SPEAKOUT

Angels of mercy

TO THE critics of the so-called elitists of Sylvan Lane: I have never lived close by Sylvan Lane, but in all fairness to the residents I feel obliged to defend at least two highly regarded families who occupy the grounds. The heads of both households have retired after years of service and sacrifice to the deserving and less fortunate, and both continue through force of habit. One is an M.D. who undercharged all patients and saw that his family lived by simple standards. He didn't want his two daughters to grow up in the lap of luxury. When someone close to me needed the vaccinations required for her long-awaited trip abroad, the doctor kept her outside his examining room to avoid charging her for an office call. And this is only one of many instances. The other resident, a lately retired judge, continues the same sort of lifelong assistance to those less fortunate than himself. Angels of mercy never advertise their wares and have too much respect for themselves and others to allow unfair criticism to ruffle their feathers. Such wholly unwarranted efforts only reflect on the character of their critics.

Investigate SSI

THE CUTBACK on Medicare is very wrong. My mother who is 60-plus and raised four kids on her own working at a car plant off and on for about 23 years got hurt the last part of her working years. The company got rid of her by putting her out on Social Security at $347 a month. Her Medicare cost $500 a month. Her family bought her a little rent property, so Social Security was taken away from her. Now she has no insurance. She paid for Social Security and Medicare all her life, but what really hurts to see is a grandmother in Poplar Bluff who is on Social Security and never worked a day in her life. Has two sons, one drawing Social Security. Also his wife and three out of four kids are drawing SSI. The other son has two kids drawing SSI. His wife has been threatening suicide, so now she has applied for SSI. The husband and father told me he had to quit his job because it cut off the food stamps. He was making $10.50 an hour. Do you think this is fair? If the Republicans want to cut something out, investigate SSI. I have always been a Republican. Next year I will vote a Democratic ticket. Write Congressman Bill Emerson, and let's cut part of the SSI out and leave the older Americans alone.

Support for crime lab

THE CRIME lab needs funding and a bigger location. Please do not take any advice from the O.J. Simpson defense, team as they think state crime labs are corrupt, mishandle evidence and lie for the prosecution. I say support the funding for a larger location for the dedicated employees of the state crime lab located in Cape Girardeau. You do a good job.

Spreading fear

WHEN IS an increase a cut? Putting fear of lost benefits into the minds of the elderly is very cruel, and it will come home to roost to those spreading those types of fear. If the Democrats can't win an election with the truth, then they didn't get it in the past election. No wonder people are distrustful of politicians.

Getting O.J.

IF THE LAPD had been out to get O.J. Simpson, they could have done it when the fugitive O.J. was in the Bronco headed for the airport with $10,000, a passport and a gun by ordering his driver to pull over and stop. If they did not stop, they could have used their guns like they would have done if it were my son or yours, black or white and not a celebrity.

Level-headed Bill

PRESIDENT BILL Clinton is the most level-headed president we've had since Roosevelt. He's doing everything he thinks is right for everyone, and it shows. So I hope people will stay with Clinton four more years. There's a bunch of millionaires out there who want to become your president -- not for you but for their own reasons. If you want to help yourself, stay with Bill Clinton.

Education meddling

THE U.S. Constitution doesn't mention education. There's no authority in the Constitution for the federal government to meddle in local schools. Education is not a proper federal function. The federal government has no authority to impose curricular requirements or hand out funds according to the whims and politics of federal officials. Public schools in America were vastly superior before the federal government turned on the funding process. We've got to get rid of it completely. Bring the educational programs back to the states and our local communities.

Low-blow cartoon

I FEEL that the Missourian has sunk to a new low with the opinion-page cartoon attack on senior citizens in the Sept. 27 issue. I think all senior citizens should be outraged by this cartoon. No senior citizens will kill the kids, as it is suggested. We have worked hard and played by the rules. When we were working we paid our Social Security and Medicare taxes and didn't complain that our taxes were going to take care of the senior citizens when we were working. It's hard to adapt when they want to change the rules after you retire. The Republican Party said the Democrats worked for class warfare when they were against a tax cut for the rich. Well, the Republican Party has its class warfare against the senior citizens, the children, the college students and the poor.