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University Daily Kansan
Monday, Feb. 24, 1958
Functions Of Government
In today's complex society many people wonder why the government cannot function smoothly. Why are there always circumstances in our world which cause strife? Why can't the government straighten these things out? That's what they're paid to do.
But keeping a society of approximately 172 million people in smooth co-ordination, plus dealing with many other people throughout the world, is no easy task.
Our government is designed to exercise its authority over several main areas. By examining these areas, it might be easier for us to see why our democratic government has so many problems in keeping our society in close harmony.
First, and of utmost importance, with today's Communistic threat throughout the world, comes the area of foreign affairs. In addition to strengthening our own country, we must keep more closely united with the rest of the free world if we are to combat Communism successfully. Our freedom is closely interlocked with the freedom of other people.
The second great task of government involves the maintenance of a strong and growing economy. Economic preparedness is as important to us as military preparedness. It can help or hinder our international position, military security and the standard of living of our citizens.
To keep a strong economy, many decisions by government are necessary. Suitable tax measures, aid to business, agricultural programs and regulation of national trade are a few of the problems in this area.
Equally as important as a strong economy, is meeting the many human problems of our citizens. Our federal government is faced with meeting many personal disasters which occur in the United States.
A current problem faced by government is the unemployment crisis which seems to be staring the nation in the eye. To safeguard against such a development is a monstrous task in itself.
In addition, problems of aiding the disabled, aged, etc., fall under this category.
Health is another major area of government functioning. It is the leader in promoting medical research which might halt such killers as heart disease and cancer.
Federal aid to education also poses many problems. Should the federal government aid the states in education and if so, how much? Youth is the life blood of this country. With our youth's educational facilities being somewhat neglected, problems continue to mount in this area.
Next comes the housing and development problem. Government must continue to help provide better public housing and also clear out areas which are unfit for living by American standards.
These, briefly, are the main areas of government work. Many other problems continue to arise which call for action by our leaders.
But by mentioning these, I believe we can see how complex the problems of our society are. Before we criticize, it might be wise to think of the facts mentioned above. It's certainly not an easy job to make decisions which affect such a multitude of people.
-Malcolm Applegate
This Is Science?
Americans, rightly enough, were proud as pups a few weeks ago when their first satellite was launched into space.
Perhaps some were amazed, too, for the organization that got a good share of the credit for doing the job was the United States Army—one of the world's most successful, but chuckleheaded, outfits.
Americans have a right to laugh at their army. It's famous for its organized confusion. They have a right to be proud of it too, for it has gotten us out of some pretty tough scrapes in the past.
The Army seems a strange haven for scientists and their outer space machines. The troopers are not best known for their intellectual achievements. Nevertheless, behind the assortment of technicians which built Explorer were Army men who bossed the job.
Among the top links of the chain of command at Cape Canaveral and Huntsville were perhaps two or three men who graduated from West
Point at a time when it was fashionable to use cavalry to play the game of war. As young lieutenants, they may have received practical training from sergeants who knew more about mules than they did about missiles.
That these men could adapt themselves to the changing conditions of peace and war during the past 30 years says something for their ability to lead the way into the sky. But their achievement in Florida perhaps was not so much due to genius as it was to the Army's goofy sort of efficiency.
It's amazing but true that—amid the red tape and lost papers, the broken-down jeeps and fouled-up orders; the dirty barracks and lousy chow; the drill and spit-and-polish and shouting and cursing and confusion—someone pushed a button and the rocket rose into the air.
In Army terms, that is not a scientific achievement. That's a blanket-blank miracle.
Larry Boston
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
By Dick Bibler
"EDDIE! EDDIE BOY! -YAJJUS SET A RECORD! WHERE ARE YA EDDIE-"
The Imperial Dam, stretching 3,475 feet across the Colorado River, makes deserts bloom in two states. The dam raises the river level 23 feet, and gives birth to California's All American Canal and Arizona's Gila Main Canal.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
1904.
trivikruly, 1908; day, jan. 18, 1912;
trivikruly, 1908; day, jan. 18, 1912;
Member Inland Daily Press Association,
Associated Collegiate Press. Represented
National Advertising Service, Madison
Missouri, and News service:
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rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year. Pub-
lished noon during the University year except
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and examination periods. Entered
second-cass matter Sept. 17, 1910, at
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March 3, 1879.
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Dick Brown
Brown, Brian
Brown, Bob Harman
Yes, Malcolm Applegate, Assistant Managing Editors; LeRoy Lord, City Editor; Martha Crosser, Jack Harrison, Assistant Telegraph Editor; Mary Alden, Assistant Telegraph Editor; George Anthur, Sports Editor; Bob Macy, Assistant Sports Editor; Bob Miller, Picture Editor;
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Del Haley Hall, Marianne Editorial Editor
Leroy Zimmerman, Associate Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Ted Winkler Business Manager John Clarke, Advertising Manager; Ann Huston, National Advertising Manager; Brianna Irvine, Classified Advertising Manager; Tim McGraw, Circulation Manager; Norman Beck, Promotion Manager.
News Quotes
NEW YORK—James Farrell, father of test "spaceman" Donald Farrell, reacting to his son's statement that he would like to make an actual trip to the moon:
"I would try to discourage that. It would be much too hazardous."
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