| OCR Text |
Show Friday. Opinions (Vt,tr 5. im THE HERALD. Provo. I'Uh. The Herald, its readers, columnists and syndicated . . . cartoonists mscuss viiai issues - Pip it rfi?J; .... 11 j S 1 ? The Herald Comments low on Water Deal Utah should be vary cautious about proposals for selling its surplus water in the Colorado River. On the surface, it sounds like a good idea. Utah could use the money it might earn on water it can't yet use, but it's not that simple. For years, the state has jealously guarded its rights to water it has not yet been able to use. Most of Utah's share is now used in California and Arizona. Depending on whose figures you believe, "I'll be down when I'm good and ready.' Feedback Courtesy Lacking on Road Editor, Herald: As one of the many drivers on Utah's roads, I'd like to encourage something a little unknown here. It's referred to as "common courtesy." While driving I need to change lanes in order to reach my destination. When I flip on my signal, a remarkable thing occurs. The car in which I need to move in front of begins to speed up, making it difficult to move into that lane. I don't think that is the way driving courtesy is supposed to work. Once while stuck on the diagonal in the middle of traffic, I found myself in need to change lanes. I flipped on my signal in another daring attmept, hoping I'd be let through. To my pleasant surprise, a lady in the next lane slowed down enough to let me in. Another common problem is that some drivers think they are the only ones on the road. When drivers are in too big of a hurry they fail to realize that others on the road are trying to get somewhere also. They tend to speed, making hazardous lane changes and are a danger to all drivers concerned. Accidents do happen, and it just might be you who is involved in the next one. Be polite and remember you're not the only one on the road. Take some time and a little effort to help someone reach his or her destination. Who knows, the favor may be returned to you. Deanne Pelo 381 E. 230 S. Orem' We Have Animal Problem Editor, Herald: The animal problem in Utah County is a very serious one. Dogs run loose all over, tipping over garbage cans, keeping peo-- , , pie up at night, and bothering other dogs by fighting and making them bark. After I read a recent letter to the editor, I realized that this is ' a problem not only in my area " but also in other neighborhoods. Many of the dogs are not runaways; they are dogs of peo- pie who couldn't or wouldn't keep them. The Animal Control officers are not able to catch all the animals, so the problem goes on. - People who drop their dogs off anywhere should at least have the decency to take them to the pound; it would be far more humane than letting them starve to death or be run over. If people would take care of their own dogs and lock them up it would save everyone the frustration of being wakened by strays. I keep my two dogs penned at night, and when I let them out, I am aiWays with them. Everyone who owns a dog should do the same. Clyde Lay E. Orem 852 N. 700 Lebanon Is a War Zone Editor, Herald: Another crisis spawns another big mistake. Lebanon is a war zone and has been for the last several years. Now this is not known by our State Department or at least it seems so. Despite the fact that it is in a war zone, people were surprised that our embassy in Beirut was the target of a bombing. Never mind the fact that many of the local citizens view the United States as an ally of their bitter enemy, Israel, and therefore we become their enemy also. Then it holds that anything American becomes not only a target but a prized one. Then to compound this error we send in troops and bureaucratically tie their hands behind their back. This madness and stupidity needlessly cost the lives of hundreds of young Americans. (Note that there were no members of Congress or of the administration found among the dead.) And guess what? These Americans were the victims of a bombing much like the one that hit the embassy a few short months before. Way to go, bureaucrats, your length of memdeadly ory is devastating devastating. If the bombing of the Marine barracks was not sufficient, those marvelous bureaucrats allowed another bombing to occur. But this one was all right because the kitchen was not finished. Then comes the unkindest cut of all. The bureaucrats need in excess of $370 million to beef up security. What does this mean? An armed garrison at every embassy? Will better fortified embassies mean bigger and more destructive weapons on the part of the attacker? Perhaps we should be wary of air attack and have a on 24 hour squadron of alert at each embassy? This is absurd and folly. Lebanon is a war zone. It should be the responsibility of the host country to maintain the peace and integrity of the