Speak Out A 12/26/02

Lemonade from lemons

BILL FRIST is an excellent choice as Republican leader for the U.S. Senate, especially as the government puts together a prescription drug plan. He is one of the top doctors in the country, and he saved a man's life in the capital a few years ago by doing a minor surgical procedure in a congressional corridor after the man collapsed. It looks like President Bush took another serving of lemons and turned it into lemonade again.

Better for the GOP

I'M GLAD Trent Lott is gone as majority leader. His departure allows Republicans to argue plausibly that they promote the best policies for minorities in America. For decades, Democrats have promoted themselves as crusaders for the oppressed. In the past two decades they've turned from the honorable position of advocating a color-blind society to being promoters of racial preferences. Such racial preferences are diametrically opposed to the soaring inspirational ideas of Martin Luther King Jr. and the original civil rights marchers.

Parental support

WHY DON'T the public schools take a few lessons from the private schools to improve their attendance, behavior and performance? Private-school parents care and are not the "I'll sue you" type. Too many public-school educators do not have parents behind the teachers. Private schools make rules for everyone and stick to them. God bless teachers one and all. It's just a shame that so many great teachers are leaving the field due to misbehavior and disrespect from students and parents.

Blood-pressure advice

FOR THE Speak Out caller who was concerned about the cost of his new blood pressure medicine and the new numbers his physician wants: There are new guidelines for blood pressure, depending on other medical conditions a patient has. This caller's physician probably wants to get the caller's blood pressure under the best control possible. Most of the major pharmaceutical companies have programs that provide discounted or free medicine to individuals who do not have insurance or who cannot afford these medications. This individual needs to speak to his physician or pharmacist about those programs.

Purse was returned

I'D LIKE to thank the person who found my daughter's red leather purse in the Wal-Mart parking lot and returned it. God bless you.

One-way bridge

MY SOLUTION to the traffic on the Cape Girardeau bridge is to install traffic lights at each end and make it a one-way bridge.

Political history

STROM THURMOND was a Democrat when he ran for president as a segregationist candidate. Indeed, the entire South voted Democratic in those years because the Democratic Party at that time accepted the segregationist policies of Southern (Yellow Dog) Democrats. Keep in mind that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, and after the Civil War the South hated Republicans and became Democratic. For many years those Southern Democrats were necessary for the Democrats to control Congress and the presidency. When the Democratic Party refuted those prejudiced views, Southern Democrats had to look for a new home, and the Republican Party accepted them. The fact that the Republican Party has taken such people as Strom Thurmond with open arms speaks volumes about its nature and interest. We must remember that Thurmond wasn't the only Southern Democrat who turned Republican.

Attack contractors

I WAS just thinking that the term "defense contractor" is pretty much outdated now. With this current administration, shouldn't we be calling them "attack contractors"?

Adult drug trend

I WAS pleased to read your editorial about the decline in illegal drug use among teens. Now if we can only reverse the trend among adults.