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Show OPINION WEDNESDAY 62 TV, I "Daily Utah Chronicle THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW Bennion Center 1 students go national U student group is garnering some national attention these .days. Student Politics and Civic Engagement, a recently formed service group in association with the Bennion Community Service Center, put the finishing touches on a chapter the group wrote for a book titled, Leadership and Service Learning to be published by National Campus Compact. The group differs from other service organizations because, as opposed to taking a reactive approach to social dilemmas, it takes a proactive approach. As opposed to combating the prevalence of hunger by serving food to the hungry, the student politics group works to eliminate the occurrence of hunger in the first place. The group's chapter focuses on the many ways in which college students can affect a change in their respective social spheres. Being that the campus compact has a national base of more than 900 university agencies, the U students' message will likely reach a great number of students. This is a fantastic opportunity for both the U as a whole and the individual student group. The U is frequently published for the wide array of research done on campus. While this research is essentially good, it also sometimes relegates the U to a purely research-oriented school in some minds. people's Because the U does many things well other than research, receiving attention for one is exciting. The Bennion Center has long been a staple of the Salt Lake City community with its ambitious service projects and social impact initiatives. The center is an integral part of the U community and it puts on some incredible activities that benefit others. It's about time the center got some attention for one of those efforts. But, aside from the overdue attention, the specific nature of the group's chapter is beneficial to students' lives too. It is assumed most often by students that the point of a college education is to receive a degree and land a steady job. While this may be one of the points of a college education, it is myopic to assume it is the only one. Many of the real lessons learned students in colby lege are not taught in classrooms. There is a great deal that can only be discovered by getting out into the community at large. The Bennion Center has, for a long time, acted as a conduit through which interested students can benefit their community. However, not nearly enough students have traditionally taken advantage of the civic resources at their fingertips. Hopefully, after this chapter gets out into the world, students both at home and abroad will make an effort to do so. m 5 1 LETTERS f ft TO THE the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. on Utah State Media Legislature's gun stance is baffling has the right to Editor: I read, with a dropped jaw, a story in the May 24 Wall Street Journal that says it is now illegal in Utah to ban guns in publicly funded schools, including the U. I graduated from the U and I was raised in Utah. It amazes me that the state Legislature could oppose attempts to protect students from guns in the hands of teachers and students, especially in the absence of public support. I'm very proud of the U for standing its ground and for U Trustee Jake Garn's forthright words of encouragement. Still, Utah's politics baffled me then and they baffle me today. I left Utah in 1998, degree in hand, with a sigh of relief and I will never, ever go back. Amanda (Skow) Weatherman Alumna Former Daily Utah Chronicle writer and editor esardin gthep rison scandal with common sense Editor: In light of the ignorance displayed in Ahmed Barakat's May 26 column, their "Americans need to definition of liberation," it is my duty to bring some common sense to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The column wasn't unpatriotic it was ignorant, hypocritical, and so void of astuteness it was almost comical. Therefore, I'll gladly take up Barakat's counter argument challenge with ease. It's a shame that a white guy like me has to educate someone on common sense regarding his cultural background and the present situation in his homeland. First of all, Barakat makes no distinction between Saddam's victims and Iraqi insurgents. The same people in custody in Iraq are from the same camaraderie that tortured Barakat's family, yet he complains about the way they are treated. The only right and privilege the prisoners are denied is to continue the murder of innocent Iraqis like Barakat's family. Why is Barakat mad that the torturers of his family are mistreated? Secondly, what acts of violence and cruelty are Barakat referring to? This is a war; there are prisoners of war and those prisoners of war have to be interrogated for information for the safety of troops and innocent Iraqis. Stripping prisoners naked and humiliating them is part of the process. Mild physical abuse may be permis - EDITOR well-round- Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created I sible. I would object to extreme measures of torture, such as electric shocks, cutting, whipping, hanging and other harsh methods. But hurting an individual's I'm all for self-estee- that. That's the worst that has happened, as far as I know from reliable news sources. No one has been killed in the prison, so what's the big deal? Thirdly, I am very upset that some of our servicemen and women have taken souvenir photographs. It sets a bad example and is very immature. However, I'm even more upset that Barakat and others like him are making such a fuss now when they were practically silent as U.S. troops hung from a bridge or when Pvt. Jes criticize leaders F.ditor: I wish to respond to a recent letter by Kory Hoopes ("Publicizing the lets the