SPEAKOUT

AS A TAXPAYER I am voting no for Proposition B. I would like to know who's sending all these cards and who's paying for them. Is it the taxpayer who's paying to encourage people to vote yes? I'm against that. At the bottom of the card it says paid for by Missourians for Quality Education, William Quigg, treasurer.

Missourians for Quality Education is made up of people who favor passage of Proposition B. The chairmen of the group are Henry W. Bloch, chairman and chief executive officer of H&R Bloch in Kansas City; Sam B. Cook, chairman of the board of Central Bank in Jefferson City; and Richard J. Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer of Monsanto in St. Louis. No government money goes to the group. It operates solely on contributions.

KANSAS CITY BUILT a new high school for $32 million. For less than $5 million Jackson built four buildings. These Kansas City teachers are against Proposition B and Jackson is for it. That tells me Kansas City is afraid to turn loose of some of its money and give it to outside schools. I am not going to let that happen. I'll vote yes for Proposition B to help our own schools, not to pay for Kansas City's scuba classes and an indoor track complex they brag about. Thanks.

I AM VOTING yes on Proposition B and 911 because they're both very cheap and both have lots of benefits. Thank you.

BUSH SAYS HE'S an education president and Ashcroft says he's an education governor. Well, that's a joke. Bush can give billions of dollars to Russia and Israel. If both of them are for education, heaven help us if they were against it. The state of Missouri is in bad shape as far as educating our children goes. People complain about paying more taxes in Missouri. What about your taxes going to foreign countries when they should be helping us in the United States? Please go to polls and vote on Nov. 5 for Proposition B. Thank you.

I'M CALLING TO express my opposition to the city purchase of the water system. This summer it was reported on two area TV stations that the city-owned water system in Benton, Ill., had raised its rates to $80 per month for an average family. There is nothing to prevent our City Council from doing the same thing once the city has control of the water system. We have only to look at what the city did with the trash collection fees and the sewer tax to see what will happen with our water rates.

I UNDERSTAND THAT Proposition B will provide funds for vocational retraining. I wonder if that means there will be some money to help all those people who are leaving their jobs with Brown Shoe Co. For 42 cents a month, I think I would be willing to vote for it if I could find out that those people will get some kind of retraining. Thank you.

Proposition B would not raise money specifically for vocational retraining, but would create a council of employers and employees to identify occupations of critical need where shortages exist, provide grants to programs capable of training people in those areas of critical need, and provide funding to update programs and equipment. It also would provide apprenticeships in manufacturing or service-related industries, establish critical skills programs in occupations that are essential for the state's future, make loans to local economic development projects, and consider the number of jobs to be created or retained, the amount of tax revenue to be generated and the economic impact of projects. There already is a program in operation to help people like the Brown Shoe Co. workers. It is called the Dislocated Worker program, and it pays for tuition and supplies while laid-off people go back to school to learn new skills. The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Perryville operates it in 13 Southeast Missouri counties.

I'M CALLING ABOUT Proposition B. I'm a student at an area public school, and I think it's really stupid when people call in and say vote no on it. They are not sitting in the classroom experiencing what we are experiencing now. Vote yes on Proposition B because we need the money for our schools. Until they experience what we've been through, then I think that they should just not vote. Thanks.

I AM A SENIOR citizen and I would like to vote for Proposition B for my two grandchildren. But I would like to know who is going to spend it? No politicians, please. I would like to see a public accounting of all the Missouri lottery collections and expenditures. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY that Proposition B will cost each Missourian approximately $77. There are about five million people in Missouri and, if you divide that by $385 million, you come up with $77. Remember that all costs are passed on to the consumer. Cooperation doesn't pay taxes; they pass them off on their products or services to the consumer. Thank you a lot.

FIRST WE HAD Proposition A and now we have Proposition B. I don't know about anybody else, but I can't afford a new tax for every letter of the alphabet.

PLEASE GET OUT and vote no on Tuesday on Proposition B. Your taxes will be raised if Proposition B passes, and for sure we don't need to pay any more taxes. I'm for a good education but we have to draw the line somewhere. It is time we start cutting expenses. We're all having to do that. These schools and teachers are not better than we who are on a fixed income. Thanks for listening.

PROPOSITION B is not what we need in education right now. My wife is part of the education system, and she does stand in danger of losing her job one day when the school system bankrupts itself, but we're both here to tell you that the school system itself is a greater problem than is the lack of money. The system must be strapped and effective teaching methods and teaching guidelines must be readopted. Please vote no. Proposition B is simply the wrong answer at the wrong time.

