SPEAKOUT

I JUST READ in Speak Out about someone being unhappy with the Homecoming Parade this year. Every year at Homecoming, a group of us, about 20 alumni from the '60s, gather to enjoy the Homecoming and each other's company, and by far it was a unanimous agreement that this parade was the best ever. The floats were spectacular and the whole parade was just super, and I just wanted to put in our side of it because we really enjoyed the parade this year and really think it was the best we've seen yet. Thanks.

NO WAY WILL I vote for Proposition B since I have learned that after 10 years the money will go into general revenue. The schools then will be coming back for more taxes because they would have to go back to their money that they have now. Thank you.

IN TODAY'S SPEAK Out column people are complaining about Proposition B. One lady commented that we should cut wasted funds before we have to dig deeper into our pockets. That's true, but she's sadly mistaken if she thinks she digs deep in her pocket. Missouri ranks low in spending on education. Only one other state spends less on education reforms. Isn't that embarrassing for us Missourians? What does this say about us and our children's future? Let's get off our greedy butts and do something for our children. Vote yes on Proposition B.

I'D LIKE TO make a comment. I'm glad to see that a lot of people in your Speak Out column have commented on taxes and the waste in this country. I'm 100 percent in agreement. We need to take our tax money and put it back in our own country, and quit giving it to all these foreign countries and everybody else. There's no need for anybody in America to be out of work, living on the street and on Social Security having to scrimp and having to try to get by. Our school systems are suffering. It's a terrible waste and the people in government apparently don't seem to realize this. I'm just an average, working individual. If I can see what's going on in the country, you'd think the government would be able to see this. Anyway, I'm just glad to see the people are fed up. They're marching on taxes in Washington and different cities, and I think people right here in Cape Girardeau ought to organize and have a demonstration.

I REJECT PETER Kinder's diatribe against what he calls radical feminists. Is he implying radical is bad? According to the dictionary, radical is fundamental, extreme, narrow going; also, a person who favors sweeping changes in laws and methods of government. There have always been women and some men who have spoken out against the injustice administered by male to female who are denounced and vilified at great cost and even threat to their lives. Unfortunately, it often takes such radical and extreme actions to bring about the justice and equal rights women and other oppressed groups have to fight for. Mark me proud to be called a radical feminist. Thank you.

SEEING THE HOMECOMING Parade brought back memories when I, as a Jackson High School band student under the direction of Leroy Mason, marched in the band. We wore our own white shirts, black skirts or trousers, black shoes, and the school furnished the capes and caps. This is quite a contrast to the display of the band members' uniforms, the glittery pompon girls and other expensive outfits displayed. I believe that students could profit from their musical education, their sports participation and other extra-curricular activities without all the money spent on the trivia. If these excesses were cut to a minimum, and the money spent on the sciences, our country would be a better place to live and our children would not grow up to feel that they must have the world served to them on a silver spoon. Nor would they have to pay the taxes which are sure to follow. Along with drug and alcohol control, it might help if financial control were introduced to our students at an early age. Thank you.

THE MEDIAN THAT is just west of William Street on Kingshighway needs to have some yellow paint on it because, when you're out late at night, that's very dangerous. You can't see it. Thank you.

WELL, I'VE GOT to speak up and be counted. I am going to vote for Proposition B on Nov. 5. I have no children or grandchildren in the schools but our kids in Missouri need a good education to get ahead in this old world. We rank 47th out of 51 states for educating our children. Shame on us. I admit, it's not the best educational bill, but it's the only one we have. Please go and vote for Proposition B. I thank you and our children thank you. I know we spend too much money on school sports, but I would rather see the children at a sports event than on the streets.

IT SEEMS THAT our United States Congress considers itself diplomats and they want diplomatic immunity from the laws they pass for the rest of us to obey. Our forefathers never intended for the United States citizens to have to obey laws that did not apply to the lawmakers. The sooner we get limited terms for them the better off the rest of us will be.

CAPE NEEDS ANOTHER television station so we can get the news and weather on time instead of having to wait for a stupid ball game to be over. Thank you.

IF YOU ARE for a new-age religion and if you're for inner peace, vote for Proposition B.

IF WE CAPE Girardeau citizens vote to take advantage of the Nov. 5 vote to obtain control of our water system, does that mean the city of Cape Girardeau would be the purchaser of this water system? Does that also mean a private citizen could buy part of this? Thank you.

Under the proposal, no private ownership would be involved. With voter approval, the city would buy the water system from Union Electric and the city would own and operate the system.

I LIVE IN Cape on one of the side streets and I'm concerned again this year because people have started burning leaves. Every day I open a window for fresh air and I get lots of smoke coming in my window and I'm concerned about my health. I smell burning leaves every day and I'm afraid some kind of cancer or something could happen. How do you know?

TO THE PERSON who called on Oct. 20 and complained about 98 male senators and only 2 female ones: The caller said the next time a well-qualified woman runs for the Senate let's join together and get her elected. I'd say the best they can run is Harriet Woods, and her identification with Jane Fonda was enough to kill her politically in her previous race. The National Organization of Women was out of touch. Feminists came to her rescue and gave her something to do to keep her alive and active at that time. Now she comes out with ridiculous left-wing feminist statements about Judge Thomas, showing once again she's out of touch with reality. The population polls show two-to-one support for Thomas. The only woman that can be elected is someone such as Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum. She has more influence where she is and more sense than to run for such a low-esteem group as the Senate is today.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE a remark about this Proposition B. Why don't they just vote on this to last only 10 years, then let it end, period? They will never cut the tax back or change it because the legislature will find something else they want to spend that money for, like a raise in their own salary. Once they get a tax, they never repeal it. Thank you.

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE tell me why in major league baseball I never see a left-handed catcher?

The majority of batters in baseball are right-handed hitters. Therefore, coaches favor right-handed catchers because they are less obstructed by the batter when throwing the ball. Also, balls thrown by right-handers tend to have less movement, making it easier for an infielder to catch a throw to a base.

VOTE NO ON Proposition B. By favoring this massive tax increase we merely lend our support to the great waste of money caused by forced busing of students. This silly idea benefited no one. It was merely some stupid legislators misguided idea of how to achieve equality. Let's not give our nit-wit politicians hard-earned money for their silly experiments.

I QUESTION THE Cape Girardeau City Council's proposal to subsidize the Cape Girardeau school system for $145,000 should the buyout of the UE water system happen. I was under the impression that school systems were funded through state funds and by property taxes; I was not under the impression that the school systems were subsidized by a simple vote of the Cape Girardeau City Council. Perhaps the city council should look into the legality of a subsidy in this proposal. If the city council wishes for the Cape Girardeau school system to receive an additional $135,000 from the people of Cape Girardeau, let them put it in the form of a property tax and let the voters have a say.

SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS will get a $22-a-month raise. Politicians gave themselves a $20,000-a-year raise. We must clean Washington of these parasites when they come up for election. It is long overdue. Thank you.

I'VE HEARD IT all. Our city council is supposed to help the people that live in the city and they are trying to take our rights away. They're trying to tell them now that they're going to have to have a license to be a handyman. What is it coming to in this country anyway? Our city council members are communists, each and every one of them. I voted for some of them and they got elected, but I will vote to get them out the next time. I tell you, it's a shame and disgrace to have such men and women in our city council who want to take the rights away from other people.

No member of the city council professes to be communist.