SPEAKOUT

Business concerns

IN YOUR June 1 article, "Business conference issues discussed at forum," SEMO instructor Buz Sutherland was quoted as saying a good relationship between small business and education is important. I agree. Perhaps Mr. Sutherland would, accordingly, consider lecturing small businessmen on the counterproductive effects of exploiting the teen-age work force during the school year, often to the detriment of their academic performance. In addition, the article pointed out that a message would be carried to Washington that small business is overtaxed and overregulated. Since I hear that mantra repeated daily by Washington pols, I think it would be safe to assume they've gotten the message. However, I will admit that whether or not elected representative vote to return to a 19th century, regulation free, social Darwinistic, dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, laissez faire society, dominated by ultra-fat cats accurately characterized as robber barons, remains to be seen. The fact that Calvin Coolidge's "The business of America is business" is so in vogue again makes the chances fairly good.

Moralist bandwagon

SEN. DOLE recently said that the mindless violence and loveless sex on movies such as "Natural Born Killers" and "True Romance" appalls him. He went on to say that the artists such as NWA and 2 Live Crew were vulgar and offensive. What we are witnessing is another conservative Republican on the moralist bandwagon of saving our children. Dole later stated that he didn't see or hear the movies or music, but he did review them. Dole's case is totally without merit based on a hodgepodge of illogical conclusions. He puts on his guardian-of-the-people uniform, and the media come running. Jesse Jackson sums it up when he says that "you don't judge a tree by the bark it wears but by the fruit it bears." If Sen. Dole wants to change his career from politician to movie and music critic, I for one encourage him to do so, but don't try to do both.

Highway cost

I WOULD like to comment on John Oliver Jr.'s comment in the paper on Thursday saying that it would cost $3 million or $4 million to build up the short stretch of Highway 177 north of Cape at the city limits. I think that is very low priced compared to the price that I paid in 1993 when my father passed away when the floodwater was over that short stretch of highway and I was wondering where my tax dollars were going to because I thought that I paid road taxes.

Protect our rights

TELL YOUR congressman to vote against the anti-terrorism bill. We need thorough investigations of Oklahoma City, of the Weaver and Waco deaths. We need to prosecute criminals. But we don't need to destroy the Bill of Rights and our liberties as a result of the practices of Bill Clinton and the other power-hungry members of his administration.

Abortion deaths

WE ARE all saddened by the loss of life in Oklahoma City, especially those of the children who died by that cowardly, evil act of destruction. I have seen where trees have now been planted as memorials and prayers have been made for the families and friends of those grieving. However, in the United States each day 4,000 children are butchered and killed in abortion clinics with the blessing of our government. Where is the national outpouring of grief for those children's deaths?