OPINION
Coming Tuesday, September 4...
G
Hirschfeld: When conducting business in America, please learn to speak English.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007 PAGE 5A
Hudson: Being a poor college student is no excuse for petty theft.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Educating yourself may prevent a mortgage crisis The current housing slump offers a dark lesson to borrowers
students often come to KU in eager anticipation of becoming adults
tion of becoming adults and enjoying the responsibilities that come with that. By graduation, some dread the "real world" burdens they expect and long for the carefree days of mom, dad and a dean. Although some state and local governments are eager to step into the role of a benevolent protector, this paternalism is belittling and unjust and true adults would do well to resist.
Buying a house has always been a large responsibility and, as housing prices rose through the last decade, it has also become an increasingly expensive one. Many have found themselves priced out of mortgages with traditional rates and terms since their more modest incomes cast doubt on their abilities to make climbing mortgage payments. Because of this risk, lenders require more of a return on leaching to them. Thus the proliferation of sub-prime lending and the subsequent widespread defaulting as risky borrowers live up to their label.
In true American fashion, though, government agencies are rushing to save borrowers from themselves. One state in particular, Illinois, has attempted to institute a program requiring borrower education before signing on for a sub-prime loan. As outlined in the Wall Street Journal, people in particular areas will need to meet with a credit counselor before agreeing to a loan with nonstandard features.
The justifications politicians give all smack of arrogance. "People aren't sure what they're signing up for," President Bush said.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said, "Our goal is to stop the abuse of unsophisticated people." The "solution" involves creating a monopoly for a few government-approved counselors who have expressed fear they can't accommodate the expected number of potential clients.
Illinois already has laws restricting unfair credit practices from lenders. If there are new schemes being used, these laws can be updated to include them. Giving the consumer the impression that government is looking out for him will ultimately make
the market more risky as lenders feel no need to monitor something that is supposedly already being managed.
Few students are in the real estate market while in school, but as any recent graduate will testify, it will happen sooner than you think. With such a large purchase comes a large responsibility to know and understand the issues. A house should not be an impulse buy, and no one should be surprised that it requires research. For nearly all Americans, their homes are the most expensive items they will ever buy. As we graduate and move into the dreaded "real world," we should accept this responsibility instead of looking for a government agency to manage it for us.
DRAWING BOARD
THE DURBIN DISPATCH
Television exacerbates American materialism Reality shows give unrealistic expectations of wealth and power
Growing up Gotti is something the majority of us are not
jority of us are not familiar with. In fact, most of us probably come from middle class families where BMWs, flights to Paris, and personal chefs are highly uncommon. But with America's sudden overexposure to materialism-driven TV shows, commercials and lifestyles, it's easy to question whether or not we are slowly demoralizing ourselves and our concept of reality.
It's my own personal belief that TV is in fact the "gateway drug" to the underlying materialism that drives our country. But just like a majority of the world, I too have fallen victim. However, it's hard not to question the messages being portrayed on such shows as "My Super Sweet 16," "Growing up Gotti," "The
MOUNTAIN DEW AT MIDNIGHT
Let's take "My Super Sweet 16," for example. The main purpose of the show is for MTV to demonstrate to the world that there are families in America who live and participate in shamelessly excessive lifestyles.
Hills" and "The Fabulous Life Of." One would like to believe that the economic status being portrayed on these "reality" television shows would not have an influence over its viewers, but in all reality, they do.
I believe it's fair to say that a $500,000 birthday party is a "little" excessive. This show is a result of the modern fascination of extreme wealth and status symbols, and the only message being portrayed is "I want, and I get!" The media is at fault with shows such as this. Rather then celebrating righteousness or good will, or promoting concepts such as kindness, personal responsibility, tolerance or love for humanity, they produce shows that celebrate vanity, greed, instant gratification, self-indulgence and obsession with fame and fortune. Wouldn't it be a better message for MTV, and for the world, to base a show on helping less-fortunate families throw parties for their sixteen-year-olds?
