From horse's mouth

SO WHY are the ads running about Gov. Bob Holden not cutting education and never saying that he would? I'm sorry, but I heard it straight from his mouth. He said that he would start with education if he had to trim the budget.

Do something

THIS IS a taxpayer from Whitewater-Allenville area. I'm calling to complain about the railroad track at Dutchtown. The train hasn't used it in several years. The ties are all rotted out. I think it's time someone does something about it.

AN INTERESTING thing happened with the police officers in Cape Girardeau. My 17 1/2-year-old son was driving my mother to the doctor's office. He always follows the speed limit. A police officer was behind him. Evidently, the officer thought my son was by himself. My mother was lying down in the back seat. The police officer pulled my son over and asked for his license, his registration and proof of insurance, which my son provided. He then saw my mother in the back seat and said, "Oh, just a routine traffic stop." My gut feeling is that if the officer hadn't seen someone in the car with my son, he would have written a ticket. This targeting of kids is ridiculous. He wasn't breaking the law. He should not have been pulled over for any reason.

Unschooled behavior

I RECENTLY had the experience of stopping in at one of Southern Illinois' high schools. I went into the office and heard laughter coming from an inner office. I asked an office worker, "Does the administration allow this type of behavior?" To my surprise, the office worker responded, "That is the administrator." Is this what my tax dollars pay for? If it does, maybe we the public needs to see what our superintendents and principals are actually doing in our schools. Is this why our high school graduates are poor in academic areas? It's a question to ponder.

Military support

TAXES ARE paid by the families of and often by the students themselves who qualify for college scholarships to participate in ROTC programs. Isn't the bottom line to have better-educated Americans and reservists? Remember what "reserve" means: When the primary supply is strained or used up, then those in reserve are called to duty. Each and every reservist hopes that occasion never arrives. But when it does, they too are doing their duty and will have jobs to return to when they get back home. This is all the more reason that the rest of us stand behind all of our military.

God and gambling

IT IS apparent that those wanting a casino in the area are not informed about the destruction such places have on the local community. I would be ashamed to admit I went to church and gambled as well. Those who gamble must be sleeping through the service or the pastor is not teaching the Word of God.

Casino isn't the answer

IN RESPONSE to the caller who said he sees lots of Cape Girardeau people at the casinos out of town: Do you see them anywhere but the casino? No. People go to the casinos in these towns and spend no money anywhere else. The town makes no more money. Customers start losing money gambling and cannot afford to shop. Soon they start bouncing checks. I lost a grocery store when a casino moved in down the street. Think about it, Cape.

Regressive sales tax

COLUMNIST JACK Stapleton has lost pride in Missouri because we are, in his view, balancing the state budget on the backs of the poor, mentally ill and unemployed. Amen. Sadly, on the same day Stapleton's truths were published, the Southeast Missourian editorial made Stapleton's point by implying that the burden of financing schools should be shifted to the less affluent via a regressive sales tax.

Fifth column

I SEE Dan Rather is doing what he did during the Vietnam War: acting like a fifth column for our enemies. I really believe President Bush is going give the reply. Only he'll probably deliver his not on CBS but on a stealth bomber.

Close encounter

I WAS on Highway 74 driving toward I-55 when a car driven by a gray-haired woman pulled from Silver Springs Road. She did not yield and didn't look either way. I had to slam my brakes on at the intersection so her car wouldn't sideswipe my car. She proceeded into the lane next to me where another car was passing and almost sideswiped him. And these people want to know that they shouldn't have to take a driving test? They're as dangerous out on the road as a drunk driver. They have no reflexes whatsoever.

Support for freedom

PRESIDENT BUSH deserves full 100 percent support from all people who love freedom. President Bush has opened a helping hand to all people who love peace.

Scheduling plan

AS I read about the needs of our aging schools with their leaking roofs, I was reminded of the tour I took at the new Central High School. I saw what was described as a state-of-the-art weight room that is second to none. I think I have a plan that is better than buying more buckets and plastic. Bus the kids over to the new weight room for class. Also, when our aging fire and police stations start leaking, they can conduct business in the new state-of-the-art aquatic center. It's just a matter of scheduling.

Freedom at home

PRESIDENT BUSH promises freedom for Iraq. When is he going to promise freedom for his own country? There's no national health insurance. The minimum wage isn't helping the middle class.