Show Standard-Examin- Saturday October 22 er 1 988 1 1 A Family Support Act is at least a start in right direction Both houses of Congress have passed the Family Support Act a welfare reform bill that’s the first major overhaul of the welfare system in 25 years Hard-lin- e conservatives say it won’t do what it aims to — cut welfare rolls and save taxpayers liberals say it’s unfair to money — and hard-lin- e poor people I say it’s a start and high time How the country has stood the welfare mess as long as it has without polarizing its citizens even more than it has I don’t know Certain features of the bill I believe are positive steps that even if they don’t work exactly as planned are at least in the right direction: Welfare parents with children older than 3 years old would have to participate in a new Job Opportunities and Basic Skills — or JOBS — program offering education training and work activities ranging from high school to community jobs Under the “workfare” provision starting in 1994 Sarah Overstreet one adult in each welfare household would have to participate in a job search and failing to find a job work 16 hours a week in a work activity A young parent could instead work toward a diploma States would automatically withhold wages from a d parent who owes child support and isn’t paying States would also receive federal money to set up computerized systems to better track and monitor enforcement The collection provision is the most popular because most people are familiar with the enormity of the problem The most unpopular is the “workfare” provision True it may not work But it’s a better way to approach the problem than the way we’ve been doing it for two two-pare- nt state-organiz- ed high-scho- ol non-custodi- al court-ordere- child-suppo- rt child-suppo- rt reasons: First by trying this approach we will watch the dynamics of the program unfold If it doesn’t work we will understand why and we will be closer to reaching a more workable system Second I don’t believe any one group of people are “entitled” to be supported by anyone else unless they are physically or mentally incapable of working We’ve gone through 25 years of letting our welfare system be guided by the assumption that because the rest of us didn't make the economy good enough one group of people is “entitled” to support This kind of assumption removes the idea of personal responsibility and replaces it with a sense of powerlessness and incompetence Under the guise of “not humiliating the poor by making them feel like they’re responsible for their misfortune” we’ve treated them like children — children too stupid and incompetent to participate in their own g Ironically we disdain parents who make well-bein- things too easy for their children and rob them of the opportunity to learn to be responsible for themselves We’ve been paying for programs that foster dependency and create resentment among those who support them During a few of the trial “workfare” programs of the late ’70s and early ’80s critics argued that these “professionals” created nothing but “makework” for the poor that did nothing but penalize them for their benefits If these professionals can’t come up with work opportunities that enhance their communities and give the workers a sense of worth then that’s the first place we can save money by firing the program administrators We can get people off welfare rolls and into jobs If our first plans don’t work we can modify them until they do What can't work is what we’ve been doing for the last 25 years: virtually nothing Newspaper Enterprise Association Letters Economic problems inevitable if initiatives fail The profit motive is still strong Those individuals who feel they receive more income from state and local government than they are paying in taxes will naturally oppose the tax initiatives Taxes are profitable for them On the other hand those individuals who feel they are paying more in taxes for state and local government than the benefits or services they receive in return will naturally support the initiatives Taxes are a source of loss for them Rational people will not continue to suffer losses whether they are in business or otherwise They will simply move out Those profiting from state and local taxes will continue taking their profits as long as they are available to them They will stay with what is profitable Their income for state or local taxes will always exceed their tax contributions The sad reality is that many of those who feel they are suffering a loss from taxes are the ones who can afford to move The tax burden on those remaining can only increase If you believe there are many vacant homes and business properties for sale now just wait to see what happens if the initiatives fail to pass Chuck Eddy Ogden Teen pregnancy editorial supported Congratulations and thanks are order for the Examiner’s response to the Governor’s Task Force on Teenage Pregnancy Wednesday Oct 12 The “ostrich mentality” is right on the mark I will point out the first three (and we must believe that these are considered most important by the task force) of the nine recommendations made Utah should: Firmly base all adolescent pregnancy prevention programs on the principle of sexual abstinence among teenagers (If my understanding of the word “all” is correct we are being told that nothing else is to even be considin Teenage Pregnancy Prevention for two additional years (What for? How many new ways to promote abstinence are we likely to discover?) A quote from Richard Bandler and John Grinder’s wonderful book “Frogs into Princes” “There’s an amazing thing about people: when they find something that doesn’t work