SPEAKOUT

Powell another Perot?

LET ME suggest that the only real reason why Colin Powell is being groomed by the liberal media as a presidential candidate is their need to create another Ross Perot. Remember that Clinton was elected with 43 percent of the popular vote, which he will undoubtedly receive again in 1996. Once a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, you will always vote Democratic. All the Democratic Party needs to be successful in 1996 is for another third-party candidate to come along to split the Republican vote. I say no to a third party in 1996, and I say no to Colin Powell.

Sports and politics

CAPE Girardeau lacks a university football team, and the state of Missouri lacks a football team in general. Another comment I would like to make is about a Speak Out comment Sept. 17 whining about Carnahan's lack of running the governor's office on AIDS and stuff. Carnahan is the first Democrat governor in for 20-25 years. So the caller better wonder who got the state in the financial problem it's in. It wasn't Carnahan. Go back to Ashcroft and Kit Bond. It goes way back.

Recycling penalties?

I WOULD like to know when the city is going to start penalizing the people who do not recycle. This is unfair to the people that do recycle. We are being penalized because we're having to pay more for trash pickup. When we recycle we don't have as much trash. The city council promised it was going to alleviate this and work out a deal for everybody. It seems like since the city got the half-cent sales tax, it's sitting on its heels. Unless the city does something very shortly, I intend to stop recycling, because there's no law that says you have to.

Courthouse site

I LOVE Speak Out. I really agree with the people who suggested that they put the new courthouse at the old hospital building on Good Hope. That would clean up that area, and it'd be a very efficient place to put it.

Don't forget tax cut

I'D JUST like to comment on your Sept. 17 editorial on Medicare reform. I think you failed to mention that the $270 billion they're trying to take out of the Medicare would be better off if they put that back in the trust fund instead of giving it back out to the wealthy in the form of a tax cut.

SSI to alcoholics

I'M NOT a senior citizen, but I'm appalled that more cuts are being recommended in Medicare in our Congress. And we've got all these alcoholics and drug addicts drawing SSI, giving them money to continue their habit.

Get new tires

THIS IS to the lady who experienced the flat tires on Highway 74. She said her vehicle was only three months old. If I was her, I would take my vehicle back and demand they put new tires on. But it was nice for all those people to stop to help her change her tires and all.

Smoke-free mall

THANK GOD the mall is smoke-free. We're on the right track. If we just keep pushing the smoking out, we will soon have a smoke-free nation.

Medicare target

WE ARE appalled at the never-ending plans to hurt senior citizens. Each time there's a dire emergency in our government, they target senior citizens. Case in point: Medicare. Solution: cut out welfare. This is maybe the biggest waste in our nation today. Each recipient is entitled to everything free, and I underline free. These people contribute nothing to our nation's economy yet, their doctor, hospital stay, child care, everything is free. We have worked around these people for 40 years, and it is disgusting. This, not Medicare, is where the waste is.

Potential killers

SMOKERS SAYING they have their rights is like drunk drivers saying they too have their rights. Both are potential killers.

Unfair to Holly Dunn

I WAS at the SEMO District Fair last week and saw Holly Dunn and came away with a much different impression than your reporter had, and I think his comments were very unfair. I really enjoyed her performance.