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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. May 23, 1963
at home
installed G block adapter
at home
installed G block adapter
The Medicare Battle
The reaction of the American Medical Association (AMA) to the Kennedy administration's King-Anderson bill to provide hospital care for the aged is a good example of an emotional and irrational attack. Even a casual glance at the arguments presented by the AMA in its television broadcast will provide clear evidence of this.
Dr. Edward R. Annis of Miami, who was the main speaker on the program, said that "If our government wants to move now toward welfare state medicine—then let them tell us so honestly. Why sneak it in piece by piece on the backs of old people first?"
ANNIS CLAIMED that the King-Anderson bill would increase payroll deductions by 17 per cent immediately if it were passed. Abraham Ribicoff, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, refuted this quickly when he pointed out that payroll deductions would increase by only two dollars a month.
But the basic argument of the AMA is its
contention that the King-Anderson bill would be the first step toward socialized medicine if it were passed by Congress. Dr. Annis made this clear in his statement that "England's nationalized medical program is the kind of thing they have in mind for us eventually."
THERE IS no evidence that the AMA's charge is true. But even if it were, it is obvious that the administration could not carry out such a program without the support of an obvious majority of the American people. If the majority of the people did support such a program, then it would undoubtedly become law, regardless of what groups might oppose it.
The AMA certainly has a right to present its own views on the King-Anderson bill, but it should do so without the type of exaggeration that Sec. Ribicoff pointed out. And it should definitely not engage in unsubstantiated speculation about what the Kennedy administration's ultimate goals in the area of medical care are.
-William H. Mullins
A Study in Propaganda
Quotations From the Right
By Ron Gallagher
Curious Khrushchev quotations have been showing up lately in Kansas newspapers.
They come neatly packaged in a box provided as "a public service by the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce."
However, their value as a means of public enlightenment is extremely dubious, since at least one of them is a fake.
It all appears in cartoon fashion. Three men are merrily gulping from cups marked "liberalism" and "socialism." The "public service" message reads:
"Myth: We're America's friend. Truth: 'We cannot expect the Americans to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving America small doses of socialism, until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism.'—Nikita Khrushchev."
IT SOUNDS LIKE a convincing argument against liberalism, doesn't it? But Khrushchev never said it. At least that is what the Library of Congress, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency say.
No, the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce didn't make it up. They just passed it on.
No one seems to know exactly
where the quote came from. However, it's a good bet that it originated somewhere on the far right. Every time an attempt has been made to track down the source of the quote the trail ends at the feet of a disciple of the right like Barry Goldwater, J. Strom Thurmond or George S. Benson.
THE KANSAS State Chamber of Commerce became curious and questioned the Louisiana association on the origin of the Khruschev quote. The Louisiana association said they had received much of the material for the panels from Benson's National Educational Program (N.E.P.), which has its home in Searcy, Ark.
We sent Benson a special delivery letter asking him if he could explain the source of the quote. That was a month ago and he hasn't answered yet.
Our trail ended with Benson. We called the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and asked them if they knew where the quote came from. They said that they received 12 graphic panels from the Chamber of Commerce Association in Louisiana and distributed them to Kansas newspapers.
Benson is quite a conservative. In fact, being a conservative is big business to him. His conservative
N. E.P. operates on an annual budget of $261,000. The main function of the N.E.P. is to send out ultra conservative propaganda to anyone who will take it. Most of it is stuff that a responsible conservative has no use for—like the Khrushchev quote.
According to The Progressive, Sen. Lee Metcalf, D-Mont., was receiving the Khrushchev quote so often in his mail that he decided to investigate its origin. He was tired of receiving the quote enclosed with letters like this:
"Your socialistic voting record leads me to believe that you are one of the elected leaders upon whom Nikita Khrushchev depends to carry out his plan."
SO SEN. METCALF asked the Library of Congress to attempt to find the source of the quote. Their reply:
"We have searched the Legislative Reference Service files, checked all the standard reference works on quotations by Khrushchev, and consulted the Slavic Division of the Library of Congress, the Department of State, and the U.S. Information Agency, in an attempt to determine the authenticity of this quotation. From none of these sources were we able to produce evidence that Khrushchev actually made such a statement."
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had his files searched and made this report to Sen. Metcalf:
"The quotation does not appear in any of Khrushchev's speeches, interviews, articles, or off-the-cuff remarks which have come to our attention. To the best of our knowledge, we believe the quotation to be spurious."