The argument here is not that TV is inherently evil, or that it's
at all bad. Honestly, I love TV, but as a society, why are we allowing ourselves to openly invite materialistic views into our living room? Do we as a country look to our possessions to bring us happiness?
We have become so successful in manipulating the world that we now believe we can solve all of our problems by altering our surroundings. It's horrible to think that we go through life believing happiness is obtained by what we have or what we do. Receiving a Ferrari instead of a birthday cake is a prime example of materialism invading our culture.
Durbin is a Hays junior in journalism and English.
A customers' guide to food court etiquette When going through the cashier's line, remember some basic manners
JENNY HARTZ
At the start of your job, your boss hands you a book roughly the size of the Bible and asks you to read it. You glance at the title: "Employee Handbook." To save you time, all employee handbooks boil down to these three points. One, smile and get along with everyone even if they're stupid (including your boss). Two, you should always be busy, look busy or act busy. Three, the dress code does not allow open-toed shoes, but mullets are okay.
After you work for a while, you realize life is unfair. Your required work shirt totally clashes with your hair. I mean, you realize it's unfair that you have been trained rigorously to properly deal with customers, but they don't know how to properly deal with you. Instead of asking nicely if you can help them, they whine, because apparently you should be able to read their minds and instantly give them what they want.
So today, I present to you "The Customer Handbook." These rules can apply to any customer-employee situation but are definitely written with KU dining in mind. I work for the Market, the food court in the Kansas Union. We get a lot of silly customers coming in (silly meaning stupid, but I've been trained to not use such demeaning labels). I believe, through the Reader's Digest condensed version of "The Customer Handbook," people everywhere can learn to be better customers. Or at least pretend they are.
Rule 1: Everything is expensive. Even the napkins. There is nothing the cashier can do about it, so don't gripe at them. It's your own fault you can't read the price signs and add.
Rule 2: Don't put your card in your mouth (your KU ID, your
credit card, your library card, etc) and then hand it to the cashier. That's gross. We already handle money which has been who knows where (probably All Stars), so don't add to it.
Rule 3: Look before you ask. If you don't know how much something costs, you
look for a sign and then, gasp,
read it. I know it takes a lot of
effort to move your eyes back
and forth, but try it. If you're
not sure where something is,
once again, use your eyes. Make
a complete 360-degree turn if
necessary. You will then see that
the straws are in a cubby right
below the lids.
Rule 4: Clean up after yourself. We are not your mother, nor do we get paid enough to be. If you spill five cups on the floor please pick them up. Then put them back for other customers to use because everyone loves the new Coca-Cola Unsanitary. Throw away any trash you have. No one is going to eat your left-over straw wrappers, not even the vegans. And standing there, gasping, and repeatedly saying, "I'm so sorry!" doesn't mop up a spill.
Rule 5: Don't put your card in your mouth.
Rule 6: Don't wear headphones or talk on the phone when dealing with a cashier. You need to hear us when we tell you we don't take your type of credit card because we have a personal vendetta against you. Put your music on pause or tell your friend she'll have to wait before complaining how unfair it was that so-and-so got kicked off "American Idol."
Rule 7: If an employee wishes you a nice day, even if your leg has fallen off and your cat spawned Satan this morning, wish us a nice day back. Or at least say thanks. Cashiers have feelings too.
Rule 8: Don't put this column in your mouth.
Hartz is a Stilwell junior in creative writing.
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Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Are there any laws against taking my licence plate with me to class to avoid parking tickets?
(Editor's Note: Probably.)
is just a demonstration.
Did they really need a KU official, a KU cop, and four fire fighters and a fire truck to put out a cigarette butt outside of Budig today? I don't think so.
I just bought cigarettes and food on Beak'Em Bucks, and I can't buy textbooks? This makes sense, how?
Just some food for thought ladies. When we're all forty, the manorexics will still be skinny, and all the football players will be fat with bad knees. Just think about it.
My friend did not know what Free for All is, and this phone call
To the person who made a comment about the person who made the comment for drummline: That's my best friend, you sexist bitch. I'm pretty sure she's a girl.
Give it to me, Free for All. Give it to me like Rick James.
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