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Monday, October 8, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Congress blows chance
With poor decision to cater to special interests, House blocks a genuine effort at reducing debt
The president drew a bottom line in the red ink last week, and Congress stewed over it.
When the House of Representatives rejected a bipartisan budget compromise Thursday, it rejected the first earnest attempt in a decade at reducing the federal deficit.
The compromise was not ideal. It levied regressive taxes instead of altering income tax rates. It pulled money from Medicare. It would have made only a tiny dent in the annual budget imbalance.
Nor was the proposal a paragon of political strategy. A dozen legislative and executive leaders forged the details during months of private negotiation. Rather than preparing the nation for higher taxes and lower service levels, the president waited until the day before the House vote to launch his public-support offensive. In a nationwide televised address he failed to provide sufficient public cover for representatives facing reelection next month.
But members of Congress bear the stronger blame. Liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans formed an alliance that doomed the compromise.
In the days before the vote, special interests flooded Congressional offices with mail, phone calls, faxes and lobbyists. Many of the protests
were half-cocked, congressional staff members said. In one case, members of a senior citizens group demanded that representatives vote 'no' to protect social security payments. But social security was one program specifically protected by the compromise.
All of the 435 House members found parts of the compromise offensive. The 179 who voted for the proposal, including all five members from Kansas, put national interests ahead of special interests. The 254 who voted against it let cowardice defeat courage.
Since the defeat, President Bush has stood firm. He shut down the government rather than sign a stopgap spending bill giving Congress a few more days to dicker.
Missing fiscal deadlines has become an annual ritual on Capitol Hill. In recent years, members of Congress have justifiably bemoaned a lack of executive commitment on the budget. "Smoke and mirrors" and "rosy scenario" were perennial buzzwords.
But this year, congressional whimpering should fall on deaf ears. The House, not the administration, squandered a chance for painful but actual deficit reduction.
If impasse continues, the public will find federal offices locked tomorrow. People should remember that Congress holds the keys.
Derek Schmidt for the editorial board
Debates important in U.S. politics
during the past decade, debates between candidates for public office have become more and more contentious.
sional and state levels, these debates have allowed voters to see the candidates in forums outside planned appearances and 20-second spots. Debates have become an important element in political campaigns in the 1980s. Candidates' refusal to participate in them is a valid issue for their opponents, the press and the voters.
Recently here in Kansas, the Democratic nominee for governor, Joan Finney, has seemed reluctant to appear at debates with the Republican nominee, Gov. Mike Hayden. This hesitation has raised some interesting questions as to the role and importance of debates in U.S. politics. I believe that debates between candidates are important for several reasons and should be encouraged by the press and by voters.
Debates are important because they force the candidate to deal with the important issues of the campaign outside a packaged 30-second broadcast spot or a rehearsed speech. Whether the candidates are outgoing or retired, debate or the more traditional panel-of-journalists style, the debate allows issues to be discussed and dissected.
Candidates who do not wish to be drawn out on certain issues or asked specific questions about their program can be exposed in a debate better than any other forum. Candidates have come to rely more and more on television advertising and negative spots in recent years. A debate allows candidates to answer charges and clear distortions of their record. Important issues in the governor's race such as abortion and property taxes can be discussed in greater detail in a debate than in a 30-second television advertisement.
Debates also are important because they can focus public attention on the campaign and the candidates. Too often voters are ill-informed about a candidate's position and record and have no means of finding out these things. Televised debates between candidates can serve this purpose, but their only in-depth look at the candidates and their positions.
Televised debates can also set the agenda for both the press and the voters as to what issues are going to be the
Charles Howard
Guest columnist
most important for the upcoming campaign. Voters can gain a better insight into candidates if, instead of focusing on the way they look or their style and delivery, they look at the arguments the candidates are making, supported by evidence and how well the candidates responded to questions, either from their opponent or the media.
Finally, debates are important because they help to contain the cost of campaigns. The cost of campaigns and the necessity of raising money have become the most predominant aspects of modern campaigns. One of the ways to lessen these costs is to take advantage of free radio and television time by participating in debates.
Some candidates believe that if they are ahead in polls they have no reason to debate. But such an attitude is detrimental to the process and insulting to the voters. Because the candidates are seeking public office, they must be prepared to answer questions that the public is interested in. Candidates also owe something to the democratic process itself, such as helping to make the one that is more responsive and open to the public.
Debates are a positive and important development in a process that has recently become more and more dominated by big money, television images and negative campaigning. They allow voters to see campaigns in an area that is not totally controlled by campaigns and in which they must defend their position on the spot.
Candidates who duck debates do a disservice to themselves and the process and should be eyeed carefully.
> Charles Howard is a Lawrence graduate student in communication studies
Other Voices
Ouake theory baseless
In a little more than two months, residents along the New Madrid Fault will be shaking in their boots — literally according to one scientist.
Iden Browning's prediction of an earthquake measuring 7.0 or greater on the Richer scale on or about Dec. 3 has people worried. He has received much media attention for his theory, and people along the
Scientists should keep grandiose predictions to themselves and not attempt to draw attention to their work with off-the-wall statements, although they probably did the theory with a great degree, some people got scared. This is an
seismic zone from Marked Tree, Ark, across southeastern Missouri to southern Illinois have received more pressure to put in the back of their minds.
