SPEAKOUT

Grow up, government

I THINK the federal government needs to grow up and go back to school and learn how to communicate instead of shutting down everything.

Try this one

I MAY have what would be a quick and easy solution to the budget crisis. Let all the elected and appointed federal government officials who make over $150,000 a year take a 10 percent pay cut in their salaries. I think that would just about do it.

Lack of Christianity

WE IN the Christian community are our own worst enemies. There is a war going on unlike any war we've ever fought in our society. It's a spiritual war, a war for the hearts and minds of mankind. Many Christians are either unaware or indifferent to that war. The struggle will determine whether the Christian view of man will continue to serve as the foundation for our society. We have neglected the cross, this Christian symbol of suffering and redemption. We've attempted to make Christianity compatible with any and all religions, secularism, materialism and humanism. There's a very massive move afoot in our society to eliminate the influence of Christianity. It's fueled not only by people who are apathetic but by many who are hostile to the Christian faith. Even so, we are our own worse enemies. We've been told to keep our Christian faith private, and we do. We've been told to keep religion out of the schools even as it provides a moral base, and we have. But those who would eliminate the influence of Christianity have not. They have included their religion of secularism, materialism and humanism into the schools. We have allowed others who not only don't share our view of life, but are openly hostile to it to do our most serious thinking and influence American tradition, especially Christianity.

Cut benefits

MR. GINGRICH and the Republicans should decrease benefits for all the welfare programs like corporate welfare and Congress welfare known as benefits, tax loopholes for the wealthy and lifetime pensions for four years of service as president. We're not stupid out here. I want a third party.

Willie and the king

NOW SLICK Willie may have a few things under the table, but it's hard to beat the king. I'm talking about none other than Tricky Dick Nixon.

Outside smokers

I THINK it is really sad to see these smokers who are not allowed to smoke in their workplace stand outside the building in the snow and cold to smoke their cigarettes. It just goes to show you that they will go to great extremes to get cancer.

Thanks, carolers

I'M CALLING in regard to a group of Christmas carolers who came through Shady Brooks subdivision Wednesday night. A big thank you to all of you. Your singing was beautiful.

Distorting facts

THIS IS about the article about Margaret Kelley. I guess if she's the empty barrel of a smoking gun, I guess Rush Limbaugh is an empty cannon. Maybe both of them ought to get together and quit distorting the facts.

Better neighborhood

I LOVE Sam Blackwell's column in the Missourian. It would be nice if he would write about how the neighborhood has changed since most of the property in the area has changed hands. My thanks to Matt and Otto Goehman, the Jones, the Wunderlichs and everyone else who has contributed to making this area 100 percent better. We thank you.

Season of peace

I THINK it's appropriate to be sending troops to Bosnia at Christmas time. It is a peacekeeping mission that they are, and they should be very proud of setting a good example of what Christmas is all about: peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.

It's a vacation

THESE FEDERAL employees who the Democrats are saying are out of work are not out of work. They're just on another paid vacation.

Welfare state

I FIRMLY believe that welfare should be put into the hands of each state. Why in the world should a Missourian pay to keep up the homeless, the riffraff and the drug addicts in New York? That makes no sense at all. Every state should take care of its own, not the federal government.

Nurse's aides

I HAVE noticed in the newspaper all the ads for certified nurse's aides in the nursing homes. One reason they can't keep them is it is an extremely hard job. You have to have a very strong stomach, they are very unappreciated and they make very low pay.