( $ \infty\Gamma $
September 26, 1984
Page 4
OPINION
KANSAN
The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University of Dayton, KANSAS - UPS 60044 is published at the University of Kansas. Staunfer Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan 60049, daily during the regular school year and Wednesday and Friday during the summer period, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kan 60044 Subscriptions by mail are $1 for six months or $8 a year in Duplin County and $10 for six months or $3 a year outside the county. Student books and posters are $2 and are paid through the student's account and address changes to the student's information. Staunfer Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan 60044
DON KNOX
Editor
PAUL SEVART VINCE BESS Managing Editor Editorial Editor
DAVE WANAMAKER Business Manager
DOUG CUNNINGHAM Campus Editor
LYNNE STARK MARY BERNICA Retail Sales National Sales Manager Manager
SUSANNE SHAW
General Manager and News Adviser
JILL GOLDBLATT
Campus Sales Manager
JOHN OBERZAN
Sales and Marketing Adviser
More reforms
Students go to the polls about a month and a half from now to select the 16th Student Senate, but already the process promises to run much more smoothly than last year's.
The elections of a year ago resulted in two recounts appeals to the University Judiciary and the invalidation of the election. To prevent that from happening again, election reforms that will go before the Senate tonight will tighten the rules governing candidates, coalitions and the Elections Committee.
Unfinished business remains, however. Important areas for examination are the voting procedure, the location of polling places and the hours of voting. Are ballot boxes secure enough to prevent tampering? How many polling places should there be, and should they be restricted to campus?
As it now stands, the hours, location and process of voting are up to the Elections Committee. At various times during the last several years the authority has been under investigation.
This Senate administration is trying to amend the rules so that the Elections Committee is above bias, and the proposed changes in the committee should help. But the fewer the unnecessary variables in the elections, the less the likelihood for abuse.
The Senate may have a difficult time coming up with a consensus on locations and times, and a better balloting method may be even harder to devise. But no issue is more important for the Senate to deal with than elections.
When Geraldine Ferraro became a vice presidential candidate, an Italian friend of mine said, "I wonder how long it will take to connect her to the Mafia." I laughed. He said, "You watch. It'll happen."
Stories hardly make Gerry godmother
He was right. Ferraro spent 48 years of hard work to achieve her exemplary success. Snopers spent less than two months since her nomination to try to connect her to organized crime.
In this case, the snopers were from the Wall Street Journal, which is better at some stories than others. Playing the game of mob connections is obviously not one of its strengths.
the Journal recently published a mob-conNECTION story that — when it was boiled down — presented one of the filestammed connections I ever
Did Ferraro herself have the connection? That, of course, would be the ideal mob-connection story. Ferraro a gang moll? Ferraro cooking meatballs for the mob? No, it wasn't her.
Then could it have been her father or mother? No. Her father was just a hard working guy who died when she was a kid. We all know the story about how her mother struggled to pay for Ferraro's education.
No. If he has a nickname, it is probably "The Husband."
All right, then, was it her husband,
John Zaccaro, a wealthy real estate
man? Does he have a secret gang
nickname — "The Landlord"
The mob connection — if one exists
— goes wav back to Phillin Zaccaro.
MIKE
ROYKO
Syndicated Columnist
John's father, who has been dead since 1971.
And what did Phillip do? A button man? A soldier? A consigliari? Maybe even the "capo di tutti capi"? (Hey, the Journal reporters aren't the only ones who saw the Godfather movies.)
Old Philip wasn't quite that glamorous.
Sometimes before 1957, Philip, who was in the real estate business in New York, provided a character reference for somebody who was
Now, that might seem spicy to the Journal snopers, but what isn't clear is how it involves Ferraro. She didn't even know her future father-in-law then, because she didn't marry John until 1960.
considered a mob figure.
Ah, but there is more. It also turns out that the long-dead Philip Zacarec once rented an apartment in one of his buildings to a mob figure.
Frankly, I don't find that shocking. I didn't know that it was a big deal to lease a flat to one of them. Especially when plug up on time and don't plug up the toilet.
A much livelier mob-connection story would have said that Philip's son, John, had continued to rent the apartment to the mob figure when he inherited the real estate business which says "Gerry's husband mob landlord."
But he didn't. One of the first things he did after his father's death was to sell that building.
So, there you have the big Ferraro mob connection, as dug up by one of the country's biggest newspapers: The late Phil Zaccaro wrote a character reference for a mob guy several years before Ferraro even met Phil's son. And the late Phil Zaccaro once rented an apartment to
a mob guy — but his son didn't, and Ferraro didn't.
I'm not impressed, especially because I have better mob connections than that myself.
19ears ago I had a neighbor who did chores for Sam Giancana, though I didn't know it at the time. We and our wives used to play canasta. When they had rough times financially, I was worried that they would have a month's rent. That would make a terrific headline: "Chicago newsman bankrolls mobster."
My father once owned a combination tavern-bookie joint, so he knew a few wugs himself. He even used to go to the Kentucky Derby with Big Mike, one of the top syndicate bookies on Cermak Road in Chicago, and Big Mike once gave me a baseball bat as a birthday gift. Another good headline: "Newsman goes to bat for mobster."