While scientific research is important to solving the mystery of earthquakes, spouting off half-baked theories of destruction and geological violence is self-serving and unnecessary.
area of the nation not commonly known as earthquake country, but rather one known to experience small quakes every year.
From Kansas State Collegian
Gay men violate Scouts' values
Scout is to keep himself physically strong mentally aware
Now the American Civil Liberties Union has decided that this oath means nothing. The ACUL, in its supreme wisdom, has taken it upon itself to force the Boy Scouts of America to compromise its princi- plicate and accommodate people whose values are in direct contradiction to this oath.
Strong, meekly awake and morally straight." These are the closing words of the boy Scout oath, an oath which is Born to Do. To do his best to uphold. It is by this oath that Boy Scouts shape their lives, becoming fine young men. Not only does this oath speak of a Scout's duty to himself, but also of his duty to God, his country and other people.
The Boy Scouts of America is an organization that helps boys from the ages of 7 to 18 to develop skills and character. The Scouts encourage boys to augment healthy relationships with nature and other people through a wide range of camps, group outings, workshops and projects. Because of its emphasis on healthy fraternal relationships and sexual responsibilities,
Andrew Kenyon
Guest columnist
homosexuals have no place in the program.
The idea of homosexual Scout leaders is an absurd proposition. How can a man be allowed to hold a position whose responsibility is to encourage the healthy moral development of young men, when he commits sodomy on a regular basis? How can a homosexual man possibly be left in charge of a group of seven-year-old Tiger Cubs on a weekend camp trip? Out of common sense one does not put a gay man in charge of a group of amenable young men who are homosexual. Out of common sense, one does not put a gay man in charge of a group of young boys in the wilderness. Out of common sense, gay men do not belong in the Boy Socs of America.
Where do you draw the line? Because the Boy Scouts is a determinant in a young man's development, it is crucial that only appropriate role models are allowed to hold leadership roles in the program. Also, because of its high standards, only those men with perseverance, dedication and moral insight are able to advance through the ranks of the Boy Scouts. Even so, you may be a brake in the face of every Eagle Scout, such as myself, if Boy Scouts of America were to lower its standards to accommodate homosexuals.
The Boy Scouts of America is an incredible organization, which I have been affiliated with for the past 12 years. Through Boy Scouts, not only can we learn about our physical skills, but I have also gained the insight necessary to develop healthy social, fraternal and sexual relationships. With a homosexual Scoutmaster as a role model, none of this would be possible in the very presence of Boy Scouts moral responsibility, which will be shaken.
The ACLU's contention is that the Boy Scouts is a community organization and, therefore, must admit any wrongdoing. The ACLU does exactly what they are advocating.
Andrew Kenyon is an Omaha freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Is chancellor sincere?
Chancellor Gene A. Budig signed a resolution Sept. 29 that would form a committee to lobby Congress and the Department of Defense to change the department policy that excludes homosexuals from serving our country in the military.
Hopely, his motives for taking this action are sincere. Hopefully, he truly believes department policies are fair, ignorance and prejudice* (taken from Budig's address at the 118th opening convention, Aug. 21, 1983). Of these "tokens," Budig buid himself a reputation of intelligence; he ought or欺诈ly.
Budget送 out a corps of administrators during the Sept. 29-30 weekend to meet separately with leaders of several student groups that have an interest in the ROTC situation. At these meetings, administrators made it clear that campus organizations would be key concerners by caming to schools concerning organizations. They even displayed the student handbook with the appropriate policies highlighted.
But the main reason protests
Charles Bauer St. Louis senior
On Aug. 22, 1983, our chancellor delivered a speech with an important message for all of us. I urge everyone to read that speech in the book "What I Learned to take it to heart. Hopefully, our chancellor will stand by his words.
have occurred is because Budig chooses not to enforce a policy in the same handbook.
ASHC wants diversity
I am writing in response to Julie
Mettenburg's column "Demands
beget discrimination" in the Oct. 1
issue of the Kansan.
She said the scholarship halls were discussing allotting spaces or giving special scholarships specifically for minority students. She asks why there is a need for these scholarships, when "clearly" the most qualified applicants should earn the spaces.
It is true that the scholarship halls are discussing give minority scholarships. However, the scholarships will go to the most qualified applicants who earn the spaces.
At the moment, the All Scholarship Hall Council is writing a proposal to the Greater University of Arkansas to allow the money allotted specifically for minority scholarships. The council is requesting six $1000 scholarships
for minorities, three for men and three for women.
KANSAN STAFF
To receive the award, minorities would submit the same application for scholarship-hall residency as everyone else, which is reviewed with only a social security number for identification. There is no mention of name or race on the scholarship hall applications.
Only after the procedure was completed and a list was made of the people accepted into the hall system would their names and races be revealed. The minority scholarships would be awarded to the top three qualified minority men and top three qualified minorities. If it was qualified people would not be accepted through the normal hall application process, all the scholarships would not be awarded.
The purpose of the scholarships is not to award people because of their race, but to establish more cultural awareness and diversity within the scholarship hall system, which benefits everyone.
ASHC is working with the Office of Minority Affairs and the Black Student Union to make sure that procedures are fair to all students.
As I said before, the whole process is in the planning stage. If anyone has any suggestions, please express them to ASHC.
KJERSTIN GABRIELSON
ASHC publicity committee chairper-
Three Imaginary Girls
DEREK SCHMIDT
Editor
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