4a Opinion Friday, October 27, 2000 For comments. contact Ben Voosen Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com Perspective Green 'menace' will force people to be informed The Green Party platform clearly illustrates its desire to annihilate the decadent lifestyle of average Americans by telling us all how to live. Americans by telling us all how to live. For example, the Greens obviously seek to overthrow our political system. First, they would demand publicly financed campaigns, which would prohibit any candidate from waltzing into office on a red carpet of greenbacks from moneyed interest. Moreover, the Greens would abolish the Commission for Presidential Debates, which, by allowing alternative parties to debate, such as the dubious Ralph Nader, would destroy the inevitability of the election of the Republican Party and its guarantee to promote inequality and injustice. Under the Green dominion, we would be forced to adhere to the democratic ideals of freedom of choice and belief, a clear violation of our right to an autocratic status quo. The Green coup of government would also return political power to the people, attenuating the influence of Big Business in politics. Under their pernicious plan, the Greens would excise special interest groups, encumbering the people with a voice and power in Washington. This would usurp our freedom to be apathetic and disenfranchised as we would be. Dalyn Cook guest columnist opinion@kansan.com obligated to become involved in a government that would once again be "of the people, by the people, for the people." Moreover, this is an gregarious inequity for Big Business, which has spent billions in money earned through exploitation to gain political favors and to elect puppets to the legislature. In their assault on large corporations, the Greens would attack Americans' biggest benefactors. Obviously we Americans are far better off with myriad American jobs being shipped overseas for cheaper labor, subsequently subverting principles of capitalism. The richest 20 percent of Americans, who hold nearly 96 percent of all stocks (source: nonprofit, nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute), never have seen prosperity as it does in this age of Big Business domination. We Americans also can take great pride in the way Big Business changes the lives of our friends overseas. A full day's work, that is, 12 to 15 hours, six days per week in poor working conditions, guarantees the workers in many American factories abroad that they will never earn enough meet even their most basic needs. But isn't our right to a decadent's American lifestyle paramount to human rights? The Greens obviously disagree. The Greens also plan to force American employers to pay all American workers a "living" wage that allows a full-time worker to sustain himself and his family above the poverty level. How dare the Greens expropriate our right to pay our workers a minimum wage that, indexed for inflation, is $2.15 per hour less than the minimum wage in 1968, when our "prosperous" economy was half the size. Clearly, the Greens are trying to put people before profit, a misguided notion that would surely destroy the affluence enjoyed by the top 1 percent of the population, whose income soared 89 percent from 1986 to 1997, according to the IRS. The most fearful aspect of the Green platform is its concern for the environment. Under the reign of the Greens, we would be forced to use our natural resources responsibly and in a sustainable fashion so that we do not deplete our critical resources. We must fight this, as it denies us our fundamental, American right to glut all resources to feed our "decadent" lifestyle. The Green Party is a power-hungry force that must be stopped. Luckily, these poor plucky souls have no power. The Greens are so naive, believing that they could become an influential force based solely on the equity of their values and the integrity of their candidates. The rest of us know that power in Washington is bought, not earned. Nevertheless, we should do everything to end this Green menace because they will indeed tell us how to live: They will force us to become involved, informed, responsible free citizens. Cook is a Colorado Springs, Cole., sophomore in piano performance. Steve Sack / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Heard on the Hill What are you going to be for Halloween? "A slice of pizza." Andrew Barker Hutchinson senior "A punk from the '80s." Maggie lacobazzi Chicago sophomore "A pumpkin." Everyn Kusuma Semarang, Indonesia junior "I'm going to be a bloody cheerleader." Jesse Brinson Houston senior Perspective Awareness week helps to empower women C could there be a better time for Sexual Assault Awareness Week? Not at the University of Kansas. From a rage at the Campanile to alleged sexual assault by KU football players, KU students have seen a glimpse of the national problem have seen a groups of violence against women. Lawrence's Womyn Take Back the Night fell perfectly in the middle of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, and during October, people throughout the country gather to protest violence against women and children during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The fact that more than one woman reports rape every minute and that a woman is battered every Instead of looking to University officials or political authorities to implement policies that will ensure our safety, the Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition relies on the company of other women, survivors of violence or not, to come together at this event This week's events are organized in the spirit of nonviolence and the week's goals are to create a safe place for all women and children. Apparently, this safety cannot be found in the Yacht Club parking lot or on campus. 