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Show Thursday, April 20, 1995 The Daily Utah Chronicle - 5 olnt Reform necessary, but GOP plan goes too far Chronicle Editorial reform seems to be generating an amount of controversy these days. Bill Clinton focused on the issue back in 1992. Eventually, rigfit-win- g ideologues like Newt Gingrich Welfare who resent the presence of welfare altogether embraced the idea as part of the "Contract With America." They began proposing massive welfare overhauls like denying all services to anyone after two years of dependency or neglecting welfare mothers altogether. Conservatives often criticize the welfare system for breeding dependency, ripping off decent taxpayers, and catering to lazy welfare queens. Some say that welfare encourages girls to have kids, and others insist that there just isn't enough money for welfare anymore. The House of Representatives under Gingrich week to criticize it. According to Clinton, the bill is "weak on work and tough on children." Without question, America's welfare system needs reform. But first, lawmakers must dispense with the welfare myths. Right-win- g welfare misconceptions and taxpayer resentment should not dominate this debate. The first misconception that should be thrown out is the idea that welfare recipients like their positions. It is difficult to find somebody on welfare who is content to remain so, and is happy with their economic situation. Most people on welfare would do anything to change their status. In many cases, those on welfare don't want to give up benefits that welfare - provides but employers don't immediately. Sometimes, racism, poor economy, and lack of opportunity complicate trying to find a job, too. Another myth is that teen mothers are eager to crank out more babies because they get more welfare benefits. Again, it's tough to find a teenage girl whose life ambition is to plunge herself further into despair with more children for a minimal increase in already passed a brutal welfare reform package which cuts off support to teens that have children. It is so preposterous that President Clinton held a rare formal news conference on prime-tim- e television last welfare benefits. VERHWRP J Chronicle AT THE "CONTRACT WITH It's time to get real about welfare reform. Even conservatives like Bob Dole have produced many sane proposals over the last couple years. But now with a congressional majority, Republicans think they can propose any reckless idea, mostly for the sake of backing Clinton into political corners and proving they're tough. Welfare reform must require work after two years or even a year and six months. At the same time, the government should be willing to help with education, job hunting, and child care. Welfare programs should not eliminate health care for recipients who eventually find jobs but cannot receive health benefits from their employers immediately. These are all common-groun-d issues with room for negotiation. Keeping these goals in mind will produce effective welfare mat leaves people with dignity and mobility. Sure, it might not provide room for more reckless Republican tax cuts, but it will benefit America in the future. The Chronicle is an independent student newspaper. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority view of the Editorial Board. MRlCA" VICTORY CEloRNTCTp Business Hours Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm 581-70- 41 Letter Policy "Letters to the Editor" open forum to people of all persuasions: However, letters of a scurrilous or libelous nature, or those which demean or threaten harm to any individual or group based on race, gender, sexual orientation or religion will not be considered for publication. Letters must be typed and signed and may be edited for style and space. To ensure that letters are not submitted under false names, The Chronicle's editorial staff must speak with every letter writer before publication. Letters from those with unlisted phone numbers must now submit their letters in person with a picture I.D. at The is an cmnmm AMERICA, Vs JBE HfWE Chronicle office, room 240 Union. Wildlife laws deprive U.S. citizens of their basic rights ' 4 - Matt Cusumano Chronicle Editorial Columnist Reading the USA Today reveals liberal frenzy over certain trees and absurdities, like spotted owls, has not subsided. People old-growt- h in the Northwest are still being harassed by the feds in regards to the Endangered Spcdcs Act. I lived for a very short time in northern Idaho. The town I lived in, Sand Point, is supported primarily by the logging industry. While I lived there, I heard endless complaints about the spotted owl. People sold recipes on how to cook and barbecue spotted owls, and many front lawns were deco- rated with signs expressing discontent about the Endangered Species Act. After seeing people unemployed, viduals who would rather ruin an economy than harvest a renewable and completely ruined for the sake of an owl, I began to wonder what would make the government make a bird a higher priority than a person? As it turns out, the Fish and Wildlife resource. The fact of the matter is that spotted owls live and thrive just as well in old trees as they do in new trees. Spotted owls actually have been found living in Service, and the Marine Fisheries Service, which have the power to turn private property into wildlile mtoTheHicyTsti- - growth trees. Activist erwinmmentalists who spike trees in hopes of lutely no difference between the Mexican spotted owl and the northern spotted owl. This owl is just an excuse to extend governmental control to the realm of private property. Some environmentalists actually feel the pain of a tree when it is cut down. They believe that a tree cut down is a natural resource lost forever. They vilify the logging industry as one of the most destructive forces in the universe. All of these emotions are unfounded. dOT33 Mmgalomrmdhme a live and reproduce in oldrowth trees. I suppose they believe owU have a taste for antique surroundings. Motiic Bcattic, of the Fish and Wildlife Service says, "You can't separate an animal from its - Uiett pnOrUteS backwards. HOW COH WW tWtify putting , r wee s well-bein- g ahead offa If the animals are worth saving, and old they can't be separated from the shouldn't the then government trees, let those bloodthirsty, ajitiirvironrnen- tal loggers cut down their wonderful ' homes, right? This type of reasoning indi- s works for most earth-consciou- enough to harvest timber in a fiUTTtOn S ? manner that renews - IKUIIWl rt signs and bams. So if they're not so particular, then how is the tinv bcr industry going to drive them into extinction? Federal agencies rarely base their policies in sound science. If they did, they would realize that there is abso Tiic logging industry is planning on operating for a long time. The industry is responsible the resource. They do this so they can come back in twenty yean and a certain area. For every tree that is cut down, three or four are planted. This means that the logging industry actually helps the environment recover and rejuvenate itself Activist environmentalists who spike trees in hopes of killing a logger really have their priorities backwards. How can you justify putting a tree's ahead of a human's? Bureaucrats, like Mollic Bcattic, arc more concerned with controlling private property than saving die lives of owls. If the government has die power to tell you what you can and can't do on private property, then what's the use of having private property? The concept of private property is one of well-bein- g the cornerstones of the entire American dream. Private property should be operated, maintained, and used, by the owner, not the govern- ment. As our right to private property is eroded, and private property is slowly becoming public, our freedom is being greatly restricted. Americans need to stand up against governmental policies that sacrifice the sanctity of private property. Laws like the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Wcdands Protection Act, start out with noble causes, but always deprive citizens of their rights. |
