Speak Out A 02/25/02

Remembering the dog

IT'S UNCANNY how four or five members of the same family, although we are all different ages, could have different memories of the same situation. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen in my life. I'm only 72 years old, and I'm the baby of the family. I have an 85-year-old sister who insists that our Aunt Ida did not ever have a dog. Isn't it uncanny how four sisters each have a different idea of the memories that we have, yet we have the same memory because we all grew up in the same town and in the same family. We were all raised the same way. I have four children of my own, and I treat them all differently because they are different people. But they should still remember whether or not I had a dog.

Not a good American

YOU PEOPLE who are praising the terrorists for their bravery should go live with them. You're not a good American. You need to be ashamed to say this. Remember, they killed thousands of Americans.

Counting the votes

I THOUGHT after the votes were counted and recounted in Florida it was decided that George Bush was the winner. So why do we have these people calling in who still want to maintain Al Gore was the winner? Gore was not the brightest bear in the forest. If he was, he would have conceded right away and saved our nation this heartache. For now, let's let Bush do his job. If in the next election you want to vote for Gore, go ahead, but please don't malign Bush in the process by saying he didn't have the most votes. He's got a tough job leading the nation right now.

Reform loopholes

TO THE person who called in about how the campaign-finance reform bill would solve a lot of problems: You know that Congress is going to write a bill that has umpteen pages in it. It's going to have loopholes built in it from the front to the end. If they want to write a good bill, it would take about two sentences. It could be enforced. It might do some good. But when they add all these extra things to it, they develop loopholes that are intentional. This isn't going to solve things for very long.

Losing respect

I CANNOT believe what I just read in the paper: "Ex-representative just out of jail back on state payroll." No wonder our young people have no respect for the people or government of this world when officials can serve time and the same government rehires them. Please read it.

Majority of votes

A RECENT Speak Out caller said he, "like most Americans who voted, chose Gore." I wonder if the caller hasn't made a couple of mistakes. I'm wondering if perhaps the caller may have fallen victim to some of the same sketchy math that Al Gore fell victim to during the election. A look at the popular vote counts from throughout the country shows that George Bush received a majority of the votes in the nation.

Affordable coverage

I RECEIVED a report from Congressman Jo Ann Emerson in the mail which I'm sure a lot of your senior citizens have. She says she's fighting for the senior citizen, she's fighting for our right to Medicare and the right to affordable insurance and affordable prescription drugs. I wrote to Bill Emerson when he was representative concerning the trouble with Medicare and the fact that senior citizens cannot afford health insurance, nor can they afford prescription drugs. His answer was to say the seniors don't need a government program. And Jo Ann Emerson gives me the same story. She's says she's fighting for affordable insurance. I've written letters asking her what she considers to be affordable insurance for a person who's on Social Security. She never has come up with an answer. For anybody who's on Social Security with nothing else as income, there's no such thing as affordable insurance, believe you me. I think the answer was President Clinton's national health care.

Following his beliefs

MAYBE THOSE who say they believe in God and think the Rev. Jerry Falwell preaches hate don't really know the truth or what the Bible says about aborting children and homosexual lifestyles. Of course, the thing that really chapped the liberal Democrats was Falwell's disgust with President Clinton's adultery in the White House. This too is condemned in the Bible. Yet it's Falwell they hate for following his religious beliefs. How pathetic.

Driving laws

THIS IS in regard to all the comments about driving in the left lane. Staying out of the left lane is only required if you're driving on the highway. It doesn't matter if you're driving on Mount Auburn Road or Kingshighway. You can choose whichever lane you want. There's no law about that.

Christian and liberal

I AM tired of the idea that God is a Republican. I was saved when I was 8 years old, and I'm 57 years old now. I've been a Christian ever since. On top of that I am a liberal. Liberals are Christians too. I know a lot of Republicans who definitely aren't Christians. In fact, I don't see how anybody can call themselves a Republican and be a Christian. Read Matthew: "I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you visited me. I was hungry and you gave me bread." Or when Jesus told the guy to give everything he had to the poor. You mention giving anything to the poor to the Republicans, and they call you a Communist. Jesus calls it being a Christian.

Not a public expense

I AM a diehard Cardinal fan. Win or lose, they are my team. But I can't see the citizens of Missouri helping to build a new stadium for the owners. I think it's wrong, because the Missouri Legislature is cutting programs. Why should we let them vote in a new stadium for the Cardinal owners? If that's the way it is, then why can't taxpayers build me a house? If you can't afford a sports team, sell it to someone who can. The St. Louis people fumbled the attempt to keep the St. Louis Cardinal football team in Missouri. If you can't afford a sports team, don't come to the public.