Even CIA Director John A. McCone was unable to verify the quotation. He said:
"It has not been possible to verify the authenticity of the statement."
"There—did you hear what he said?"
THIS ISN'T the only fake quote that has made the rounds. According to The New Republic:
"About a year ago, an Ohio State University professor looked askance at an advertisement run by a major American manufacturer which quoted Lenin as saying: 'We shall force the United States to spend itself to destruction.'
Other false quotes are probably being passed around. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to verify everything certain irresponsible gentlemen on the right periphery have to say.
"Incredulous, the professor doggedly pursued the matter until the company was forced to acknowledge that Lenin really didn't make such a statement."
Their favorite weapon is the Khrushchev quote. All they have to do is discredit something is to arm themselves with a quote which says Khrushchev is for it.
Message to Peace Marchers
Editor:
Peace marchers, what are you trying to accomplish? If your purpose is merely to attract attention to the serious problem which is confronting the world at the present, I praise you. If your purpose is to get more people "talking" and a few more people "doing" something about this threat of "mass slaughter" or atomic war, I congratulate you. But if your purpose is to "safeguard" America's freedom and strengthen our "moral values" I can do nothing but be afraid for America's future; for if you had your way, it appears that there would be no more America.
ing freedom and democracy yourselves?
PEACE marchers, do you hate freedom and democracy (and in conflict with what some people think. I still believe that America is a democracy and not filled to the brim with scheming "Reds" or dirty "war hawks") so much that you would throw it all away? In China there are 400 million starving Chinese. Have you ever seen a plague of locusts attack a wheat field and then move on to another field and then on and on? The face of Red China is that of a locust and America is heavy with "wheat." Will you have America throw away her protection and defense to be destroyed? Will you take the responsibility of destroy-
PEACE marchers, one of your number said, "Love your neighbor. Isn't Russia a neighbor?" Who is my neighbor? Is the man across the street a neighbor, or that man in New York or Hawaii or Texas or Alaska a neighbor? What about that man in France or Britain or Germany or Japan or Thailand? Why should I love my neighbor in Russia or Red China any more than the man across the street, or across the nation, or across the ocean? Why should I put a man in jail for stealing a car or killing someone and not stop a man from stealing my democracy or killing my freedom?
Peace marchers, I agree with you that the atomic bomb, the threat of atomic war, and war itself are terrible and inhuman things; and someday the world will surely live in a secure peace—but not now. And for the time being America must be strong; for who will protect our freedom if we ourselves neglect the responsibility? (Or is freedom that important to you?) Peace marchers, stop trying to "safeguard" America and her "moral values" for you are drilling holes in the very ship you are trying to save.
Mike Hibbard
Mike Ireland
Kansas City, Mo., freshman
A Going Home Idea
By Terry Murphy
I've got a great idea!
After finals are over let's hop in our cars and kill ourselves. Aw, come on. It won't take long. If we use our heads, we might even be able to kill a few others.
It's real simple. Now here's what you do. First don't—I repeat, don't—check your car tires or brakes or anything like that. If you're gonna do that, forget the whole idea.
You're still with me? Good. Now pay close attention. If you really want to kill or cripple someone this idea has been proved real effective.
fear effective. O.K., now get this--it's simple, but important. Here it is. Act like you gotta get home in a hurry.
Don't laugh; it works. Last spring an unofficial body count taken by reliable undertakers proved the hurry-up approach gets results.
You're skeptical? O.K., here's some more sure-fire, fenderbending, body-mutilators.
Before you leave town go to the closest pub and swill down a quart or two of frosty refreshment. If you don't have time to get stoned completely out of your mind before leaving, at least grab a pair of handy six-packs. That booze slows your reactions and makes your urge to kill real strong.
AND OH YEAH, darn near forgot. Load the car so you can't see out the back window.
Got everything now? Good.
Of course, I've taken it for granted that you'll drive like your head's in cold storage. That's just basic.
Well, gang. I guess that's it
I'll be watching the obituaries to see which ones of you were really paying attention.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912
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$3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Managing Editor
Ron Gallagher ... Manajima Editor
Kelly Smith, Carrie Merryfield, Clayton Keller, Assistant Managing Editors; Bill Sheldon and Zeke Wigglesworth, Co-Assistant Managing Editors; Jerry Musil, City Editor; Steve Clark, Sports Editor; Martha Moser, Society Editor.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Bill Mullins ... Editorial Editor
Karl Koch. Assistant Editorial Editor.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Charles Martinache ... Business Manager
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