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Show - ('. I,.--- ; A fVw; save the poor, feel English pott (1802-1838- for the poor. " ' "fliS Letitia London, ijjji ). The Dally Herald Sunday, January 21, 19S6 --x I ': .f-f--- Bap BLUE " CHEESE, Americans may have differing opinions on who's to blame for the federal budget impasse, but there's little doubt that the stakes are higher for Republicans. The Grand Old Party (GOP) has staked its collective reputation, as campaign season approaches, on the enacting of a balanced budget, and it is their constituents that demand it. President Clinton's constituents, while paying lip service to the idea that the government's books ought to be brought into order, have other priorities, namely the protection of social programs for the poor. Those liberal constituents will not be upset and throw Clinton out of office next fall if a balanced budget is not agreed to. That's why Clinton can hold out and Republicans as extremattempt " . ists.. By contrast, Republicans have said that a balanced budget is the key goal of their short reign as the congressional majority. They have spoken endlessly, as welt as eloquently, about the benefits of eliminating the federal budget deficit. Failure to enact such legislation would irritate many fiscal conservatives, especially .'the swing voters who dominate the suburban enclaves in the key tossup states like New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois. For that reason, it's imperative that Republicans not give in to their more radical members, who believe they benefit by refusing to negotiate a deal. They should offer concessions to Clinton and, while sticking to their basic philosophical principles; give him a deal he can't refuse. Now, some readers will suggest I'm letting Clinton off the hook here. Far from it. Clinton's conduct during this whole affair; has been pathetic, from his insistence that he's protecting the middle class on Medicare and education to his complaints abouf Republicans as "extreme." But to repeat: Clinton doesn't need a balanced budget He's planning on running a campaign proclaiming himself as the only bulwark against Republican radi' cals out to destroy the government. It doesn't matter if it's a gross distortion; it's likely to be effective. TTo blunt that charge, Republicans can striked $eal that still arrives at a balanced budget in 2002, the year they have chosen; provides a tax cut for the middle class; and at least gets Medicare and Medicaid spending under control and restructures the programs in such as way so that they remain solvent well off into the future. - That kind of a deal would give Republicans at least 75 percent of what they want. They would be foolish to risk it by demanding the remaining 25 percent. You don't turn around 40 years of Democratic social and economic policy in one year, they should remind themselves, while agreeing to settle for most of their goals. If they do that, voters will realize that Republicans have dramatically and usefully altered the government landscape in a short time, and concerns that they caved in will be lost in the shuffle. ISLAND OR f U i VINAIGRETTE? Jf ' VyrV DftM'r TDO A V ti unow '.. THE POLLS Further, such an outcome would t v&f Stephen J. Siege! i- In - ... Washington's Wake increase the probability of a Republican president being elected this year (because it would mute Clinton's charge of "extremism"), which means Republicans could then move ahead in 1997 with more . of their agenda. Under such a scenario, they would for the first time since most voters were born be in control of the Congress and the presidency' The only question is: Are they willing to wait until 1997? If they listen to their own rhetoric, they should be. . conservatives have articulately Many attributed the difficult economic position of today's younger generations in part to a demand for instant gratification. The insistence of immediate material wealth by today's young people, from a desire for $60 rock concerts and $100 basketball shoes to luxury apartments and automo-bilethey have said, is part of the prob- - Thankless positions Animals cared for I have patiently the real facts The facts never find their way to the surface in situations like this. Emotions on both sides of the issue run lem. rampant and reason is lost in the confusion. I will admit that I do not know all of the C, A willingness to defer that gratification would help today's twentysomethings and facts. I do know that I admire the police Republicans alike. If Republicans follow chief and the mayor for the restraint they this path and enact a balanced budget and have shown in their dealings With the fundamental reforms, even if press. While others seemed all too anxious contain their entire wish list, it will be to state their side of the issue to the media, hard for voters to turn them out. the chief and the mayor have remained silent and allowed those who had been chosen to investigate these allegations, and that is what most of them were proven to be, before going on record. There are many roads to success, but there is one sure road to failure and that is to try to please everyone. It cannot be ; romantic and sexual ups and downs of done! All of the great men and women in i By CARL CHANCELLOR f P.idder four female friends. Perhaps the movie all of history, including the Savior himself, ; Knight Newspapers should have been titled, "Four Debbies Do could not please