| Show Standard-Examn- er Wednesday June 2 1 999 9A Opinion Letters & Columns To our Readers FAX tions” If Americans and Congress do nothing to prevent it the Canal in Panama - one of the world’s most strategic waterways - will pass from our hands when the clock strikes midnight at the close of this year The vast majority of Americans have not the slightest idea that Russia China and Cuba are already positioned to take control of this critical choke point of world commerce that is vital to US economic g and national security A closing quote by President George Washington: “It is our true policy to steer clear of a permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world” Amen Ed Laursen My response to the May 12 letter “Working mothers cause of society’s ills” is: Ho ho ho we must go! How dare you insinuate that my children are not more impor- tant than a new car boat or $200000 house! My children are priceless to me they are responsible and respectful young adults Imagine that! When I went shopping for a crystal ball years ago they were all sold out Had I known that I was going to be a working mom I could have planned my life differently I agree our children need us and most working moms try hard to be there for them How one parents a child does not have much to do with whether or not a mother works Some “stay at Robert Welch in an October home” moms find other activities 1960 bulletin states: “This is visand don’t have a clue where their ibly the beginning of steps lead Brigham City children are Why is it the mother’s fault Government needs to promote morality when something goes wrong with As I watch the aftermath of they go on to violent crimes such a child? Where is the father? Or school violence and see the govas rape and murder until they was he just a sperm donor? Faernment trying to solve the probhave no conscience Thanks to thers’ interaction is equally imchild lem of teen violence I am conthe president of the United States portant for a vinced that nothing it does will It’s judgmental attitudes such and his defenders two maybe help Until it stops promoting its three of these steps may be seen as yours that contribute to sociown political agenda and steps as acceptable now so skip right ety’s ills You must be the perfect back and really looks at the probman that women dream about to the violence lem nothing will change which gives you the right to How many of the Ten Comothers I hope that when judge Guns are not the problem -- mandments did I just mention? the pearly gates all enter you Hollywood movies video games Maybe the liberals and those mothers (working of course) can and music aren’t the problem who have kept religion and mosneak in on your coattails! They can all say what may have rality out of schools are to blame Why don’t we all dust the cobcaused these teens to do what as much as anyone I always webs and sweep our own door did but no one can for the meant that the law they say thought Wouldn’t that help cure sure what caused it Unless you government cannot interfere with steps? some of society’s ills? Everyone’s were in their minds you just religion - not that all religion situation is different don't know what set them off or should be banned from governI agree with the reader who what made them think it was OK ment and all its functions “Find a little hole in the wrote to kill Are we headed for a society ground and crawl in it" Maybe a When a person goes bad they gone bad? When will it stop? working mom will come along don’t wake up one day and sudWhen can we go back to being a (since she’s always in the process denly commit a violent crime It moral country without fear of of doing something) and flip a starts out small maybe with a lie switch for you so you can see the sending our children to school? and when they think that is OK Janet Roberts light Kaysville they may cheat or steal Then well-adjust- well-bein- well-balanc- Trudi Wangsgard Ogden I am writing in response to the May 20 letter “Friendships limited for kids” I am an who dropped out wouldn’t have time for a social life because I’ve chosen to help take care of my grandfather who care needs of high school after being I’m not a “druggie” or a member of a “gang” as this letter stated I should be I did lose most of my friends when I quit school but I became better friends with my family I don’t feel discouraged they encourage My point is: It doesn’t matter how many friends you have or your social standing at school everyone makes choices I chose not to do drugs or be in a gang I chose to put my family before everything else some kids choose otherwise Gangs do not start at home after you lose most of your friends as the author believes home-school- home-school- me What is discouraging is all of the stereotypes being put on me because some members of my generation have messed up I believe the writer is putting too much emphasis on a social life Even if I were still in school I Box 951 (801) 625-450- 84402-095- 1 Lawsuit against police officer is frivolous 24-ho- ur What gives Michelle D Johnson the audacity to think she can sue the people who serve and protect us all? She got caught shoplifting makeup (May 18 “Ogden reserves judgment on alleged brutality”) and now is suing the brave employee who tried to detain her and the policeman who daily puts his life on the line? Don’t include this entire generation in your statements based on your experience with one person Sarah Rose What’s