SPEAKOUT

Taxes need to be reduced

HEIDI NIELAND had a very interesting column in Saturday's paper about her taxes being higher now that she is no longer single. I am a senior citizen, and my taxes are $1,000 more now that my husband is no longer living and I'm filing single. My pension went up a little, but it seems to me that I wouldn't haven't to pay so much. I wish Heidi would investigate taxes, all taxes, sales taxes, special county taxes, to see if maybe some of them could be lowered. Maybe they have accomplished their goal. And also work on our Democratic administration to cut spending and taxes.

REPLY: The Southeast Missourian has reported for a long time that taxes are going up too high and too fast and has urged editorially for responsible elected officials to look at significant tax cuts. This would have to be accompanied by spending reductions, but the plain fact is that as long as there is money to spend, it will be spent. A rare exception is the Cape Girardeau County government, which not only sets aside revenue for a rainy day, but also has no property taxes. This is a good example for other governments at all levels.

Listen to the unborn

I HAVE an opinion. Our draft dodging commander-in-chief has vetoed the legislation that would ban partial-birth abortions. He'd rather murder a million babies than lose a thousand women. In the gospel of St. Luke, we're told the Virgin Mary went to see her cousin, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the babe in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Thus a baby is telling us that a six-month fetus has a functional brain and soul. It deserves the protection of the sixth commandment and the U.S. Constitution. In six months we get to vote on Clinton again. We can vote to share his murderous guilt, or we can vote to make our mamas proud. By the by, I am a Democrat.

Overrun by cats too

THIS IS in regards to the lady who received the $71 ticket for letting her dog run at large. I wonder why we don't have the same law for cats. The 1600 block of Westwood is overrun by about a dozen cats running wild. What's the difference between a dog and a cat when it comes to running?

Muddy new development

I WOULD like to comment about the poor manner in which the developers of a new subdivision have handled the problem with mud and water running down the street after a rain. Unfortunately, nothing is being done to rectify this problem except for scooping up the muck and dumping it on a easement which is someone's yard. Now these people have mud piles and pools of water where there should be grass. It makes me angry to see such actions go unnoticed by the city, and I question whether this eyesore and land management problem is violating any city codes.

Mind is made up

I'VE MADE up my mind. I am not going to vote for Dole. He doesn't want to raise the minimum wage, and he's blocking my raise. So why would I want him to be my president? If he's not for the smaller people or the people who don't have anything, then he's not going to be for anything. There's no way I'm voting for Dole, period.

Ron Brown is a big loss

I REALLY enjoyed the tribute that was paid to Ron Brown and his friends on C-SPAN. I wish all the people could have heard that. We have lost so many good men. Martin Luther King was someone I listened to a lot. He made it clear what he wanted to do for this country and his people along with John and Bobby Kennedy and now Ron Brown. President Clinton was so sincere in his eulogy. He seems to do everything just right.

Fair wage is fair wage

I HAVE a comment to the businessman who opposes the minimum-wage hike. If the minimum wage was a dime an hour, does he think people would be flocking to his business to work? A fair wage is a fair wage. And since it hasn't gone up since 1991, if you add the years of inflation, 90 cents extra is not too much more. You'll just have to settle for a Cadillac instead of the Porsche, Mr. Businessman.

Column was a cheap shot

PETER KINDER'S column April 19 was really a cheap shot about Missouri being a target state for big labor. Kinder is invoking big labor and left-wing activism against the minimum wage. This is sort of reminiscent of what happened during the civil rights movement when people were trying to say the civil rights movement was communist inspired. Invoking left-wing activism is just a cheap shot from Kinder, but I should have expected as much.

Wackos may have a point

THE REPUBLICANS in Congress are the biggest bunch of extreme right-wing wackos I've ever seen. They think the government shouldn't spend any more than it takes in. Is that radical or what? They even think that Medicare should be fixed now rather than let it go broke in a few years. What a nutty idea. They think Americans should be able to keep more of their paychecks. Can you believe these guys? If you think these ideas are radical and extreme, wait until you hear this one. Republicans thinks it's wrong for mothers to kill their fully formed babies for convenience purposes. Give me a break. Let's put the Democrats back in power so things can get back to normal.

A business opportunity

I'D LIKE to make a suggestion to the person who called in and made a comment about the lack of enough black movies being shown in Cape Girardeau. This is an opportunity for a good entrepreneur to invest some money and open a theater that would show more black movies and maybe some white movies and maybe some black-and-white movies and see whether or not it would be a profitable venture. I'm sure there would be a lot of people who would welcome the opportunity to see some of these good black movies.

Cancer fear and cooking

I WAS reading in the newspaper where the National Cancer Society says well-done meat might cause cancer. In 1958 it was cranberry sauce. When the vegetarians take over and we can't eat meat at all, they'll probably say broccoli causes cancer. Give me a break. Fear, fear, fear.

Andy Jacobs a good example

I WAS impressed with Jack Stapleton's column April 21 about Congressman Andy Jacobs of Indiana. I'm surprised that we haven't heard about this man before. I think what he does should be aired over and over and over again.

Trash charge sounds fair

I THINK the trash pickup limited to two bags for $12.13 a month and $1 for each sticker for additional bags sounds like a fair way to go. We recycle everything allowed and rarely have one full bag of trash per week. I don't feel like we should pay more.

We all pay for minimum wage

ALL THE people who complain about rising day-care costs will really have something to complain about when minimum wage is increased $2 an hour. Every hourly day-care teacher's salary would increase that much, and it would be passed on to the parents, just as would be at every department store, fast-food restaurant and every business whose pay scales begin at minimum wage. We'll all pay for it.

Police need pay advocate

DID I read your paper correctly? Our Cape Girardeau police officers are getting a 1 percent pay increase? May I suggest they hire an attorney? They need someone in their corner, because it's obvious whoever's in charge is not on their side.

No more recycling here

I AM the only occupant of this house. I recycle everything that is recyclable. And because I do, one large container will hold all the trash I accumulate in a 30-day period. I pay $12.13 to have it picked up. Other households pay the same, but most have more trash. I ask, is this fair? Beginning today, I stopped recycling. No more sorting and separating. All becomes trash. All goes out together.

Take action on abortions

I AM not a person who walks away with a flashing bow tie that says "Jesus Saves," but I do let Jesus speak through me in my proclamation that abortion is murder. Please inform yourself on what is happening in the political process. There are two ways we can work toward overcoming this atrocity of abortion. Everyone's moral obligation is to vote against the man who declared partial-birth abortions are OK. The other is by praying and praying hard that the culture of death that we are experiencing in this country will pass. Bind Satan to the foot of the cross. He is rampant in our country, and we must stop him. It is more and more evident every day in our country. Jesus' peace and love be with all of you.