Apathy is a powerful force to battle. The carousel has two very large problems. One is lack of funds. The city has tried about every way possible to raise the amount of money needed to erect and maintain a carousel. Despite all of the community's work, there is not yet enough money to build and care for it.

The reason? The aforementioned apathy. There are not enough people in the Tri-Cities with sufficient bucks -- and the desire -- to front the carousel. It would require a great deal of capital to keep the carousel in proper operating condition.

If those responsible just can't live without spending the money and are convinced we just have to have a merry-go-round maybe a better place to put it would be the mall. It would be inside, away from the weather, as well as secure from those who would seek to damage it. (Remember the kids playground).

In a time when so many people are having fiscal trouble in a very bad financial time in our history, I humbly suggest the money could be better spent! At this time, this just doesn't sound like an investment we must make!

-- TED SKINNER, Pasco