up with people and these frivolous lawsuits? I hope the judge laughs this right out of the courtroom Darcy L Baird Roy Roy Opinion pages 8 Lettersstandardnet letter was judgmental Social life of students overemphasized Coming up in the: er Ogden UT Working mom feels ing to the internationalization of the canal and its ultimate control and operation by the United Na- Standard-Examin- P0 Please keep letters to 300 words or less and include your name address and daytime phone for verification Letters must be signed and may be edited and condensed Panama Canal more critical issue than Y2K Dec 31 1999 has been the subject of much speculation The famous computer bug Y2K has many individuals concerned but I believe it has been blown out of proportion Sen Bennett was going to do so much to solve the problem but as yet has done nothing When Ross Perot was on “Larry King Live” he was asked what could be done about this bug and he replied “All you have to do is shut down and operate manually until it passes over” Perot is a very successful computer expert In my opinion this is another major political coverup to avoid taking action on more critical issues One of many is the Panama Canal giveaway that will take place Dec 31 1999 MAIL THURSDAY: Bonnie Erbe on the fickle political winds swirling around Janet Reno Let profits drive Net privacy by Web Self-regulati- on sites not federal restrictions is the answer By JUSTIN MATUCK Scnpps Howard News Service In Washington DC support is growing for regulations aimed at protecting privacy on the Internet These measures are unnecessary and would hinder electronic commerce The best policy would avoid regulations and instead harness the profit incentives already driving businesses to protect consumer privacy Polls consistently place privacy among Internet users’ foremost concerns Users fear that Web sites abuse their power to collect and distribute personal information Policymakers once content to wait for the private sector to regulate itself are now pushing proposals that would impose uniform privacy practices on commercial Web sites Cl Several bills have been introduced to this end and more are pending Among the outspoken advocates of these measures is the Federal Trade Commission According to the FTC has failed and government intervention is necessary because profit motives contradict privacy interests ¥ i ¥S¥ ers that their privacy is respected The program’s popularity -according to TRUST-- e its more than 500 members attract more than 90 percent of Web traffic -illustrates how companies are using privacy policies to respond to consumer concerns And these policies are only one of many promising responses A variety of emerging technologies are helping consumers protect their information One such technology is the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) Software based on the P3P template lets users specify when they are willing to give their information to Web sites The software then automatically analyzes privacy policies and alerts users if those policies violate their preferences Private firms are working to popularize this technology Microsoft and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are jointly developing the “Privacy Wizard” When installed on We’o sites this product allows browsers and search engines to instantly evaluate sites’ privacy policies Other companies are handing similar technology to Web surfers Thus contrary to what regulators maintain profit incentives are driving businesses to help consumers protect their privacy Lumeria and TRUST-- e are symbols of a dynamic economic process that is only just beginning and could eventually quell privacy concerns altogether If they are allowed to flourish these This argument runs contrary to Internet realities Online businesses know they must alleviate privacy concerns or watch customers migrate to competitors Consequently the profit motive is driving them to protect privacy Privacy policies are the most obvious indicators of this process Posted on Web sites privacy policies disclose the information a site collects and how that information is used This informs users’ decisions about when to trade personal information for access to a site It also helps users hold sites accountable: When Internet users relinquish information to a site with a privacy policy that policy becomes a contract Sites must abide by it or face legal consequences Regulators claim profit motives discourage sites from posting their policies but the opposite is true Private companies are making privacy policies an Internet standard Leading the charge is TRUST--e a firm that invites sites to adopt a standardized privacy policy In addition to policing its members TRUST-- e rewards them with a “trustmark” seal of approval which signals consum le m firms and their competitors will continue to devise creative flexible mechanisms that protect privacy and quickly respond to changing consumer preferences Government intervention on the other hand would smother this process harm consumers and hinder electronic commerce A single government-impose- d privacy policy would deny consumers the flexibility promised by the private sector’s products And it would smother the demand for these products by creating a false sense of security among Internet users Companies like Lumeria would be crippled Consumers would be denied the benefits that new innovations promise And regulations’ detrimental effects would