terrorists win," May 26). Hoopes would have people believe it is wrong for media outlets to show the recent horrors of war and suggests that it rips apart American morale. Hoopes even goes so evil-doe- rs far as to say this will "destroy the society we live in by taking away the ability to make decisions without outside influence." This kind of conserva- sica Lynch was raped repeatedly by her captors. Where's your outrage, Barakat? Finally, if Barakat or his family thinks that U.S. troops are no different from Saddam's henchmen, which is the message he's implied in his article, then they never lived under Saddam's rule. What do you expect? Since the economy is doing well, liberals are looking for an issue to discredit President Bush, even if they have to provide moral support for Saddam's murderous gangsters or others who wish to kill Americans. Bart Gatrell Graduate Student, tive jargon is completely unfounded. The society we live in is based on the freedom we have to criticize those in power. The society we live in is based on tolerance for opposing points of view. What is freedom of religion, if not that? Our society will be destroyed if we accept nonsense Hoopes' and stop holding our leaders to the highest levels of far-rig- ht scrutiny. Jeremy Harmon Alumnus Former Chronicle Editor in Chief International Relations Federal income tax needs serious makeove Franklin once wrote, Benjamin world nothing can be certain, except death and taxes." By and large, most people consider this a very appropriate observation, and not just as commentary on uncertainty in life. By linking death with taxation, Franklin guaranteed would be that this little one-linremembered throughout the ages. There's nothing people hate d more than losing their I rip time I know that every money. open a paycheck and see how much FICA has stolen from me, a little part of my soul dies. Despite the fact that everyone complains about it, however, income tax is a good thing. Initially railed against as a radical act of socialism, income tax was recognized as a largely beneficial program, though not without fault. The 16th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave Congress the power to "lay and collect taxes on incomes," was passed in 1913. Since that time, personal and corporate income taxes have become the federal government's major source er hard-earne- of revenue. On account of this amendment, the U.S. economy improved. With the federal government no longer relying on tariffs as a source of revenue, free trade flourished and has had a beneficial impact on the U.S. economy because it increases competition between producers. Consumers benefit while prices are kept low. Furthermore, through the manipulation of tax rates, the federal government is able to promote economic stability. Fiscal policies enacted by the government since Franklin Roosevelt's administration have led to significantly calmer economic waters. Though periods of inflation and recession still occur, they are not nearly as dramatic as they once were. This is not to say that the income tax system is perfect. Like all things created by government, there are some flaws associated with the income tax. These flaws have not disappeared since 1913 they have intensified. d One example is Utah's public school system. Every over-burdene- grade. No wonder debates over funding can break out in fist fights. Clearly, the problem presented here isn't going to be resolved in public-scho- ol a simple PTA meeting. RuthAnne Frost Opinion Columnist about the lack of funding for public schools coupled with an increase in enrollment. Naturally, this leads to problems in the quality of education students year a fuss is made receive. The most important source of revenue for education in Utah is income tax. The only problem with this is that taxpayers get an exemption for each minor child in their households. Therefore, a family could hypothetically enroll eight children in Utah's public school system and receive eight exemptions. At the same time, a childless couple pays the cost of sending those children from kindergarten through nth There are also significant problems with receiving income tax from corporate America. According to U.S. News and World Report, more than 60 percent of American companies did not pay income tax between 1996 and 2000. That amounts to $2.5 trillion of gross income that went completely untaxed. Through the use of various loopholes, corporate America is robbing the middle class. Last year, corporate tax receipts accounted for a mere 7.4 percent of overall federal receipts, the lowest in more than 20 years. This not the result of a poor economy. This is the result of a deliberate manipulation by corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Compounding the problem is the fact that the IRS now has roughly half the law enforcement resources it did back in 1988. No wonder the is PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO LETTERSCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU audit rate for the largest corporations fell nearly 50 percent in the last decade. Fewer audits mean fewer crooks arc getting caught. As columnist Mortimer Zuckerman points out, "The sobering reality i that dodging taxes.Js becoming deeply rooted in America's business culture." Despite all the good it has done, serious problems remain with in- - More than 90 years after Its inception, the income tax system needs to be drastically overhauled, both at the state and federal levels. come tax. More than 90 years after its inception, the income tax system needs to be drastically overhauled, both at the state and federal levels. At a time when the federal deficit is topping the trillion-dolla- r mark, we need to start seriously thinking about these and other problems associated with income tax. letters (chronicle, utah. edu |