SPEAKOUT

Independence Street

I READ with surprise and interest and apprehension the proposed street improvements should the transportation tax be approved. Independence was widened from a two-lane to three to allow for safer passing of vehicles, and sidewalks were installed in the early 1960s. If my memory serves me correctly that was done without any prior notice or meeting or warning. It just happened, and the landowners were presented with their bills. Surely common sense will prevail, and the already installed sidewalks and street improvements will not be once again removed for additional work. There are too many other streets in Cape which have deteriorated through the years and have never been touched. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Independence does not need a second going over. It is adequate as it is now.

Clinton's budget

LISTEN TO what Clinton says, all you Democrats out there who are pushing on what a wonderful job he is doing. He said he has made the government smaller at a news conference, but here's what actually happened. President Clinton proposed a $1.61 trillion budget for fiscal 1996 which will begin Oct. 1, a 5.5 percent increase over this fiscal year. Clinton's budget projects deficits of $200 billion for the rest of the decade. Boy, that sure sounds like he wants to make government smaller, doesn't it?

Hurry-up person

THIS IS in response to the person who wants you to have your check made out before you get to the checkout line. This is a person who goes through a stoplight on yellow and is still out in the middle when it turns red, taking up someone else's turn trying to get through on a green light. You're probably also the person who makes a right turn on red in front of someone who's got a green light trying to go through. Or maybe you're the person setting on the street who sees a line of cars coming and you can't make it so you try to make it out in front of them and hold up the whole line of traffic while you're trying to make a right turn out on the street in front of someone. Now you want me to have my check made out before I ever get to my checkout line. You're going to have to slow up, and I really don't give a doodley squat whether you like it or not. If you're in that big a hurry and you're that impatient, why don't you stay home?

No OBE, please

I DO so appreciate Sen. Kinder's attempts to rid or thwart the advancement of Outcomes Based Education in our school system. It is time for us all to educate ourselves about this program. It is hideous, and it's a total elimination of the incentive to learn and achieve. I would hope that now would be the time, since the federal government is giving more control back to the states, that the states should give more control back to the localities and the communities, and I would hope at this time we take advantage of the fact that we can make a difference in our community and in all levels of government control. The revolution is beginning. Let's keep it up. No Outcomes Based Education in our schools, please.

Try hard labor

WHY DO we arrest people and spend years to finally have a trial? Then when proven guilty they get a year or less sentence which is altered to probation, a few community work hours, and a few measly dollars. Everyone one regardless of what the offense, should serve his sentence with hard labor, no TV, no three hot meals a day. They are criminals that have lost their rights.

Beautiful blossoms

WHAT KIND of trees are these the ones with the beautiful white blossoms that I see all over Cape Girardeau? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had in one of our parks a winding path that you could walk along and be engulfed on all sides by these white blossoms? I'll always fondly remember my visit to Washington, D.C., when the cherry trees were blooming. It was an amazingly peaceful and uplifting experience to stroll along the sidewalks surrounded by these pinkish white blossoms. It was like walking through a sunlit cloud.

REPLY: There are several types of ornamental trees that are blooming right now. Some of the showiest blossoms are those of the Bradford pear trees.

Crusade coverage

I'D LIKE to thank the Southeast Missourian newspaper for all the good publication we're getting on the crusade that's taking place. The crusade is really reaching a lot of lives of people, and I think a lot of people are coming in simply because they're hearing the good reports from the Southeast Missourian. Once again I want to say thank you.

I SAW your fine write-up on the Lowell Lundstrom crusade. I cannot believe a newspaper could give such a good report on a Christian revival. It is really great, I think. I didn't subscribe to the Missourian until I read that. As of this day, I am a new subscriber because of your great write up.

I WANT to thank the newspaper for having such positive and accurate coverage of the Lowell Lundstrom Impact America event. I believe the message of truth that Lowell Lundstrom has been speaking on nightly is the answer for the problems of society. The teachings of Jesus are the best way and the Bible is a standard that all people need to live by for their own good.

No term limits

AS A strong Republican for many, many years, I'm strongly for their Contract With America, except for one thing: term limits. I can understand why it is so necessary to get rid of the totally entrenched Democrat politicians from Chicago, New York, Massachusetts and many others who've served a lifetime of corrupt actions. But, when we have a congressman like Bill Emerson who is so honest and helpful to those who've been gigged by IRS and unseemly laws, you've got to keep him for honesty's sake. Also, he intimately knows the rules and the way the House operates, which would take a replacement a year or so to understand while we wait for him/her to do it. Congressman Emerson must be returned to the House as long as I can vote.