OCR Text |
Show C ' ' The crude commercialism ofAmerica, its materializing spirit, are entirely due to the countn having adopted for if s narura hem a man u jo could not tell a lie. ' ' ) dramatist Oscar Wilde. Irish-bo- P Cnf 2 ffM (a! iO U U j U KID U U CfJ 1 J VJ (1S54-1900- m O C The Daily Herald ! 1 J ft"4 ' (i 1 ' ' Monday, February 22, 1993 Vot p wer needs How did America accumulate its $4 trillion national debt? Simply by spending more than it takes in. Recent history has shown that increasing revenues by raising taxes only leads to even greater spending. Thus, it requries no economics degree to realize that the best way to attack the deficit is to reduce the level of spending. That is why President Clinton must . make good on his campaign pledge to seek a line-iteveto from Congress. It is essential to deficit reduction. And it would restore to the presidency some measure of power previously exercised by the White House over the federal purse strings. One problem of the federal budget is that 100 senators and 435 representatives often have conflicting ideas about spending priorities. To get a budget passed, they almost always compromise in favor of high spending. The president may object to some things included in spending bills that cross his desk, but he cannot strike offending items with a blue pencil. He either must veto an entire spending bill wasteful items and or sign off on it all. It was not always this way. As recently as 1967, President Lyndon Johnson was able to cut 6.7 percent of federal spending by using his "impoundment" authority. m aid Goxnmsnt authority to refuse to spend appropriat- soon after Johnson left ed funds office. Throughout his campaign for the White House, President Clinton advocated the veto. He noted that he and 42 other governors had this power over spending decisions by their legislatures. "I think it is one of the line-ite- m most powerful weapons we could use in our fight against spending," he said. Now, however, Clinton seems to be backing away from his strong support for the veto. He finds "intrithe proposal by House Speaker guing" out-of-cont- line-ite- m that the Thomas Foley, be "enhanced granted president authority. That is, at most, a watered down version of impoundment. Before President Clinton gives in so easily to Speaker Foley on the veto, he ought to consider lawmakers' fiscal irresponsibility during the last dozen yers. The Senate and House have shown themselves incapable of making tough but necessary decisions about which budget items merit reci-sio- n" line-ite- m funding and which the nation could do without. There is no reason to believe this If President Clinton were able to situation will change with a Democratexcercise that same authority he could ic president and a Democratic Conreduce federal spending by $98.8 bil- gress. The best way for President Clinlion, which would amount to one third ton to ensure that he will exercise more of the projected deficit for this year. discipline over spending than his reUnfortunately, Congress revoked the cent predecessors is if he fights suchis cessfully for a line-iteveto. president's impoundment power m Lett Don't limit terms Editor: State Rep. Bill Wright, wants to change the Utah Constitution to limit the terms of state legislators. Evidently he thinks by doing so he can also limit the terms of the national legislators, which, of course, cannot be done: "This Constitution ... shall be the supreme law of the land ... any thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the Hog wash! That does not represent the views of Utah. We need to cut spending, not raise the middle-clas- s tax burden. And, where was this talk of raising taxes during the campaign? Less than a month after Clinton was sworn in and Orton started his second term, Clinton and Orton are raising our taxes. I didn't hear that on the campaign trail. That extra charge? It's the tax, stupii If it's not too late, President Clinton should give thought to some new taxes that would raise considerable revenue and help Americans share the burden of patriotic sacrifice more evenly. This tax program is the creation of Dr. I.M. Kookie, the renowned expert on lots of stuff. During a recent interview. Dr. Kookie outlined some of the major points of his economic plan. "I call this the Stupidity Tax Program," Dr. Kookie said, "because it would impose a special tax on a lot of things that are really stupid." For example? "Well, start with any athletic shoes that glow in the dark, have an air pump built in and cost more than $49.95, which is what I pay for mine. If you pay any more than that, you are stupid and should pay a stupid Sf iv hard' fan, a phrase that is prima facie evidence of dippiness, as well as an insult to the deceased. Now, let me move on to my next tax. Since handguns are the single biggest source of stupid violence in this country, I will place a tax on every handgun, new or old." But that will enrage the millions of gun owners, who own weapons to protect hearth, home and family from our s. violent society's evildoers. "True, but that's why my plan provides a tax credit for any gun owner who shoots a murderer, robber, rapist, vampire, w erewolf or other fiend. And the tax credit would apply to the ammunition,-too.- " law-abidi- ng Syndicated Columnist -- law-abidi- big. " which will be very The what? "Don't you watch movies? In 90 percent of all movies made today, somebody says: 'Oh, s !' In some movies, that's almost the only dialogue. They say it when somebody shoots at them, or a car explodes, or somebody falls off a roof, or a helicopter goes into a tailspin, or the soup boils over. The idiots who write movie scripts never have anybody say, 'Holy smoke' or 'I'll be darned.' It is always, 'Oh, s- --.' So we will have entire generations growing up with the belief that in any moment of stress, it is appropriate to say. 