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Show "It is good to be without vices, 0 Opunous but it is not good to be without temptation. " Walter Bagehot, English editor - (1826-187- 7) Tuesday Sept. 4, 1990 Import skilled labor For much of the past 50 years, the wisdom has held that the American economy could not produce enough jobs to employ fully all of its workers. But in the 1990s, the United States may very well experience the opposite problem: A shortfall of workers to fill crucial jobs, particularly those requiring highly skilled, workers. A widely reported study, "Workforce 2000," produced by the Hudson Institute for the Department of Labor, suggests the impending labor crunch will occur primarily because the U.S. population and work force will grow more slowly during this decade than in any other since the 1930s. The report also warns that labor shortges in certain industries may become so critical that U.S. competitiveness in world markets will sufconventional well-educat- fer. Unlike many other macroeconomic problems lacking ready solutions, there is a simple way for this country to ensure an adequate supply of highly skilled workers. The solution is to revise current immigration rules to admit more skilled immigrants. As it is now, only a little more than 5 percent of the 500,000 immigrants admitted legally each year fall into the category of skilled professionals scientists, medical technicians, engineers and the like. In a rare spirit of bipartisanship, Congress is moving to expand greatly tiie number of visas made available to skilled immigrants. A bill passed by the Senate would raise the annual limit on skilled or unskilled foreign workers ( Herald comment from 23,000 to 85,000. A companion House bill would raise the limit to 75,000. The Bush administration is likely to approve whatever bill ultimately emerges, but is partial to the Senate version. Some argument is made that lower-skille- d black and Hispanic Americans could be displaced from entry level jobs by an influx of immigrant workers. That does not appear to be an immediate danger. Currently, roughly 45 percent of the 23,000 foreign workers admitted annually take jobs requiring low skills and education. Under the Senate bill, at least, such unskilled laborers would have more difficulty obtaining visas because preference would be given to skilled workers. As a result, the measure could actually make more entry-levd jobs available to American workers. One of the major reasons the United States has maintained its economic primacy in the world is because its door has always been open to aspiring immigrants. By opening that door a little bit wider to accommodate a greater number of skilled professionals, this country ran avert, a possible labor shortage during this decade and maintain its competitive position with foreign economic rivals. el lower-skille- Letters Warning on park Editor: Let us state we are not against technology parks coming into Orem. They bring job increases, higher tax base and many other positive. What we can't understand is the locations they want to build them in. They should stay out of our beautiful residential areas and place them in strictly industrial areas where they have plenty of room to expand. Let us warn you what will happen in your neighborhcxis. Your city will show you scale drawings of the parks. You'll think okay, that's nice, then behind closed doors they'll decide on three story buildings instead of two story. They get away with that by showing the bottom story as a basement level then put up a retaining wall to hide it. The back side is clearly three stories. Before the park was built our city used our tax dollars to completely landscape around the entire park. It looked beautiful and guess what happened to all the landscaping, the developers tore it up tc build their buildings then put in their own landscaping. Hca many wasted tax dollars were spent on that wasted venture? The city promised there would be no manufacturing in the park. Somehow that will most likely get approved at a later date. s, If that happens there will soon be with double trailers traveling daily on our roads past four public schools in this area, Orem residents, do you want your views ruined and your privacy ruined? You won't dare let your children ride their bikes to school because of the traffic from the trucks and employees going to work everyday. Do you want to have to wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. most mornings .for several years because the building noise is so loud? Do you want to lose your water pressure and your lawns because there is not enough water pressure to go around? Your streets will be constantly torn up with each new building going up. Do you want dust in your homes all the tune? Then when you decide you have hadenough