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Show "So idea is so antiquated that it was nor once modem. So idea is so modern that it v ill not some day be antiquated.... To seize the fly ing thought before it escapes us is our only Ellen Glaseow, American author touch with reality." (1874-1945- A ). j ! Monday, September, 5 1994 The Daily Herald Utah Valley applauded for bucking national labor trend By ROBS HICKEN Since the year's beginning, Utah Valley's work force has labored under the stress of job reduction, corporate realignment and layoffs. Bad news seemed to unfold every-trm- e The Daily Herald's pages were unfurled. Not only Utah but the entire ration has been going through corporate reshuffling. Corporate reengineering has become the norm, layoffs standard procedure and buyouts commonplace. Yet with all the turmoil that has taken place since last Labor Day, Utah County has reason to take heart. The county's low unemployment continue to 3.0 percent statistics lead the state. By July, the national unemployment rate was 6. percent. Nationw ide recognition was recent-I- v bestowed on the county's metropoli- 1 IIcicU Ccmnicnl tan areas by Money magazine. The publication cited quality of workforce as a determining factor in naming the Provo-Oreareas as the third most liveable place in the United States. Other determinants cited by the magazine were education, work ethic and moral standards. With that in mind, it seems abunm dantly clear that the recent layoffs were not caused by an inferior workforce. All members of Utah Valley's working population, whether on the job or in the home, deserve praise and recognition on this day set aside in their honor. Robb Hicken is the business editor at The Daily Herald Sen. Byrd brings home a NASA gold mine At a recent tribute dinner for Sen. President Robert C. Byrd, d Clinton engaged in some needling of a politician renowned for his fidelity to the founding fathers as efforts to bring well as his home the bacon for West Virginia. Clinton explained how he tried to a.. good-nature- two-fist- ed overcome Byrd's opposition to NASA's space station. "He said he couldn't do that unless I were willing to move the Capitol to West Virginia," quipped Clinton. "I'm still considering it." The joke was not w ide of the mark. Bjrd has delivered more than SI billion in federal money to his home state, redeeming a 1989 promise made when he took over the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sometimes that has meant such as the uprooting bureaucracies FBI's fingerprint lab - and moving them to West Virginia. Now By rd and Rep. Alan Mollohan, have entered the space age: They have engineered the relocation of a: NASA project and its 200 jobs from White Sands, N.M., to the city of Fairmont in Mollohan's district. A draft copy of a "Rapid Action" audit by NASA's inspector general we've obtained shows that the misguided move tfill waste nearly $140 million of taxpayer money. -- a., "The audit - marked "For Official Use" only because it contains "procurement sensitive information" shows that the move is "inefficient and without technical merit" and that NASA "may be exposed to security -- risks" because Fairmont isn't equipped to handle the project. ; Although By rd complained during debate over the space station last year that some "things on Earth need a little attention sooner than those things in outer space," Byrd and Mollohan attended the dedication of the Fairmont complex this summer. It was built by West Virginia University with $12.4 million in federal money that Byrd helped to secure. NASA sources say that in order to help justify the construction of the new complex, Byrd ajid Mollohan successfully lobbied for tbe data production facility of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) to be moved to Fairmont. T "It doesn't make much sense to put rlvK Jack Anderson Syndicated Columnist Virginia," one NASA official told our associate Ed Henry. "I don't see any justification for it." John Lawrence of NASA's legislative affairs office simply told us: "You know how the process works. " A Byrd spokeswoman had no comment, and Mollohan didn't return our phone it in West calls. EOS is being developed to observe the Earth from space, collect and process the data, and then distribute the data to scientists in order to study global change. EOS's data production facility was slated to be at White Sands because the raw data is transmitted there anyway. The move to Fairmont w ill duplicate operations and management personnel. "Several identical positions are currently intended for operations in Fairmont and White Sands," reads the au- dit. "These positions can be eliminated with the consolidation (of the two facilities) in White Sands." But now "massive communication lines" will be needed to send data from White Sands to Fairmont, racking up an extra $20 million in equipment costs alone - including over $16 million for new circuits. In all, the