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Tuesday, October 25, 1988 / University Daily Kansar
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PRESIDENT
Michael Dukakis
In two weeks, voters will determine the way this country faces the future and its problems. Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis offers the most reasonable solutions and best future for everybody.
Although support for Dukakis does not come unconditionally, concerns about Vice President George Bush's leadership far outweigh Dukakis' faults. And Dukakis' attributes — including advocacy of an honest government that helps those who need it most — outshine Bush's best points.
Bush wants the public to reward him for the Reagan administration's successes. However, he wants the public to ignore his role in causing or not stopping the huge errors of the past eight years, such as:
Opinion
- The budget deficit. By refusing to raise taxes but insisting on throwing billions at defense, the Reagan-Bush administration has bought a few years of economic stability in the 1980's by stealing financial security from the next generation.
The trade deficit, Reagan and Bush talk about the great standard of living in the United States. The Japanese, Saudis and West Germans certainly would agree. Since 1980, much of our great standard of living has been exported to them.
Taxes. Bush asks us to read his lips when he says "No new taxes." If he follows the policies of the Reagan administration, people should read between the lines to hear Bush say, "No new taxes for the rich, but a bigger burden for the middle class."
- Social programs. Bush's big pitch for helping the needy is his desire for "a kidster, gentler America." But the needy don't need warm smiles, they need warm places to sleep, especially after eight years of little more than rhetoric.
- Environment. Bush asserts that he's an environmentalist, but he's been part of an administration that has trashed the environment by relaxing air and water pollution standards and encouraging exploitation of wilderness areas.
- The judicial system. Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court shows that the Reagan-Bush administration doesn't care about competence of judges, it cares about a right-wing ideology. Bush would continue this, which would weaken the court system for decades.
- But even more worrisome than Bush's past with Reagan is his future with Quayle. The Indiana junior senator is grossly inexperienced and hasn't proven he is competent. But with oddsmakers saying he has a 50-50 chance of ascending to the presidency, electing Quayle would be toying with catastrophe.
- Foreign policy. Experience in this area is supposed to be a Bush strong point. But the Reagan era has not initiated any successful efforts in foreign policy aside from two-bit military exploits. It has, however, produced tragedy for the United States in Beirut, and produced the idiocy of the Iran-contra affair. And it took leadership from the Soviet Union to create any arms control successes.
The alternative to all these Bush weaknesses is Dukakis. The three-term governor has his priorities straight and solid programs to back them, such as:
A "workfare" plan that took thousands off of welfare in Massachusetts.
- A national health insurance proposal that would finally guarantee everyone's right to medical care, no matter what their financial status is.
Pledges to develop a national environment policy that would emphasize cleaner fuels, air and water; and to tackle the biggest threat to the world's environment, the population explosion.
A crime and corrections program that has resulted in the lowest crime rate of industrial states.
- Reduction of the deficit by cutting the bloated defense budget and, if needed, raising taxes.
- A reasonable stand on abortion that gives women the choice.
- Innovative plans to help middle- and lower-class students navy for college educations.
Bush's response to these specific proposals? A negative smear campaign based on such petty topics as the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dukakis, who was named the most effective governor by his fellow chief executives, has shown that he has the vision and ability to lead the country where it needs to go. The United States should elect him and let him lead.
The editorial board
- Editor's note: Throughout this week the Kansan editorial board will be announcing its endorsements for the Nov. 8 general election. The endorsements represent the viewpoint of the editorial board.
News staff
Todd Cohen ...Editor
Michael Horak ...Managing editor
Julie Adam ...Associate editor
Stephen Wade ...News editor
Michael Merschel ...Editorial editor
Noel Gerdens ...Campus editor
Craig Anderson ...Sports editor
Scott Carpenter ...Photo editor
Dave Eames ...Graphics editor
Jill Jess ...Arts/Features editor
Tom Eblen ...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Greg Knipp ...Business manager
Debra Brass ...Retail sales manager
Chris Cooper ...Campus sales manager
Don Prolitt ..National sales manager
Kurt Messenham ..Promotions manager
Sarah Higdon ..Marketing manager
Brad Lenhart ..Production manager
Michelle Garland ..Asst. production manager
Laura Lowen ..Classified manager
Jeanne Hines ..Sales and marketing advis
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KLiNe
"SORRY MR. PRESIDENT, THIS ISN'T THE KIND OF SHELTER I WAS LOOKING FOR."
All in the Presidential Campaign Weekly sitcoms would make candidates tougher than Teflon
If the presidential and vice president debates have shown us anything, it's that Messrs. Bush, Dukakis, Benten and Quayle are fairly adept at memorizing and delivering their lines. The candidates simply rehearse the most articulate way to skirt the issues threatening in personal attacks on the White House or whatever. So what an outsider ticket to the White House than years of public service? An acting career.
Although Ronald Reagan has appeared in far more films than have this year's candidates, it's likely that our next president will surpass the Gipper as an actor, at least in the professional sense. That's because, judging from the debates, the candidates don't have Reagan's nasty habit of straying from the script (Trees pollute). Dukakis is an invalid.) Hence, the aides of the next president might be spared these agonizingly embarrassing moments.