and want to sell your home, good luck finding a buyer. By that time you've probably lost the market value you once had but you'll be told this park will enhance the value of your home. One thing in your favor is maybe you'll get a golf course in your research park instead of three story buildings. We weren't so lucky. I invite the people of Orem and any other town to come and take a look for themselves. Drive along 1600 North 800 East and decide for yourselves if this is what you want in your beautiful, quiet, scenic neighborhood. Warning! Research Parks can be dangerous to your neighborhood. Lynn and Linda Famswortlis Lee and Kathy Famsworth both Orem semi-truck- The eagle watches Editor: I would not take the overwhelming responsibility of speaking for all. I have my own beliefs and ideas, some may be agreed upon, some not. But, in reading articles, letters, etc., regarding the present local campaigns, I'm reminded of a bit of poetic writings in my collection. May I share it? "Everyone is jummping on the circus train, some jump high, some jump off again. is rolling to unveil, all And the but which are right? Way truths to light up high where the eagle circles, it seems its' wings are spread out mean, and wonders am I still a free bird, or just a part of the machine!? elect him, youH get Here's the package the rest, with the tips in pockets of his Sunday bert. Shaking hands, kissing babies for all his worth, oh, they promise us "gold & heaven" on earth. Still, that old bald eagle razz-mata- WIND DO circles. It's not the first time that he's seen his reflection in the eyes of innocence, he's become, just another part of the machine. It makes you want, to live up high way up, in the mountain, where the eagle flys, wouldn't take politics, offered on a plate. You have to fly with the eagle, he won't wait. Looking down on the smoke and the factories, until the truth creeps up unseen, we see ourselves in the faces of our they too, are part of children, and realize machine. the R.A. Hall Orem One negative camp Editor: So much of a negative nature has been said in this Congressional campaign. I would like to inject some positive notes. Karl Snow is one of the finest men I have ever met. I got to know Karl and his good wife, Donna, campaign. Sandy during the and I enjoyed the association. They were gracious, generous, and very cooperative. Their campaign workers and mine helped one another prepare for the various conventions with a spirit of friendliness that relieved the competitive tensions. There is an excellent spirit about the man, his family, and his staff. I have watched the campaign carefully since the Republican state convention. I have seen no negative information about Mr. Snow's adversary generated by the Snow camp. In spite of the innuendo and protestations from the opposition, Karl and his people have put out nothing negative. They have stuck to the issues. Unfortunately, that stance has been buried in the flood of negative information issuing from the backers of the adversary, much of it to the detriment of their own candidate. Karl is a man of high principle who lives his religion without wearing it on his sleeve. He recognizes the good in people of all religious backgrounds and encourages their participation in the political process. Karl Snow is a man of honor who keeps his word ... and discharges his just financial obligations promptly. He has not taken on obligations that he cannot meet. He is not a multimillionaire, but neither has he left others holding the bag for financial miscalculations. The current political campaign is widely believed to be a mudslinging debacle. It is interesting to note that all of the press releases of a negative nature have come from the headquarters or personnel of the adversary ... something of "the spirit of truth" must have been lost in that organization. Karl has maintained his dignity and integrity throughout the muddy avalanche coming from the opposite shore. He has stuck with the issues and with facts. This was shown by the debate held in Orem on August 21st. He backed up his positions with hard, documented facts. Unlike his adversary, he did not and does not play on religious feelings, rely on bravado, or seek to obscure truth with smooth but empty rhetoric. Dear. L. Bristow, M.D. Payson Ferris wheel next? Editor: Honky Yonk Town is flaming lucky to have Seven Peaks. Our ugly old mountain now has a jewel on it with approval of our mayor and city council. Perhaps they should consider putting a ferrL wheel on top of our new District Court building, and provide limousine service between the Excelsior Hotel and the Court. Where oh where are the environmentalists when we cave in like this? Oh yes, thty have their own ski resorts and prudently worry about the Spring Sucker, (of which there seem to be plenty in our