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Show Wednesday Much 8, 1995 The Daily Utah Chronicle 11 oint Welfare is just an easy target for Republicans Chronicle Editorial Who food stamps? When present legislation this uses week that would cut the food stamp program by $16 billion over the next five years, the not party is counting on the American people to think about that question very hard. v It is hoping that we will forget that needy families who count on food stamps are real - men, women and people, with real needs children from disadvantaged backgrounds who will go hungry otherwise. The GOP would prefer that the public see this group as g nothing more than a bunch of parasites who have taken advantage of the system long enough. Sadly, there are abuses in the system that need to be corrected. It cannot be denied that there are a number of those on welfare who have grown dependent upon aid, as well as those who simply prefer to manipulate the system for their own convenience, rather than free-loadin- ChronicleLetters attempt to make a living. It is the public's knowledge of problems like these that has made welfare such an attractive target for a party eager to gain public confidence. Preying upon the public's vulnerability to this issue, Republican party members on the House Ways and Means committee also moved this week to stop welfare to families after five years and deny welfare to unwed mothers under 18. There also are the continual efforts to reduce just about every other those improvements, problems with perpetual abusers who find ways to beat the system will continue. Meanwhile, those with genuine need will be denied aid. For Republicans to try and persuade the public to ignore this last group while they are so visibly going after the first, is irresponsible and devious. The GOP's methods are particularly reprehensible on the food stamp issue because unlike many other forms of welfare, food stamps may be used by people who are employed. A family of three is presently type of aide, from school lunches to child barred from the program with an income care, into block grants, as if all of our problems will be solved once the federal government can no longer be blamed for unequal distribution. But for all of the grandiose posturing, merely cutting money from programs-- does lit- tle to address the welfare system's problems. Until policies and methods are developed that encourage those on welfare to improve their situation and give them the means to make , greater than $1,027 a month. Does this figure sound like the luxurious income of a family taking more than their share? These are people who have not grown up into a cycle of dependence. We should be helping them, not blaming them for society's problems. The Chronicle is an independent student newspaper. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority view of the Editorial Board. s to www Hands off med school SOKKUYSOaKiPRoQSMS... So LlTTLt TIME ! Editor: As members of the class of 1995 in the School of Medicine, we feel compelled to respond to a recent column entitled "Medical School Rushes Student" (March" 1, 1995). We concede that medical students are presented with a broad range of personal and academic stresses. However, such stress is not unique to medical school. Many of our undergraduate and graduate peers share similar challenges in balancing school, family, work, and other extracurricular activi- J 1 l VIM I ties. The article depicts medical school as having a brutal curriculum that precludes a meaningful personal life. This is not necessarily the case. Many medical students effectively balance family life (some with as many as five or six children)' with school obligations. Many in our class have participated in intramural athletics, resulting in championship volleyball and softball teams. Still others, though discouraged by administraThe low attrition rate provides tion, have worked part-tim- e. strong evidence that students can meet the rigorous requirements of medical education while, at the same time, enjoying a reasonable extracurricular life. The columnist raises concern about the inhumanity of see "Ericksen" on page 12 State places too many unnecessary regulations on cars O Matt Cusumano Chronicle Editorial dangers of the world. My windshidd I don't believe that cars were driving has been cracked for well over a year. I have traveled at 90 miles an hour down the freeway on three wheels, and rock with no fear of the windshidd explodold ladies being run over, due to windshields. in ing inward upon me. chips people's Sometimes I think our society is the about I asked a safety inspector longer has access to bootlegged safety He cracked windshield. of mechanics a all the becoming a little too wimpy. Around danger inspections. And is Christmas I saw a billboard off of windshield cracked told that mission me a returned bribe are Fve tried to that said have a happy and safe scoff and at aries or priests, my season. I thought about I rather would holiday paid money (they for that a minute. The sign was the time them to repair or replace my broBefore safety inspecby the Ad Council produced ken windshield, broken tail light, believe tions, (government propagandist), who non functional reverse light, .oil wanted us not only to enjoy ourdown the leak, brake fluid leak, coolant were through Christmas, but leak, and all four tires). ladies selves three wheels, think also about all of the catas. . What I don t understand is tO rOCk Oue could happen at any that TUtl the Over, trophes me government's interest in minute. vehicles. I can cktbs condition of our beobU S windshields. I wonder if my holiday season understand that an unsafe vehi-rJ- e would have been safer, had my other on cars threat to noses a 1 I t f. ' f. .ro. oeen car ana to an ni accident the pass a saiety inspection, the road. This is waiting nappen, typical rationale, just Another aspect of vehicle regis tra-t- o but really, is a safety inspection going if I took my truck above sixty miles an hour, it might completely give way and tion I could not understand is the fact catch something really dangerous mat we pay property tax on our vehi-the- y like a worn brake line? No, because collapse on me. y This is the type of safety overkill dcs. I didn't realize that a car was don't check for that, they are too taxa-you- r for sified real as think they property, eligible worrying about the rock chip in that makes politicians really ': have to protect us citizens from the tion. If a car is property, then isn't a windshield. . Last year I was able to finagle a safety inspection out of a friend who works in a repair shop, and I traveled to Tooele to avoid the emissions testing. Unfortunately, my friend no Before the time of safety inspections, 5 Columnist recently had the unpleasant duty of attempting to renew the registration on my truck. I say attempting, because this is one task I was incapable of completing. No matter what amount of effort I exerted, I could not accomplish what would appear to be a simple task. Anyone who has ever registered a car in Utah has had to jump through I . the hoops I couldn't get through. To register a car it has to pass emissions, a safety inspection, be fully insured, and you have to pay several different types of fees and taxes. Unfortunately I own a vehicle that is near retirement. My faithful truck runs and runs, but is unfit in the eyes of Uncle Sam; ' I don't driving on oetng of that cars freeway and old in 1 das-bus- bicyde? How come we pay property tax on one and not the other? I love the way the Department of Motor Vehicles assesses tax on a vehicle. They simply use a blue book. What if my car is valued at only half of blue tax? book, do I still pay a full-valu- e Yes. Oh well, I guess it's all for a good cause. Registration must serve a valid purpose, but what that purpose is which requires annual renewal is beyond me. What would happen if we paid sales tax, and whatever other fees when we bought the car and weren't required to register it ever again? License plates wouldn't get a new sticker every year, but what purpose does that serve? Annual registration does not aid law enforcement in any degree, although it docs give them one more excuse to pull someone over. I don't know how vehide registration has obtained the monumental status it now holds, but I think a lot could be gained by a massive simplification |