audit estimates that the move will cost taxpayers an extra $39 million from now until the year 2000, and an extra $97 million beyond then. -- While most politicians would be defensive, Byrd has been refreshingly honest. As he said during a 1991 debate on a pork-lade- n transportation bill: "Oh, they say he is trying to get everything he can for West Virginia. I would not be worth my salt if I did not attempt to represent the people of West Virginia. ... They may call me provincial if they wish, I do not care. " Time now to invade Haiti It would be comforting to believe tjiat things must get even worse in Haiti Ijefore they improve; that, at least, $ ould imply that better days are ahead. But all that honestly can be said about Haiti now is that it is dying. I This week a Roman Catholic priest, a close friend of deposed President Aristide, was murdered m Haiti. Not surprisingly, the country's thuggish military leadership appears responsible. The killing may be jet another bloody message to Washington that the military docs not take tjie Clinton administration's threats seJean-Bertra- riously. ; Why should it? After gaining United Nations approval for a military invasion, the United States still temporizes, Continuing its economic embargo which appears to harm the Haitian peoand ple far more than its leaders o filling up the refugee center at in with Cuba Bay desperate Haitian refugees. U.S. attempts to get another country to share the refugee burden have been predictably unsuccessful. Yet the forGuan-tanam- eign ministers of Jamaica, Belize, Trinidad and Barbados have pledged to contribute their countries' forces to a multinational effort to uproot Haiti's force military dictatorship. A U.S.-le- d would amount to roughly 10,000 troops surely more than a match for Haiti's two-b-it bullies. President Bill Clinton needs to stop bluffing and act. Invading Haiti will be difficult and distasteful, but if he is waiting for a more comfortable tinK to do so, he likely will find that effort futile. This editorial appeared Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Detroit Free Press. Statement applauded Since the time the City Council authorized the Visioning Process to commerce, the people of Mapleton have shown their spirit and feelings concerning their community in the best way possible with their time, energy, and opinions. On August 2, the City Council adopted by resolution a common philosophy for the community to be used as a "guide by all elected officials; city staff; police, fire, and safety personnel; volunteer committees; and all others serving the city . " Watch for the signs, because the Vision Statement "shallbe publicly and prominently displayed at all times in all city government buildings in Mapleton City." It will also be given to all applicants for business licenses, subdivisions, land development and building permits. The citizens are to be commended for their interest and participation in the process from start to finish. Over 750 hours have been logged on behalf of volunteer time with nearly 200 individuals being personally involved in the mechanics of the project. However, if a Vision Statement is to make any difference, "ownership" is important. No matter what type of community you want to live in, the qualities that make any community special can be retained and continenhanced only with a strong-willeuous community effort. The Vision Statement is: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead) Thanks, Mapleton citizens, for doing the job right. Now make sure the Vision Statement is remembered. Marilyn S. Petersen Mapleton d, Reform means taxes It's time for those Americans who have a high school diploma or more advanced degrees to help all Americans understand that 5ie various proposals for universal health care all mean higher "taxes. " Oh, yes, a lot of focus calls for employers to "pay" for their employees' health care, but no matter who pays for the health care "for all Americans," the fact is, all Americans will pay. The debate (such as it is) is simply a debate over who the government will make pay for the health care plan that is finally approved. When government makes somebody pay something, we call it a tax! My wife and I run a small business. We do it ourselves. There are CEOs who run pillars of industry. But it doesn't matter whether the business owners are paying for Porsches and pools, or putt-banand peanuts, health care costs are not going to be paid by "owners," they are going to be paid by customers! Personally, we will have all three of our youngsters in the field as missionaries by October. Any increase in our operating costs will have to be passed along to customers. (If we could afford to give our employees health care and still keep our prices with nationwide competitive chains, we'd have been charitable long ago.) These days "charitable" begins with propeople the viding to honest, head-to-he- ad hard-worki- (more expletives) and drove