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Show J.- ThunsdAy, Octoder.1, 1987 Paqc Nine EDITORIAL orlc's hearings uncover fright Just two weeks ago, on the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, we celebrated the system. It's something to celebrate. As the country's founders planned the Constitution, our votes should entitle us to responsible representation. However, instead of a system of checks and balances, it seems some politicians would prefer a government set on automatic pilot. Robert Byrd's proposal to send Judge Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination to the Senate floor without a recommendation from the Judiciary Committee is an example of policy that could only be called cowardly. Byrd said the strategy would allow undecided members of the committee, including himself, some flexibility, and time. It also means senators would not have to publicly state their opinions about Bork's nomination. In fact, using Byrd's plan, senators might not even have to cast a direct vote for or against the P6SPHS nomination. If the committee makes no recommendation and Bork's Senate opponents mount a successful filibuster, the nomination would simply die. Sen. Orrin Hatch said he would prefer to see a vote up or down, but the plan might be a very good suggestion. It's a way'to "protect" those senators who are undecided, he said. One wonders what the senators must be protected from. If the reasoning behind their opinions about Bork is logical, why would they prefer the public be uninformed? Perhaps Bork's views are too controversial for astute politicians to get close to. Maybe election year 1988 is a little too close. Whatever the reason, the plan is wrong. The public's business should be conducted in public. This is especially so when the effects will last into the 21st century. But Byrd's proposal has a worse flaw, one that is part of a trend in Washington, D.C. It is the governmental drift toward lack of accountabilitysomething clearly demonstrated during the Iran-Cont- ra hearings. No one in the government knew what was going on and no one was responsible. bill had the The infamous Gramm-Rudma- n same lack of responsibility built into it originally. If officials could not agree on budget cuts, the bill would do it for them. That way, they would not risk alienating their constituencies or the White House. They could say something to the effect of, "It's not my fault." However, politicians are elected to make the hard decisions. They must take public stands, regardless of the popularity factor. shouldn't be the only goal. Maybe despite 12 days of extensive testimony in the Bork hearings, a committee decision is still not possible. Thus, it's necessary the Supreme Court's term begin Oct. 5 without nine justices. But one wonders what political games are going on. The final word may be that in Washington, the buck doesn't stop anywhere. Re-electi- Chronicle 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 $25 a year,' S 10 an academic quarter. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forward all subscription correspondence, including change of address, to the Business Manager, Dailv Utah Chronicle, 240 Union, University of Utah,' Salt Lake City, Utah 84112. on 1 M AH STRIKE, ASC Wf6C COHTM0 WBRIM Rolf Kirby Democrats back inane plans "All the Democratic Party wants to do is tax, tax, President Reagan spend, spend." The president's record on the subject notwithstanding, this is a fairly accurate statement about the Democrats. Through large public works projects and the U.S. welfare system, the Democratic Party earned a reputation as the party that looks out for the people. The theory behind this has reached the apotheosis in two Democratic presidential candidates, Richard Gephardt and Paul Simon. These men support very foolish programs Gephardt promotes protectionism, and Simon believes in make-woprograms. idea is probably the worst of Simon's make-wor- k the two. His ideal government would set aside a certain amount of money each year to employ the unemployed. He claims this program would not last too long. But patronage programs that distribute jobs or money to people have always lasted since inception. Consider the row raised everytime cuts to Social Security or welfare are mentioned. Imagine trying to get rid of those programs. Simon knows this and his statement is jiist a sedative to the wary. This, however, is not what is worst about the make-wor- k idea. Its biggest problem is that it is a lie. The make-wor- k program does not make work. It it. redistributes Money the government would use to employ people is not created out of thin air it comes from taxpayers. A good example of this is the Tennessee Valley Authority, created under the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. People point to it with pride as an example of big government projects that work. Well, sure it worked. A large amount of wealth was sucked out of the rest of the country and poured into Tennessee. That made Tennessee better off, but it didn't do the rest of the country much good. Money taken from taxpayers is money they won't spend they are just that much poorer. If taxpayers were allowed to spend as they wanted, they would buy goods or invest it. This would in turn create jobs as companies used the invested money to hire workers to produce goods. In addition, freedom for the individual is enhanced by people spending money as they want to. It cannot rk Editorial Board: Kent Anderson, Shauna Bona, Andrew Hunt, Dee NaQuin, Fara Warner Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Editor Sports Editor Feature Editoi . 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 Fara Warner Dee NaQuin Laury Livsey Rosemary Reeve Steve Wilson Amy Page Dennis Romboy Lori Bona Darren Hawkins Andrew Hunt Glenn Seninger Loreen Erickson Assistant Feature Editor Assistant Photography Editor Assistant Copy Editor . . . : Reporters Business Manager Accountant . . . . Classifieds Accounting Clerk Collections be stressed enough that any money taken from the taxpayer is money that will simply be spent at the discretion of the government rather than the scheme represents a individual. Simon's make-wor- k triumph of big government. Gephardt takes a different approach. He claims his protectionism plan represents America getting "tough" with foreigners. But is it really? The real meaning of Gephardt's words is that industry in the United States is so weak, it cannot compete in a fair market with other countries and needs artificial protection to hide behind. Protectionism is bad for the following reasons: First, it raises prices for the consumer; second, it weakens the entire nation by keeping afloat companies that would otherwise fail. Consider all the steel plants in the United States that have closed down. If domestic steel had been protected so it was competitive with foreign steel, then steel-usin- g companies, such as those producing cars, ships and buildings, would have to charge more. Thus, taxpayers would pay more than they should in a free market. A valid concern is what happens to the workers put out of a job when an inefficient company goes under. Wouldn't it be better to keep companies in operation so the workers can keep buying, thus keeping the economy strong? This sounds logical, but it is wrong. A free economy is in a constant state of flux, with old companies failing and new ones replacing them. The loss ot national buying power when some workers are laid off is momentary they will soon be employed again. Clearly, protectionism is a bad deal for the consumer and the nation. But it is really part of a whole mind set which thinks the economy needs to be heavily regulated. One is suspicious that Gephardt is not very knowledgeable about economics. The policy of anyone who supports protectionism is suspect. Make-wor- k and protectionism programs sound like they will "support the people" or "keep America strong," but their effect is the reverse. The way to make the economy strong is to make it as free as possible and then keep your hands off! Rolf Kirby, a sophomore majoring in mathematics, is a regular columnist for the Chronicle. John Pecorelli Erin Calmes Bryant Larsen Kent Condon Todd Curtis Ellen Garff W. Scott Hall Kelly Hindley Amber McKee Deanie Wimmer Ann Marie Wright Robert McOmber Kay Andersen Charlene Collins Kim Bartcl Michael Allsop Account Executives Typesetters Production Manager Assistant Production Manager Production Staff Distribution John Hausknccht Kris DeBry Tammie Bostick Todd Butler Sara Wilson James A. Beck David Packard Constance J. Watts Michael Q. Clcary . . . . . Kenny Watanabe Abbie Hall Maria Lisicski James Olsen Todd Matsuda David Orchard . . . . (Christopher Stratford . . . ' |