extend across the Internet New privacy regulations would raise the start-u- p costs of online businesses many of which are small and have limited capital These regulations would dampen the web’s entrepreneurial character and invite an onslaught of regulations pushed forward in the name of consumer protection By creating a reliance on government solutions to the Internet’s “problems” such regulations would erode the cornerstones of freedom and enterprise at the foundation of the Internet’s promising future Justin Matlick is the director of the Center for Freedom and Technology at the Pacific Research Institute a San Francisco think tank Solutions to our children’s problems can begin at school For their sake we must stop blaming and work together By ROBERTA BLAIN Guest Commentary Gary Smith’s May 9 commentary “Education’s new Rs should include respect and responsibility” compels me to write I admire the high tolerance for frustration and loving dedication that elementary counselors exhibit as they provide excellent service despite the odds against them At the junior high level where I work there is also no escape from the frustration of too few resources to ensure successful kids Parents and educators have the primary purpose in life to prepare children for the future - but do we know what our job description is anymore? what we must do As we to ensure safety and success for our children we might follow the problem-solvin- g steps: Stop whining stop blaming admit there’s a problem take responsibility quit repeating the things that Doonesbury i don’t work make changes and follow a good plan A proliferation of programs to meet needs continues to inundate the schools We hear that we could solve our problems by “going back to the basics” but the basics have expanded and will never be the same There is an inflation of mental illness and the world is not changing in good ways It isn’t that we’re doing things wrong we just aren’t doing enough things right But one basic need is clear -- kids need at least one caring nurturing adult in their lives with whom to connect One place to help kids build important connections is in our schools An effective environment for this to happen can be provided if our legislators could get their heads out of the sand and alloreduction As cate funds for class-siz- e they dillydally around excellent teachers are burning out because of the struggle they endure to provide quality education to build strong bonds with their students and to provide help But they gotta fix those freeways -go figure! To strengthen children many communities are forming Community and School Promise coalitions and organizing Healthy Community - Healthy Youth initiatives In an effort to see what their kids need to be resilient in these challenging times officials in Granite School District and Nampa Idaho have completed surveys of student resources and assets wheels of programs that look like something big is being done as opposed to funding prevention programs which aren’t always seen working because the damage is prevented The surveys by Nampa and Granite reported the percentage of youth grades six through 12 who had certain assets (thriving indicators) and deficits (high-ris- k behavior patterns) in their lives This useful information will help the whole community drop the deficit mind-se- t and focus on strength-buildin- g by providing what children need at certain ages in order to make healthy choices in the future The usual needs assessment reveals problem areas and the typical response is to design programs to address the “X” amount of persons doing “Y” behavior which may solve some problems while others increase Focusing on fixing is like running to put out the fire spending lots of money to clean up the mess and enviforgetting that providing a fire-saronment could have prevented it Most funding entities and politicians opt to gain recognition by spinning the Unfortunately new laws are making it more difficult to gather this type of information through surveys Will we sacrifice our children for lack of information about what they need? Will we be defensive if it looks like there is something else we should be doing? Wake up! one-on-o- ne BY GARRY TRUDEAU fe high-profi- le We alone cannot provide everything our children need anymore we need each other working together If you’ll excuse the building analogy the general attitude cannot be “Don’t Mallard Fillmore fix it if it isn’t (or until) it’s broken” We cannot assume that the building process was so good there are never going to be weak spots We cannot assume that our children will always be strong just because we poured a good foundation Let us follow the construction of their framework closely and make plans to discover ways - together - to inspect maintain and reinforce all of our children against society’s negative pressures so we aren’t just waiting to see if the quakes of growing up shake rattle and damage their structure Let us take responsibility to invest in the best real estate we can for a bright future - our children Roberta Blain a resident of Eden is a school counselor at North Layton Junior High She graduated from Weber State University and went on to receive her masters from Utah State University For additional information she recommends Sam Goldstein's Website SAGOsisnacom further information on these surveys can be found at http:wwwsearch-institut- e orgf communities whatcommorghtm or by calling |