Finally, one of my relatives is married to a woman who has a relative who is about a third cousin of the late Carlo Gambino, the big New York gangster. I wonder whether that makes me an 11th cousin of Gambino. If so, can I have people dropped in sewers?
Thurmond joins elite Senate group
If so, I might start with a few of the editors at the Wall Street Journal.
WASHINGTON — South Carolina's Strom Thurmond is the newest member of one of the Senate's most elite clubs.
Thurmond, an 81-year-old Republican who is seeking still another term, recently cast vote No. 10,000 in Congress.
Now that is not as exciting as Reggie Jackson's becoming only the 13th player in baseball history to hit 500 home runs.
Nor does it have the appeal of the chase by Chicago's Walter Payton and Seattle's Franco Harris for Jim Brown's assistant professional foot
In the sedate environs of the Senate, however, where a sellout rarely occurs and vocal chords are the most exercised part of the body, what Thurmond has done is highly thought of.
STEVE GERSTEL
At least Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd thinks so, having paused in his labors long enough to compliment Thurmond on his achievement in a floor speech.
Byrd, who doubles as Senate historian, also had in hand, as would
United Press International
The record-holder is the late Sen.
What the numbers showed is that only seven senators have cast 10,000 votes and three of them — including Byrd — had a head start by doing some work in the House before being across the Capitol to the Senate chamber.
any fanatic, the proper statistics for such a notable event
Henry Jackson of Washington state, whose career began in the House in 1941 and ended with his death a little more than a year ago. He cast 11,059 votes, 10,063 of which were in the Senate.
The two other double dipiers are the West Virginians, Sen. Jennings Randolph and Byrd, who have served in the U.S. Army as 10,547 votes and Randolph, 10,695
Randolph, who is retiring after this year, has no chance of amassing 10,000 Senate votes — he is 355 short and the session is soon to end. Byrd, who served far fewer years in the House, is up to 10,159 votes
for the statistical pursits, who might disdain a mixture of Senate and House votes, the undisputed leader is Sen. William Proxmire of Wisconsin, who is past 10,54, seem extremely fit and is in his 60s.
He is followed by Sen. John Stennis of Mississippi, 10,399, and Sen. Russell Long of Louisiana, 10,559
For historians looking for the names of vintage senators from the past on the honor roll — none are to be found.
As seems once pointed out, the first year he was in the Senate, 1947. 73 recorded roll call votes were taken.
"A year or two ago, the record shows that we had 720 roll call votes, 10 times as many." Stennis said.
the key to success seems to be longevity and Election Day survival. Thurmond, Randolph and Stennis are all in their 80s.
Stennis, who came to the Senate in 1947, is the dean of the group Proxmire, who has a slavish devotion to roll calls, is a relative rookie who arrived on the scene in 1957.
Reagan and his record Policies aimed in right direction President hides behind hypocrisy
When Ronald Reagan was elected president, my democratic friends thought that doomsday was just around the corner. They professed that a Reagan presidency would lead to everything from economic calamity and World War III to dogs and cats living together.
Then I was told that an economic recovery under Reagan would "never happen" It did "It won't last. It has." It would have come no matter who was president. "Now the matter that the recovery is only an illusion."
We are headed in the right direction. Unemployment is now slightly lower than it was in 1979. Interest rates are still high, but at least affordable.
One cannot attribute this to Reagan, but it's nice to have a leader who displays a genuine pride in America. The country is back at work, and a positive outlook by the president can spur us all on.
The most obvious improvement in the U.S. economy is the dramatic decrease in the inflation rate. In 1974, average retail prices were skyrocketing at a double-digit pace. Nothing can be more beneficial to the average American than a decrease in the inflation rate. Inflation is now less than 3 percent. This is an illusion I can live with.
Make no mistake about it; we are in the midst of a long-lasting economic upswing, which can be strongly tied to tax decreases initiated by Reagan. These tax savings have increased demand for U.S. business.
The opponents of Reagan have a solution to the federal deficit: raise taxes. I'll agree that this will erase the federal deficit, but it also will lead to higher inflation and interest rates.
Instead, the real culprit is waste, from social programs to defense. The bipartisan Grace Commission report outlines thousands of areas in our government in which money could be saved. The federal government could save $200 billion a year by cutting waste.
year by casting them in the role Instead of raising our taxes, Reagan is ready to follow the report.
The federal deficit has now approached $200 billion, but if we look closely,we really cannot blame a decrease in taxes.
rates.
When will this hurt the most? Infatuation and high interest rates cost the rich a more pitiless of their wealth. A sake a wage earner making $15,000 a year what 14 percent inflation and a 20 percent interest rate does for him, and I'm sure he will tell you it hurts.
Besides, more money for Congress to spend only opens up a breeding ground for mismanagement and future tax increases
An area in which Reagan has been heavily criticized is his foreign policy, but to a large extent, this criticism is unjustified. To say that the president has dramatically increased the defense budget, for example, is a total fallacy.
Until the late 1960s, the portion of the federal budget allocated to defense was consistently more than
him, but maybe that's because we know where he stands.
