4
OPINION
Monday, April 26, 1993
100
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Trifecta tax legislation to hurt education most
Prior to taking its first adjournment earlier this month, the Kansas Legislature approved a measure known as the Trifecta tax bill. The bill, so named because it repeals three existing taxes, would eliminate $48 million in revenue from the state budget. Sponsors and supporters of the legislation laud it as a necessary deregulation measure necessary to encourage economic growth through lower taxation — essentially a scaled down version of 1980s style supply-side economics.
The problems with this legislation arise when one takes a closer look at the plan. One realizes that the bills' sponsor neglected to propose any way to compensate for the lost revenue and that the area most likely to absorb the cut would be education, the single most expensive arm of the state budget.
If there is no proposed substitute for the revenue that schools would lose, the schools would be forced to cut back on the amount and quality of services provided in the classroom. Another alternative, which has occurred nationwide this year, is putting teachers out of work. Otherwise, the school districts would be forced to ask for escalated property taxes, a dilemma that the taxes being repealed in the Trifecta were designed to remedy one year ago.
Fortunately for school children in Kansas, Governor Finney does not subscribe to this type of economic philosophy and is expected to veto the bill. If vetoed, the bill's supporters would need much additional support in the Legislature to successfully override.
While the intentions of the Republican-controlled legislature may be admirable, its lack of foresight threatens to put school districts in a tight fiscal predicament with few options available to maintain the quality of education.
JEFF HAYS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL BOARD
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Four coalitions ran for Senate
Grade school mathematics! Jimmy has an apple. Suzy has a peach. Marcy has a pear, and Tommy has an orange. How many pieces of fruit do they have together? One plus one, plus one, plus one equals four. According to the mathematicians on the *Kansan* editorial board it equals 3. The editorial *4/2003* "Spending Limits" stated that only three coalitions ran for Student Senate, when, in fact, four run.
I understand that arguments are greatly enhanced by the use of statistics that support the thesis. Using statistical data in editorials gives the reader the impression that the writers have done some research and that the numbers are hard facts.
I understand the temptation to change a number or make up statistics to make a point sound more persuasive if the actual numbers are hard to find or ineffective Yet, I know the ethical implications of such actions. I further know the possible consequences of such actions.
I hoped the editorial board would havebeen asaware I hoped that the error had not been intentional. I hoped that the error had been a result of a typographical error. However. I looked at my keyboard and the keys for "three out of four" are not close to the keys for "all three of the." I hope
the editorial board knew that four coalitions ran for Student Senate. hope that the mistake was not made on purpose.
Keith Wingert
Reader thinks smoking stinks
During the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on my college days. Through all of the debates about abortion, civil rights, political correctness and whatnot, I find one issue thoroughly perplexing. Why is it that so many young women smoke today?
Today younger women comprise the only segment of the population in which cigarette usage is increasing.
Not only are cigarettes addictive, but they stain teeth. They make the cigarette smoker's household and car stink worse than the average chimney. They make people shower to rid themselves of the awful odor after having gone to the local watering hole. In my opinion (which may not matter much), cigarettes are simply gross and disgusting. People who smoke look like they have no respect for themselves.
Jonathan Folland Manhattan graduate student
Gore not a good choice to lead budget crusade
So here is a brief quiz. What kind of penny-pincer expert would you go to?
Let's say you are up to your eyeballs in debt. But you want to spend less and have a more frugal lifestyle. Seeking advice, you decide to consult a financial expert.
1. A certified public accountant.
2. A polish cleaning lady.
3. Awild and crazy playboy
If you picked 1 or 2,you are a clear thinking,rational person.
If you picked 3, you might consider running for president of the United States some day.
COLUMNIST
As you may have heard, President Clinton has vowed to hunt down waste and sloth in the federal government. Our money will no longer be frittered away.
In making this dramatic announcement, he said, "We'll challenge the basic assumptions of every program. Does it work? Does it provide quality service? Does it encourage innovation and reward hard work? We intend to redesign, to reinvent, to reinvigorate the entire national government."
That's a pretty good idea, although it isn't original. Every April 15, millions of Americans have the same thought, although they might phrase it a bit more hurdly.
And if Clinton fulfills this promise, the whole nation will owe him a standing ovation. (Except for those bureaucrats who would suddenly find themselves in the cruel world of private enterprise.)
But I'm puzzled by Clinton's choice of the person to lead this crusade against waste and inefficiency: Vice President Albert Gore.
However, in choosing someone for any job, the person's background should be considered. And Gore, for all of his attributes, doesn't seem suited for this chore.
Not that Gore isn't a fine young man. He's energetic, intelligent, polite and well-scrubbed.
When he was only 28, a mere lad by political standards, he was elected to Congress. And that's where he was for eight years in the House and eight more in the Senate, until Clinton made him his Tonto.
That means Gore has spent most of his adult life as a member of Congress. But even earlier, he knew
his way around that zoo because his father was in Congress for 32 years. At an age when other kids were collecting baseball cards, Al Gore could name the members of the Lobbyists Hall of Fame.
The trouble is Congress isn't a business, and it isn't run like one. If it was a business, it would have been bankrupt long ago and all of its members would be homeless street people.
As a political writer put it, Congress "became the family business."
What Congress is well-known for, especially in modern times, is spending other people's money. And when it's out of money, it runs a tab. There isn't another group of people in the world who can spend money as avidly as Congress. If money were sex, they'd all weigh 90 pounds and would be on life support systems.
Now Clinton expects Gore, who voted on billions of dollars in federal programs, to poke his head into government offices and say, "My goodness, what are all you people doing in here?"