valley.) E'igene J. Faux Provo They're just not playing Iraq's song It's hard to predict what impact the Middle East crisis will have on our national economy. Wall Street is twitching and hyperventilating. Mr. Dow and Mr. Jones s. And the small are bouncing like investor is said to be stashing his wad under the mattress. But one area where the threat of war besides may bring an immediate profit is in the the oil companies, of course country and western music business. As I noted the other day, Hank Williams Jr., one of the leading country stars, has come out with a tough-talk'ncamel-kickin- g record really telling off Saddam Hussein. Because the song lyrics were among the worst I've ever heard "You can take your poison gas and stick it in your sassafras" I omitted the title. Now I've heard from another pair of country songwriters who are rushing their creation into the music stores. Because they approached me for publicity, it is obvious that they are not only unembarrassed by their product, they are proud of it. That being the case, I shall name them: Words and music by Jan Buckingham and Eddie Reasuiiei. The bung is called "Stand Your Ground," and it is being marketed by Music in Tennessee. Because I'm not a country music scholar, I'm unfamiliar with Ms. Buckingham and Mr. Reasoner. However, their publicity material says that Ms. Buckingham composed something that was nominated for a Grammy award called, "I Don't Mind the Thorns When You're the Rose." Actually, that's kind of a catchy title. Someday I might write a song called, "I Don't Mind the Odor When You're the Limburger Cheese Sandwich." duo Anyway, the Buckingham-Reasone- r sent me their song, which their publicist says will soon be played hither, yon, and just about everywhere else. So if you want to get your patriotic juices flowing, here are the lyrics. I can't yo-yo- chest-thumpin- g, Nash-Angel- is Lobbyists & WASHINGTON marriages Two-care- er ing. Most of the spouses who make a living as lobbyists claim they dutifully steer clear of professional pillow talk, but it's hard to imagine dinner table conversation that doesn't mention either spouse's workday. Take Sen. Tom Harkin, He is a leading advocate for fanners and has considerable clout on agricultural issues through the Senate committees on which he sits. His wife, Ruth Harkin, is a lawyer specializing in agriculture. She does some lobbying and represents clients in the farming business. Mrs. Harkin told our associate Scott Sleek that nobody in her law firm Akin, lobbies Gump, Straus, Hauer and Feld her husband. Maybe not, but they have done him a whopper of a favor. The law firm represented Sen. Harkin in a libel suit. He still owes the firm $162,000, and the firm doesn't seem to be in any hurry to collect. Akin Gump defended Harkin in the suit arising from his 1984 campaign. An aide to his opponent sued Harkin for libel when Harkin issued a press release accusing the aide of improper campaign activities. Harkin won the suit. The senator insists he'll pay the legal fees, but the way he plans to do it is raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Harkin opened a trust fund and is soliciting contributions to pay the bill. As a bow in . Mike t Royko TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES tell you how the tune goes, but I'm sure that if you just stomp your foot and kind of howl, you'll come up with something acceptable. Verse 1: "It took us years to get through Nam where we fought for Uncle SamAnd I never really knew what we were there for. "But this time I know we're rightand I'll defend the Stars and Stripeseven if it means we go to war." Verse 2: "It's not the sand nor the soilnot even the principle that counts this for the time around. "There's Iraqis in Kuwaitbut back here in the Stateswhen you know you're right you stand you: ground." Chorus: "Stand your groundwhen you know you're right stand your groundeven if you gotta fight. "Like my Daddy always told meson, ain't no war that's holybut when you're right you stand your ground." Let us all pause for a moment to dab away any tears of patriotism that might have welled up in our eyes. Or, if you are of military age, you might want to toss the newspaper aside and tell Mom, Dad and your college profs that you are rushing off to join the Marines so you can "stand your ground." But for those who remain, let us analyze this song's stirring message. It tells us that we are there, not for the sand, nor the soil. That's probably true. This country is richly endowed with sand. oil-It'- Congress mean members of Congress have a new ethics problem their spouses. No longer does the congressional wife sit at home pouring tea for other wives. The congressional "wife" may now be a congressional husband, and spouses of both sexes come to Washington with political in some cases