they do it harder” As your editorial pointed out there is no disagreement from any quarter that abstinence is best But what is our intent for those who just won’t or can’t abstain? What is our intent for the children of these children? Let’s ered) be honest when we look at our Not support the use of con- intent and let’s be careful not to traceptives as an alternative to get it confused with what’s in the sexual abstinence for teenagers best interest of our young people (More of the same — abstain or else) Jim Duncan Reauthorize the existence of Layton the Governor’s Task Force on Statistics fool gullible public I cannot believe how gullible the public is about information the Reagan people put out George Orwell in his book 1984 was correct when he wrote of propaganda being distributed by Big Brother For example: The current administration has continually congratulated itself on the low unemployment rate However many people are unaware of statistical ohanges made to improve employment figures and make Ronnie look better: The baseline of who is included as employed was changed to include all the members of the military They also include all e working people not previously included many of whom have other jobs and are counted twice because of having e two jobs There is no of unemployed who be reporting part-tim- part-tim- come discouraged and quit reporting to the employment office each week Thus they are omitted from the jobless rolls The misuse of this information is illustrated in William Neikirk’s article in the Business section on Sunday Aug 21 where he compares rates of 1972 joblessness with rates reported currently It's like comparing apples with oranges The sad thing is that the administration actually believes its own statistics Changing the statistical methods for inflation also occurred in the early 80’s An old saying among statisticians is that “figures don’t lie but liars figure” It’s only a case of forgetfulness however like that which occurred e during the hearings Charles B McComb Clinton Iran-gat- Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters may not exceed 200 words in length (about one page of text typewritten and Letters longer double-spacethan that may be edited by the or returnr ed to the writer for editing We will no longer publish d) Standard-Examine- “announcement” letters To publicize a reunion concert or festival call Mary Lou Phip-pe- n 9 or Amy Bryat 6 son at They are specialists in community news and will be happy to help place your notice “Thank you” letters will no longer be accepted We suggest sending your letter of appreciation directly to those for whom you are grateful To accommodate those who wish to publish a “thank you” notice we have created a special category for such notices in our classified ad section To place a notice come to our offices or just call the classified ad de 625-422- 625-422- 1 partment at Solicitations for witnesses to accidents or other types of information to be used in potential legal actions are not appropriate as “Letters to the Editor” and will not be run All letters should be typed on white bond paper We ask that you include your name address and phone number so that we can verify the letter’s authenticity While we welcome one and all we reserve the right to reject letters that we feel are offensive to the community or are legally libellous Please mail your letter to: Letter to the Editor 394-167- Standard-Examin- er PO Box 951 Ogden Utah 84402 Or bring it to the newspaper’s associate editor Flora Ogan any weekday between 8 am and 5 pm at 455 23rd Street in downtown Ogden Education must plug small leaks first I would like to echo the sentiments expressed by Barbara Nielson in commending Police Chief Richins and Mayor Wangsgard in taking action when a police officer falsified his log of hours paid for The third time we spoke to the representative from the school district we were told that they really didn’t care about such things and that no action would be tak- worked en For a person to sandbag his time sheet and claim extra time worked is stealing and should be dealt with as such After watching a similar theft take place at a local junior high school one of my friends and I called to report it to the Weber County School District The lady involved works about an hour less each day than she is being This attitude at a time when they are pushing the voting public to vote against tax initiatives that might cut into their budget seems ridiculous If they can’t or won’t try to plug the small leaks why keep pouring more into the bucket? Janet Jackson Ogden Vote to rid county of snakes The old guard Republicans and the treacherous old Davis County Commission have been beaten in the primary election and are trying to spoil the winners’ chances by running a ringer in a write-i- n campaign What a ringer! He Mr McKenzie mayor of Layton helped the old treacherous Republican County Commission build the burn plant that doesn't accept most of our garbage — only the easy burning material from Hill Field I believe some bodies must have received many pieces of silver with that hoax on the good people of Davis County It now appears that the Republicans are more afraid of their own than the Democrats You see by splitting the Republican vote with a write-i- n they might put in a Democrat! Now we must get rid of this nest of snakes and we don’t want to send a mouse (not that Mr Sill the Democrat is a mouse but he doesn’t appear to frighten the old fraudulent commission) If I were to send something after a nest of rattlesnakes it would be a good old hunger hog not a mouse or a toad It appears to me the man the fraudulent commission is most afraid of is the Davis County Sheriff the Democratic hog turned Republican Dub Lawrence He should be the best snake hunter the citizens of Davis County can send to root out this nest of snakes E Arthur Higgins Layton and Centerville Gunn McKay looks out for Utah © 1968 by NEA Inc “OK so the World Series is over! Cheer up! The next thing you know it’ll be SUPER SUNDAY !