SPEAKOUT

IN THE WALL Street Journal issue of July 15, 1991, Albert Shanker, president of American Federation of Teachers, has written an article that all Missouri taxpayers should read before being conned by the educators into voting for Proposition B. He states that middle-class parents don't realize their kids are getting their junior-high and high-school education in college. Vote no on Proposition B. Thank you.

I THINK THE stores all over the country have lost touch with the consumer. It's August, traditionally the hottest month of the year, and nowhere in this city can I find either a pool lounger, raft to float on, or a good pair of swimming trunks. The selection on swimming trunks is next to nothing. But, if you'd like to buy winter clothing right now in the hottest month of the year, the selection is fabulous. I think the stores need to get back in touch with the consumer. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to ask if the editor would expand a little more on the editorial in Friday's paper concerning the libraries. I understand what the problem is, and I have no quarrel with that, but there were some statements made that I'm hoping I'm just misinterpreting. One of the statements was that it might ultimately lead to stronger municipal libraries; another, expanded services to both urban and rural patrons. I am a rural patron and I go to Riverside Regional. I've been in both the Jackson library and the Cape library, but quite honestly I am treated much kinder and have a much friendlier reception at Riverside. I enjoy that library. There is absolutely no time that I request something that they in some way or another cannot get it, whether it be from their own library or their other branches or from some other libraries. I also don't understand the comment about it might also prompt greater cooperation between regional and city libraries. Does this imply there is not any cooperation now? As I say, I realize there is a need for more revenue for the two city libraries, but I don't see eliminating the regional library, which is what I thought your editorial was trying to also say along with the need for more monies for the other libraries. Thank you.

We'll let the editorial speak for itself, other than to say that we were not suggesting the elimination of Riverside Regional Library.

THE RECENT PERFORMANCE of city government leaders regarding the Greyhound station has been pathetically lamentable. It is sad for the city manager to state, when faced with the loss of the main public transportation system serving the city, that it would take a minimum of two and one-half months to rezone Spanky's because of all the processes that must be met. This episode makes this city out to be strictly bush league. A sense of responsibility and an actual desire to solve community problems would have required the leadership to see to it that an emergency 90-day zoning permit was immediately issued for Spanky's to allow this needed service to continue while the rezoning process takes place. The assistant city manager appears more unconcerned than ever, having stated in the Aug. 7 Missourian that the problems or a solution does not reside in city hall. He stated "...a free-enterprise operation that needs to strike a deal with another free-enterprise operation in Cape Girardeau. Until there's a marriage of the two, I don't see anything else that we as a city could do." All of them seem to be indulging in the usual political maneuver that is not important to solve problems, just to shift blame or responsibility to another and paint oneself as an innocent victim of circumstances. All of us should ponder whether or not, based on this episode, we want this same team running our water system.

I AM A resident of Pioneer Trailer Park and I would just like to say that of all the years I have been receiving the Southeast Missourian I have never had such a terrific paper boy. He's always prompt, always courtesy. A great big thank-you and overdue thank-you to him. Thanks, Josh.

I WONDER WHERE I can get help. I think I need some counseling. It's some things I did when I was a kid in school and I can't get over them.

WOULD YOU PLEASE answer a question for me? I'd like to know why women go to bars and then, when they go home with a man, they yell rape. To me, if you go to a bar, you are asking for it. Why go and accuse people of things whenever they're just as guilty as the next one. And why don't they put her name in the paper? I think it should all come out in the open. Thank you.

I KNOW WHAT YOU activists are making a week. It's at least $200. What are you doing for us? Nothing. If you want to put your energy to a worthwhile cause, adopt an unwanted child. Thank you. I know. I have done my homework.

I JUST WANTED to comment that the four-lane highway between Jackson and Cape is wonderful compared to what we had when it was two lanes. It would be even more wonderful if some of those Cape County bumpkins would learn to drive. I think driving rules say to stay to the right unless passing. The left lane is for passing only. Another thing: When the intersection stop lights say left turn yield, it means left turns yield to oncoming traffic. It would also help if they would use their turn signals so we know what they are going to do. No one can read their mind.

I'M READING IN today's paper about the shortage of foster homes in Cape County. Well, it's not only in Cape County; it's all over the country. Where are the pro-life people? They make a lot of promises in God's name and that's it. It's all show, mostly because the church tells them to. I don't see them in nursing homes helping out either. I guess that's not pro-life. Thank you.

TAKE NOTICE, JACKSON up-town merchants. If you happen to meet your donation to the American Legion, don't fret; you will pay your yearly dues all this week because Homecomers is here again. The money you lose to the Cape Girardeau merchants is surely appreciated by the Cape Girardeau merchants. Thank you very much.

HOW COME NO ONE arrested Roseanne Barr for doing what she did in public? Since Pee Wee Herman did what he did, he should not have been arrested. Let's bring Pee Wee back and let's take Roseanne Barr off. They ought to take her show off and give her a large fine. Thank you.

MISSOURI HAS THIS automobile insurance law that if you haven't had insurance for the previous few years you go in the high-risk category. It's also in California, Washington, Oregon, and Oklahoma. I kind of wonder about that. Someone maybe ought to take an interest in it. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE TO know when you are classified as a senior citizen. Thank you, 58.

I'M A MEMBER of the Country Club and I'm calling about the street being changed. I'd like to say I think it's a lot more hassle than it's worth.

I JUST WONDER, with all this concern over the bus station here in town, why can't they take the old Storey's Food Giant building or the Wal-Mart Center out by Western Sizzlin' or any of these vacant buildings that are here in town and convert those into a bus stop? Those would be ideal as far as the bus having mobility and stuff like that. Thanks.

THIS IS IN response to the person who said residents of Scott City are cry babies. I am not a cry baby and the person that called in about the address being changed is probably not having their address changed. I don't think it's worth the trouble, and it won't be worth it in the long run because most people don't want to live in this city. Put that in your pipe, baby, and smoke it.

I'M LOOKING FOR a New Age church or study group in this area. I've already contacted the Chamber of Commerce and their church information wasn't helpful. Thank you.

I JUST RECEIVED my copy of the Grapevine. I'm a faculty member at the university and I just think it is simply outstanding, the reporting I found in this particular issue. Keep it up, guys, whoever is behind this. We'll reform this place yet. Thank you.

I AM CONFUSED. I'm watching the news about these environmentalists who want to stop this harvesting of the trees in Shawnee National Forest, but they showed this huge pile of paper they had personally used to gather signatures. They're kind of being hypocrites, aren't they, or using a double standard of some sort? Thank you.

CBS IS ACTING judge and jury in the charges filed against Pee Wee Herman. If you disapprove of this they're planning to pull the plug on him write CBS and tell them that we support Pee Wee and, if they pull the plug on Pee Wee, we'll pull the plug on CBS. Mail any comment to CBS, Saturday Morning, 51 West 52nd St., New York, N.Y. 10019. Let's all help Pee Wee. Thank you.

I WONDER WHY it is that every time you order something out of a catalog or some ad on TV they give you the price and then all of a sudden they tack on shipping and handling. They didn't used to do that years ago. What's with it now? Are they trying to get you to help pay their employees' salary? I wonder. They should give the price of the article and that's it. Thank you.