SPEAKOUT

Thanks for letting us in

WE WOULD like to express our thanks to the students at Oran Elementary School, the kindergarten students of Ms. Muenchen's class, for sharing their time on the body walk. We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation for the help of Debbie Estes and the staff at Oran Elementary School in allowing us to be able to participate in this event. My daughter was extremely disappointed when she missed the body walk at Kelley Elementary. Thanks to the cooperation for the staff and the nurse and the students at Oran Elementary and high school, she was able to participate in the body walk on March 31. We both thank you so very much.

Try Solomon's wisdom

CONCERNING THE ongoing politically driven drama of Elian Gonzalez, the little Cuban boy that's here in the United States, I have a solution for the tug-of-war. What they need to do is what Solomon did. Cut the child in half. Then we could see who really wants the kid.

Any old Republican will do

I'M ONE of the callers who has said we don't need another George Bush in the White House. But the caller who said go back and read the Paul Greenberg article and maybe you'll understand, to him I say why should I listen to anything that Paul Greenberg says? He's another hard-line Republican just like David Limbaugh, Peter Kinder and Dave Broder. Why should I listen to any of them, when all they want is another Republican in the White House? They don't care what state the country is in. They don't care if he's 90 years old and stodgy like Reagan, or some young pup like Dan Quayle, They just want a Republican in the White House.

This has been needed a long time

AS A former employee of VIP Industries in Cape Girardeau, I am very glad what has come to light with the sheltered workshops. Something has been needed to be done many many years ago. The treatment of the handicapped is absolutely ridiculous. Please, please, Southeast Missourian, keep looking into this. This should have been done years ago. To the managers in Perryville, God bless you. Thank you for finally having the nerve to stand up. I wish I could have done it many years ago.

Taxes on phone bill

I WAS just looking at my phone bill, and I was amazed to see that the monthly current charges are just about half taxes. Special municipal charge. That's a tax. Federal end-user common line charge. A tax by any other name. Federal pre-subscribed interexchange carrier charge. Sounds like a tax to me. 911 tax. A surcharge, another name for tax. Mandatory extended area service. If it's mandatory, it's a tax. Half of your phone bill is taxes. The government is taxing you in ways you don't even know. Don't let them tell you your taxes are too low. Your taxes are everywhere.

Something for nothing

AS I read in the newspaper about yet another lawsuit against the tobacco industry, I can't help but ponder what this represents for our country. You can't look at the paper for six days without seeing something about another tobacco lawsuit or class-action lawsuit in which hundreds or thousands of people are essentially trying to get something for nothing. We're bombarded from the time we're grade schoolers that smoking is bad for our health, yet these people are trying to get something for nothing, including the unscrupulous lawyers who push these lawsuits so they can become multi-millionaires, if not billionaires. It's just a sad thing to see that our society has become made up of people who aren't interested in working for a living. They're all trying to get something for nothing. That's why you see the people going to buy lottery tickets all the time. You see people going on the gambling boats. Nobody wants to work for a living anymore.

Inadequate phone service

I DON'T understand how Southwestern Bell can get off overselling the service so that you can't use your phones in the evening hours in the Scott City/Jackson/Cape Girardeau area, and then not being willing to compensate the customers for this inconvenience. This goes for the mobile service and the regular phone lines. It makes no sense that they can do that without having towers up and us not being able to adequate service until mid-July. I wish someone could look into this, so this matter could get taken care of.

Chateau opened in 1979

THANK YOU for the article in Sunday's paper about Chateau Girardeau. We opened in 1979, so we are only 20 years old instead of 30. We had a big celebration last summer in 1999. We'll be 21 this July in 2000. We're all very happy to have Bob Strickland as our new administrator.

Don't line their pockets

THIS IS in regard to the "Give us our money" comment. The caller said the tobacco money should go into general revenue to lower taxes. To put this money into the general revenue isn't the right place to put it. Politicians would just spend it. It would be another way to keep people from knowing what's actually going on. Pay attention to what the suit was all about. It was to take care of those who got sick to keep your health-care costs down, not to line the pockets of the politicians.