home very . Orem jobs that provide other essentials: food, clothing, shelter, and dignity. Without jobs for such people, where is the employer to provide them with health care? Without food, clothing, shelter, and dignity, could any of us afford the health care costs that would result? Whatever the cost, it's a tax! Demas W. Jasper Lindon Fire education needed I wouldn't normally take the time to write about an event or issue, especially if it publicly criticizes the actions of others. But something occurred recendy that more than bothered me. As I was traveling in my car southbound on 1600 South in Orem near the school crossing, I noticed a young couple with their two small children attempting to cross the street. Because I was traveling the posted speed, I easily slowed to a stop to allow them to cross. The mother began to push her little girl across the crosswalk on her tricycle, the father just behind, pushing his son across. As the couple and their children reached the middle, just in front of my car, I looked mirror. I saw a white into my rear-viepickup coming up fast. As I continued watching, I noticed that the pickup wasn't slowing but rather moving to my right to w pass. "He doesn't see the children", I thought. In a split second, I contemplated turning my car in front of his to stop him. Sure this probably wouldn't have been the best thing to do, but certainly it would be easier to replace our vehicles than to replace lives. Rather than follow through on my gut instincts, I laid on the horn, hoping to warn the family and stop the speeding truck. Luckily, I accomplished both. After the family safely reached the curb, I exited my vehicle and approached the other driver who had exited his vehicle. I was not looking for a confrontation but which I did. rather to give him an ear full It was only then that he even realized the situation. When I asked him what the hell he was thinking, my using a few other expletives, he stated that he thought I was turning. That was odd, I didn't have my turn indicator on, and there wasn't a street to turn left onto. I gave him some additional advice JDWHATP0 PLEASURE, PEANRUM- - f II SIR.IT5 I I ABOUTTHE REMEDIAL COURSES... , fire-resis- t-, Although these experts should be ap- plauded for the work they do in developing ; new materials with slower bum rates, they have essentially not seen the big picture in: reducing the nation's rate of fire deaths. They are in a roundabout way watching Series through a pinhole in the fence, i Ask any fireman how to reduce the on--j, slaught of unnecessary deaths, and he'll give you a list of excellent ideas, starting with;; more and better fire education for the public,-a- t large. Smoke detetors have proven to be an effective lifesaver, when detectors mounted and cared for. ( A fire escape plan and a predetermined meeting place outside the home can save, many a life. An unfortunate fire death ia Provo occurred when a family member reentered a home on fire to make sure all had exited. People need to know that they have no time to gather belongings when their, house is on fire. And, the list goes on. Do you remember the television commercials with Dick Van Dyke? What happened' to the media's commitment to public educa-'- " tion? Better yet, when was the last time our local newspapers ran an article on fire pre-- 1 vention and survival? Where is their conv; mitment to educating the readers who for the paper? Maybe we, as a community,-- ' are somewhat at fault when all that we want" to read about are the gory details of what' happened and to whom instead of what we-cado to better protect ourselves and our' children. If you, as a reader, are concerned about, g the of your property, yourself and those loved ones about you, contact your local fire department. We are always, willing to help you. We don't want to lose' '-! anyone in a fire. -- the-Worl- d ly n well-bein- Doonesbury I OWE THE a In the August 23 issue of the Daily Her- aid, there was an article entitled: "Fire ex- -, pens say U.S. needs more fire resistant materials." (p. A4). The article caught my interest because the experts were actually experts working in universities-sucas the Florida Institute of Technology . ed Idiot' driver scorned : slowly. When we, including myself, drive like idiots, we not only endanger our own lives, but the lives of others. For every auto pedestrian fatality in Orem, I'm sure there i ' are coundess near misses. Slow down! Orem drivers, or take thet bus. Be aware of what's going on, and lets " not for me, but for-t- he "pull our heads out" children. JohnR. Lyle Capt.JohnS.Higley Provo Fire Department BY GARRY TRUDEAU TUB KIDS WHO HAVE TO TAKB THEM FEU ST6MAJZEP. THE REMEDIAL LABEL MAKES THEM FEEL BAPABOUT THEMSELVES.. 1 WAS WONPERING IFtVE COULD THEM "INTROPUCTORf COURSES. FOR REMEVIALEHOUSH, EXAMPLE, WOLW BECOME ENGLISH lOt. AW ENGLISH 101 THEN BE- - Mine) FORTH. WJMEAN, COUKSe INFLATION? iOUMAXBTJ ISCKWU6LY, HR.weea U6AR5IN - |