However, there is one thing that could permanently tarnish the image of our next president: a
What on earth would Bush, Dukakis, Benten or Quable do if they had to think and speak for themselves? International respect for this nation would sink to an all-time low, along with our self-esteem. And this psychological depression could very well translate into an economic one.
Fortunately, if such a disaster ever befalls this great nation, a possible solution is at hand. When the television networks were faced with a writer's strike this summer, they considered gleaning material from the scripts of old situation comedies. The next president could do the same.
In fact, the president could ditch press conferences altogether and start his own weekly sitcom. The last eight years have shown that we America can do it better than anyone, even in incompetence as long as he's funny. Our next
Brad Addington
Staff columnist
president could ward off critics and opponents with one-liners, and his shield would be made tougher than Teflon by the greatest of all television innovations: canned laughter.
I think the candidates should go ahead and air pilot episodes of their shows, because a sitcom would be an excellent vehicle for mudslinging. I can just see them now:
"I Dream of Kitty." Starring Michael and Kitty Dakakis, this show is about the governor of Massachusetts and his crazy misadventures with a genie.
Mike: Honey, I'm home!
Kitty: Hello, master! How was your day?
Mike: Just great, especially the lunch you made me. You won't believe this, but Al wanted me to trade my double-decker Reu'en sandwich for his bologna sandwich. I mean, that'd be about as crazy as swapping arms for hostages. (Laughter. Telephone rings. Mike answers.) Yes, oh,uhh
. I see . . . I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you,
George. (Hangs up.)
Mike: That was George Bush. He wondered if you could change the history books to say that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on Sept 7 (laughter). I bet he'd also like to blink your eyes and erase the last eight years of deficit spending (laughter).
Kitty: If this weren't just a sitecom, I'd gladly do
Mike: What I don't understand is, if we can't use
magic in the real world, how can Reagan and Bush get away with voodoo economies? (Laucher.)
The Republicans' pilot could be "Welcome Back, George." Starring George Bush, this is show about a teacher trying to instill some values into the lives of students in a Roston high school.
George: (entering briskly) Good morning,
class!
Class: Good morning, Mr. Bush! May we say the Pledge of Allegiance now?
George: Most certainly. All rise. (The class eagerly does so. With his hand over his heart and his eyes on the flag, George leads the class.) I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. (The class is interrupted by Mr. Woodman, who has appeared in the doorway and cleared his throat rather loudly). Something wrong. Mr. Woodman?
Woodman: I'm sorry, George, but thanks to Gov. Davis I don't want you to lose your loyalty to your country in the classroom.
Epstein: A note from my mother. This one's for real, sir.
George: Excuse me, Mr. Woodman. I forgot.
(Woodman walks off sadly. Epstein enters, with a note from his mother.) And what have we here, Mr. Eupstein?
George: (reading the note) "Dear Mr. Bush, Epstein is tardy today because he had to fight off a man who attacked his sister. The man was a convicted murderer who had been released from prison as part of the governor's furough program. Fortunately, no one was injured. Signed, Epstein's mother." My gosh, Epstein. This guy sounds dangerous! Was he carrying a weapon?
Epstein: No, even worse. He was carrying an ACLU card.
Brad Addington is a Tecumseh senior majoring in journalism and Latin American studies.
K·A·N·S·A·N
MAILBOX
Correction
■ Because of an editor's error, a sentence in a letter from Susan Levinson, Overland Park senior, in Friday's Mailbox incorrectly quoted the University Events Committee guidelines relating to alcohol use on campus. The committee should be held accountable for the averages served at group events that are held in the unions and approved by the University Events Committee."
paid by all students.
Funds not used socially
As treasurer of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, I would like to ease many people's worries as to the allocation and disbursement of GLSOK funds. Like other student organizations, the Senate student organization fund is composed of money from the student activity fee
There are certain rules to be obeyed concerning GLSOK's spending of these funds. Before an organization uses its money, it must specify to Senate what it will be used for. That money then is taken out of the appropriate account. Some of these accounts include printing, advertising, office supplies and so on; social activities is not one of these accounts. Senate has no control over the client organization. This includes room rental, advertisement, or any other element of that function.
The dance that was referred to in a past letter was a fund-raiser for the organization and was funded solely by GLOSK's own money. There no Senate funds used to organize that舞。
Lauren Crain Treasurer, GLSOK Lawrence junior
Foresight needed
Approximately 300 people were not admitted to hear Elie Wiesel speak last week at Crafton-Preyer Theater. This incident was the result of poor planning by the University. James Scaly, a professor of sociology and more consideration to the capacity of Crafton-Preyer before scheduling the lecture there. If
Mr. Wiesel would not speak anywhere larger than Crafton-Preyer, as Mr. Scaly told the crowd, then other options should have been instituted before the lecture. Reserve tickets could have been given out or a closed-circuit broadcast set up for the overflow of students.
I hope that in the future better foresight will enable all to hear University-sponsored speakers, rather than Mr. Scully halfheartedly saying, "I'm sorry."
James Mechler Lenexa senior
Just a reminder
The deadline is Oct. 13 for sending in your comments on the Reagan Era, which will be printed on the editorial page to celebrate or mourn, depending on your viewpoint, the end of Ronald Reagan's term in office. Write down your views of the Reagan years and his accomplishments in a brief note (75 words or less, please) and mail it or drop it by the Kansan newsroom, 1103 Staffler-Flint Hall.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed