SPEAKOUT

Please explain

I NEED an answer. Why are a few states such as Kentucky called a commonwealth instead of a state? Please give answer in Speak Out.

REPLY: This sounds like a student trying to find an easy way to complete a homework assignment, which really isn't the purpose of Speak Out. But just in case the question comes from a curious reader with no access to reference books, here's an answer: A commonwealth is what four states (the others are Massachusetts, Virginia and Pennsylvania) have chosen to call themselves to indicate they were established for the common good of the people who reside in those states.

Touchy people

I HAVE lived in Cape only a year, but I am amazed at how touchy and sensitive some of the Cape people are. Take the hillbilly accent we keep hearing about in Speak Out. I say lighten up. It's like being ugly. Beauty is only skin deep. Your swamp bullfrog accent doesn't mean you are a redneck hillbilly necessarily. So get a life and enjoy yourself.

Staying informed

SOMETIME BACK someone called under the heading "Education impact" and made a wise observation with which I agree. I have been negligent in calling to agree with them. I'd like to do today, please. The Southeast Missourian has fine writers. Keep them and keep us informed. Maybe some of our citizens will learn working with your hands is more honorable than holding them out for our tax dollars. Thank you, Speak Out, for being there.

No deduction

I THINK there's a lot of confusion about the tax deductibility of tuition paid to a private or parochial school. It's not tax deductible.

Slow down

I AGREE with the caller regarding the new speed limits. I have talked with many citizens in this area, and not one has been for the increase. The only the people who wanted the limits raised is big businesses. Less time on the road is more money in their pockets. I wish some of our state reps would let us taxpaying family driving people know exactly who wanted the speed limits increased.

Flag protocol

I WAS glad to see that someone cares enough about our flag to make a call recently to complain about what he thought was disrespect in its display. Every time I drive through Jackson, I see our beautiful flag being flown at a business there. That flag is put in the spring and left until the next spring. It is discolored, tattered and torn, literally in pieces and falling apart, and that's disgraceful. I drive past cemeteries, doctors' offices and other places of business and see flags in the same kinds of conditions. People just put the flags up and just forget about it. They don't respect flag protocol. They don't consider whether or not it's a storm flag, don't put a night light on it or provide our flag with its due respect. I think this is a disgrace, and if they can't fly our flag with the dignity and respect it deserves, then they shouldn't fly it at all. With the purchase of each flag, there are instructions provided which explain clearly the customs and courtesies that should be followed when displaying this beautiful flag of our country. Please, let's all show respect for this wonderful symbol and by doing so pay honor to all of those who died for it so we, today, can still fly it proudly and honorably in its beautiful splendor over our great nation.

Against Emerson

I NOTICED that the actor Charlton Heston is endorsing his good friend, Bill Emerson, which the NRA is endorsing Congressman Emerson. Just get the facts straight. Ask the American Association of Retired Persons what they think of Congressman Emerson. Or any of the AFL-CIO organizations, the labor force, what they think of Mr. Emerson. And also, ask Mr. Emerson why he opposes the minimum wage being raised and about the national environment. We really need to protect our streams and forests and natural resources. And why did Mr. Emerson vote against President Clinton's national health care bill that we need very, very much. So Mr. Emerson in no way is any defender of the poor and the hard-working men and women who make low wages. He is strictly a privileged-man candidate, and any working person who considers voting for him ought to consider what I'm saying.

Railroad safety

I'D LIKE to comment on the two women who were killed at the railroad crossing in Oran. I work for the Burlington Northern Railroad. I'm a conductor, and if the general public would see how many times a day that we see people run crossings and ignore railroad tracks altogether, they might have another opinion of railroads. People need to realize you need to treat every crossing with care whether there are lights, gates or just crossing signs. It's a privilege for the general public to cross our railroad tracks. We have the right of way, and if everyone would just treat a railroad crossing as a stop sign and look both directions, we would not have these deadly crashes, and we conductors and engineers would not have to be faced with the sight of going up and seeing if someone is dead or alive. We definitely don't want them to happen, and we just want everybody to be careful.

Gambling is sinful

I WANT to say that gambling here in this country has gone too far. I'm strictly against any kind of riverboat gambling. At bingo, we can see right now that it's gone too far. People go in there and spend hundreds of dollars at games, and I wonder how many people are depriving their family of something to eat or pay the utility bills or rent by playing these games and doing this gambling. I am strictly against it. I think it's a very sinful thing that ever happened to this country. It is sinful to our state and to our county.

To bed with Rush

WELL, I'VE been reading your Speak Out. I really enjoy reading it. I'd like for you to know the Republicans might as well grab the seat of their pants and jump in bed with old Rush Limbaugh, because the Democrats are going to be so far ahead that the Republican Party will be lost. Jump in with old Rush in the same bed then waller around a little bit, and maybe he could lead your through what you need to know.

Dole and family

YOU KNOW, I don't understand anything. Everybody says Bob Dole for president. But he's not a family man. If he was, why didn't he speak about his daughter before now. He hasn't said a thing about his daughter and he's got one. That's why I don't understand. Why would we want a president who doesn't think anything of his family or his children? Children is important in people's lives. And another thing. Did you hear how he speaks about his wife? She's not going to do this and she's not going to do that. Who does he think he is? Women have rights to speak the same as men.

Parents in charge

I JUST read in Speak Out about disciplining children. I agree with this 100 percent. Nowadays, parents cannot discipline their children because someone's always ready to holler child abuse. My 8-year-old great-grandson, his dad spanked him and he looked and said, "Dad, that's child abuse." He said, "I'll make you think child abuse." Now that boy's going to grow up to be a fine young man. That's what's wrong with the world today. Kids don't have to work, they don't have to mind, they don't have to do what they're told to do. All they're thinking about is getting out with a bottle and some drugs and doing damage to other people. Come on, public, get behind this. Speak out your views on this.