ChaomicU WtdNEJy, Paqe Twelve jANCAiry 20, EDITORIAL In Washington, it's a Cateh-2- 2 It's time in Washington, D.C., again. Here's the catch: Washington tells Nicaragua, Catch-2- 2 "The only way we're going to stop funding the Contras is if you negotiate with them." The Nicaraguan government hesitates for a while, then finally agrees to Washington's demands. But now that the Nicaraguan government has agreed to negotiate with the Contras, Washington turns around and claims the negotiations are, in the words of Assistant Secretary of State Elliot Abrams, a "Sandinista ploy to defeat Reagan's Contra aid package." This sort of logic inevitably drives one to question whether there is any method to the madness of Washington's Contra aid policy. The lunacy doesn't stop here. When Abrams appeared on CBS This Morning Monday, he complained that Ortega "cannot be trusted." This came after the Nicaraguan government agreed to negotiate with the Contras under the impression the Reagan administration would put a halt to Dee NaQuin U.S. Contra aid. That halt never came. On Jan. 26, Reagan will make a formal request for more Contra aid. The House is set to vote on the aid package Feb. 3, immediately followed by a Senate vote on Feb. 4. As early as 1983, numerous polls indicated the overwhelming majority of Americans are against sending military aid to the Contras. The polls have remained consistent since then, with little recent Newsweek cover commemorated the 1960s, a time that most agree, was innocent, idealistic and hopeful, although the promise of Utopia failed. One wonders why some of the basic '60s concepts, such as sharing, seem to be so hard for people to accept these days. That subject came up recently when friends and I were, rather appropriately, braiding string "hippie" bracelets. We wondered aloud, "What's so bad about a system where everyone gets what they need?" Is it really necessary for people to have much more than their share? A Salt Lake Tribune article I was reading about Sweden's A variation. This is a bit of a paradox, since the administration's pretext for sending military aid to the Contras is to achieve some sort of "democracy" in Nicaragua by means of violence. Yet how can this nation continue support movements abroad that are allegedly "democratic" when our "Utopia" sparked the discussion. The Swedish system, which combines free enterprise with socialist ideals, has a simple principle: Everyone gets the same apportionment, rich or poor. Under this belief, no stigma is attached to welfare. Quality is maintained and people share a community spirit. Information in the article backs that claim. "A doctor's visit is $8, for a hangnail or brain surgery. Education is free up to a doctor's degree. There are no slums and Stockholm's three bag ladies own policymakers refuse to listen to the majority of the American people? Ortega's recent attempts to negotiate with the Contras should be seen as yet another legitimate gesture on the part of the Sandinista government to achieve lasting peace in Central America. Likewise, the Reagan administration's latest Catch-2- 2 should be dismissed as an attempt to war in Central America. If the United the prolong States has any interest in seeing the Arias peace so-call- Impressive start The Daily Utah Chronicle is an independent student newspaper published during fall, winter and spring quarters, excluding test weeks and quarter breaks, by the University Publications Council. Editorials reflect the opinion of the editorial board, and not necessarily the opinions of the student body or the administration. Subscriptions are S25 a year, S10 an academic quarter. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forward all subscription correspondence, including change of address, to the Business Manager, Daily Utah Chronicle, 240 Union, University of Utah,' Salt Lake City, Utah 84112. day-ca- re ol The University of Utah gymnastics team got off to an excellent start in Monday night's meet against the University of Oklahoma. Despite Oklahoma's fresh talent, including champion Chronicle and government child support, Swedish mothers can pursue careers. Maternity leave, shared by both parents, is soon to be doubled, from nine months to 18. Pensions go up to 90 percent of their best average wage over 15 years." But interspersed with such details are other facts that poke fun at the Swedish system. For example, car headlights burn in daylight for safety, "giving traffic the air of a funeral cortege." Cats are not pills. Stockholm is spayed, but given birth-contrdead at night. Ouch life is tough. Somehow, these don't sound like drawbacks, especially when one considers life in the United States. After all, in our country, six million people are homeless and some