all. Hold on a minute while I catch my Phoenix." I would not be mayor, police chief or a . breath; member of the city council for any amount The book jacket said the novel was the OK, am I hearing this right? People are African-America- n of or women glory money. Every time these people story of "four seriously comparing the hit movie "Waitwho lean on each other while 'waiting to make a decision, at least half of the citizens ing to Exhale," based on Terry McMillan's exhale,' waiting for that man who will are upset with them. These are thankless best-s- f Hing novel of the same name, to the take their breath away.". positions and I admire those who are willMiDioii Man March? . Tina Williams, another friend, said the ing to step forward and fill them. TFor black women, it is their Million I do not know this new chief. I would notion of the film and book disgusted her. Man iMarch," USA Today columnist, "The four women in the movie didn't like very much to get to know him and . De Wayne Wickham wrote about the have lives. They were totalgive him an opportunity to show what he movie. in the search for Mr. Right ... can do. absorbed ly An' editorial cartoon by Mike Luck-ovicWhile most women would like to have a I do know the mayor. I know her to be which appeared in Monday's Akron meaningful relationship, it doesn't cona woman of courage, honesty and good Beacon Journal,, depicted a throng of sume them." judgment. I know from personal experiAfrican-America- n women, standing under ence that she wants the very best for a banner that read "Million Woman Springville and its citizens. Does she score March," lined up in front of a movie thetwo points every time she comes down the ater screening "Waiting to Exhale." with the ball? No. No one does. But court I the heard movie have And being Another woman complained that the. I will tell sevMan Million on March you this: she has an outstanding the to equated film did not show that men and women rate and I think the people of percentage eral talk shows. could have friendships that weren't sexual. Springville should support her and give Having recently seen the movie and McMillan's book created controversy I her the slack she needs to do her job. the if think read book, having previously when it was published several years ago. I were a black woman, I would be insulted Springville has a fine police force. Its detractors contended the book engaged to have anyone call Waiting to Exhale my in serious and cast black Springville is a wonderful place to live Million Man March. and raise children, in large part because of men in a negative light. man this fine force. I hope that the men and Certainly, as an African-America- n in is female the movie it the However, who;' attended the Million Man March in who comes off looking bad. Not only are women that make up this fine organization Washington in October, I view such a the main characters desperate, but they are will accept the findings of the commisdumb as well. comparison as an affront. sion, put their personal grievances behind The Million, Man March was about These four women, despite the fact them, place their support behind the chief atonement and reconciliation. The march they are professionals, and the mayor and work for the future was al?out the spiritual, moral and political fall for come-o- n lines that even a seventh-gradgood of our community. Time, spent propwould find weak. uptiftipg of black men. has a way of healing all wounds. In defense of the movie, the director erly, Tpi Million Man March was' an Harold R. "Hal" Wing and screenwriters found it necessary, ackJioivledgmcnt that black men must uniSpringville fy find take responsibility for their own because of time constraints, to condense well-bein- g and that of their families and events that in the book, played out over more than 300 pages. This accounts for communities. The movie "Waiting to Exhale," even the sense that all the main characters do is fall into one superficial sexual tryst after wh$n Viewed in the most favorable light, i with barely time to catch their diveranother, than a recreational is nothing more SOWS are that's breath. entertainwhy mere they than more longing Maybe sion nothing RISK OF to exhale. ... They want to rest. ment ; 4 emim $$vefal black women with whom I . Probably the best thing I can say about is that for spqfcel were equally insulted by the the movie "Wailing to Exhale" it is after the most And, entertaining. part, moj'Iefs Million Man March comparison. what a is movie that isn't all, exactly said she friend was offended One 'female be? to meant said She the march was the implication. by I am afraid that people w ho are holding an opportunity for black men to commit to for Hollywood to release a bettering themselves, their families and their breath thought-provokinmeaningful and balcommunities. of anced matched in no the depiction The movie contemporary black way American life will be waiting a very, very essence and the of seriousness depth,' long time to exhale. march, she said. Carl Chancellor is a columnist for the PusicalSy, ! found the movie to be a ( spara that focused on the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. fact-findi- I am writing to add my voice to the excellent dialogue concerning the organization PETA and their views. First of all, I believe that most people do support "ethical treatment of animals". It is PETA's unrealistic, extremist views that most people