embassies within their country. If the host country cannot or will not maintain this responsibility then we should not have an embassy in that country. When was the last time you heard of an embassy of the Soviet Union being destroyed by a bomb? American foreign policy has too long been victimizes by being led by selfish interests. F-1- We would be much further ahead if American embassies were in countries that would care for them and be out of war zones such as Lebanon. Our presence there so far has proven to be disasterous. Further there should be no need for an armed guard at an American embassy: Symbolic 01 otherwise, American foreign policy is not well served by that means. Lastly, Congress should immediately recall all the money dedicated to "secure" our embassies. Remember Jake, Orrin, Howwe have ard, Jim and Dan had a long history of several failures in Lebanon. Isn't it about time to stop trying to solve the problem by smother- ing it with the taxpayers' money? James L. Baer 1628 W. 1050 N. Provo eventually be to maintain the state's rights to that lost water as demand grows in thirsty downstream states where Utah's water is now being put to use. There is a type dictum drifting around in water law that says, "Use it or lose it." Utah water men recognize the danger of losing water they have not been able to beneficially use, but most believe a plan now being pushed to lease unused water to another state sets the stage for permanent loss of that water. Utah is entitled to about 1.3 million acre feet of Colorado River water. We now use about 455,-00- 0 acres and the other 867,000 acre feet runs down the river. There has been quiet shock waves reverberat-in- g difficult it might agency board rooms all talk for years about how A Colorado company The state should not the way from the Mex- to the Canadian ican border. The Galloway Group Ltd., pushers of the lease plan, claim Arizona has been selling unused water in Southern California for years, but that water is now-neede- d the thirsty in Phoenix area and soon that surplus won't be available to California. Galloway wants to fill the gap and is inviting Utah to join in the project. Galloway claims Utah would reap between $1 and lion a year. $8 mil- The state is taking a is proposing that part of cautious approach to the idea. Water men leased to San Diego. generally don't like the Utah's surplus water be The plan has sent through water idea, but the governor has expressed some in- terest. Caution makes sense. tie into some arrange ment that would pre; elude our using th$ water when the need ; finally arises. But we could use th$ money and if the stat can sell its surplus water without eventu ally losing title to itj instead of letting it ruij down the river unused; it should do so. In a state starved lo education money, we, shouldn't turn million! of dollars down unless there are very com pelling reasons to do so. We need the bucks. ; At the same time, we should not do anything that might jeopardize our ability to get back water we lease. In the second driest state in the nation, water can be more precious than money. ; He s Not Mr. Nice Guy Anymore Tip O'Neill has criticized Fritz Mondale for not running a hard-hittin- g personal campaign against President Reagan. It's shaken the Mondale advis- ers and they had a meeting with the Democratic candidate to loosen him up. "Fritz, you have to take the gloves off and show you're damn mad about what's going on in this country." "I want to stick with the issues." "The hell with the issues. Tomorrow you're going to address the steel workers and you have to prove you're one of them." "How do I do that?" "For one thing you might take off your suit coat when you talk to them." "Gosh, I hate to take off my suit coat. I could get my white shirt dirty." "Forget your shirt. And you could loosen your tie and open the button on your collar." "In front of all the media?" "We want you to look like a regular guy. Our surveys indicate that you're coming off stuffy and uptight." "I don't care how I look. I believe this election should be decided on the massive budget deficits, waste in defense and tax breaks that go to the rich." "We know what you believe. We also know what the voters are looking for. They're watchand you don't ing your style have any." "Of course I've got a style. I may not be as exciting as Ronald Reagan, but I'm vesy presidential, and when the people listen to what I have to say they'll forget his charisma." "That's the problem, Fritz. They're not listening. You're putting the voters to sleep. Can't you get more anger in your voice when you're talking about jobs and Reagan's foreign policies?" "Sure I can. I'm angry right now." "Then why aren't you screaming at us and telling us we don't know what about?" we're talking "I don't like to show my true feelings. People from Minnesota never do." "Fritz, we're way behind in the polls. You have to prove . "I could hurt my hand." "Okay, so if you hurt your 'c y e A Art Buchwald hand we'll put a bandage on it. It will show the voters how angry you really are about the' state of the nation." ; "Reagan never slams his fist on the podium." "He doesn't have to. He's the incumbent. Besides he's a natuj ral Mr. Nice Guy. You can't beat a nice guy with another nice guy. Our only chance of winning is for you to convince the people that when you get in the White House you're going to be a first class S.O.B. Can you do you'll be a tough president, and sli you around. 