SPEAKOUT

I WOULD like to find out from the city why we have such low water pressure here in Cape Girardeau. I live in the area of Capaha Park, and at times I have barely a flow of water despite such high water rates. I would appreciate anything that you could find out about this.

REPLY: Try calling the water department at 334-1332 to get information regarding your specific problem.

Secretary with no boss

HOW IN the world is it that Scott City can have a person who is a secretary to a city administrator when they don't even have a city administrator?

REPLY: Even though the city administrator's position is vacant, there are duties related to that position that must be tended to. The city is in the process of filling the vacancy.

Tax cuts stimulate growth

I MUST respond to the individual who blames Ronald Reagan's tax cuts for the huge deficit. First off, Ronald Reagan cut the marginal tax rates. He spurred the largest growth period in American peacetime history. No. 2, revenue doubled in the eight years of his presidency. He made taxes fair. People didn't mind paying them. Let's compare now to the capital-gains tax in America, which Mr. Clinton raised. After he raised the capital-gains tax in America, revenue is falling. People will defer payment and will not pay these. Think of how many houses, apartment houses and businesses and stocks would be sold in America. It would be a giant windfall. I'm surprised some Democrat hasn't figured it out so they can make billions of dollars if they would just cut these rates. It would stimulate growth. I've got a couple of rental houses that I've worked hard to keep up, but I'm not going to give this kind of percentage on the inflated prices on these houses. I will wait until this Clinton lunacy is over. We did this in the Carter lunacy years. So as some tax fairness is installed, perhaps people will then respond. When you cut taxes, you stimulate the growth. You will increase tax revenues rather than decrease them.

Mess needs to be cleaned up

I'M CALLING regarding the mess surrounding the Salvation Army Thrift Store on the southeast corner of Sprigg and Morgan Oak. Shame on the Salvation Army, which should be a leader in our community, especially the neighborhood where they have that wonderful new building. I think it would behoove them to clean up that mess as soon as possible.

Vote to save Medicare

IT'S GETTING close to election. Whenever these Republican congressmen say "we want to save Medicare," it reminds me of the old fox saying "I want to save you hens." It's a bunch of hogwash. They were against it in the beginning, they're against it now and they just want to raise where the senior citizens have to pay more. They want to destroy it. Let's start making their rich friends eliminate their health care. Let's put the party back in that initiated Medicare. That's Kennedy's plan. Let's save it through making the wealthy pay their part. Republican candidate Bob Dole voted against Medicare when it came out, the hypocrite. And also, Newt Gingrich said he wants to see wither on the vine. They're crazy. They want us to vote for them, the poor man's enemy. They may be out of their gourd. We were fools last time but not again.

Choosing a village

IF BILL and Hillary have another child, which they have expressed they would like to have, which village will they appoint to raise and care for it?

Draw own conclusions

APPARENTLY THE name-calling liberal who approved of Rush Limbaugh speaking at his alma mater, Central High School, didn't listen to his message. You know Rush is right, and he will continue to speak the truth. You promote your poster boy, and we'll decide who intellectually dishonest. The graduating students will also.

Thanks for the umbrella

WEDNESDAY, WHILE I was shopping at Schnucks, the weather turned to a downpour of rain. My umbrella was in the car, and I prepared myself to be drenched. As I started out of the building, a young man was standing at the door. He loaned me an umbrella to go to my car and get mine. Typical of the concern Schnucks has for its customers. Thank you, Schnucks.

Opinions are too biased

I AM a subscriber of the Missourian and I am so tired of everyday opening my paper and having you ridicule Clinton on your Opinion page. Maybe we don't all want to be Republicans like the one that owns the newspaper. Please, I wish you would quit always insulting Clinton. Let's put in a little bit of everybody. If you're going to have an opinion, let's don't be so biased.

REPLY: Readers who agree or disagree with any opinions expressed on the Opinion page, including Speak Out comments, are encouraged to write letters to the editor or to call Speak Out. That way all sides are expressed.

Tired of Travelgate

I'M A little sick of the Republicans continuing to harp on what they are calling Travelgate. This is not the first time a president has ever dismissed an employee. In fact, when a president takes office, the folks are required to write a letter of resignation. They serve at a pleasure of the president. I guess folks don't remember when President Reagan dismissed Don Regan. He was dismissed because of Nancy Reagan, and I do not remember a congressional investigation. Come on, let's get off this Travelgate thing.

Too much fraud

MEDICARE FRAUD is the reason why Medicare is going to go broke. The same way as Missouri Medicaid. They need to cut out the fraud in it.

Going to the dogs

I WAS very disappointed with the picture on the front of the TBY issue under the caption "Happy Father's Day." It showed a man holding a little dog. Is this the concept that the Missourian has of fatherhood, that a man would be placed on the front of a magazine like this, holding a dog? If this is true, then our society definitely is going to the dogs.

Curfew 'harassment'

I AM calling about the curfew in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I'm a 17-year-old able-bodied citizen of this town. Recently I was harassed about walking home from work when my car had broken down. I was told I must call a "responsible guardian" and get a ride home. How come? I live the life of a responsible citizen, and it is sad to see that just because I cannot prove that I am over 18 years old that I cannot walk home from work and support my community at maybe 1 a.m. on a week night. I believe this is against my civil rights. If I'm supposedly a citizen, I believe I should be able to live my life as I please, and I'm not committing crimes. Therefore I should be able to voice my opinion.

REPLY: You certainly can voice your opinion -- you just did. However, being asked to call a responsible guardian isn't harassment. Laws such as curfews are intended to give police the tools to make sure all citizens, young and old, are adequately protected.