This needs an investigation

I THINK the newspaper has done a good job getting into something that needs to be investigated, and that's VIP Industries. As a former board member who was drummed out for asking questions and opposing some of the things going on, I think you should understand that figures don't lie, but figures can be changed and records can be run through the shredder. The only reason I'm calling is to suggest that somebody ask the state auditor and the attorney general to investigate the situation.

Get an unbiased committee

I'D LIKE to express my thoughts about the articles in your paper concerning the VIP Industries problem. It is hard to believe a young politician would jeopardize his career and supervisors would forfeit their jobs if it were not for the well-being of the handicapped and the benefit of the taxpayers. Why can't we have an unbiased committee look into these accusations and go to the full extent of the law to solve these problems?

Thanks for battery help

I'M CALLING to again thank the kind man who came to my rescue in Capaha Park last Friday by giving my car battery a jump. By his actions and kindness, I know there are still caring people out there. God bless you, and thank you.

What happened to carding?

I'M CONFUSED about something. I just saw a report about "Kick Butt Day" to help keep children from smoking. Didn't Mr. Clinton do something about this not too long ago by having people purchasing cigarettes carded? You can't buy cigarettes if you're under 21. This was really supposed to stop teen-agers from smoking. What happened here? Can somebody explain to me what's happened? If they're such big honchos in Washington and know it all and can cure all ills, I thought that was going to be the end of it, carding everybody so that underage people can't buy cigarettes.

Alternative energy on the way

AS USUAL, Peter Kinder is ignoring the facts and trying to justify the wasting of petroleum products. Oil is being formed at a very much slower rate than it is being used. Therefore, we must quit wasting oil as we don't have enough to last indefinitely. Don't deride the development of alternative energy sources and methods. There are fuel cells in development that will produce electricity to run cars directly from methanol. And they will have only water as an exhaust. Methanol can be made from many things, including garbage. General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler have in development automobiles that will get 80 miles per gallon in full size cars. They're due on the market by 2004.

Adults set examples

IT SEEMS in our liberal, no-values world, at a certain age it's all right to smoke, to drink, to indulge in X-rated entertainment. It seems if these things are harmful to a youth, it would be avoided by an adult with character. If you think it's harmful to your children, why isn't it harmful to you? Do as I say, not as I do. I'm the adult here. Sounds kind of sick, doesn't it?

File those charges

NOW THAT a federal judge has found Microsoft guilty of abuse, when is someone going to charge Clinton with his abuse of power of the presidency? And conviction for perjury in a federal court? Doesn't the law apply to everyone in this democracy?

It serves their purposes

THIS IS going to be a bruising national campaign this fall, because all the Democratic cadres, like feminists, the race hustlers, the union bosses, gay activists, Hollywood celebs, baby-killing abortionists, environmental whackos, socialists and other left-wingers will all go to the wall to assure four more years of Clinton/Gore -- the most despicable, crooked, anti-American administration in our history. Why? Because the Clinton/Gore administration has been very good to them on everything from illegal executive orders to the immoral code of "if it feels good, just do it," appointment of ACLU activist judges to court, even to the Supreme Court, and finally, to the redistribution of income taken from those who produce and have it given to those who won't, and don't, have it.

Chivalry isn't dead

THIS IS for the gentleman who paid for the lady's computer copies at the Jackson Public Library April 3 in the afternoon. You are a true gentleman, and it was a very sweet gesture. She appreciated it very much, and so did I. I work there. Chivalry is not dead. Thank you again.

More medical woes

I TOO would like to know what's wrong with the doctors in Cape. I've had some unbelievable experiences here and have felt it necessary to go to St. Louis for care, where one is treated with courtesy and respect. One doctor did minor surgery and did not put it in the report. Scar shows that it was done. Another told me to sit in a chair till midnight and I'd be able to sleep. Insomnia. Some help. Another one did a procedure under anesthesia and the office said I couldn't see the doctor about the results for one month and one day. Another one told me I'd had a bunch of strokes. Second opinion at Barnes: I'd never had a stroke in my life. Another one changed my appointment twice my mailing tiny scraps of paper to me instead of calling to work the date out with me. The office help is horribly rude and inefficient. I could go on. Doctors in St. Louis want to know what's wrong with the Cape doctors and assistants.