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Show Sentiment Growing On Federal Budget Growing public concern about mounting federal deficits is brining renewed pressure on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. This was pointed out in a study prepared by Utah Foundation, the private research organization. By the end of 1979, 30 states, including Utah had requested that a constitutional convention be called to amend the U.S. Constitution so as to require that Congress balance the budget each year. After 1979, the movement for a constitutional convention appeared ap-peared to bog down for a time. The prospect of federal budget deficits approaching and possibly exceeding $100 billion during each of the next several years, however, has brought renewed interest to the budget - balancing movement. The Foundation notes that earlier this year-Alaska year-Alaska became the 31st state requesting a constitutional con-stitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a balanced budget amendment. In addition, resolutions calling for such a convention have been passed in one house of several other states. Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, Congress must ,call a constitutional convention if two-thirds (34) of the state legislatures seek one. Foundation analysts doubt that such a convention con-vention will ever be held, however. They indicate that the petitions by the states are being used mainly to pressure Congress into passing an amendment on its own. It is feared by many that it would be difficult to restrict a constitutional convention con-vention solely to the balanced budget issue, and that the gathering could become a "runaway convention" con-vention" in which many other matters would be considered. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution may be proposed either by Congress, whenever two-thirds of the members of both houses deem it necessary, or by application of the legislatures of two-thirds of several states calling a convention for proposing amendments. In either case, the proposed amendments amend-ments must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths three-fourths (38) of the states or by conventions in three-fourths three-fourths thereof before they become effective. Historically, all amendments to the U.S. Constitution thus far adopted were first proposed by Congress and then ratified by the states. The constitutional con-stitutional convention never has been used, except in the drafting of the original Constitution in 1787. According to the Foundation, the idea of a balanced federal budget was standard doctrine during the first 140 years of the nation's history. Between 1790 and 1930, the federal budget recorded surpluses in 94 of the years and deficits in only 46 of the years. Since 1930, the federal budget has been balanced only nine times and deficits have been reported 43 times. Federal deficits incurred during the past four years ( 1978-1981) have exceeded those registered during World War II (1942-1945). Advocates of the constitutional amendment for a balanced budget contend that such an amendment is needed to control excessive government growth and reduce inflationary pressures. They maintain that deficit financing has allowed politicians to curry public favor with new and increased spending programs and avoid public displeasure that comes with higher taxes. Government, by financing these deficits through an expansion of the money supply, has been one of the major causes of inflation during recent years. : ; - Opponents, on the other hand, claim that such a constitutional amendment would destroy the flexibility needed to deal with rapidly - changing developments in an uncertain world. Moreover, they argue that the U.S. Constitution was intended to be a brief statement of fundamental principles, and that a budget balancing amendment could impare what they see as the automatic stabilizing (anti-cyclical) features of the federal budget. Mow Bo "J E3elp Yfie Poor? It is a widely held belief in the United States that President Johnson's War on Poverty lifted dramatic and unprecedented numbers above the poverty line. Many Americans still argue that the great lesson learned from the War on Poverty is that the American poor cannot be lifted into the middle class without massive federal assistance and affirmative action. Not so, says Charles A. Murray, a former Chief Scientist at the American Institutes for Research. From an essay based on his upcoming book on postwar social welfare policy, Mr. Murray shows that poverty was falling just as fast before the War on Poverty as it was during the era of LBJ's massive, free spending programs. In observing levels of poverty before and during the War on Poverty, and using the official government govern-ment definition of the "poverty line" in all cases, Murray found that poverty did indeed fall during the five Johnson years-from 18.0 percent of the population in 1964 to 12.8 percent in 1968. Yet, this was scarcely a breathtaking achievement. During the preceding five years (1959-63), the percentage had dropped from 22.4 percent to 19.5. In 1954-58, it had dropped from 27.9 to 23.1. And from 1949-53, it had dropped from 32.7 to 26.2. In short, the official poverty line in the U.S. dropped by 19.9 percentage points in 20 years, one percentage point per year. The billions spent on the War on Poverty made little or no difference in the decline of poverty. Poverty declined during the years of the War on Poverty at almost exactly the same rate as it had during the previous 15 years. What then reduces poverty? I do not believe the popular notion that discrimination and deprivation can only be overcome by vast new public programs. Misguided programs like bilingual education actually ac-tually stymie the assimilation of ethnic groups into the mainstream of American life. All American ethnic groups in the past rose out of poverty partly by learning English and downplaying their own languages. ' i Many argue that our current poor and lower income groups face profoundly different obstacles not faced by previous groups on their way up the social ladder. I strongly disagree. The widespread belief that certain groups of poor, have been so severely damaged by racism and poverty that they are incapable of succeeding in society is a new arid invidious form of racism-not malicious racism, but a racism and discrimination that is potentially just as dangerous. The only dependable route from poverty is work, family and faith. The poor must not only have the incentive to work, they must work harder. Tabernacle Choir To Present European Tour Preview The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will present two concerts in Salt Lake City in May previewing their upcoming up-coming European tour. In concerts May 7 and 16 in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, the 325-voice 325-voice choir will sing some of the selections they are preparing for their June concerts in Scandinavia, England, and the Netherlands. Admission to the May concerts is by complimentary com-plimentary tickets, available two weeks before the concerts, at the North and South visitors centers on Temple Square and at the Activities Committee office on the 20th floor of the Church Office Building, 50 East North Temple. Music for these concerts is "heavier than what the choir often., performs," says Choir Director Jerold Ottley, because the concert bookings in Europe will require that level of music. "The purpose of these concerts is to get ourselves our-selves tuned-up for the concert format," Ottley says. About one-tenth of the music is new to the choir's repertoire, though all the music to be performed per-formed "needs to be brought back into per-forming per-forming shape." Therefore, the May 7 and 16 concerts will be considered con-sidered dress rehearsals for the European tour. The concerts in Salt Lake City- are under the auspices, of the Temple Square Concert Series, which is promoted by the General Activities Committee of the Church. The May 7 concert will include four oratorio selections by Handel; Psalm 42, op. 42, by Mendelssohn, with solo soprano Lois Johnson; "Jubilate Deo" by Walton; Four Psalms, op. 74, by Grieg, with solo baritone Donald Becker; Psalm 14K by Hoist; and a solo section by bass-baritone bass-baritone Don Watts. The May 16 concert program will include four choruses from liturgical works by Mozart; Requiem, op. 45, by Brahms, Brah-ms, with solo baritone Stephen Bardsley; "Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord" by Mechem; "Saul" by Hovlund, with narrator Elroy Jones; "Ave Maris Stella" by Grieg; and "O Clap Your Hands" by Vaughan Williams. The women's chorus will sing "Vocalise" by Nelson, and the men's chorus will sing "Discovery" by Grieg, with soloist Don Becker. Marilyn Pratt, Kathleen Stout, George Behunin, and Don Becker will sing quartet selections. Cascade PTA Selects New Officers During the April general Cascade PTA meeting new officers for the 1982-83 school year were selected. Phyllis Orem-Geneva Times -April 29. 1982 Inoyne, President, will serve with Pam Lee as secretary, Carolyn Johnson as treasurer, Charlotte Nelson as President Elect, John , Crandall as 2nd Vice President and Lynn Olsen as 3rd . Vice Presidnet, (Faculty Representative). The meeting was conducted under, the direction of Toni Hover the passed year president. Superintendent Max B. Welcher was the main speaker for the evening and the Cascade Choir performed a number of musical selections. 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