I REGRET THAT I must vote no on Proposition B. I don't object to the amount of the tax increase; I can afford it although I'm sure it would be difficult to many. My objection is that this will not solve our problems in education at all but will encourage the education bureaucracy to continue business as usual. The so-called reforms are too vague and half-hearted, and were added only to make the tax increase easier to swallow. The legislature knows that people are frustrated and concerned about the mess our schools are in, but instead of tackling the problem they want to throw more money at it, which is the easy way out. This is all bureaucrats ever do. It's time that we, the voters, make a statement to our legislature and educators that we demand true reforms; that they cut out the glut of administrators, coaches, poor teachers and unnecessary programs. Then, let's talk about money. Thank you.

HISTORY WILL SHOW that only fools go to the polls and vote themselves tax increases. The Missouri laws on reassessment will make sure that the taxes are collected in quantities sufficient to do the right thing in the school systems. Thank you.

PLEASE VOTE NO on Proposition B you will find out what it means later if you don't.

THE MISSOURIAN said regarding Proposition B that we are competing against Germany and Japan. Why don't they offer German at Central High School instead of just Spanish and French?

PROPOSITION B: WHO planted this seed, and is the motive the one with which we are continuously showered, or is it one which we morons are too dense to detect? Thank you.

THERE WERE SOME parents who couldn't even get on the Parents as Teachers program because of not enough money. I read in your paper where there are 35 other states that have copied the program. We came up with it and 35 other states have copied it. It's a shame we can't even adequately fund the program for ourselves. I was just wondering if it would give it more money. Thanks.

Proposition B would provide $5.7 million to fund services for more families under the Parents as Teachers program.

I'M SURE THAT many of us have been following the newspapers and the television ads the last few weeks in regard to the governor's race in Kentucky. I'm a Republican, but I never have been so ashamed of being a Republican as I am now since I've heard Larry Hopkins speak the last few days in his nasty advertising that he's running against Jones, a Democratic candidate. If he's that scared to run, and has nothing else to run on but mud-slinging and nasty ads he's been running, I would suggest that he withdraw from the race. I only wish that I could be over there and vote in this governor's race. I've never voted Democrat before. This would be one time, and it my cause me to continue to vote Democratic after following Larry Hopkins speeches and nasty ads that he's been running against Jones.

I JUST RECEIVED a pamphlet on Proposition B and I was astonished that they put in that little kids have to be put in front of a computer. Is that the education the kids are supposed to get? By the time they reach age 15 or 16 they're so tired of all the education they have and they have no time for anything else. That's when they all drop out. And, if they all survive to the age of 18, coming out of high school and trying to find a job, they may be overqualified. They should let the kids be kids. How would any of you adults feel if you had been subject to school from 5 years old to 18? That is not education. When they come out they still don't know A from Z.

I WOULD LIKE to commend the Southeast Missourian newspaper for the fine job it's doing in presenting both sides of Proposition B. I feel that you have been very helpful in doing this. There are doubts in people's minds, and this helps to show people that there are two sides to every proposition. You must decide yourself whether you want to vote for Proposition B or against it. Thank you.

Thank you for the compliment.

I JUST FINISHED reading the Be Our Guest in Thursday's paper by former Southeast basketball star Dwayne Rutherford. It takes a big man to admit his mistakes, but I feel it takes a noble man to make it known. His message was clear and concise, and I hope that every parent and teacher will recommend this article to their kids. What turned out as a bad example has completely turned around and Dwayne gave one of the best testimonies I have ever heard. Good luck, Dwayne, and may God be with you. You deserve it.

WE NOW KNOW why the last postal increase was necessary. It's so they can advertise on national television about priority mail and so forth. I think it's a disgrace for the postal service to raise postage rates and then turn around and spend it for advertisements. I thought there was only one postal service. Thank you.

I THINK THEY should elect an outsider for president. Maybe the poor will get richer and maybe the rich will get poorer.

IF PRISONS WEREN'T so overcrowded and inmates were treated a little better, maybe the inmates wouldn't be filing such lawsuits as the paper here says. I read this in this evening's paper, Oct. 28. Well, if prisoners don't get treated better, I think it's wise that they do file lawsuits. They have rights just like everybody else. Just because they're in prison doesn't mean their rights should be taken away. And I think they should be treated fairly. Thank you very much.

HERE IT IS, time to recycle tomorrow. We tried and tried all week to really recycle and we have one small bag of recyclable things. Meanwhile, the filthy garbage that we can't recycle, we have three garbage cans topped full and it will be Friday before we're able to get rid of it. We don't know what we're going to do with the rest of it. I think the city council has really done it this time. They finally screwed up bad enough that the people might vote them out. I will definitely be working against them if they don't get this changed. We can't be living in this filth. This is not the middle ages. Thanks.