1 You're going to have to let the sparks fly, and whip up the crowds to a frenzy." "If I do that they won't listen to the issues." "You can deal with the issues no one can AFTER the campaign. First you've got to win the election." "Well, if you say so. After I take off my suit coat and open my tie, what do I do next?" "Slam your fist against the podium for starters." it?" what?" "Get angry because all the! steel workers are losing their jobs." "IIow'3 that?" "Is that as angry as you can look?" "It's the angriest you'll ever see me." "Okay, it will have to do,! until we think of something: else." U.S. Ties Strings to Israel Aid - WASHINGTON Israel's economy is in such desperate shape it threatens to undermine U.S. relations with its closest ally in the Middle East. The new Israeli prime minister, Shimon Peres, is coming to town next week with his hand out. He needs help from the Reagan administration if his country's economy is to survive its 400 percent annual inflation rate and burdensome foreign debts. The question is how far the White House will go to accommodate Israel this time. Peres's visit is shrewdly timed. Probably the best thing he has going for him is President Reagan's high hopes of winning traditionally Democratic Jewish votes next month. Giving Peres a sympathetic hearing won't hurt this effort. But with Reagan cruising comfortably down the road to the Jewish vote won't be as important as it might otherwise have been. Peres's bargaining position is further weakened by the desperate plight of the Israeli economy itself. Finally, he's at a disadvantage because of the indecisive outcome of the recent Israeli election and the musical-chair- s arrangement in which he must rotate government leadership with his bitter rival, Yitzhak Shamir. If Peres accepts submissively every demand of the Reagan administration, it could cost him politically at home. But administration sources told my associate Lucette that the White House is Lag-nad- o going to make some stiff demands on Peres before it agrees to come to Israel's rescue. An internal State Department group and a team of outside experts have been examining e the Israeli economy for solutions to its problems. Here's what they've recommended the administration insist on in its talks with Peres: Israel's economic reforms must be "comprehensive" meaning that budget cuts must be across-the-boarhitting every agency: defense as well as education and social services. The reforms must be put into effect promptly, to build public confidence that the government is determined to address the problems decisively. The administration was pleased ; "Of course I can do it. Look,-I'taking off my coat and I'm opening my tie and I'm hitting my fist on the table. Now long-rang- s d, at recent Israeli economic moves cutting some subsidies and devaluing the currency but feels much more needs to be done. The reforms must be "irthat is, not subreversible" to or second revocation ject thoughts if the public grumbles Jack Anderson about austerity. The administration will also require assurance that Shamir agrees with the reform steps, and will support them when it's his turn to be prime minister. This would remove the reform measures as a political football between the Labor and Likud blocs. The administration will try;; to persuade Peres that the Bank of Israel should be more inde-- ! pendent from the government like the Federal Reserve Board.' Though the Reagan administration has complained bitterly'! about the Fed's independence, it evidently believes Israel's central bank is too political, and should fight government decisions that are good for votes but bad for the economy. Israel will have to drop its longtime practice of matching wage increases to the inflation! ; rate. Finally, the administration wants Israel to put the brakes on its socialist policies, giving greater opportunity to the private sector. Will Peres buy these demands? My Israeli sources have their doubts. They point to the weakness of Peres's government and to the potential political disaster of unemployment,, which could result from the austerity measures the White House wants. |
