SPEAKOUT

I AM THE person that had traffic tied up at Kingshighway and Independence Thursday afternoon around 4 p.m. My transmission quit working at that moment. I could go in reverse but not forward. I want to thank the gentleman that got out his pickup truck to help push my car to the side. At the very moment that I needed help, a police officer drove by and stopped traffic until I could back my car into a driveway. My sincere thanks to both of these fine gentlemen who offered assistance when I desperately needed help.

I WAS READING in today's Missourian about the new recycling center and was wondering if it would be possible for you to print a complete list of the kind of condition stuff has to be in to be taken in . Do labels need to be removed from glass items, soda bottles and stuff like that? Do labels need to be taken off them or is it basically bring them in as they are? Thank you.

The recycling center accepts aluminum, glass, plastic, corrugated cardboard and newspapers. Newspapers must have slick advertisements removed; only newsprint will be accepted. Glass and plastic bottles must be rinsed and not contain lids, but labels may be left on. Only plastics bearing the recyclable symbol on the bottom will be accepted. Materials to be recycled may be taken to the center in recyclable containers such as cardboard boxes or recyclable plastic bags, or in one's own receptacles, which will be returned to the owners.

I READ IN your paper that legislation is rapidly moving forward to force health care to be tested for AIDS. I wonder what the Speak Out readers think of that and if they think that patients on whom procedures will be performed should also be tested for AIDS.

ISN'T IT AMAZING that Congress and the liberal news media are worried so much about John Sununu's costly trips, and at the same time the Senate votes themselves over a $23,000 raise. What a bunch of hypocrites. Thank you.

WE HAVE NOW SEEN a good example of the government of the people, by the people, and for the people at work in Bollinger County. Just think of all the worry and bad feelings that could have been avoided if Cape County officials had used a similar method to determine whether or not the people affected really wanted a lake. And they could have saved those thousands of dollars. Let's hope that certain people have been educated to the rights of people who own property. Thank you.

I AGREE WITH the person who commented about Congress always raising taxes and giving themselves an undeserved raise. I'd like to say put the past behind us, but we will never be able to. Every day we make history. Let's put a good feeling in the hearts of the MIA's still over there. They saw their friends around them die. They saw wounds of not only the flesh but of the heart, but now they must think that no one cares for them. Well, I do. They are Americans and they deserve to be home with all other veterans who fought in any war. Please help them. My history teacher at Central High wears a red bracelet all the time for her friend in Mississippi. She has never given up hope for him. We shouldn't either.

THIS IS IN answer to the lady's question about the cocker spaniel dog. I have two dogs that stay outside all the time, year-round. They do just fine. You just need to be make sure they have a lot of hay in the winter in their dog house. Thanks.

NOW THAT THE politicians gave themselves a 21 percent raise, Social Security should be raised 21 percent, also. If not, we will remember these politicians come November. Thank you.

I'M A CONCERNED citizen and I think the music we have on the stations nowadays in Cape Girardeau is really not very good for the young people. The songs they have are very, very weird.

I'M GLAD TO SEE you are using recyclable bags for your paper. I just hope you'll make them bright orange so they are easily seen in the grass and in the winter time. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to comment on the Be Our Guest column in Sunday's paper written by Mike Turner of Patton, Mo. Every registered voter in Bollinger County had the opportunity to cast his or her vote for or against putting the question on the ballot. Unfortunately, only 10 percent or so of the voters decided to do so. The vote was 3-1 against the lake. You had your chance, Mike Turner, and you blew it. Instead of calling the Bollinger County commissioners stupid you should put blame where it is due. The Bollinger County commissioners did not waste any of the taxpayer money on a project that was ill-conceived and doomed for failure. The Cape County Commission, however, spent over $80,000 of taxpayer money for the same project. Now who looks stupid? Thank you.

I AGREE WITH the person that called in and talked about people with AIDS. I totally believe the same thing. What we need to do is quit spending money on AIDS and spend the money on things that have been around a lot longer such as cancer, polio, and other diseases that aren't caused by certain groups of people. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to answer the question, How does a couple live on $17,000 a year with a $400-a-month house payment? Well, here it is: It's not easy but possible. One husband equals one job almost full time, no benefits. Plus, one wife equals one job not full time and no benefits. Plus, one preschool child still in good, affordable day care. Okay, here is the status report: Insurance, very little; cars, two, both old but still running in fairly good condition and both paid for; furniture and appliances, all old but all still working and all paid for; clothing and shoes, all either homemade or yard sale; food, home grown when in season and whatever is on sale at the supermarket, simple but healthy; attitude and health, all three above average; socialize, fun at home with friends and family equals softball, Trivia Pursuit, chit-chat and gossip; politics and petty complaints, we don't have time for them because we've got more important things to take care of like our family unit. Thank you, Speak Out.

THAT ADVERTISEMENT THEY have where the man blows up the chair is a very dangerous thing for children to see. I can't understand why they keep having it on TV where children can see it.

SINCE THIS IS a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and Congress feels so fit to keep taking and taking, I think the people should decide when Congress gets raises. That's why I support a plan to let every congressman and senator start out at $25,000 a year salary with the benefits that they have now. Every time the senators are re-elected give them a $5,000 raise. Every time a congressman is re-elected, because their terms are shorter, give them a smaller raise; give them a $2,000 raise. This way everybody makes the same when they start and they earn more when they go up the ladder. It's that way in the military. It's that way wherever you go. Why can't it be like that in Congress? Thank you.

THIS IS TO the people concerning MTV in the state of Texas. It was not the state government that banned MTV; there were so many parents and adults that said they did not want MTV on their cable and they did not want it coming into their home. The cable company, which has the whole state of Texas, decided, instead of trying to fight the parents who were paying the cable bill, that they'd just take off MTV because the parents did not want to pay for it. So don't blame the state of Texas. It's the parents; they did not want it in their homes and I agree with them. It is not something that should be in their homes unless you really wanted to have it in there. You shouldn't have to have it in your home unless you want it. Thank you.

IN YOUR SUNDAY column, Peter Kinder said that George Mitchell stopped the capital gains tax reduction out of blind partisan spite. Wrong, Peter. Mitchell did it for a very good reason: he knew it would put our economy in the tank and a big recession might get a Democrat in the White House.

I'M CALLING about job discrimination. I've been unemployed for three months. I have been to the unemployment office weekly, have visited over 100 businesses in the Cape and Sikeston areas. I have mailed numerous resumes, and still no luck. My big gripe is, after filling out employment applications and being told there are no immediate openings but they will keep my application for three or six months in case something comes up, a week or so later these same companies will run an employment ad in the local newspaper for a position I'm qualified for and should be considered for. People in my position do not expect to start with top money; however, we ask for something above the minimum wage. I'm looking for permanent employment. I'm experienced, dependable, qualified, healthy, and over 50 years old. Give us a chance. That's all I ask. Thank you.