SPEAKOUT

OBE, the movie

STATE SEN. Peter Kinder recently wrote a column about the new variation of what was once referred to by some as Outcomes Based Education. In his column, Kinder called the apparent new version "Transformational OBE." He knows more about these things than I do, but if I were a senator I would have deemed it something else. I think that using all that fancy lingo is likely to interfere with the ordinary citizen's ability to understand what the senator is writing about. Keep it simple, senator. Make it sound kind of horror flick-ish. Why not, say, "Son of OBE," and then, if it comes back again, "The Return of OBE," then, "OBE, Part IV" and, maybe, "OBE, the Final Chapter."

Financing questions

I FIND the latest city council meeting confusing. Melvin Gately votes against taxes for insuring a safe and adequate water supply for the city but turns around and supports giving away public tax dollars to support a private project, the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation. Thank goodness Mayor Spradling and other city council members are trying to protect the public trust. Mayor Spradling is on the right track, but based on the newspaper article, the questions just scratched the surface of the issues. The foundation claims to have $310,000. If true, then they can meet their payments to the Vincentians. Since the foundation claims it cannot make full payments to the Vincentians, the foundation must not have $310,000. The city has other organizations involved in historic preservation. The historical association which owns and operates the Glenn House has been around for decades and survives without drawing on our tax dollars. Many prominent and active people int he area were involved in the restoration of the Glenn House. The project held enough interest for the private sector to support it. Perhaps the same criteria should hold for the seminary grounds. It too is an admirable project, but if there is not enough private interest to support it, then perhaps we don't need it.

Taxes, taxes, taxes

THE FRENCH people are fighting. And from what it looks like, the French people are going to have the same deal as we're going to have in a few years. So people who have been getting these free checks are wanting the country to crash. They want the working class to work harder. And to the people that are working, I feel sorry because they want to tax us. All you hear about is the state, federal and local taxes. But then there are sales taxes and your gasoline tax.

Too cold for tent

I JUST had to call about the man living in that blue tent on Highway 74 as you go into Cape. It's too cold to be living out in a tent.

St. Louis channels

I AGREE wholeheartedly with Marc Powers' column about 36 channels and nothing on. And what about Sikeston showing KPLR? It's farther south of Cape Girardeau. I even know that Poplar Bluff shows KPLR and the other network affiliates from St. Louis. I'm not a geography major but that's farther south than Cape Girardeau. And what's the excuse? That the signal isn't strong enough. I wish TCI would get KPLR. The public is demanding it. They've demanded it for years.

Gulf expenses

THIS IS in response to the caller who said even George Bush was smart enough to get the Arabs to pay for 90 percent of the Gulf War in 1991. The fact remains that the Arabs weren't footing the bill and still aren't footing the bill. That war was costing us $80 million a day. And besides that, what's the difference in George Bush sending somebody somewhere or Bill Clinton sending somewhere?

Water service

I JUST need to make a comment about the water division in Cape Girardeau. I think some major changes need to be made in the department. I feel the service is very inadequate. You receive a promise from somebody working there, and the work never seems to be done. You call three or four times and keep checking on things, and it doesn't do any good. I think somebody needs to look into the service.

Bogus charges

IF THERE was no media bias, the headline today would read "Speaker cleared of 67 bogus charges, one left for a tax consultant expert to advise him on." Get real, people. He beat 67 charges. They were bogus. Do you know what he's been through? And the last question is a minor technical question about tax deductibility of a contribution to support his college class. Do you think teaching a college class is a political activity? Some may say yes, but that's all that's stuck.

Tuition increase

MY DAUGHTER came home from college yesterday and told me that SEMO is planning on raising the tuition again next fall. When is it going to stop? All the taxes we pay, the high salaries we pay at SEMO, when is it going to stop?

A fantastic job

I HOPE we keep President Clinton in for four more years and then put in Al Gore for two terms. That would straighten this country out. He's doing a fantastic job.

Donor cards

A LETTER to the editor reminded us not to drink and drive and to sign our donor card. Fortunately I happen to be speaking with the writer about donor cards and asked where you find one. It is so simple. Just look at the back of your driver's license. You will need two witnesses.

Water leaks

I'M CALLING in about water rates. If the city would get out and fix the water main leaks such as Hopper Road and Ranchito Drive instead of letting them sit there half of the summer or half of the fall before fixing them, all this wasted water might help us not have to pay a higher price. Come on, city, you do your job, and we'll pay the correct prices for water. Right now you're not.

Pearl Harbor

NOT MANY Pearl Harbor survivors are alive today. Remember Pearl Harbor. Keep America alert. It's almost faded away. Where are the veterans organization to keep this motto alive? Also the Cape newspaper, radios and TV? Churches could help greatly in remembering Pearl Harbor Day.

Volunteer grads

SAY NO to a requirement that high school graduates must volunteer a number of hours of community service before graduation. This is just a liberal coalition agenda to have high school persons volunteering in agencies that they might not even approve of. There is no reason for it. The Scouts and other community and church services can teach volunteerism just fine. And in the home also. And the school board might want to take notice of some suits against school districts that have enacted this requirement for graduation. Our students go to school to learn, not a liberal agenda's idea of their type of volunteerism, coerced by a school district.

Tax cut, please

IF Congressman Emerson and his new coalition of Blue Dog republicans don't want a tax cut, I do. Perhaps he and his family have lived off the government for so long they don't realize what a tax cut would mean to average folks like us. We didn't send you to office, Mr. Emerson, to make deals with Democrats.

History rewrite

ON DEC. 7 we salute the civilian and military casualties of the sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Those in high office, not recognizing this tragedy and wanting to rewrite history books so as not to offend Japan, today are showing their true colors and beliefs. Those of us who lived through this period should make it a priority not to let others forget. Upon reading today's Southeast Missourian, I found only one mention of Pearl Harbor's surprise attack, that being the second editorial on the Opinion page. Don't forget those that gave of themselves. Remember Pearl Harbor.

Who pays?

IN A voice consumed with contempt, I'm inquiring who pays for these copies of the his Nov. 4, 1994, Southeast Missourian column that Associate Publisher Peter Kinder is having hand delivered to Dr. Bob Bartman, every member of the farm Bureau Resolution Committee and members of the state school board. Pete, quit whining at the voters' expense. And furthermore, your bruised ego looks gallutish in print.

REPLY: Kinder was invited to the Farm Bureau meeting as a state senator. The issue being discussed was the result of state legislation. The copies were provided by the senator's Jefferson City office as part of communicating about state issues.

Remembering Dec. 7

ON DEC. 7, 1995, 54 years ago, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor killing thousands of Americans. KFVS, KZIM and the Southeast Missourian remembered, but did the man who's sending at least 20,000 American lives to war-torn Bosnia remember? No. Maybe he just doesn't know about it. There hasn't been a poll taken on Pearl Harbor.

Delta winners

I WANT to congratulate the Delta Bobcats on winning the Woodland Tournament. All the boys done a great job, and the coach did a wonderful job with them. Congratulations, boys.

Words to remembers

THIS IS directed toward the Republican congressmen who support the peace mission in Bosnia: "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -- Albert Einstein.