WHAT ABOUT THE smoke you're smelling from the exhaust on your car? What about the factories and their smoke stacks polluting the air? And you say you're going to get cancer. Wake up and smell the roses, man.

I CAN NO LONGER keep this in. Having been employed here in Cape Girardeau since July, and having gone out every day trying to find employment in your town, it's a little frustrating. You go to an employer, you spend an hour and a half of your valuable time taking his little test, filling his application out, interviewing with him, and even though you're way overqualified for the job, they decide to go ahead and hire somebody they all know. This is not the first time I've applied at a company where this has happened. Or, the other thing Cape employers like to do is to give you an application and say six months down the road is when we're looking to hire somebody. I need a job now, not six months from now. I also have a degree. It's no wonder the young people in this town leave Cape Girardeau. Employers do not treat their employees fairly, they do not know how to hire, they do not know how to fire employees. As of this exact moment, I went down and bought a St. Louis Post-Dispatch paper. I'm looking for employment in St. Louis, not Cape Girardeau. You just lost a valuable employee to this town.

WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE tell our dinosaur TV company that it's about time we pick up stereo broadcast on CBS? Thank you.

SHOW ME CENTER, get your act together. You haven't had a good, hard-rock, heavy metal concert since Warrant and Firehouse. Wake up and get your act together. Get a good act into Cape. Thanks.

THE TRAFFIC lights throughout Cape Girardeau make you go, stop, go, stop, go, stop, go, stop. Anybody who had one eye and half sense could have done a better job. Thank you.

THE CITY IS claiming that the recycling program is a success. I would like to know the average number of people recycling in different sections of town. In the section of Cape that I live, the recycling truck goes for blocks without making a stop. And, we are still stuck with one garbage pickup per week. I am paying for two garbage pickups, and that's what I want. I take my recyclables to the recycling center because we only recycle about once per month. This is not fair for us to have to pay for two garbage pickups and only receive one. Our newspapers, plastic, and glass, bi-monthly we take to the recycling center. I want my second garbage pickup because I do not want garbage sitting at my home for seven days. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to thank the Jackson Marching Chiefs and Junior Marching Chiefs for the excellent performance last Friday night at the football game. You sounded great even through the downpour. What great school spirit you showed. Thanks a lot.

I'VE SEEN AN ad on KFVS recently where the purpose was to stop Pay for View sports television and promote sports programming on free television. If this is their premise, I wish they would carry the games they advertise; specifically, the Cowboys game that was advertised for Oct. 27, 1991, was not carried. I wish they would live up to their end of the bargain if they want people to support free sports programming. Thank you.

I'M CALLING long distance from Jefferson City, Mo., home of the Jays, the defending state 5-A champions of Missouri. I'd just like to say we kicked Cape's butt all over the field this year. If Jackson thinks they're good enough, we'll pay them to come up and play us anytime, anywhere. Thank you.

ROSEMARY BARR, YOU have definitely lost your job. The United States has resumed normal tradition and feeling with our National Anthem. Just think, she was only 7 years old. how beautiful.

PRESIDENT BUSH WOULDN'T sign the unemployment bill for the American workers, but he can sure find money to help the Russians out. He is concerned about their economy. Mr. Bush had better get concerned about the American economy. He's willing to give them money for food, but he can't help the unemployed American worker who has been put out of work because of these foreign-made imports, which the government refuses to limit into this country. The trade balance is almost as bad as the deficit. We need someone in Washington, D.C., who will look out for the American people. Thank you very much.

IT'S AMAZING. I can't believe how much difference there is in the amount of trash that I have since we started this recycling pickup. Seems I have so much less since I keep my newspapers out to be recycled. Now, if I could only find something to eat my potato peels and my tin cans, I'd have it made. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to congratulate Coach Troy Bollinger and the Kelly Lady Hawks softball team on winning their fifth straight district championship and also winning their sectional competition. The Lady Hawks also placed fourth in the state competition. Good luck during your spring season.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS ago the District 8 group of the Missouri Nursing Association hosted the Missouri Nursing Association's annual convention in Cape Girardeau. I just wanted to congratulate the area and also the people who worked on the convention for doing a fantastic job of representing us. Cape Girardeau was wonderful. The whole thing made the event and that made Southeast Missouri look very good in the eyes of the rest of the state.

THIS IS IN regards to the person who said if athletics were cut out, or three-fourth of the athletics were cut out in high school sports, there would be a lot more money for education. I say that the athletics is the only thing keeping some kids in school. If it wasn't for the athletics, a lot of kids would have dropped out a long time ago. Keep the athletics and don't stress the education as strongly as it has been. Thank you.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO want to negotiate for peace rather than go to war with Iraq should read the front page of the Southeast Missourian on Oct. 31. In a story on Middle East peace talks, one Arab leader said all the conference delegates in the peace talks should be killed. Are we supposed to negotiate with narrow-minded leaders like that? Using force is the only way to deal with those people. Those people who were against President Bush and the Iraq war should realize that with some people you just can't negotiate. Thank you.