professional backsawy grounds that propel them into the city's second most prominent profession lobby- a. g, 4 L 7, 3t tivf oil-ric- nt And Saudi Arabia has been run by a handful of enormously wealthy and selfish families, who think nothing of jetting to Las Vegas, Monte Carlo or Baden-Bade- n tor the weekend to drop a few miiiion in oil profits at the roulette tables. So I don't think many Americans believe young men should stand their ground in a distant desert to defend the principle that some sheik should have gold faucets in his john. However, if the song had said "princiof "principle," it might have made sense. The dictionary says the financial meaning of principal is: "The amount of a debt, investment, etc., minus the interest, or on which interest is computed; the face value of a stock or bond; the main body of an estate..." Yes, that's what we're there for, to look out for the old principal. Our corporate principal, Japan's, Europe's, Kuwait's, the Saudi sheiks' and everybody else's who has a finger in the big oil puddle. pal" instead pressure their representative. She said he has rejected potential clients who have come to her hoping for inroads with her husband. tt$I Anderson c The song asserts: "It's the principle that counts this time around." Principle? Kuwait was populated by a few hundred thousand very Arabs who imported foreigners to do whatever dirty work was needed to give them the Lifestyles of the Rich and Bloated. strange bedfellows '4 Jack . We have our deserts, beaches and dunes, and there's no need for us to go all the way to Saudi Arabia to get sand in our eyes and ears. But then the song tells us "not eyen for the oil." If that's true, I'm really confused. If we're not there for the cil, what are we there for figs and dates? Of course we're there because of the oil. As it happens, little Kuwait is sitting on one of the world's biggest puddles. Saudi Arabia is sitting on another great puddle. And we want to keep those puddles flowing at prices that are acceptable to our corporations and those in the rest of the industrialized world. - udie van miih UNITED FEATURE LI SYNDICATE PEACE OVERTURES Intelligence reports from Iran claim that Iraq's Saddam Hussein made a peace overture to Iran before he invaded Kuwait. The offer was contained in a confidential letter from Saddam to Iran's President Hashemi on April 29. That was followed by a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two nations on July 3 in Geneva. The Iraqi foreign minister castigated Kuwait oil. Then both foreign for ministers agreed that Kuwait's oil policy was an obstacle to the post-wreconstruction of Iran and Iraq who benefit from higher oil prices. There was no advance hint in the meeting that Iraq planned to remedy the problem by seizing Kuwait. Raf-sanja- ni the direction of propriety, Harkin says he won't take any of the money until after the November election. Harkin said he consulted the Senate Ethics Committee all along the way and got approval, but the question still remains: Should a senator be in hock to a lobbying group, especially one that employs his wife and whose attorneys have given him generous campaign contributions? Harkin isn't the only lawmaker with a working spouse, but some are more careful to avoid the appearance of influence peddling. Anne Bingaman, wife of Sen. Jeff is a lawyer with a big Bingaman, law firm that also lobbies. But Mrs. Bingaman sticks to the legal work and doesn't lobby. The firm handles issues that lap over into Bingaman's committee work in the Senate, but so far the couple has been able to avoid questionable entanglements. That isn't easy. The temptation to cash in on family ties is strong. Pam Kostmay-er- , who is legally separated from her husband Rep. Peter Kostmayer, says she has experienced it first hand. Her communications firm helps clients who have an issue to push before Congress. Bui instead of directly lobbying Congress, the firm stirs up grassroots support in a congressional district and gets voters to D-P- a., ar - It doesn't seem like too much to ask that the people of the United States get a good Interior secretary once in an eon. The nation has suffered at the hands of Republican presidents who for nearly 10 years have let the Interior Department be run by pcliticos. The latest, Manuel Lujan, appears to be a confused politico. He recently toured Yellowstone Park and pronounced it to be "devastated" from the 1988 forest fires. This after his own Park Service has spent two years explaining that while the fires were traumatic, they were simply nature's way of starting over. Yellowstone is doing a fine job of rebuilding itself from the ashes. If Lujan had read his own publicity on the rebuilding, he wouldn't come off looking like a greenhorn. L Comedian Harold Lloyd was born in Burchard, Neb., in 1893. |