July 4, 2004

By Staff
No to two-way streets
I must take issue with the proposal to revert back to two-way streets in downtown Meridian. I harken back to the days when traveling through the town was a slow, agonizing process. It was tolerated then because downtown was a shopping mecca for our area. It is no longer that and, try as we might, it will never be again. We most certainly can improve downtown, but the smooth flow of traffic is a component of that improvement. Going back to two way streets is a step backward, not to mention expensive. I hope that proposal is put to rest, once and for all.
O.E. "Buddy" Slade
Meridian
A little kindness, please
This letter is to the lady who lives on the corner of North Hills Street with the long driveway going up hill. My brother broke down in front of your driveway one night in the pouring down rain with three children and, when you arrived to see that you might not be able to get up your drive, you so rudely asked him if he just had to break down right there. Well, just so you would know, he did not plan to break down. This person is a former police officer for the city of Meridian for 11 years. I can assure you he would not have treated you so rudely had you been in need of assistance. He was trying to avoid causing an accident and blocked your drive.
I hope maybe next time you will think about being a little more kind. And to the one and only person who offered help, thank you.
Lisa Locklear
Meridian
Liberals dishonor Bush
To the person who wrote the letter, "Bush lied, people died," you liberals have tried everything from A to Z to attack and dishonor our president. In answer to your babblings about president lying about going after Saddam, I quote from him in saying: "The administration never said that the 9-11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al Qaeda." One week prior to Al Gore's hate speech President Bush said, "We found credible evidence Saddam and al Qaeda had a collaborative relationship at the time of the attacks."
These human beings, the Saddams, al Qaeda and other militant killers around the world are going to try to kill Americans, Christians, Jews and now anyone in their own race and culture who accepts our help and who disagrees with them.
How many U.S. resolutions would it take being broken by Saddam before you would have acted? We give the U.N. $40 million dollars a year. For what? How has the U.N. helped this country? The truth is we have saved everyone of the U.N.'s members from
tyrants of the world since it has been in existence.
You liberals keep searching for mistakes to hate the president. Why? Did you prefer a president without morals, and who did commit perjury before a
court. Your liberal party supports abortion on demand and is against capital punishment, for taking GOD out of our schools and off our and you believe that self-esteem is more important that actually doing something to earn it.
You want all the freedoms, hand-outs and lower taxes, but not for the person who works hard and has built a business only to be taxed for what you do not want to pay. You don't want to pay the price for freedom and all the comforts of a free nation.
You stated the innocent soldiers are being killed because the president lied. That is very good moral words for the troops, huh? Check out the bombings by terrorists during the last 20 years. Who tried to do anything about them? This president has the guts and honor to try. This president stands for Christian morals, justice and freedom.
All I can say is, wake up and love this country, back the authority in it or just leave.
Randal K Warren
Odenville, Ala.
Government's failure
The government of Mississippi, including our governor and Legislature that passed the Medicaid bill, will indeed affect thousands of Mississippians' health and financially. I will be one of them. Our governor and representatives have done more harm to our state than good.
The number one priority of our government should be the well being and care of our disabled and seniors. Yet our government has failed to see this, and feel for our needs has depleted in their hearts. How low can our government go as to take away our health benefits from us?
The ones that need it the most always get hurt. Our government, including our governor, owes the ones that were on Medicaid a very much needed apology.
I will put forth every effort that I can put into to see that our governor and representatives who voted for this bill are not reelected when voting time comes.
Thomas Cooper
Quitman
Promises, promises
The recent promise of presidential hopeful John Kerry to raise the common labor wages to $7 an hour is very doubtful owing to his flip-flop on every other issue that he's had a hand in. Someone will have to pay for these raises. Small businesses may fold or send their jobs out of the country. It would seem more practical for the multibillion-dollar companies for example, drug, power and phone companies to use self-restraint in raising their prices; better yet, roll back some of the existing prices.
Right now, I feel more secure in both domestic and foreign affairs with President Bush in charge.
Bobbie McLemore
Philadelphia
Wants vote back
I am one of the many people cut from Medicaid. I am a 76-year-old widow who voted for Mr. Barbour. Can I please have my vote back? I have applied for my Medicare discount card. I am told this $600 discount is for the year. I have glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. I must use two kinds of eye drops, one of which costs over $100 for a teaspoon of medicine. The way it was explained to me, I will get 10 percent off my medication each month until my $600 is used up. This for me will be 3 or 31⁄2 months. When I asked what I am to do the rest of the year, I was told I will pay full price until the year 2006.
Will someone please ask Mr. Barbour why he thinks Medicare is going to be better than Medicaid? It is going to cost me about three times as much as Medicaid. This big "discount" is a joke.
I hope this does not cause people to choose to buy food or medicine. If we can't get the medicine we won't be here to need the food. Do you think this may be a ploy to get some of us old ones to die off so the government can use the rest of our social security?
Juanita Rainey
Meridian
Legislators lauded
A bill passed by the state Legislature protecting all military monuments, plaques and memorials in the state from inappropriate relocation or rededication became law on July 1. The new law ensures that the monuments and memorials standing as silent witnesses to the service, sacrifice, courage and loyalty of all veterans from the Revolutionary War period until the present will always stand as symbols of the respect and gratitude that Mississippians hold in their hearts for the patriots of our state and nation.
Two Meridian area legislators deserve our gratitude for introducing this bill in the state legislature during the 2004 term. Sen. Videt Carmichael and Rep. Greg Snowden authored this bill in the Senate and the House, respectively.
I, along with the members of the state veteran's organizations interested in the passage of this bill, add my appreciation to these two fine legislators from your area and appreciate their outstanding assistance in preserving this great legacy for Mississippi.
Bill East
West Point