OpinionJuly 15, 1996
SPEAKOUT
I'M CALLING about the cable rate going up again -- $2.50. I think the city council ought to do something about this. I don't know if the mayor would or not, but I think it's time they did something. They've raised the price three or four times since the city took over. In the paper, they said they were paying the franchise tax. The customers are paying it. I think they ought to do give us better cable or more channels or do something because they're hurting a lot of people...
Do something about cable
I'M CALLING about the cable rate going up again -- $2.50. I think the city council ought to do something about this. I don't know if the mayor would or not, but I think it's time they did something. They've raised the price three or four times since the city took over. In the paper, they said they were paying the franchise tax. The customers are paying it. I think they ought to do give us better cable or more channels or do something because they're hurting a lot of people.
Rush and Bill's deferments
FOLKS, HERE'S the way it is. Rush Limbaugh and Bill Clinton both avoided going into the military the same way -- they had a student deferment. Bill Clinton went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, and Rush Limbaugh went on to flunk out of SEMO.
Wages and politics
I'D LIKE to comment about the minimum-wage hike. Everybody's feeling sorry these people who make minimum wage and think they deserve more. What about people like me who start at minimum wage and work their way up out of that to about $8 or $9 an hour? Now, it's going to be taken away from us because it's an election year, and candidates decide that they'd like to raise it just to make themselves look good.
Some food for thought
I'D JUST like to comment on the hype about Mrs. Emerson. I admired Mr. Emerson, but I don't see where they're coming from. My husband is an electrician, but does that mean that I know a lot about electricity? I think not. Just some food for thought.
Put the family first
I SEE even the Democratic Congressmen are joining Clinton in copying the Republicans. They have something called "Family First" which is supposed to be like the Contract With America, but I think it should be renamed the Welfare Administrator and Receivers Relief Program. All it is is more programs and how the government needs to take more control of your life and bigger taxes. If they really want to help the public, try this one on for size -- a tax cut, less government, fire about half of those federal workers and social workers that they've got up there, and give families the right to send their kids to any school they want to. That'll free the taxpayers. If they want to put family first, that's a good way to do it.
A mail-order solution
TO THE person who has a problem with mail-order clubs, this is what I did. I returned the card and made a notation that I would not return the card anymore unless I wanted something, and if they sent me something anyway, I would keep it and not pay them. I made a copy for my records and did not receive any more dated reply cards. They still send the package to give me the opportunity to buy if I want to, but I don't have to worry about responding by a certain time.
Firebaugh an 'Emercrat'
THIS IS to the Republican who plans to vote for Emily Firebaugh after taking anti-nausea medicine because of the way the Republicans tried to get Mrs. Emerson to run. But they don't have to worry, because Mrs. Firebaugh is an admitted "Emercrat" from way back, so a vote for her would be like a vote for a Republican.
Bond shows true colors
YOU PEOPLE here in the Heartland should have watched C-SPAN. You would have seen the real Kit Bond, our U.S. senator and former governor. He really showed his real colors. He was very angry because you people working minimum wage can get a raise. It made him unhappy because he didn't get the small businesses exempted. I think 95 percent of the small businesses can certainly afford a 90-cent-an-hour raise over a year's time. I don't know who he's trying to kid. He accused the president of being the tool of organized labor. He's anti-union, and his priority is certainly for the rich. He showed it, he was angry, and I think that's something for us to keep in mind, particularly you men who are labor union members who are hard workers and the people who are on public aid or earn minimum wage. Think about that next time he runs.
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Let felons out to work
I HAVE been a legal resident and a legal taxpayer in Cape Girardeau County for many years. It hurts me very much to know that felons can live off the American taxpayers money indefinitely. I'm opposed to the felons having anything that way. Let them get out and make their own way, or get out of the United States would even be better.
No outsiders for Congress
I AM a resident here more than 50 or 60 years, and I don't want an outsider representing me in Congress, and I'm not voting for one. I urge other people not to vote for outsiders.
Election-year issue
I FIND it very interesting that the last time the Democrats brought up the minimum-wage issue was the last presidential election year, just like this time. Could it be that the Democrats don't care about the American worker, but rather about getting Bill Clinton elected? Hmmm? Wake up, America.
How politicians work
WHAT HAS happened to the Republican Party just goes to show you that a good man like Dr. John Ritter, who has lived in Cape County all his life, doesn't stand a chance with the politicians who don't want the people to govern.
Looking for Schumer Springs
I NOTICED in "Out of the past" 75 years ago, that Schumer Springs was very popular. I remember my mother saying that it was near Oak Ridge, and I believe Houck Railroad went that far. We have Little Schumer Springs in Jackson where we went for picnics when I was growing up, but what happened to Big Schumer Springs?
Carrying on the tradition
THIS IS in regards to the caller who said he would not vote for the admirable Bill Emerson's wife. Obviously he has not done any type of research on Mrs. Emerson, or they would have found out exactly how qualified she is. She is, in fact, running for the people of Southeast Missouri to carry on the wonderful spirit of service that Bill gave to this district for nearly 16 years. I would suggest to those people who are changing to the liberal ballot to weigh the candidates and see that they have come to an incorrect conclusion.
Jackson a friendly town
I JUST want to say that we moved to Jackson a little less than a year ago from a larger city up north, and we moved into Fairway Estates in Jackson. We just love it. The people are so friendly and kind and easy to get along with. I want to congratulate them on the block party they had a couple weeks ago. We really enjoyed that. The city we moved from had nothing of that type -- you hardly knew your neighbors, much less the people down the block. We really enjoyed the block party, and everyone was friendly. We especially enjoyed the fireworks. What a grand display for a subdivision party. Again, we enjoy Jackson and the subdivision.
Making the right choice
I AM writing in response to a caller's comment concerning the use of pro-abortion vs. pro-choice in labeling that movement. While the caller's concern for women in that situation was evident, I have to wonder how he or she came to the conclusion that the pro-abortion movement is about the right of a woman to choose. Any choice or decision should be based on information, pro and con, about how it will affect you. The abortion advocates have consistently fought efforts to provide education and counseling to women who are considering abortion. They don't want women to know that what they are about to destroy is recognizable at 10 weeks as a human baby. That would be cruel. At age 19, I found myself pregnant, unmarried and terrified of disappointing my parents. I had an abortion. There was no counseling, no questions, no hassle. it was my belief that it was just a blob of tissue. I will never forget sitting in a nursing class and seeing a picture of a baby at 10 weeks of development. The blood drained from my face as the full truth of what I had done one year earlier hit me. This was no blob or even a mere product of conception. It was a baby, my baby, and I had taken its life. Abortion advocates don't want you to know that when you abort a baby, you live with the pain, shame and anguish of what you have done for the rest of your life. Every time you see a child about the same age as the one you killed, it's an awful hurt that you can't erase, even knowing that God has forgiven you. Ten years later, I again found myself in the same situation. This time, however, there was only one choice. Was it hard to tell my family? Yes. But I did. I now have a beautiful child who is the joy of my life. Any fear or shame I felt vanished when I held her in my arms. Seldom is the right choice the easy choice. It may seem so easy to have an abortion, but I can tell you from experience that taking the easy way out can lead to a lifetime of pain, sorrow and regret.
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