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Show Thursday. May o Provo. Utah-P- 39 age What the Herald thinks, what the columnists say and what our readers think Opinions: mumsmmmuM 15. 1980. THE HERALD. ' The Herad Comments Despots out to Get Free Press Freedom of the press traditionally has had a especially in rocky road the dictatorship countries. Today more than 80 percent of the world population does not have the same brand of free press that we enjoy in this country, according to a World Press Freedom Committee spokesman. In America, where the First Amendment provides for freedom of the press, we still have problems adverse court interpretations, government officials who would suppress public information, etc. But the greater stumbling blocks usually are found elsewhere on the global scene in the form of government control or censorship; or restrictions andor harassments of one type or another. Feedback: Hireling Robs Employer Editor, Herald: Friends and neighbors, how would you feel, if for the past six months you had been robbed of everyday every cent of your earnings, and you found out it was the man whom you had hired to run your household affairs? What would you do? The robber said he was giving it to the poor people; to good causes; to my next door neighbor who had lived ir- responsibly and was going bankrupt; to his home town's sewage system; and much was sent to his native country to help promote a revolution. He found the more he took the more ways he found to do good. According to statistics we are informed that May 11, "Tax Freedom Day" winds up the activities of the the taker of nearof 50 our property. percent ly Our government is just an enlargement of our household. The same principles that rule man, rule man's government. We need to understand the rights that God has given to Man. This quote from John Adams: "You have rights antecedent (prior) to all earthly governments. Rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws, rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe." Justice Sutherland of the Supreme Court explains those rights: "it is not the right of property, but the right to property... The man has three great rights, equally sacred from arbitrary (forceful) in- terference: the right to life, the right to his liberty, and the right to his property. The three rights are bound together to be essentially one right." And James Madison says: "Government is instituted to protect property of every sort." This from John Adams: "The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence, Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist." We, the people have allowed this robbery to take place through the Sixteenth Amendment; only we the people can stop this form of slavery that has enveloped our nation. J. Reuben Clark Jr. explains: "It has always been contrary to law, to order, and to morals since society was organized, for John to take the property of James without paying for it... But when government goes beyond these purposes and undertakes to clothe and to feed its society and then begins to take John's property without compensation to feed James and clothe ...then this is making John work to support James in idleness, and this is the old time slavery. You may try to hide this ugly fact of slavery or dress it up, or disguise it, you may call it by all sorts of fancy, names, but the fact remains it is slavery." The Liberty Amendment now pending in Congress as HJ 23 has been approved by seven state legislatures. A petition requesting our state legislature to request the Congress to propose to the people this amendment to the Constitution is now being circulated. A great deal of help is needed to get the petition to the people by June 1. As Abraham Lincoln said about the slave issue. "It is a question of right or wrong." Another petition asking that a law entitled 'Property Tax Local Administration' which would return full power of assessment to the county; and a petition requesting 'No Punishment Without Proof of Guilt Law' to be placed on the November ballot. Alberta M. Hoover Springville Disagrees withsame Governor Editor, Herald: I feel that the stand the governor has taken on the "once - in - a lifetime" hunt drawings is unfair. He has denied employees of the State Fish & Wildlife Service the right to be included in the drawing. I feel that this action sets a dangerous precedent. It denies to a certain group their rights as citizens. Another analogy to this -- would be iu say mat a politician should be denied the right to vote because he might win. I hope the governor will reconsider his stand and allow state at Lion employees to again enjoy their rights as first class citizens and not be penalized because they chose to work for the state. Patricia Sykes 1511 S. Carterville R. Orem One present concern of free world media represen- tatives is the continued drive by elements of UNESCO (United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization) for a "new information Educational, order" of international scope which stands to "control" rather than communica- "improve" Another is the closing of La Prensa, a newspaper in Nicaragua with a long tradition of fighting for basic rights of the people. An information format proposed by our adver- tions. Inter-America- balance." he stated, "but we can't accept the radical Press n Association statement said a strike of employees and disagreement with owners forced closure, but as- serted that the "principal cause is the political and revolutionary at- mosphere." George Beebe of Miami, President of IAPA, reported that most of the La Prensa stockholders have reaffirmed their intention to renew publication at a new location. "We hope their efforts will not be obstructed by a mistaken revolutionary fervor," he declared. Beebe said in a recent address that the UNESCO drive for international standards for the media threatens the whole concept of freedom of the press. "We agree that the present information