are forced to go without medical care, education and any hope of rising out of the class they are born into. Yet, the Tribune article sought fatal flaws in the Swedish system, while turning up nothing significant. Nothing except the rate of taxation, that is, which quote approaches 80 percent. An enlarged bold-tynoted, "One catch is taxes. People are free to chase the almighty kronor, so long as they don't keep it . . ." That notion certainly wouldn't go over well in the bowels of Madison Avenue, which invests a "With subsidized discontinue all aid to the Contras next month. I ed are local figures. plan work in Central America, it should the Lady "Utes" gymnast Kelly Garrison-Steve- s, pulled off a spectacular win. It looks as if the U. gymnastics team will have another shining year ahead of it. If Monday's meet is an indication of things to come, the Lady "Utes" are already well on their way to receiving an NCAA Gymnastics Championship. The Chronicle congratulates the U. gymnastics team and wishes it the best of luck in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 29. should look at Sweden pe t Editorial Board: Kent Anderson, Shauna Bona, Andrew Hunt, Bryant Larsen, Dee NaQuin, Rosemary Reeve, Fare Warner Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Editor . . . Sports Editor Feature Editor Photography Editor Chief Copy Editor Investigative Editor Campus Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant Editorial Editor Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Feature Editor Shauna Bona Kent Anderson , Assistant Feature Editor Assistant Photography Editor Assistant Copy Editor Reporters Fare Warner Dee L. NaQuin Laury Livsey Rosemary Reeve Steven C. Wilson Bryant Larsen Dennis Romboy Lori Bona Darren Hawkins Andrew Hunt Glenn Seninger Loreen Erickson considerable amount of time convincing us we need to buy things in order to be complete people. E.K. Hunt, University of Utah economics professor, agreed the tone of the Tribune article implies1 criticism. "One reason people try to find fault with Sweden's system is then ordinary people in the United States would want such reform here," he said. "In the United States, 80 percent of income-yieldiwealth, such as stocks, bonds and land, is concentrated in 1.5 percent of the population. That's the source of opposition to Sweden's system." No doubt. The richest 1 percent of the families in the United States 840,000 households own half of the country's wealth, according to a 1986 University of Michigan study published in the New York Times. of 1 percent 420,000 And while the top one-ha- lf are worth on an average close to $10 households million, 90 percent of the American people have little or no net worth. of the accumulated capital in the Only one-thiUnited States has evolved from hard work and has come about savings. The remaining from inheritance and the market's of and real securities estate.. assets, mainly Hunt said, "I teach these economic classes year in, year out. What's surprising is how many ordinary working class people identify with the wealthy and oppose any changes." A fairly large number of people want to believe the wealthy will take care of them, he said. "It makes the world seem more secure. It's the same reason working class people support Reagan." e, Sweden had an ordinary in similar the to ours when 1920s, capitalist system the Swedes voted in the Social Democrats and the movement toward socialism began, Hunt said. Their ultimate goal is a transition to full socialism and the majority of businesses will be owned and controlled by working people. People who are opposed to the changes are those who derive income from stocks and bonds. They will be hurt economically, Hunt said. "Also, their children or grandchildren may have to work for a living. "If the United States adopted a system like Sweden's, 98 percent of the population would be better off," Hunt said, adding, "Two percent mainly the rich would suffer somewhat." Does that just break your heart or what? Dee NaQuin is a senior majoring in mass communication and is editorial editor of the Chronicle. ng rd two-thir- private-enterpris- John Pccorelli Erin Calmes Edward Ruiz Kent Condon Todd Curtis Sharon Deckert Ellen Garff W. Scott Hall Kelly Hindlcy Amber McKee Deanie Wimmer Business Manager Accountant Classifieds Accounting Clerk ds Robert McOmber Kay Andersen Charlene Collins Kim Bartel Collections Account Executives Typesetters Production Manager Assistant Production Manager Production Staff Distribution Michael Allsop John Hausknecht Kris DeBry Tammie Bostick Todd Butler Sara Wilson james a. Beck Tracey L. Heinhold Michael Q. deary Kenny Watanabe Abbie Hall Maria Lisieski James Olsen Todd Matsuda David Orchard Christopher Stratford .... 19M