EXPANSION OF the Federal Building in Cape Girardeau. What a joke. How old is the one we have now? If the federal government has so much money, why not give some to educating our children?

SOME OF YOU people out there, if you didn't have anything or anyone to complain about, what in the world would you do with all that spare time? Imagine the possibilities. Thank you.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING with interest public opinions regarding this city's recycling effort the last three to four weeks. I believe the idea of citywide recyclable goods is wonderful and deserves a fair trial by city residents. I have made a very conscientious effort to divide my trash into paper, plastic, glass and so on, but for the life of me the piles are quite small when the recycling truck comes along. I truly feel the city could still meet its goal of the 1998 reduction by 40 percent of the trash. People would be happier and more willing to cooperate if recycling was once a month and not more. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO get something off my chest. I don't think that we, the people of Cape Girardeau, are being treated fairly on this trash pickup. How come we still have to pay the same amount and it is not picked up but once a week? Come on, Cape, let's band together, stick together and get something done about this. Sometimes all I put out is just one small bag about once a week, and you mean I still have to pay as much as when you were picking up two, three, four, five, six bags? I don't think it's fair to the people of Cape Girardeau. I'm really put out with this city. Thank you.

I GO ALONG with the camera that the police department is putting in their cars, but the $40,000 they had to put in the patrol out on the interstate I don't agree with that. That's my comment.

TO COACH VENABLE and Coach Wachter. Thank you so much for working hard with us football players. The hard work paid off. From the ninth grade freshman team. We're No. 1, 7-0 undefeated.

I JUST CALLED to say it's about time the city got $35 off all these out-of-town contractors. Now let's get some money out of these out-of-town workers. Thank you.

I WISH WE could get a woman like Mrs. Richards out of Texas and in Missouri. Wonder if she wants to come here and run for governor? She'd sure have my vote. Maybe she'd clean up some of this mess. Thank you.

I WOULD JUST like to say that I am sick of this term that you see and hear all the time: politically correct. Thank you.

AS A HOMEOWNER, I don't like the idea of picking up the phone, and somebody offering a trip or camera or they're wanting to make a survey on appliances when really all they're wanting to do is use my name to have somebody come out to try to sell me something. As a homeowner, I am very angry, and I'm sure that there's a lot of other people in Cape Girardeau and Jackson that feel the same way. Thank you.

AS A CITIZEN of Scott City and a taxpayer, I resent the town board giving another town board member property that belongs to the city. I think it's outrageous, and I think the registered voters of this city should vote them out of office. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO Speak Out on the trash pickup. We're charged $8.90 a month for them to pick up three bags a week. Even if you recycle, some people, if you have a large family, have more than one bag of trash, and they're wanting to charge us $8.90 a month for three bags a week pickup. I think this is really ridiculous. Somebody has to do something. Thank you.

I WAS JUST calling to say a good job on the games to the Atlanta Braves and way to go, Minnesota Twins. I was really rooting for the Minnesota Twins.

I WANT TO LET people who rent apartments know that according to the building code they do not have to furnish bulbs for hallways in these apartment buildings. It's up to the owner and there are so many owners that are not putting the light bulbs in. They may have a meter, but shove it off on the renters. I think this is ridiculous. I think something should be done about it to save the renters several dollars every year. They don't have to buy light bulbs for the owners' buildings. Thank you.

I AM SPEAKING to the people who complain about paying Social Security, which the elderly get each month. For your edification, I paid into the Social Security fund for 50 years, the last 34 from substantial incomes. I was never on welfare or drew unemployment compensation. Neither was I ever unemployed except when I wished to be. Please note the era which this spanned. I feel that I am only drawing from a savings with accumulated interest. Thank you.

I THINK SPEAKOUT should be longer. Thank you.

ONCE AGAIN I was watching TV and the cable went out. I think we should get our cable company changed. Thank you.

NEXT MONTH I will be 62 years old. I just dropped my expensive health insurance this month because my insurance company increased my premium three times in less than one and a half years. My deductible rose from $250 to $1,000 within that time. If we all dropped our health insurance, we would see a drastic decrease in the cost of health care. I rely on home remedies and I'll die at home before I give another cent to insurance. Thank you.

SOMETHING SHOULD BE done about the traffic light at the corner of Sprigg and William. It is very difficult to cross the street there. The don't-walk lights flash on and after a time it goes black. In a couple seconds the don't-walk light comes on again. Something should be done to correct it before someone is hit or killed trying to cross the street. This has been this way for several months.