I will never contend that Reagan is a pamaca to all our nation's problems, but he is steering this nation in the right direction with a bold, clear program that focuses attention on the proper role of government and its control of our society to stay the course, let's build on it.
This president, who continually screams "Less government," is the same man who supports several proposed constitutional amendments, he has never hesitated to involve the government as much as possible in order to achieve his personal goals.
Thomas Stalnaker, Lawrence junior, is chairman of KU College Republicans.
Ronald Reagan, the "Great Communicator" The "Great Hypo- prite" would be a much more fitting title, for hypoherisy runs rampant through this administration.
THOMAS
STALNAKER
Guest Columnist
40 percent. However, by 1980 defense was allocated only 22 percent of the budget. This percentage has risen to 29 percent.
The defense increase during the Reagan administration has been minimal when one considers that defense is one of the few duties specifically outlined for the federal government. But the increase has not happened so much soundness. It's terrible to think of conflict, but we must be ready.
Reagan has been harshly criticized by some who think that he has not tried hard enough to negotiate with the Soviets. Some say they can't blame the Soviets after the leader of the Western world calls them the "evil empire." But really, should he be expected to pat the Soviets on the back for their gassing of entire Afghan towns or their denial of basic human rights to fellow countrymen?
There are many accomplishments of the Reagan presidency we could discuss in detail, such as the appointment of the first woman to the Supreme Court, or the successful liberation of Grenada. But I think that the record on both sides is quite clear.
Reagan has taken a firm stance in dealing with the Soviets because that is the only morally and philosophically correct thing to do. The Soviet government stresses achieving goals any way possible. Only when we have been firm will we be able to retard Soviet goals.
I think that we all have found it is much easier to be negative when it comes to politics. I show much more emotion when Reagan initiates something I oppose. I'm sure we all have our personal differences with
For example, Reagan supports the recent Title IX ruling by the Supreme Court, which declared that schools that discriminate against women can still receive federal funds, as long as the programs receiving money don't discriminate.
Compare this stance to Reagan's recent proposal that any school that does not allow religious groups to conduct meetings on school premises after regular school hours should have all its federal funds cut
KIRSTIN
MYERS
Guest
Columnist
off. The contradiction: Schools can discriminate against women, but not against religious groups
Another blatant hypocrisy in the administration concerns abortion Reagan will adamantly defend the rights of the unborn baby, but he cuts its school lunch and education programs.
The president's attitude here is, "We'll see that you get here, but then you're on your own, kid."
Speaking of abortion again, Reagan has announced that U.S. money will to help control world overpopulation will not go to any country that has abortion among its population-control plans. It doesn't matter whether the countries assure him that no U.S. money will pay for abortions, any country that wants help must forbid abortions.
Forget the fact that Reagan's notion that economic development alone can take care of our population growth is ludicrous. Just look at his policy of keeping U.S. dollars in countries that practice horrible human rights abuses in Asia and Latin America, full grown, not fattened. Obviously Reagan doesn't mind giving money to dictatorships, as long as they don't allow abortion.
Reagan's plans for youth employment are equally disturbing His excuse for pushing for a subminimum teenage wage is that we need to increase employment. Of course, Reagan is forgetting that many teens need money to help support their families, not just for "pocket money." A cut in wages would hurt many disadvantaged kids, as well as those adults who would be replaced.
Let's assume for a moment, however, that the benefits of in
creased employment with a sub-minimum wage outweigh the costs. We still see that Reagan's next idea
we still see that Reagan's next idea — to lower the national legal work age to 14 — would counter any improvements, because the work force would then be expanded. (Reagan says that all 14-year-olds should have the chance to learn the lessons he learned when he tiled roofs at that tender age.)
If Reagan's proposals were passed, cheap child labor would be readily available, as it was in the 1800s. What better way to undermine the unions, which is the president's real motive?
Another area in which Reagan's actions speak much louder than his words is that of civil rights and desegregation. Reagan insists, for example, that he's against only forced desegregation.
Why, then, is the administration being sued for failing to fulfill an agreement the Carter administration made with the Chicago school district, which says federal funds will help pay for voluntary desegregation in schools? The money has simply not given the rest of the money that had been agreed on.
In addition, Reagan vetoed a bill that called for additional money to Chicago chug its plan. Reagan would support it with anything but words.
Just what has Reagan done for education, which he says is on its way back to excellence, thanks to him? Well, aside from his big push for prayer in schools, which would cause more harm than good, Reagan has been making very anti-education moves.
First, he has already dismantled the Department of Education and pledges to abolish it. He Reagan also supports tuition tax credits for private schools, which would do serious damage to education; he wants to give tax exemptions to segregated schools that are now refused federal aid
Finally, the best indication of what Reagan has done to education is that the National Education Association has endorsed Walter Mondale.
How long are we going to accept empty words from a president who doesn't feel obligated to follow with action? Talk is cheap and I resent Reagan's assumption that I'm easily swayed.
Kirstin Buterbaugh Myers, Shawnee sophomore, is president of College Young Democrats. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the organization.