system needs better saries." Arch Madsen of Salt Lake City, a vice chairman of the World Press Freedom Committee, said the degree of press freedom or control varies country to country, but less than 20 percent of the total world population enjoys the liberty, to which Americans are ac- customed, of publishing facts and opinions without interference from government or private groups. Eleven countries in Africa don't even have newspapers, he noted. Rep. Robert E. Bauman, took occasion in Congress to decry the closing of La Prensa and to R-M- d., report that the Sandinista communist government" has embraced the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the holding of U.S. hostages by the Iranians. The deterioration of American influence in that country, so close to home, is another story, but with implications involving press freedom also. It's a distressing development, as is our decline in prestige elsewhere around the globe. We need to that influence regain by our military and power strengthening rebuilding foreign policy plus diplomatic stature and resolve. We took a step backward, especially in Latin American influence, when we hauled down our flag at Panama. It's essential in upgrading our stature and effectiveness as well as in promoting to freedom of the press keep the flag flying at all our strategic bases, including Guantanamo and Puerto Rico. A free, responsible press is basic to other freedoms human and rights. Newsmen become mere puppets of government when they have no liberty to report the truth and express opinions. As George Beebe said in his speech: "It's well to remember that it is not the people who want a controlled media; it's the despots nile those people." who Herald in Washington Cuban Air Attack No Mistake By LEE RODERICK Herald Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Well placed sources here are convinced that the bloody attack by Cuban jets on a Bahamian patrol boat the other day, leaving four crewmen dead, was a naked attempt to divert world attention from the thousands of Cuban refugees now streaming to Florida. There is also some speculation that the unprovoked attack, which Cuba has called an unfortunate "mistake," was a warning from Fidel Castro to the Soviet Union that he is capable of causing Moscow big problems if it attempts to elbow him aside in the face of widespread failures in Cuba. As of May 12, nearly 37,000 Cubans had reached Miami in the "freedom flotilla" fleeing Cuba. Castro, in an attempt to descredit them, has put out the word that they represent the dregs of Cuban society criminals, loafers, the mentally incompetent. "Good riddance," said Castro at a May Day rally. Radio Havana echoed, "The U.S. has always ."anted to pick the best brains of our people. Let them also pick up the bums." However, at this writing, only 425 of the 37,000 refugees have been detained at U.S. processing centers as suspected spies or common criminals by U.S. definition. Many others, of course, have spent time in Castro's prisons at one time or another for political reasons. The overwhelming number of the Cubans are coming for one or both of two reasons: The impoverishment that grips Cuba under Castro's disastrous mismanagement of the economy; and the lack of personal freedom in Cuba. - "When Castro opened the floodgates to allow Cubans to leave, he was acutely embarassed to find that many people he thought were loyal to the party bolted," explained Ernesto Betancourt, who as Castros's representative in Washington revolution during the Cuban "When Castro opened the floodgates to allow Cubans to leave, he was acutely embarassed to find that many people he thought were loyal to the party bolted," explained Ernesto Betancourt, who was Castros's representative in Washington during the Cuban revolution. "No one wants to stay on a sinking ship." Betancourt, who knew both Castro and famed revolutionary Che Guevara, served briefly in the Havana government in 1959, then returned to the United States in 1960. He has maintained extensive contacts throughout Latin America, including Cuba, as a development consultant. "Castro's behavior is erratic at the moment," Betancourt said in an interview. "It's very clear there is some kind of argument going on in the top ranks of his government. Castro has been unleashing people in the streets to fight his own similar to what bureaucrats China did during its cultural revolution." Betancourt continued: "The Soviets have given him powerful weapons. If I were the Soviets I'd be very concerned about how Castro might use them. Castro is totally ruthless and will do anything to preserve his power, including provoking such incidents as the shooting of the Bahamian boat." The Gross National Product per individual in Cuba has decreased by .3 percent a year during the 20 years of Castro's regime, said Betancourt. This came after Cuba previously had enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. About Letters "Feedback" is intended to provide Daily Herald readers with an open forum in which they can discuss issues of broad community interest and importance. In that spirit. The Dai'v Herald welcomes letters to "Feedback" on any subject of broad community interest Letters should be typewritten, double-spaceand not exceed 400 words about a page and a half of typewritten, double-space- d enbe will The limit copy. length forced strictly. Without exception, every letter must be signed in ink with the writer's full name, home address and phone number. Phone numbers won't be published. Names can be withheld for good reason, but only after personal consultation with the editor. The Herald will not accept or publish letters which are duplicated, photocopied, or which otherwise give the appearance of being a mass mailing; letters which argue a specific religious doctrine: which attempt a personal debate with a previous contributor rather than addressing issues: which repeat positions previously expressed by other contributors, or letters which are