Time

68

COVER: U. S. streets are under siege, but how to respond to all those beggars?

Pedestrians have long struggled to act wisely and generously when confronted by the destitute. Now some officials and even advocates for the poor suggest that giving to panhandlers may only make the problem worse: the more handouts, the more hands are out. Have Americans reached the limit of their patience, their charity and their pocket change? See LIVING.

14

NATION: Bush and Dukakis battle over the Pledge of Allegiance

The Vice President wraps himself in the flag and tries to tie Dukakis in knots. -- Mixing real indignation with forced humor, Dan Quayle does his best to shift attention away from his past. -- As fires burn out of control in Yellowstone, experts debate whether the flames are friendly or not. -- A former aide to L. B. J. suggests that Johnson had fearsome episodes of paranoia.

28

WORLD: Eastern Europe erupts in an arc of unrest as young activists demand reform

The outbursts are fueled by economic woes and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev' s promise of a reformed model of Communism. -- Rumania marches backward toward poverty and ever greater tyranny. -- Horror comes to the green hills of Burundi. -- What should Britain do to curb the I. R. A.? -- South Africa cracks down on draft resisters.

38

Law

The medical crisis comes of legal age as the growing number of people tarnished by the AIDS antibody test seek fair treatment.

48

Economy & Business

Is the U. S. creating too many small companies for its own good? -- When cleanliness means profits. -- Food prices are on the rise.

54

Behavior

When affection turns to aggression: studies find that dating violence is a major -- and unspoken -- problem among unwed couples.

55

Medicine

A new back operation, performed through a tiny incision, allows disk patients to go home with little pain and no stitches.

56

Profile

Hospice Founder Cicely Saunders is a modern Florence Nightingale who has changed the way of death for millions around the world.

66

Show Business

Freddy Krueger is America' s favorite homicidal maniac, and his Nightmare on Elm Street 4 is a late- summer box- office slash.

81

Environment

Too much trash: the U. S. is producing a stupendous pile of garbage, and landfills are running out of room to stash it.

83

Essay

Is the cold war over? Not really. Gorbachev retreated from some areas not because he is changing course but because he was defeated.

5 Letters

11 Critics' Choice

47 Sport

63 Cinema

64 People

75 Books

84 Milestones

Cover: Photograph by Eli Reed -- Magnum