'Oh, s .' Is that the kind of future we want, when a doctor will look at your EKG and say, 'Oh, s ,' when you go to confession and the priest says, 'Oh, s ,' when 100,000 people at a football game all shout, 'Oh, s '? So let us tax the source of this linguistic plague." That sounds reasonable. "Yes, but let us go on to the really big ticket items that will bring in billions in revenue. Tell me, what is the single biggest source of stupidity, banality, misinformation and disgusting behavior in our ; That sounds fair. Anything else? "Oh, yes, there will be a substantial Stupidity Tax levied on anyone whose name appears in a newspaper gossip col-- ! tax." umn more than once in a calendar year;' But aren't you singling out a particular any singer, dancer, rapper or guitar thum- -' group of consumers with such a tax? per who grabs his or her crotch during a "So what? We already do that when we President Bush during the campaign said performance; and any professional athlete' and extra on it best when he said, "When you hear them taxes who holds a press conference to announce liquor cigarettes. put that the terms of his contract cause him! contrary notwithstanding." (ART. VI, (Democrats) talking like that, hang on to We call them 'sin taxes,' even though C1.2). smoking and drinking, while potentially gloom." your wallet." I do not know if Wright is among them, You seemed to have covered just about; Jason E. Chaffetz harmful, are not sins. So why not tax but there are also those who want a national that or are services stupid?" everyone. Highland products constitutional convention to do the same. You have a point. What other products "Not quite. There will be a double sur-- ; This is a very dangerous idea, the nature of or services do you have in mind? tax on any politician who makes a speech which I do not have room to discuss. "Nose jobs." about raising taxes and, uses any of the. There are those who say that the FoundA tax on cosmetic surgery to reshape following words or phrases: 'fundamental ing Fathers made a mistake in not limiting one's nose? Editor: change . . . enormity of this crisis . . . chart a' the time of serving in an elected position. course ... fair share ... secure a better' "Absolutely. Look at Barbra Streisand. At the request of the zoning committee, Some even say that George Washington future ... strength and support ... enlist; on Feb. 23, the American Fork City Council She became a superstar and is still a sex tried to correct this defect by refusing to will has as as she honker at a and 50, big you in the cause ... putting the people first pass an ordinance that will help put object serve more than two terms as president. ... invest in the future ... not going it alone yours. As my mother always said: Tf the American Campground out of business. Neither is the case. Rotation of office was ... new investments ... our economic des-- ! If this happens, it will mean there won't good Lord didn't want us to have noses, he considered by the Founding Fathers and was be a us Kleenex.' And wouldn't have ... architects of the future ... a call to given tiny for relatives and friends to place your should on tax a breast rejected for the follow ing reasons. there be arms ... a better, stronger nation ... hones-- ; entire implants. when they come to visit. society?" "The people are the best judges who stay Me? They are not only a potential health hazty and fairness ... restore the American; It also means overnighters w ill no longer ought to represent them. To dictate and ard, but they violate the "No, you are just a minor blight. The dream.' And there would be a triple sur-- ; control them, to tell them whom they shall stop in American Fork to visit the cave, or laws." biggest source of stupidity is television. It charge for those who ever say 'jump-stanot elect is to abridge their natural rights. come into the city to eat. buy groceries, gas, Aren't those both sexist taxes? shrinks the brain and bloats the body. Un- the economy.'" This rotation is an absurd species of ostraetc. If you don't want this to happen, please But if you did that, it would wipe out "No, because we will have the same tax der my plan, there will be a heavy sales tax cism a mode of proscribing eminent mer- come to the meeting Feb. 23, 7 p.m. at City on men's hairpieces. And there will be a on every new TV set, with a 10 percent President Clinton's entire salary. it, and banishing from stations of trust those Hall and voice your concern. double tax on pierced ears." "Hillary Rodham Clinton can always; surcharge on those sold to sports bars. And We need your support. who have filled them w ith the greatest faithBut millions of women have pierced speaking of sports, my plan calls for a tax go back to work. Of course, I'll get her, fulness. Besides, it takes away the strongest 777 Wilson ears. on every phone call made to radio sports too." ' the hope of stimulus to public virtue American Campground Manager How? "I'm talking about pierced ears for shows. And tne tax will be doubled for any honors and rew ards. The acquisition of abilAmerican Fork men. Then there will be the 'Oh, s ' tax, caller who describes himself as a 'die "The tax." ities is hardly worth the trouble, unless one is to enjoy the satisfaction of employing them for the good of one's country. We all Voice concern ; rt ; ! ! name-switchi- know that experience is indispensably necRobert R. essary to good government." Livingston "If the senator is conscious that his reelection depends only on the will of the people, and is not fettered by any law, he