can't and won't support. The world is not so neatly ordered that total non-us- e of animals is practical or even desirable. PETA's "black and white" followed the unfolding saga of the controversy surrounding the man chosen to head the police department in Springville. I have been a resident of Springville for over a half of a century and have gained a great deal of respect for the officers and dispatchers of this department. In spite of this, I really am shocked at some of the things that I read in the local press. I don't understand why anyone would want to try an issue as sensitive as this one in the court of public opinion. . views become extremely problematic especially in the medical field. Do they really think medical science could do without animal research? Are the members of PETA going to volunteer to be research subjects in place of animals? I would bet that not a single member of PETA has any close relatives with a chronic or fatal illness, because most hopes for cures are found in animal research. My son has juvenile diabetes and I pray every day for all research e efforts on this front. What would of animals do to my son? First, most research efforts would halt, including the most promising research. Also, the pork insulin my son injects twice daily could no longer be made, and he would be forced back onto synthetic varieties. These would keep him alive, but his blood sugar control has been far better on pork. As it is, several companies have stopped production of pork insulin due to animal rights pressures. Does my son not deserve to live the most healthy life possible, because some pig's life is more important? My son's life is much more valuable than any rat or pig, isn't yours? PETA's views are good in a perfect world, but become harder to support when the people affected are those you love. I would never allow unnecessary mistreatment of any animal, but if human suffering can be relieved by the responsible use of animals,.then so be it. '.' We should all let our lawmakers know that we support responsible animal use. PETA extremists are making their opinions seem more prevalent than they really are. The rest of us need to speak up now! Michelle Vahlquist s, ' non-us- No comparison between 'Exhale,' Million Man March well-round- " h, discusand I'm sure, having sions between holes or after teeing off. But ' d members are I'm sure these paying for this junket out of their own pockets. The latest proposal: to bus north Provo students to south Provo and south Provo students to north Provo sounds like a throwback to the forced racial busing of the late 60s. At least then they had an ' altruistic goal of curtailing racism. What is civic-minde- Provo district's goal in this busing pro- -' gram? Will rich little girls marry poor little boys and create a middle class? Will the rich people see more closely the blight of the poor and open their pockets? Or are; they subscribing to the more disturbing idea: that rich people's kids can get a education than poor people's kids? That is a scary proposition, especially con- sidering the fact that the board has' the power to distribute money to the schools.Guidelines could be established so that gifts to the schools will be evenly distributed. Efforts should be increased to hire and retain good administrators and teach-- ; ers at all the city's schools. West High ' School and its "feeder" junior high have shown that education is not relative to the ' newness of the building or the socio-eco- -' nomic condition of the people. Because of ' the efforts of some very good people and with the support and help of their district, ' they have created a very good learning environment for their population. That is where the committee ought to; bet-.-t- '. fact-findi- be going. ., Schools are built in neighborhoods so that the kids in the neighborhood can ; attend them. Attempting to divide the city ; along economic lines based on such a . poorly administered policy as the "school waiver" program can only increase the divisiveness that the present discussion has exposed. The school board needs1 to make the decisions they were elected' to ' make, and let the threatened lawsuits' fall where they may. William Gillespie' Provo' , Payson Provo school goals The fiasco over the opening of the new junior high in Provo is very illuminating. The first lesson to be learned about district politics is that "the people" only want errand boys (or girls) on the school board. It is also apparent they have gotten their wish. Rather than utilizing the decisionmaking power they were granted by election the board capitulates to whichever group of citizens cries the loudest or threatens with the biggest lawsuit. They have been able to utilize the delay and waffling to appoint a number of committees, one of which gets to spend a few days in St. George, "studying" the issues, man-bashi- thirty-somethi- er Letters policy ; , Letters to the editor are welcome. Please address them to: Editor, The Daily Herald, '. P.O. Box 717, Provo, UT 84603-071- rrr77n v 7. R S" r FAX wr BY GARRY TRUDEAU 1 1 . ' 9. i g, '-- ' Letters must be signed and include the writer's full name, address and daytime tele-,- ', phone number for verification. Preference-igiven to letters that are typed, double spaced ' ' and less than 400 words in length. Letters that are too long, unsigned, illeg- -' ible, obscene or libelous will not be pub-- , lished. Doonesbury Flashbacks af er IS-JZ- . cow-- -. |