15 seconds in the United States should outrage us all. But if not, maybe the rapes and sexual assault of fellow students will force KU students to face this type of violence. Megan Murphy guest columnist opinion@kansan.com and reclaim what should always have been ours. After investigations are finished and policies intact, the Womyn Take Back the Night march still will be there to ensure that, for at least one night, women can be safe. Because domestic violence is the No.1 public health risk to adult women, and one in four college women will be raped on a date, it will take more than policies and investigations to create real change. that is why Sexual Assault Awareness Week is what it is — a week for women to connect with other women and demand that their nights be free from violence and threats. Through the awareness, education and support this event provides, more change occurs than through any new KU policy. It is sad and upsetting that fellow students at the University have faced violence that has affected so many women all over the country. It is sad that when these situations arise, we find KU authority figures are clueless, and even unjust, in handling these issues. It will be even sadder if we allow this violence to go unrecognized and accepted. If national statistics of domestic violence seem abstract and unrelated, consider how safe a female at Kansas can be on campus and imagine how many rapes and abuse cases go unreported here in Lawrence. Sexual Assault Awareness Week is, most importantly,a statement:Domestic violence and sexual assault is not acceptable anywhere in the nation,including at the University of Kansas. Murphy la Is. Joseph, Mo., senior in women's studies and journalism. Editorial City must lead effort to clean downtown Businesses shouldn't be blamed for patrons' after-hours activities. In recent weeks the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., and Pyramid Pizza, 1016 Massachusetts St., have come under fire from downtown business owners and the Lawrence City Commission because of actions by a few disrespectful patrons. The commission and other business owners claim the guilty crowd is responsible for the litter scattered along Massachusetts Street. The city holds the owners of the two businesses responsible. Commissioner Erv Hodges went so far as to suggest closing the vending window at Pyramid Pizza vending window at 9 yrth and Pizza — to help rid the city of the pesky paper plates littering downtown on weekend mornings. But why should a business suffer while the people who litter go unpunished? How can a business be expected to baby sit its patrons after closing time? Holding business owners solely responsible for their patrons' actions is simply unfair. Everyone, including business owners, the city, the club patrons and Lawrence residents should work together to help solve the problem. After all, there are several ways the city and downtown businesses can help curb the problem First, encourage bar patrons to use common sense. If they have trash, it should be thrown away in the proper receptacle. Second, the city should dispatch more police officers downtown. Many police officers already drive up and down Massachusetts Street looking for intoxicated motorists, but why not let a few cops walk up and down the street? This will not only cut litter, but also the fist-fights that occur from time to time Third, hire a cleaning service that cleans all of downtown on weekend mornings. If everyone who lived or worked downtown — as well as the city — would pay a small amount of money each month for this type of service, it would ensure a litter-free downtown. Although it may seem ridiculous to pay for others' irresponsibility, the only way to keep downtown clean is for all to work together. Eric Taylor for the editorial board Free for All caller have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Sandlerian statements will not be printed. To read more, go to www.kansan.com. There is a time and place for everything, and it's called college. --if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. 图 The University could make so much money on a haunted house in Mallot. Five years at KU, and I still can't believe how lame enrolling for classes is. I have a 3.O GPA and was told that I wouldn't have a chance to make it into med school and should just give up. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. I think it would be pretty cool if KU organized an annual naked run. We should stop bashing the football team and praise them when they do something good. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. If hippies are so nice, why don't they be courteous and shower? 图 Reality is just a crutch for people who can't deal with drugs. Religion is an escape from reality for the weak mind. Reality sucks, and drugs are the escape. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. I make straight As, and I smoke pot everyday. I stole a Bible from a hotel. 图 Polka will never die. Blockbuster should deliver and pickup movies. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. Rap is the anthem of those who have suffered. if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. Why is it that a report on accuracy is all based on hearsey? I'm tired of the cat fights between Gore and Bush. 备 图 How are genitals obscene? It's only been three weeks, and I already miss Phish. Why is it the most closed-minded and stubborn people are the ones who go to church every Sunday? How to submit letters and guest columns Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. 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