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Show ChnoNidt WtdNtsdAy, DcCEMbcR PqE TweIve 9, 1987 EDITORIAL Don't give in to Mountain Bell It's getting so you have to be pretty doggone wealthy to "reach out and touch someone" these days. The way it stands now, the state of Utah has one of the highest telephone rates in the nation. Since 1980, telephone rates have continued to skyrocket. Now, to make matters worse, U.S. West, owner of Mountain Bell, wants to deregulate all of its telephone services in Utah. U.S. West's power to impose deregulation comes from its virtual monopoly over telephone services. The deregulation plan spells a tighter monopoly and higher profits for U.S. West. It also spells trouble for those people who have come to rely on telephones as one of their sole means of communication, but can no longer afford to pay the rising prices Mountain Bell is demanding. U.S. West plans to put its deregulation plan in motion by passing legislation (known as Senate Bill 102) to limit the regulation power of the Public Service Commission (PSC) over the telephone industry. The purpose of the PSC is to protect the public from unjustly high utility rates and to force U.S. West to adhere to fair business standards. The most baffling question to come out of U.S. West's deregulation campaign is that of profits. In 1986, under the regulation of the PSC, Mountain Bell earned an $88 million profit, while U.S. West raked in a whopping $94 million profit. This is considered outstanding for any corporation. It would be rather difficult to imagine the size of U.S. West's profits if deregulation is enacted. U.S. West's conspicuous drive for profits not only eliminates all forms of competition in the telephone industry, but it also results in people having to shell out more money to afford one of the most basic forms of communication. 7 Over the past few decades, the telephone has become an accepted part of our everyday lives. They are one of the most important facets of the human communication process. The U.S. West deregulation plan would deny a number of people access to such a very important facet of human interaction. This includes ill people with lower incomes, who could be denied an emergency lifeline to hospitals. The morality of the whole issue aside, the negative effects of telephone deregulation will, probably outweigh the positive. As attorney Jack L. Landau pointed out in the July 19, 1986 Public Utilities Fortnightly: "Ratepayers will be left with a difficult choice: Pay or go without. It is worth pointing out that this is exactly what occurred in Great Britain, where social contract regulation is a reality. Once services was removed, regulation of British Telecom increased its rates for other non-bas- ic services rapidly and significantly." Instead of allowing the Senate Bill 102 to be enacted, Utah lawmakers should consider passing tougher regulations over the telephone industry. They should also consider passing a few pieces of anti-tru- st legislation along the way. This move would not only decrease U.S. West's profits, but it would also allow more inexpensive telephone rates for those of us who don't have money to burn. Chronicle I 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, S10 an academic quarter. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forward all subscription correspondence, including change of address, to the Business Manager, Daily Utah Chronicles 240 Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 12. Dee NaQuin Are relationships worth it? Life at the University of Utah during the last two weeks of fall quarter always encourages classic stressed-oreactions in people, such as glazed eyes, mumbling and mood swings. Most people don't care ut about anything other than completing the quarter. But regardless of how high stress levels are and how many responsibilities people have, they usually discuss personal relationships whenever they have the n? chance, even if it's 2:30 in the morning. That's an interesting phenomenon, considering how many people say they don't care if they have relationships; that they're better off alone. It's probably good the majority says this since there are only two or three happy couples around, and that figure might drop off while Charles and Di decide what to do next. As Matt Greening, the cartoonist, said, love is hell. He also said love is doomed to failure because men are stupid and women are crazy. This point isn't completely true. Women are stupid and men are crazy, too. So if it's that simple, why do we keep talking about relationships? Many people can't come up with a definitive answer. In fact, the most common answer that appears according to an informal survey is, "I don't know." Perhaps it depends on what kind of relationship we're talking about. Lust could be one answer. In any case, it's doubtful that relationships have ever worked very well, but modern theories usually blame changing social norms for modern difficulty. In Psychology Today, a clinical psychologist discusses "Today's Troubled Men" and heterosexual relationships as we approach the 1990s. HJ. Freudenberger bases his observations on his work with his patients, and, at first reading, seems to put the burden of blame on men. This immediately caught my interest because, during our more cynical moments, friends and I agree that men are the problem. But of course it's not that simple and many of Freudenberger's comments ultimately apply to both men and women. Some of his findings aren't surprising. In general, people in the 1980s value power, success and control in their lives above other issues. For men, this reaction is emphasized because of changes in sexual Editorial Board: Kent Anderson, Shauna Bona, Andrew Hunt, Bryant Larsen, Dee NaQuin, Rosemary Reeve, Fara 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 Fara 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 Assistant Feature Editor Assistant Photography Editor Assistant Copy Editor Reporters , stereotypes and norms, an emphasis on material achievement, the rise of feminism and women's liberation, Freudenberger said. He said men's sexual relationships with women, their commitments to marriage, family and work and their sense of self have become ambiguous. Somehow, this doesn't sound like an exclusive characteristic of the male gender. Freudenberger's next point is more on target. Men's emotional alienation is worsened by the lack of intimacy and the lack of acceptable new role models for men to emulate. Often, the only kind of relationship men perceive, or are man-to-m- an man-to-m- an comfortable with, is one of competitiveness and rivalry, in sports and elsewhere. He said men need to learn to see others as more than competitors, by learning how to open up and talk. But the most interesting point Freudenberger brings up is about the notion of responsibility in personal and professional life. This part of the article easily applies to both men and women and I've taken the license to change the word "men" to "people." He said people have a basic problem: a desire to avoid commitment and a wish not to be held accountable in a relationship. That sets up a paradox in how they perceive "responsibility" and "accountability." At work, accountability is measurable and gratification is relatively immediate. Responsibility on the job is a given. But responsibility in a relationship is often seen as unpleasant and an obligation to be avoided at all costs. He advises that relationships need to be worked on with the same patience and energy traditionally invested in work. If people want relationships, they should view them as changeable situations in which they may feel hurt, disappointment and anxiety, as well as joy, gratification and satisfaction. It is to concentrate on the negative, and if things start going wrong, to use this as a reason for leaving a relationship, Freudenberger said. The article raises an interesting point about responsibility and it may enter into future conversations I have about relationships. But it's easier to just say, "Love is hell." Dee NaQuin is a senior mass communicatiion major and editorial editor of the Chronicle. self-defeati- ng John Pecorelli Erin Calmes Edward Ruiz Kent Condon Todd Curtis Sharon Deckert Ellen Garff W. Scott Hall Business Manager Accountant Classifieds Accounting Clerk Kelly Hindley Amber McKee Deanie Wimmer 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. Cleary Kenny Watanabe Abbie Hall Maria Lisieski James Olsen Todd Mat sud a David Orchard Christopher Stratford .... |
