SPEAKOUT

Economical site

WE FULLY agree with the editorial about the site for the new courthouse. Why would GSA want to add to our ever-mounting debt when other sites could be found at lesser cost? Plus it probably would be just as convenient for most people using the courthouse. Let's remember the traffic is a problem in the downtown area.

It's a conspiracy

WHEN PEOPLE say that Cape Girardeau is not a good cultural center, I can't understand how come they don't have the movie "Nixon" here in town, because it seems to me this is some kind of Democratic conspiracy as far as I'm concerned.

Property prices

I JUST returned from vacation at a resort area down South, and I noticed that real estate was remarkably cheaper in a resort area than it is here in the Cape Girardeau area. I've noticed in the last few years that the real estate prices around here are just exorbitant, and I'm just curious as to has any ideas why real estate prices are so high in this area, especially when compared to areas of other cities of similar size in the Midwest.

REPLY: What you may consider "exorbitant" would be considered a "steal" by someone coming from areas like the East Coast or West Coast where property prices are many times higher than here. Real estate prices are an example of supply-and-demand at work. Prices for houses and land have never been the same all over the country, because there are so many variables that result in the sales prices. This area enjoys moderate housing prices overall.

Scoop it up

IT WOULD be really greatly appreciated if people who walked their dogs for exercise for both the person and the dog would take a pooper-scooper and a bag along. It's kind of disheartening to go out to your mailbox and find a great big dog pile, and we don't own dogs. This happens all over the area. It would really be nice if people would be considerate.

Smell of blood

I WANT to comment about all the Republicans running for president. People are wondering why there are so many this year. I can tell you why: They smell blood. They've got the easiest president to unseat. He's easier than Carter. He drew 42 percent of the votes, and he may even lose with Perot to take away the conservative votes because conservatives may fall for it this time. They've got the easiest president with so much scandal and such bumbling that he's done. That's the reason they're doing it. I've seen a poll that shows there's no way that Clinton could win. He's lost the entire South, and the only states he has a chance in is Oregon and California, and California is slipping from his grasp.

Sharing trash

I'VE GOT a comment on the trash-limits comment. This person believes it totally unfair that every family in Cape is limited to three bags of trash. Maybe so. I'm a single person, and I only put out one bag a week. Sometimes I work out of town and sometimes I might go a month without putting out a bag. If she'd pay half my bill, I'd let her come bring some of the trash to my house, because I pay the same amount as she does.

Needle is stuck

I'M VICTOR, Voter Victor. I thought Missourian Mackey's tour of the paper was informative and entertaining. I noticed the tour didn't stop by the associate publisher's office to show us how he uses our only daily paper's editorial page to attack his political opponents and hard sell his own agenda. Oh well. I'll still read the editorial page because it's fun and I'll become an informed citizen, because it's fun and I'll become an informed citizen, because it's fun and I'll become a informed citizen.

What if...

THE REPUBLICANS are so proud of that word conservative, and they make out that the word liberal is something evil. If the conservatives had been in since the Great Depression, brought on by Republicans, there would be no Social Security, Medicare or, for that matter, middle class.

Proud of the label

AFTER PAT Buchanan's strong showing in Iowa, I was surprised to learn that the network people consider me extreme and the pro-choice normal. Although I don't picket abortion clinics or attend pro-life rallies, I do believe abortion is wrong. An unborn baby has brain waves, it has a heartbeat, it's arms and legs move. Yet the media would have us believe that people who support the killing of these babies, usually for convenience purposes, are normal. There is a perverted sickness in our society if murdering a defenseless baby is considered normal. If wanting to save these babies makes me a right-wing nut, then I'm proud to wear that label.

Tired of attacks

YOU TOOK a cheap shot at President Clinton. You know as well as I that he's been cleared of any wrongdoing and his wife also of anything in the Whitewater connections and land deal. The hearings that are going on now are covering what happened at Madison Loan Co., completely a separate deal than the Whitewater. You use Whitewater because you know it's more damaging. Give us the facts, give us the correct answers, give us the news as it comes out. Don't doctor it to suit your personal thoughts regarding the man. The liberals are complaining that he's too conservative, now you're saying he's liberal. Don't you have anything else to write about?

Baseball model

I'D LIKE to comment on the nice article about the Scott City native, Scott Little, who made it to professional baseball. Most memorable play, throwing out Mark Grace at home against the Cubs. If you want a role model, there's one. He can't play himself, but he can teach others.

Closing day

I READ in the paper that the Jackson Public Library plans to close on Saturdays. I think the public, including students and working people, would be served better if the library would remain open on Saturdays and perhaps close on Mondays.

No role models

MAGIC JOHNSON. Now Tommy Morrison. The HIV virus. Hopefully they'll be good role models for the youth, because now it is a sad day in Mudville.

Health-care needs

I'VE BEEN a thorn in Congressman Emerson's side about the national health care plan. Most of us know, particularly the minimum-wage people who aren't poor enough to be on welfare and aren't rich enough to afford insurance, that the insurance companies spent probably millions to beat the president's insurance plan. Emerson is supposed to build our hopes up to say there are no pre-existing ideas, a plan that they want to get out. He just mentions a rural. We know the rural area. That's our primary concern because we live here. But throughout the nation needs insurance. There are poor people in the cities and in the country. That's still not the answer, Congressman Emerson. We need a national health care plan so in case anyone is sick that the low minimum-wage earner is guaranteed hospital care so he won't lose everything. How any right-thinking person could be opposed to it is above me. Above all, I told Congressman Emerson to consider what it would cost him if he didn't have the insurance we furnish him. I'm frustrated. Let's consider that next election, you low wage earners. Let's elect people who want to give us a national health care plan if we can't afford insurance. That is not socialized medicine. That's plain humanitarianism.

GOP cannibals?

I HAVE come to the conclusion that the Republicans are cannibals. They did not have Mr. Clinton to chew on in Iowa, so they chewed up on each other, including Colin Powell.

Good opinions

YOU FOLKS are pumping out some great opinion pages lately. Keep up the good work, especially Peter Kinder and Jay Eastlick. Pete's Feb. 8 GOP platform proposal column is truly encouraging. A good clip-and-save article for future reference. It's full of logical principles, something liberal socialists are incapable of. I suppose the trick now is to drop kick Mel and Bob out of the way and implement this stuff. Pete, you'll see a lot of happy Missourians joining your cause. Way to go. The Feb. 6 opinion page was also excellent, especially the letter by Raymond Umbdenstock and the "Another view" by Ray Rowland. Pete and these gentlemen clearly perceived Clinton's new world order is already attacking the rights of Missourians through Jeff City. Why can't liberals present their arguments in the same thoughtful, logical manner instead of babbling their same old empty lies?