SPEAKOUT

Political signs

I BELIEVE, as Councilman Tom Neumeyer does, that campaign signs, no matter from what party, shouldn't be next to the curb or between the curb and sidewalk. Mr. Neumeyer suggested that the signs should be at least 10 feet from the curb and from that distance they could be seen OK and not look as bad as if they were next to the street. The city should have an ordinance against this, and I hope Mr. Neumeyer keeps fighting for this. I know he would have a lot of support from other people who feel the way I do. I wish Mr. Neumeyer good luck and hope he keeps up the good work.

We could do better

I WANT to comment about the ads that Gov. Mel Carnahan is running saying how he gave us computers for our kids and what all he's done. Well, he's also gave us the biggest tax raise in history of the world. It's the biggest one we've ever had in Missouri under him, and if he wouldn't take our money, we could buy our computers ourselves. I think I could do a better job than somebody such as government people who pay $600 for an ashtray and $12,000 for a toilet seat. If Carnahan would let us keep our money, we could buy our own computers, and we could buy the ones we really want.

Whose husband?

LET ME ask you this. Who's husband would you rather have running this country, Hillary Clinton's husband or Elizabeth Dole's husband? I think the choice is obvious.

Military photographs

DID YOU know that President Clinton, who said he loathed the military and was a draft dodger, had the White House, at great expense to the taxpayers, assemble huge photographs along one hall of the Pentagon. These pictures show Mr. Clinton with various members of the military.

Bad grammar

IT NEVER ceases to amaze me and disgust me how all these so-called learned people on television in particular -- news anchors -- supposed brilliantly people continually mix the singular with the plural. I'll give you an example: Is someone holding your fate in their hand or someone's going to get their throat cut. This is the worst grammar I've ever heard in my life, and it's coming out of people's mouths who are supposed to be intelligent and well learned.

Thank you, Betty Knoll

THANK YOU, Southeast Missourian for the nice picture and article in Saturday's paper about Betty Knoll. I met Betty several years ago and have watched her work through the years. I think she first started a neighborhood watch around William Street and has progressed so very much in her work. Thank you, Betty, for giving so much to the city and the citizens of Cape Girardeau. You deserve a big award. God bless you, Betty.

Not a funny topic

I WANT to comment about the woman who was upset about drugs and her son killed himself over drugs. I've had the same problems, not with suicide, but this drug bill is bad and that's what so bad about the president winking at drug use and making light of it.

Everyone is ready to sue

I THINK the reason a lot of times people don't go out of their way to help other people or pick up the trash or whatever is because they're afraid they're going to get sued by some sue-crazy idiot out there. You never know who the crazies are, so don't help anybody and you won't get sued for whatever. People will sue you for helping them. That's what the problem with America is.

Homework crowded out

IN REFERENCE to the complaint about homework for students, perhaps it's time to get priorities straight. Maybe families lives are too full of soccer and ballet and gymnastics and these other activities. Will homework not serve the children better in their adult lives, teaching them that life is hard work and not always running off to fun and games and things of that sort?

Need new strategies

I AM tired of hearing about drugs from both candidates. Haven't they been trying the same policies on drug abuse for years with no results? It's time to try new strategies. First we must reclassify different types of drugs. We must bring marijuana above board and legalize it for adults. That would make it much easier to control who has it, and it would also take the illegal profit out of it. It would unclog the court system and free the personnel to fight the crack cocaine epidemic that was started by the Republicans in 1982. The government could reap tax income from legal sales and regulate it like alcohol. The government has been feeding us propaganda for years. Much of the information they've given us about marijuana is totally untrue. The pot-smoking population is approximately 50 million, not the 13 million that they have said recently. Most people that are against marijuana have never tried it or they are uninformed about it's benefits. Who are they to judge? Haven't we learned that prohibition doesn't work? I say it's time to get wise and legalize.

No evidence

YOU SLANDEROUS people. The president lies and cheats. I don't think there's been a bit of proof where he's cheated. Certainly there's been a lot of allegations towards him, or lied. There's not been one shred of evidence. The only thing I can see the man's doing is trying to get decent national health care and fight for the rights of the poor and working man. You people who cannot afford to pay the minimum wage: Do the work yourself. You've had slave labor long enough. I have no pity for you. You can give me the hogwash that you're going to have raise your prices. That's just what your hangup is. You just don't want to have to pay decent wages. All you think about is your profits. You talk about selfishness. Get with it. This is going into the 21st century, and big business people are building big homes. You're the greedy ones.