SPEAK OUT

Frustrated when calling Red Cross

I'M CALLING in regard to the Red Cross. They need to get their act together. I'm willing to donate blood. I called the Red Cross office and was transferred to five people before I became frustrated and hung up. So come on, Red Cross, get your act together.

Hillary enabled the perversion

MRS. CLINTON now says that the reason for the president's sex perversion, lies and so on, was because he was abused by his mother and grandmother and wanted to please them. What excuses will they have next? And who will they trash next? Of course, his mother and grandmother are dead and can't respond to the charges. But I know many decent people who were raised by their mother or grandmother. Being married to Hillary didn't help this sex pervert with his problem by letting him continue his perversion and making excuses and blaming others year after year to reap her prestige. What a disgrace.

Maybe police should use video cameras

A THOUGHT for the police department: To slow people down and to catch people running red lights and blowing stop signs and all that, has the police department ever thought of putting up video cameras in different places, moving them around and catch people that way? If they get the license plate number and have the incident caught on video, then they would be able to catch more people. My husband and I were sitting at a stop light at Kingshighway and William, and had we gone through the stoplight when it was green we would have been hit by a dump truck. He blew a red light and was doing at least 50 or 55 mph. Something needs to be done about it.

Some people need help with prescriptions

I SEE the pharmaceutical and insurance companies are at it again with the ad on TV saying "I don't want big government in my medicine cabinet." All I know is I don't want big pharmaceutical bills in my files that I have to bow and scrape to pay because I'm on a fixed income. I've worked all my life and cannot afford insurance. We're nearly broke from paying for prescriptions. If it'll help people like me who need prescriptions filled and can't afford it, then I do want big government in my medicine cabinet. My wife has to work part-time to afford prescriptions.

Now she's looking just as bad

WHAT A shame that Hillary Clinton has to blame Bill's philandering and lying on his poor dead mama and dead grandmama. That doesn't make Hillary look very good. Her husband is bad enough, but now she's looking just as bad.

Let's put this administration behind us

NOW WE find that Hillary Clinton does not blame her husband. She does not really blame the right-wing conspiracy either. Actually, she blames two deceased women who can't defend themselves, her mother-in-law and her husband's grandmother. I think that this is all so foolish that anyone would even consider giving out that information in an interview. I think that the left-wing spinmeisters with their mantra of "let's put this behind us" are quite correct. Let's all just put all this behind us. Let's put a Democratic administration behind us and get someone in the White House who does not have this stigma of victimization.

Little things can affect people

ABOUT THAT Atlanta killing, that man had a lot of mental stress and mental problems. I can relate to his mental stress and problems. I think that plays a big role in why people do the things that do. There are so many people who don't realize just how little things that other people do to others, insulting or belittling or cussing other people. They have no idea of the impact of that behavior on a person. Verbally and mentally abusing people can cause them to snap. Some people can take a lot of abuse, and some people can't. Don't let people abuse others. Thank you for letting me speak out.

The pot calling the kettle black

TO THE caller who is tired of judgmental comments, may I say that I was taught also that "by their fruits ye shall know them." In your criticism of those of us who are appalled and ashamed of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jerry Springer and other prominent people for their bad, bad behavior, aren't you the pot calling the kettle black?

Stop sign on Lexington isn't needed

WOULD SOMEONE in the Cape Girardeau city administration please tell me what is the purpose of the stop sign on Lexington at Old Sprigg? I've never seen a car come out of Old Sprigg, but we stop.

Freeloaders are costing money

I WOULD like to address this to all the freeloaders bumming rides from others to keep from paying for transportation. Do they not think it is costing the owners money to operate their vehicles, including gas, insurance and such? I wish they would pay for their own transportation.

Timing of road repairs is questioned

CAN ANYBODY give me a valid reason why the city, in all its wisdom, chooses 7:50 in the morning to repair Bertling Street? Is there anybody in there who gives a single thought to people's convenience? The roads are in terrible shape, yet they pick one of the busiest streets at the busiest time of day, and they park a dump truck in the middle of it. Somebody needs to get some thought processes going in the road department. Good luck.

Bring money in that bag

THEY CALL Hillary Clinton a carpetbagger. If you could recall, Winthrop Rockefeller was a native New Yorker, and he came to Arkansas, ran for governor and won. This goes to show you if you're a carpetbagger and you bring money in that bag, that's a little different. I think we have a similar situation here in River City. Our congresswoman is not a native Missourian. If they like what you say or you bring money in that carpet bag, then that's quite all right. How hypocritical.

You're not paying your fair share

I'D JUST like to explain some simple mathematics to the person who said that they were paying their full way in Medicare. If that was the case and everyone who was receiving a benefit now was paying his fair share, why would the fund be going broke? The answer: because more is going out than is coming in. In addition, unlike the people are working now who are paying into that system their entire lives, you joined in as a part of the system after it was created. So I just wanted to clarify this. No, you are not paying your fair share, and if it weren't for other taxpayers, you wouldn't have it. You should quit believing all that liberal propaganda and use your head for a change. Good grief.

