers pay into Social Security, he replaces that money with bonds that are never redeemed. This is not borrowing. This is confiscating taxpayers' retirement funds. Tell me, Gil, if you lent someone money but only got IOUs for repayment, would you be willing to lend that person even more money in the future? Like it or not, that's exactly what you are proposing. The government has squandered Social Security surpluses for decades, and your answer is to give them more.

Paper is right-wing trash

I TAPPED into your little town. I'm from Seattle. I picked up your newspaper and read it, and I have never seen a more right-wing piece of trash in my entire life. There are at least five stories in here that are derogatory towards Democrats, and there are no stories in here about the problems Haley Barbour and the Republican Party are having. Seems to me that the newspapers in this country have gone so far extreme to the right it's ridiculous and they're not supposed to be in the business of formulating public opinion. They are supposed to be in the business of providing the people with the facts. And they're not supposed to take a position, left or right. And yours has obviously taken a position on the right side. You probably do not represent the majority of the people who are in this state. And the only way that you could is if the majority of the people in this state made over $200,000 a year, which are the only people that have benefited by the politics of the Republican party. All the moral pandering that they've done is all a smoke screen and is nothing that they follow personally themselves. They're a bunch of hypocrites. They're in it for the money, and that's it. I will not let any grass grow under my feet in this town.

REPLY: The Southeast Missourian has run stories each day of the congressional hearings looking into campaign donations, including a story about Haley Barbour's testimony this week.

Set yourself free, trash the TV

WE JUST don't have time for television. If you're addicted to it, in the words of a John Birch Society bumper sticker, set yourself free, trash the TV. I will say with the psalm of David, I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.

When does sales-tax cut start?

SAY, COULD you tell me when I'm going to be able to take advantage of this great three cent savings on every dollar that I spend on food? I'm still paying in Jackson over 6 percent and in Cape even higher than that. I'd like to know where is my three cent savings on every dollar.

REPLY: The three-cent reduction in the state sales tax on food takes effect Oct. 1.

A new definition for cynicism

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST Mona Charen's recent column: The gist of it was we all should stop being so cynical. Maybe if we all adopt Charen's suggestion, we can turn this country around. P.S. Cynicism is hereby defined as any point of view differing from that of Mona Charen.

Social Security letter affects naps

I AM angry at Mr. Gilbert Degenhardt. Before a recent post-lunch reading of his "chronology of Social Security" letter to the editor, I had been making great strides toward breaking my afternoon habit of taking naps.

Other politicians with charisma

AREA RADIO talk-show hostess Cindie Jeter recently said she thought Missouri Republican U.S. Senator John Ashcroft had a lot of charisma. I am willing to accept Jeter's broadened definition of the word charisma only if she is willing to admit that other politicians who now, according to her definition, qualify as charismatic include Calvin Coolidge, Mel Carnahan, Margaret Kelly, Walter Mondale, Bill Bradley, Bob Dole and Al Gore.

Public needs to help keep theaters clean

JUST GOT home from seeing Air Force One at Cape's newest theater and we thought it was fantastic. Great movie, it sounded awesome and I don't use that word very much, but it was really fantastic. Everything was nice and neat and clean and everybody was very helpful, very pleasant. I enjoy that. The building was great. I can't say enough about it. But to the general public, I might say this: Pretty soon everybody's going to be putting their feet up on the seats and on the railings and getting it all messed up. Pretty soon the bathroom's going to look like trash because people don't clean up after themselves. We did see one stall that somebody had apparently never learned how to flush the toilet and nobody wipes down when they're at the sink so the whole place is a sea of water. I guess we just can't have nice things in other words. We gripe and gripe about we don't have anything good to do in this town and wish they'd get a new theater and better movies. Well, now we have it. Let's try to keep it nice for everybody else.

Bingo puts money back into the community

IS THE Scott City Police Department starting the same old problem of harassment? Saturday night they were harassing the bingo players. Is this all they have to do? Remember, lots of this money is put back into the community. Take a look at this issue. It was uncalled for.

Garden plots are more economical

A SUGGESTION was made in Speak Out recently concerning merits of a basketball court over garden plots on North Main Street. Basketball is fine, but take the idea a step further. Next we'll need toilet facilities, water fountains, tables and trash cans, pay city employees to keep the grounds clean, possible parking problems. Garden plots require none of these.

Versace killing is big news

FIRST OF all, not that it matters, but I'm straight. Let's get that right out of the way. I'm a little bit worried about this caller's attitude on the killing of Gianni Versace and saying it should only be a regional story. The only reason it was national is that the figure killed was a national figure and he was the fifth person killed by this man who was gay but really was a mass killer. He wasn't a serial killer. He was on a killing spree. The reason it's important to you is that two of his victims were straight. In other words, he wasn't going around only killing gay people. You and I, anybody who got in his path, not that we would have, but if we got into his path and he wanted to take our car to get away, he'd have killed us for it. As far as your Village Voice story, I'm well aware of the story you're talking about. I think you're blowing it a little bit out of proportion.

OK, Rus Baer is crazy not to pick the Cubs

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Sports columnist Rus Baer recently wrote of himself to "call me crazy but the Cardinals could still win the division and make it to the World Series without a blockbuster trade." Well, OK, Rus, but you asked for it. Rus Baer is crazy. Everyone knows it's the year of the Chicago Cubs.

Farewell gesture was much appreciated

I WOULD like to thank SEMO gymnastics coach Bill Hopkins for his recent farewell letter published in the Southeast Missourian. I particularly appreciated the portion of the letter where he took the time to say so long to SEMO's administration. In far too many farewell letters, those who write them fail to mention those who hired or employed them in the first place. That Coach Hopkins courteously called attention to SEMO's administration was a much appreciated gesture.

Area should have been notified about chemicals

IN REGARDS to the chemical leak on Route D in Jackson. I must say how disappointed I am in the choice of the city to not notify locals in the immediate area. My child attends a daycare facility very near the leak. Her teacher told me that no officials had contacted them and that they responsibly called the city themselves. I thank the daycare for their action in the situation. I also read today in David Angier's article that an official said he would not say there wouldn't be any health problems associated with the chemicals. It is frightening to see emergency personnel wearing protective clothing when my child was nearby in an unnotified daycare.

Remembers the five-and-dime stores

I JUST wanted to say that I enjoyed Ray Owen's column about Woolworth's store and the five-and-dime stores. I grew up in Jefferson City, and we had a Newberry's store, a Woolworth's store and a Kress store. I really enjoyed going there. I remember them well.

Lost pin has sentimental value

IF YOU find a gold pin that was lost Monday, July 7, on Main Street in Cape Girardeau, please return it to the Division of Family Services, 130 S. Frederick. The pin is shaped like a bow and has sentimental value. Thank you.