SPEAKOUT

Useful space

I SURELY appreciate you horoscope column. It gives me a place to crank up my ballpoint pen before I work the crossword puzzle.

Education investment

THIS IS in response to the person who thinks Jackson school officials are trying to fool us and that we don't need to be burdened by larger property taxes. First of all, there have been several very detailed articles in the local papers about the bond issue and exactly how the money will be used to improve our schools. Jackson is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes more students needing quality education. Anyone who feels that paying a few more tax dollars to improve our children's education and the future of our country is a burden needs to take a closer look at their priorities. I, for one, think education is the most important thing in a child's life, and anything we can do to improve that education will certainly get my vote. Please vote yes in August for the new bond issue.

Only a hummingbird

I WAS out in the yard this morning and I heard this small shucking sound. I thought Ross Perot had come to see me, but it was a hummingbird.

Law of the land

THE WOMAN quoting the Bible who harangues about the call to death is treading on my freedom. The law says abortion is legal. I do not believe that the Bible is the law or the constitution of this country.

All those deferments

THIS IS in response to the caller who said that those who support Clinton don't have any idea what they're talking about and that Rush Limbaugh enlisted in the military and got a physical deferment from Vietnam. That is absolutely inaccurate. There's no evidence that Rush Limbaugh ever took a physical to enter the draft. He got a student deferment just like everybody else who avoided the war. So let's not make Rush Limbaugh out to be a war hero when he's just a draft dodger like Phil Gramm, Bob Dornan, Pat Buchanan, George Will and Bill Clinton.

Drive-away cheats

I'D LIKE to make a comment on those people who drive off from gas stations without paying for the gas. It just aggravates me. I work at a gas station, and they just don't realize that this stuff comes out of our pockets. We are people who work extra hours to earn extra money to pay the bills like the electric bill or the water bill so we don't get cut off or extra shoes for the kids. I'm just getting sick and tired of having the money come out of my pocket. I'm tired of people cheating other people, their own friends and neighbors. We're all in this together, and I just can't see why they just can't pay for the stuff without having somebody else like us pay for it.

Party affiliations

I'VE ALWAYS been interested the breakdown of the voters in Cape Girardeau city and county. Could you tell how many registered Democrats verses registered Republicans in percentages are? I'd really appreciate it.

REPLY: Sorry, but Missourians don't register by political party. Therefore, there is no such thing as a registered Democrat or a registered Republican in this state. The only time a voter declares a party preference at the polls in Missouri is in a primary election, such as the one coming up Aug. 6. In a primary, a voter requests either a Democrat or Republican ballot. Voters have any number of reasons for asking for one ballot or the other. Very often loyal members of one party will choose the primary ballot of another party because of a particularly interesting race. Generally speaking, Cape Girardeau County is considered to lean toward more Republicans than Democrats. Southeast Missouri, in general, tends to lean toward more Democrats than Republicans.

Just drill a well

MAY I make a suggestion to the people living outside the Scott City city limits and who are hooked up to the city water? Just drill your own well for water. It can't be expensive.

Call your legislator

I WOULD like to respond to the caller who is concerned about children riding in the back of pickup trucks. Nearly every year, state legislation is introduced to prohibit this. However it is never passed. I would suggest that you call your state legislator, express your concern and maybe the legislator can answer your question why the legislation is not passed and children are needlessly injured every year.

Telephone courtesy

THIS COMMENT is directed to all the mouth-breathing, slack-jawed idiots who have not learned telephone courtesy. If you do manage to reach a wrong number, have the courtesy to at least say "Sorry, wrong number." Don't just hang up.

No chance at all

I DON'T see how in the world the Democrats honestly think they can win the 1996 election when you look at the issues that they stand for: Killing unborn babies, support for homosexual marriages and raising taxes. I see no way in heck how the Democrats even have a chance to win.

Customers can help

THIS IS to the person who called in complaining about restaurant bathrooms. Most restaurant's check their bathrooms, but who's to say that the person in right before you didn't make the mess and that none of the workers know it yet? Would it kill you to tell one of the workers that there is a mess in the bathroom? I'm sure it will be most likely cleaned up right away. I know that in the restaurant where I work it would be. The same goes for the floors. So next time just tell one of the workers.