Pets make playground unusable

I JUST want to say that the circular park on Stoddard Drive I believe was originally intended for child's play for the neighborhood children. Unfortunately, it's turned into a dumping ground for the neighborhood dogs. It sure would be nice if the people would clean up after their dogs so our children can play in a clean playground.

City Hall worker turns on the heat

AS A concerned citizen and taxpayer of Cape Girardeau, I just happened to go into City Hall. While I was in there, it was as hot as could be outside, and the air conditioning in the building was going. There was a lady there who had a space heater going. I wanted to know who's paying for her space heater in the middle of summer. It's kind of ridiculous, and it needs to come to an end.

Use food stamps for needed items

MY CONCERN is the usage of food stamps. I know everybody needs help once in a while, which may mean getting food stamps. But I wonder if the government realizes that more soda is bought with the food stamps than milk. How nutritious can this be? There are a lot of things that can't be bought with food stamps, like bath soap, washing powders, toothpaste. I would think these are more necessary than all that soda that is bought. The children need baths. They need healthy teeth. They don't need all that caffeine in the soda. I don't think the government realizes just how much soda is bought with food stamps.

Help get rid of unwanted magazines

I WAS calling aboaut the magazines in the doctor's office. I work in a doctor's office, and I believe I can speak for all of the offices in town on this. Any of us would be horrified to learn there were such magazines in the waiting room. We have no way of knowing if someone leaves such an item in our waiting room, but we would certainly dispose of it if brought to our attention. I am hoping this caller took this magazine straight to the receptionist with her concerns and didn't just call Speak Out to report some sort of injustice brought upon her and her children.

Workers help economy, not politicians

THE NATIONAL debt increased when Reagan and Bush were president, true, but I don't believe the vice president could sign legislation as a caller implied. The national debt also increased when we had a Democratic House and Senate, which are responsible for any money spent. The executive branch of the government can't spend a penny without their approval. But the Democrats won't mention this. The economy began to turn around before Mr. Clinton took office and began his sex scandals. The only thing Clinton did was keep Mr. Greenspan. The economy is a result of the American people's work, talent and business, not politicians.

Comparing the Trumans and Clintons

WHEN I read the book about Democratic president Harry Truman and his wife's death, I saw the drastic contrast between them and this current Democratic president, Bill Clinton, and his wife, Hillary. What a loyal husband and devoted father Harry was, a truly admired family man. Then look at this sick couple that's in the White House now and you can see what a demoralizing effect this Clinton couple has on our country.

Unhappy with treatment at school office

I JUST called to verify some dates of attendance with the Cape school office. There are two times in the school year that our students get out a half-day on Thursday for teacher in-service workshop and then go back to school on Friday all day. Teachers have told me in the past they have been told the reason this is done is because the district feels like if the meetings are held on Friday, teachers will not attend it and will spend it as a long weekend. If the district doesn't trust these teachers, then they should fire them and get someone else. I hope that's not the reason. Furthermore, I asked to speak to the superintendent about rectifying this in the future. His secretary answered my call, and I asked if I could speak to the superintendent. She asked me what I wanted to speak to him about, and I explained to her very calmly and very professionally. She interrupted me as I was speaking and told me the superintendent has no input on the schedule. I find that hard to believe. My point in calling and talking to him was not because I think he has sole say in determining the schedule, but that he would have input and would know about how to implement such a change, and perhaps he could help me handle this correctly. I don't appreciate calling the school office, trying to follow correct channels and trying to get things done around here and being spoken to rudely and being interrupted. Then she told me that absolutely no one in the office was available except her. That strikes me as a little strange as well. I wasn't angry before but I am now. I hope every board member will read this and think about what parents have to deal with when they call the school office.

Smokers at beauty salons are inconsiderate

THIS IS for all you people who smoke in beauty salons. It is so rude. This is where people go to improve and enhance their appearance. It is so selfish and inconsiderate to the others who are paying for a service to have to smell and inhale your toxic smoke and then walk out smelling like an ashtray. If you can't abstain from smoking for an hour or so while getting your hair done, go outside or use some sense and consideration for others and don't smoke in a beauty salon.

Democratic Congress did the spending

TO THE Speak Out caller who wanted fiscal responsibility from Congress: Remember that during the Reagan and Bush presidencies Congress was ruled by liberal-spending Democrats who spent the taxpayers into higher debt and excessive interest payments.

If surplus is fake, so is everything else

I'VE BEEN reading a lot about the surplus being fake. I think it's probably true. If the surplus is fake, then the so-called pay increase they voted themselves is fake, and this tax cut is fake too. If the surplus is fake, everything else is too. Lots of fakers up there in Congress on both sides.