will feel an ambition to deserve well of the public. On the contrary, if he knowsthat no meritorious exertions of his own can procure a reappointment, he will become more unambitious, and regardless of the public Democrats feuding over who will head development agency With President WASHINGTON Clinton distracted until recently by his search for an attorney general, congressional Democrats have been fighting among themselves for the spoils of victory but perhaps in no case so bitterly as over who will head the Agency for International Development. At the heart of this controversy is a opinion. conversation between "We may suppose two of the most en- Ruth telephone who is in the running for the Harkin, Syndicated Columnist lightened and eminent men in the state ... AID and House Foreign Operations post, engaged, at the expiration of their office, in Subcommittee Chairman the most important ncgotitions. in which Appropriations Y. Harkin is the wife of torney in Washington, was also backed by David Obey. their presence and agency may be indispenSen. Tom Harkin. According to her close friend Hillary Rodham Clinton. sable. In this emergency, shall we incapaciHarkins. both to sources close Obey was The two women grew close while their tate them? ... It might endanger our country, "chauvinistic" even husbands slugged it out during the Demoand rude, bullying and involve us in inextricable difficulties." conversation. the cratic presidential primaries, before Harduring Richard Harrison kin's withdrawal in March. w w ith hat a spokesBreaking his silence Warren Hardy on the comments his man first calls Provo public The emergence of Harkin as a contender Democrats' family feud. Obey acknowl- for AID clearly rankled Obey, whose edges being only "blunt and honest" and handpicked candidate was close friend and called other characterizations of the cond colleague Rep. Matthew F. versation "distortions." In addition to Obey, McHugh, Editor: whose foreign operations subcommittee No one is quite sure how AID, a Raise taxes. Bill OrtonBill Clinton. branch of the oversees AID, McHugh enjoyed the supDemocrats with their solution to the debt State Department that dispenses about $7 port of senior House Democrats, who mess. went to bat for him at the White House. billion in foreign aid annually, ever be"President Clinton is adopting and incame the subject of such political desire. Late last month, according to close ascluding in his package many provisions simRuth Harkin's first choice was to sociates. Ruth Harkin Clearly, placed a courtesy ilar to what I'm recommending." said Orion be secretary of agriculture. administrative to call assistant to Obcy's on Feb. 16. she that desired the confirm Clinton Mike and that to w out After the is. ith job to Espy, losing president go "My comment that understood she to wasn't ascertain last December Obey her said Orton or. a pleased. telephoned energy tax," her interest in AID. Harkin, a private at- - Harkin was startled that her phone call was Feb. 16. , jfs 30-min- VLS D-- a. Hang on to wallet just-retire- fraud-ridde- broad-base- d n i Anderson but not by a staffer. promptly returned It was Obey himself. "Obey returned the phone call and started ranting at her about not being qualified and how he had his own candidate," said one source who consulted with Harkin shortly after the conversation. "She was quite taken aback by the level of his questioning her credentials and the vehemence with which he was promoting his own candidate for the spot. She's a former prosecutor so she's used to strong language, but she was taken aback by his (Obey's) demeanor." While Obey enjoys a reputation as a serious and honorable legislator, one former committee chairman with whom Obey worked closely said he was also a "hothead and has a very short fuse." A second source close to both the Harkins alleged that Obey, who had never met or spoken to Harkin before their phone conversation, unleashed a string of expletives to make his point that McHugh was more liabilideserving, and that Ruth would be a liberal husband's her ty to AID because of record. voting It was perhaps this second point that piqued Ruth Harkin the most. She felt judged solely on the basis of her husband's voting record in the Senate, though she has a distinguished record of service in her own right. "It's sort of like our husband's a rag ing liberal and you must be one," Harkin told one intimate later. Obey, according to this friend, also told her that liberalism had become a "real hot button around here" and she w as "certainly wrong for the position because she was so controversial and liberal that she would find it so difficult to work with members of Congress." If she truly cared about AID, he told her, withdraw her name from consideration. Harkin protested to Obey that he had "misconceived ideas about me," but to little avail. , When word began filtering out about the confrontation, a stream of senators phoned w ith support for Harkin. As many senators rallied to her side, one senator remarked to Harkin that she was lucky because most people don't know who their friends are until they die but at least she knows now. ; . ' "I i told her that I had nothing against her, but I also told her very frankly how I thought her appointment to an agency that vulnerable would be used by enemies of the administration and enemies of the Harkins to make passage of the foreign aid bill more difficult," Obey wrote in response to our questions. "... any implications, that 1 w as abusive of her in any way are inaccurate and outrageous. If someone wants to shoot the messenger because they &nt like the honest message, I see that in this town every day, and there's not much I can do about it. |