Handy handouts

I AM a low-income single mom raising my children on my own. I receive no child support. I work a full-time job and still can't buy new clothes for me or my children. I have to rely on food stamps because after bills I can't buy food. We don't go out to eat. If we do, we don't eat appetizers, and I leave a small gift for charity. To the person commenting about the different levels of people in this world, not all of us low-income people use all the handouts, but they do come in handy when they are needed. I assume you've never been in that position.

Trip to Hawaii

I AGREE 100 percent with "Not acceptable." My husband worked for many years for St. Louis Ship in St. Louis, where they drafted plans for towboats and barges by hand. When they went computerized, they purchased their computers from an overseas company who then sent a trainer, at their own expense, to train the draftsmen on their system. It looks like the university people want a vacation in Hawaii at the taxpayers' expense. I can't afford a trip to Hawaii, and I sure don't want to be forced to pay for theirs.

Still fighting

SOUTHERNERS (and those with a Southern heritage) have been fighting terrorism since 1861. We must remember the federal government's terror inflicted on innocent people during the Civil War. Fly those Confederate battle flags proudly! Be proud to be a Southerner, and obey the Second Amendment to the letter of the law. Don't let the Yankees get you a second time .

Smooth transition

I'D LIKE to correct the caller regarding sending university people to Hawaii for computer training. It is a users group meeting established by SCT Banner, not the university. Banner is the software the university is upgrading to, which is about time given the archaic software it uses now. The users group is vital to a smooth transition.

Golf course mowing

THIS IS to the maintenance crew at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course: You had been doing a good job taking care of the course until the last few weeks. Just because you don't feel like it does not mean you don't have to mow the rough, fairways or greens. As long as the grass is growing, it needs to be mowed. You are still being paid for being out there, so do it.

A better image

NOW THAT Southeast Missouri State University's homecoming guest of honor, rapper Murphy Lee, has been arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana while driving home from Cape Girardeau, maybe SEMO will try a little harder to invite respectable citizens for homecoming and other special events. He was not impressive that day and continues to be a poor example for our students. Who's idea was that anyway? This is not a good reflection on SEMO.

Wrong system

DEMOCRACY RESTS on the false premise that a particular majority of individuals can do whatever it wishes to a particular minority or single individual by right of a vote. Our current form of government is not only dangerous to individual liberty, but to society as a whole in that it manifests itself on an inefficient form of social-democratic mob rule. You cannot keep personal freedom in an environment where 50.1 percent of the voting public can tell the rest of the population what to do.

Sign the note

TO THE parent who complained about the mock voting exercise at school: shame on you. Parents need to get more involved in their kids' lives. Quit being too busy to sign a note for your child to learn. I was so proud of my son when he came home and knew more than some about who the president is.

Drug programs

ALL DRUG companies have programs, if you qualify financially, that provide prescription drugs free or at a huge discount. Both the drug company or your doctor's office know of the programs and can get you on them. Most people qualify.