SPEAKOUT

Cuba and the Internet

THE DAY they let Cuba in on the Internet, which they intend to do, we may as well just throw in the towel. Cuba intends to present it's communistic views on our Internet. Now don't you think that's a little bit dangerous and stupid to say the least?

REPLY: There is no way to keep Cuba or anyone else off the Internet. As long as there are computers and an access point to the Internet, the connection is there. The information already available on the Internet covers every conceivable topic, including communism.

Hurrah for Democrats

WHEN I was a kid growing up, all we heard was stingy and free-hearted. That's the way it was. I'm an old woman now. Most Republicans were stingy. They just helped themselves. And that's the way I see it now. They help themselves. And the Democrats, you'll get more help from them. The Bible says the Lord helps those who help themselves, and also he loves a cheerful giver. Hurrah for the Democrats. I'm for you 100 percent.

Try new shock absorbers

I WOULD like to comment on the person who said our tax dollars were wasted on the new Sprigg Street and Lexington extensions. I would like to suggest they put some new shocks on their car and then try it again.

Need a four-way stop

I'LL TELL you what, that intersection of Sprigg and Bertling is real dangerous. We need a four-way stop there. I wish the city of Cape would wake up and put it there before someone gets killed. The road's been open about two weeks now, and there's already been on major accident there. Come on, city of Cape, wake up.

Spit in face only when...

ON THIS deal about the Baltimore Oriole player spitting in the umpire's face, let me say this. No one should ever spit in a man's face except on one occasion: if his mustache is on fire.

Quarterback stats

I'D LIKE to ask Jamie Hall, the sports writer, what it takes to get in his column where in congratulates local area football players for having nice numbers. The local quarterback, according to the paper's statistics, threw 64 percent completion and passed for 135 yards, threw three touchdown passes and even ran a touchdown and was not even considered to having nice numbers. I just wonder what it takes to get in his column.

REPLY: The article listed area athletes' season-high yard totals gained in games played Oct. 4. The Central quarterback's 135 yards was impressive, but not his season-high.

How many hours in class?

IN THE Sunday issue you listed university professors and other personnel with wages over $50,000. I wish you could repeat that column to show what their wages are with fringe benefits plus how many hours a week they are in the classroom. I hear so many kids say that the professors are never there, that they're always being taught by students. I think the public has the right to know how many hours a week they're in the classroom for this wage. I realize they spend a certain amount of time in their office preparing and talking to students, but I bet it's nothing near a 40 or 50 hour week that anybody else has to work if they're making that kind of wage.

Good job opportunities

I'M CALLING in reference to the person who called in about 500-600 new jobs coming to Cape but only paying between $15,000-17,000 a year. I don't know what company you're making reference to, but I do know that Blue Cross Blue Shield is coming to the area and hiring well over 100 people, and their salaries much exceed that, well onto $20,000 for certain positions. So we do have some better opportunities coming to Cape. I'm glad to share that.

Turnabout endorsement

EMILY FIREBAUGH should not be upset over Southeast Missouri Democrats supporting Mrs. Emerson. In the past, she supported Bill Emerson and endorsed him in her newspaper. So turnabout is fair play.

Health-care concerns

I THINK that the time is right to set some of the record straight. Bob Dole was talking about Medicare and the medical health plan in the United States. I think we ought to realize that the United States shares with South Africa the fact that we are the only two major industrial countries without a national health care program. We also pay the highest percentage of gross national product for health care in any of the major industrial countries in the world. And on top of that, our lifespan is shorter than most all of the European industrial countries. We're paying for health care that is convoluted and overcharged and terribly handled. If we would have a program like the Canadian health program, we have something. I work with people from Canada. They kept their Canadian citizenships in the United States because they didn't want any part of the American health care plan.

Band won first place

I WOULD just like to say that I'm very proud of Central High School's band of Cape Girardeau, Mo. They won first place on Oct. 5 at Washington, Mo. I wish they had more coverage on that.

Getting desperate

THIS LATEST political ad that the Democrats have out on Jo Ann Emerson going along with Newt Gingrich and cutting Medicare $270 million: I have never heard this woman say she was for cutting Medicare. Sounds like they're getting desperate. I think it's high time that these negative ads be put in their place. Jo Ann Emerson would make a fine congresswoman.

The waffler waffled

IT SURE was entertaining watching the king of wafflers waffle around and be on the defensive during the presidential debate, because Bob Dole kicked his butt every which way but straight.

Thanks for the assistance

I DON'T know if this is exactly what comes under this but I'd like to say a special thanks to Charles Park Jr. for stopping to help me and my daughter Saturday night when we had a flat tire. Lots of times we forget the really nice kids in our town. Thanks also to Mr. McCormick for letting us use his phone with no questions. These are two of Cape's very nice people who I was very luck to have met.

Vote the Prohibition Party

IN THE presidential debate, both candidates discussed the issue of drugs and tobacco. The fact is, both major parties support subsidies of tobacco farms and both receive money from liquor and tobacco industries. Neither have a real program to stop drug flow into our country. The Prohibition Party alone addresses tobacco, alcohol and drugs with a real solution. Use our military forces to stop drug smuggling. End the government subsidies for the tobacco industry. Beverage alcohol is the No. 1 cause of poverty, crime and highway deaths in America. Alcohol and tobacco need to be placed under the jurisdiction of the FDA resulting in the prohibition of manufactured distribution and sales. Vote for Earl F. Dodge for president Rachel Kelly for vice president.