SPEAKOUT

A Democrat now

I READ in Speak Out that a lot Democrats who have voted for Clinton are going to vote a Republican ticket. I've got news for you. I'm a Republican, and I'm going to vote for Clinton. He's the best president we've ever had. At least he's not like my party, trying to take Social Security away from people. If my party had its way, it would take Social Security away from everybody and let them starve. Why don't they take a cut? I've changed over now, and I'm a Democrat all the way. And I'll be a Democrat the rest of my life or until the Republicans quit listening to Rush Limbaugh and start running this country the way it should be: for the people. If it weren't for the people, they wouldn't have a salary at all, would they?

Night school idea

DR. ATCHLEY is right on in his comments concerning a night school and giving some classes to people who have been denied admission under regular university requirements. This is the same item that many people spoke up for in our forums last year, so I hope that this is listened to and those needs are met in our area by our community university. Thank you, Dr. Atchley, for thinking of the area.

Illumination needed

I WOULD like to bring it to your attention about the stop lights between Jackson and Cape, which serves their purpose. But it is spooky dark at night. It's too dark in these areas at night. If you stopped at these lights with no traffic, it could be dangerous to your life. You could be attacked. So light up our lives for safety.

Crime in government

I AM 69 years old, and in all my life I have never seen such a crime-ridden government as we have in our country today. Surely at election time we'll get rid of that mess up there in Washington and get something different in there. This is pitiful. I'm frightened.

Lincoln's vision

THE FOLLOWING statement was made by Abraham Lincoln. "Liberals with socialistic leanings should pay close attention because it still applies to this day. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. YOu cannot help man permanently by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves."

Not just oldsters

I JUST read in the Parks and Recreation section in the paper that there is a senior citizen dance very month at the arena. It made me think why it's called senior citizen dance. I go there quite often with my wife, but we have friends who don't qualify for the senior citizen status who I'm sure would like to go. Perhaps it would attract more people if you just called it ballroom dancing.

Need more time

THE CITY Council just doesn't get it. Instead of raising the cutoff amount on the utility bills, they should be extending the amount of time to pay the bill. If you're out of town when the bill comes, then you might come into to town to find your water is cut off. This is ridiculous.

Remember Reagan?

TO THOSE callers who are so quick to criticize our president and his administration, I would like to say they must surely have forgotten those 12 awful years of the Reagan-Bush administration.

Some advice, Mark

I CERTAINLY agree with the caller about Mark Bliss talking so much about his children. I love children very much, but I think he is doing them a disservice by this, because they will have a rude awakening when they get into the schools. But then I must compliment him on his Jan. 9 column. I've known for a long time that he's a good writer and very creative, but his problem has been that he wrote too much on his children. I appreciate the Jan. 9 column, and I know that he does a great job on other articles in your paper. I thank you for Speak Out and letting us voice our views.