And he's supposed to go to his father's former cronies and say "Boys, the old pork barrel days are over. No more grants to study the mating habits of gerbils, sleeping habits of cockroaches or the life span of a blueberry bush. No more money for research into the dining habits of pigs. And not another $88 million in tax breaks to bail out George Steinbrenner. Honest, guys, the party's over."
Sure he will. And I will slam dunk over Michael Jordan.
No, it is a slick public relations gesture and nothing more. Somebody in the White House must have noticed the proliferation of bumper stickers that say, "It's the spending, stupid." So they decided it was time for a press conference about stalking the hated waste beast and shooting it dead. And
about reinventing, reinvigorating and the other blah-blah about the shrinking government.
They even installed an 800 number so ordinary citizens could call some bureaucrats with ideas for cutting bureaucracy costs. Sure, the average guy is sitting around Peoria, 111, studying the federal budget.
If Clinton wasn't such a kidder, he'd trot that little Stephanopoulos fellow down Connecticut Avenue to the offices of The Citizens Against Waste and pick up the latest copy of their annual "Big Book."
As the group said in its news releases about congressional gluttony, "Some of the projects highlighted in this year's 'Pig Book' include a pair of bike paths in affluent North Miami Beach costing taxpayers $800,000; two movie theaters in Savannah, Ga., renovated for a cool $2 million; $15 million for the 'preservation and restoration' of Egyptian antiquities; and another $13 million for Pennsylvania's 'Steamtown', a Scranton tourist trap of dubious historical significance."
Those are items Congress considers mere bauges. The bigger ticket items like the billions for a useless space station and the super collider have already been declared untouchable by Gore.
If Clinton was serious about this, he wouldn't be asking Gore to overcome a lifetime addiction to spending other people's money and suddenly become a nickel-biter. That kind of sudden detoxification could put him into shock. He could end up in the Betty Ford Clinic, pleading, "Get rid of my shakes, and I swear I'll never spend another nickel."
He'd bring in outsiders. This nation has no shortage of hard-eyed businesspeople and executives who know how to shrink a budget. Many would reclaim an opportunity to shrink a bureaucracy that has caused so much shrinkage in their own businesses.
But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Gore will be transformed into a fiscal hit man and in a few months, will zap billions in waste.
Sure. And maybe with bouncy new shoes, I really can dunk over Jordan
Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
GUEST COLUMNIST
The students of the University of Kansas represent a myriad of backgrounds and beliefs. Many ethnic, religious, and racial groups are found among KU's 26,000 students.
COLLEEN McCAIN Kansan looks for new faces for next fall's opinion page
Accordingly, the Kansan strives to represent a varied cross-section of students' viewpoints. The opinion page offers an exciting opportunity for a diverse group of students to express their views.
The Kansan will accept applications this week for the positions of editorial board member, columnist, strip cartoonist and editorial cartoonist. Applications are available in the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall. Completed applications may be submitted to the newsroom 5 a.m. Thursday, and applications will be conducted by myself, Colleen McCain, associate editorial editor and Terrillian McCormick, editorial editor, Friday and next Monday.
Many students hesitate to apply for these positions because they think only students who are journalism majors can opt-in opinion page. That simply isn't true.
Students from all areas of study are sought in order to form a more heterogeneous group. All students should have the opportunity to express their views, and by contributing to the opinion page, students can do exactly that.
Approximately 15 members will compose the editorial board. Board members must be able to write logically and concisely. It is also vitally important that board members are dependable and committed to serving on the editorial board. Members must attend two meetings each week to discuss and vote on issues, in addition to writing assigned editors.
Diversity is absolutely essential to the editorial board. Only by selecting board members who represent as many different perspectives as possible can the editors consider new viewpoints. A board composed of diverse professionals and beliefs will allow editors to better reflect the entire University.
A varied group of columnists is also needed. Columnists help to create an opinion page that is both interesting and balanced. New columnists are desired each semester to provide fresh perspectives.
Humor columnists could offer a light-hearted look at local or national events or even share amusing personal experiences of college life.
Issue columnists may write about issues at every level — from campus politics to international politics. Issue columnists should be able to offer relevant, well-supported arguments on current issues.
Opinion and strip cartoonists are also necessary to complete the opinion page. Obviously artistic ability is imperative for cartoonists. Opinion cartoonists are required to draw political cartoons that correspond to the editorials. Strip cartoonists must present an original comic strip that can be continued throughout the semester.
Each of the editorial board members, columnists and cartoonists is integral to the strength and success of the opinion page. Every student can offer relevant opinions. Take the initiative and apply.
Colleen McCain is a Salina freshman majoring in journalism.
KANSAN STAFF
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor
General manager, news adviser
存
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Assist Managing...Justin Knapp
News...Monique Guilain
...David Mitchell
Editorial...Stephen Martino
Campus...KC Trauner
Sports...David Mitchell
Features...Mark Rowlands
Graphics...Lynne McAdoo
Dan Schauer
Business Staff
STEVE PERRY
Business manager
MELISSA TERLIP
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing advis
Campus sales mgr .. Brad Bradon
Regional sales mgr .. Wade Baxter
National sales mgr .. Jennifer Perrier
Production mgr .. Amy Stumbu
Ashley Langford
Marketing director .. Angela Clevenger
Creative director .. Holly Perry
Creativeffler mgr .. Gina
Art Director .. Dave Habler
**Letters** should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and homework, or faculty or staff position. **Letters** should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newswroom, 111 Staffer-Fin Hall.
1906 FM
By Moses Smith