addressed to individuals or institutions other than the Herald. The editor reserves the right to edit any letter to remove potentially libelous material, material in poor taste and to make letters conform to the length limit. As nearly as possible, all letters which meet the above requirements will be published in the order they are received, although handwritten letters may be delayed for typing, and letters which exceed the length limit or otherwise violate the stated policy may be returned to the writers for correction or revision. "It's a vicious circle today in Cuba," explained Betancourt. "There is no incentive to produce because there is nothing to consume anyway. Add to this the lack of freedom, and the situation in Cuba is unbearable for most of its people." Another distinguished native Cuban living in Washington, is not true that Japan exports its entire auto production. With three million cars on the streets, Tokyo is not only the world's largest city but the perfect locale for some of its more massive traffic jams. Elsewhere in intensely urbanized Japan, the situation is similar only on a smaller scale. The Japanese, in short, are as d as any people in the industrial world, which gives them a lot in common with Americans. Too much, in fact, in the opinion some Americans. For all their frantic mobility at home, the Japanese still do export a very high percentage of a large and growing auto output, predicted to pass the American this year to take over world leadership. And a very high percentage of those exports are to the United States. Americans who are in the business of producing and selling automobiles are understandably not happy that so many other Americans prefer the Japanese products. Hence the issue that, refusing to remain one of apolitical economics, is straining relations between the two nations that are each other's indispensable allies in the Pacific. Japan has been under intense pressure from federal Washington and organized labor to cushion the impact of its massive sales in the U.S. market by shifting some production to American facilities. Two Honda, the firms are doing so smaller but scrappiest of the major Japanese carmakers, with apparent enthusiasm and leader Nissan, reluctantly and in limitation. It will turn out small trucks only in U.S. plants to be set up, not its popular Datsun autos. The new facilities should have some beneficial effect on employment, absorbing some of the 200,000 American auto currently laid-of- f workers. Not, however, as many as their union leaders might hope. The super-efficie- nt and automation-consciou- Japanese operate at a s much worker vehicle per output higher ratio than does ponderous Detroit. And as for Detroit, the Japanese plants will not solve its problems but may well compound them unless this consolidation of foreign competition on its own turf speeds the U.S. industry's conversion to the vehicles that smaller, are the reason for the mushrooming Japanese sales. Conversion is now under way, but it is belated and has been grudging. Detroit long preferred complaining about Japanese trading practices to modifying its own operations in any significant way to meet the chal- lenge. The Japanese have as long disclaimed taking unfair advantage of their major trading partner, rampaging through the American market while closing their own to U.S., and other, producers. They claim they have onlv been doing business where there was business to be done. On that subject, a recent report makes some interesting points. It finds that even total elimination of existing Japanese barriers to imports would not have "a dramatic effect" on bilateral trade. The steps that must be taken to reduce the trade imbalance expected to be more than $9 billion this year in Japan's favor, up from $8.7 billion are more fundamental, in 1979 "particularly on the side of the U.S." Specifically, they require taking a few leaves from Japan's own book developing a better understanding of the Japanese market, tailoring of products to its requirements o at a, home. "At least 10,000 people inside Cuba are working just to supply their soldiers in Africa." Portell-Uil- a told me. "They produce shoes, clothing and food and repair guns to be shipped to Africa, even as they watch the terrible deprivations around them. Then they watch Cubans getting killed or maimed in Africa. This has tremendous impact on a country that didn't fight in World Wasr II or Korea and isn't used to such sacrifice." agrees with Bentan-couthat the sinking of the Bahamian boat was no accident. "It was no mistake. I think it was an indication of the frenetic state today in Cuba, and also a warning to stay away from the Cuban coast around Portell-Uil- a rt Sabinal-Naevitas- wnat should the United States do about': Cuba? Betencourt believes the U.S. immediately should go on an aggressive propaganda offensive broadcasting through the voice of America and other media what is happening in Cuba today and why tens of thousands of Cubans are fleeing. ' Foreign-languag- e broadcasts should especially be targeted at Third World countries and Cuban troops in Africa. Their Cars of Some Graff: Keep Don Japanese It Her-mini- a former history professor at the University of Havana whose students included Castro, says Cuba's adventurism in Africa is another cause of discontent Portell-Uil- and energetically pushing sales. Of particular interest, the advice is not another lecture from Japanese exporting experts, although it does reflect considerable Japanese input, but is the view of Americans who know the situation best, the American business community in Tokyo participating with several Japanese government and private n in the organizations Trade Study Group. The point the group's report makes should be kept in mind in evaluating the launching of U.S. operations by Japan's automakers. In regearing to meet changed economic conditions and market demands, the shifting must be done by American industry, not for it. U.S.-Japa- |