“ Roosevelt fleeces senior citizens James Roosevelt’s National Committee to Preserve Social Security has brought Halloween to Utah a little early this year They are attempting to scare our senior citizens into contributing to their Political Action Committee (PAC) by labeling Congressman Jim Hansen an enemy of Social Security Nothing could be further from the truth As a senior citizen personally acquainted salaries to Roosevelt and others and on raising more money In an attempt to stop their abusive practices the committee was hauled before an investigative committee of Congress where they refused to answer questions about their operation So contemptible have the dishonest scare tactics of the Roosevelt committee become that many congressmen such as Rep Sherwood Boehlert are refusing to accept any political contributions from them We have already had too many schemes in Utah Senior citizens: do not be taken in and fleeced by Jimmie Roosevelt with the Congressman I can tell he is fully committed to proyou didn’t Hansen help job? is tecting the solvency of the Social with the furlough at Hill He McKay He believes in fair eduSecurity Field System Hill the for cation programs against elderly However the Roosevelt ComGunn is for jobs He also ethics economics and jobs for Utah helped a friend who was waiting mittee has been exposed as a to get out of the Navy The dis- scam In an expose’ on CBS’s “60 He helped me not get thrown out the gate at Hill Air Force charge papers were misplaced but Minutes” it was reported that Newel C McMillan Gunn McKay found them and out of $40 million raised in 1986 Base He helped me get a better was on over million $32 14 from him released big I be Ogden the there spent been have Now helped job Navy Gunn cares about Utah years thanks to Gunn McKay Jim Hansen wants to close Hill Gay Morley Policies of ACLU support anti positions Riverdale Field Do you want to see me Democrats nationwide are introduction of substances into scurrying to draw attention away one’s own body” is a civil liberty from the American Civil LiberPolicy No 242 states that “all Polls don’t pick winners: votes do criminals except those guilty of ties Union and its most promisuch crimes as murder and treanent member Michael Dukakis Let’s remember that all the person and the elderly on Social because they realize the ACLU's son be given a suspended Security who are struggling conpolls and all the television newsrecord would appall and frighten sent back to the casters who are bombarding us stantly just to stay alive and the most Americans with the idea that Bush has the children who aren’t getting community" The Democrats argue that the nomination wrapped up just enough to eat and who don’t Policy No 264 suggests homois ACLU a mainstream have a constitutional sexuals in as were be as a home organizahave can’t might wrong they possibly say tion because it has intervened to right to marry become foster par1948 Please all you Democrats “everything is great let’s continue on as we are" don’t be brainwashed into thinkprotect the constitutional rights ents and engage in street solicitaAmericans of the far right and tion of diffback a in look won’t make If vote ing your you history you left But the ACLU's own official erence will see that the Republicans Policy No 92 seeks repeal of artax exempt status of churches the contradicts those intellihave policy guide Any person of average always given every benefit Mr a and reveals Dukakis who says he’s to look the rich and has around taken to to guments gence only everything radical agenda: realize that everything is not from the working man the poor proud to be a member of the ACLU should explain why he is ACLU Policy No 4 urges rewonderful and prosperous and the elderly and the handicapped inlaws so proud to continue to belong to of peal and “lets Democrats more of The have have the done always okay same” as we are being told by just the opposite They care! cluding laws banning the sale of an organization with such repugnant beliefs Remember at this point before child pornography smiley twily Bush and the rest of the “rich” Republicans Herbert the 1960 elections Kennedy was Policy No 210 wants legalizaEileen If Snow tion of all drugs including angel behind about the same in the Hoover used to say everything that crack “the It dust and Bountiful is was wonderful the people beDukakis as now argues polls Democrats please make your lieved him voted him in and Gun control inhibits honest citizens then we had the most devastating vote count Let’s get Dukakis and seen ever has the the into other office Democrats US depression I would like to congratulate that supposedly banned armor and make this a better country James J There are more homeless jobfor his inforammunition many caliKilpatrick piercing less hungry poor people in the for all mative column article on gun bers of currently used hunting US than ever before Is this control published Oct 14th in the ammunition was also included Velma A Staut “wonderful?” Only the rich might Standard-ExaminHe realizes but this fact was never mentioned Ogden say it is The average working as do most mainstream Ameriby the anti-gu- n groups The final cans that gun control and gun intent of these groups is now Vote for a strong America registration only handicap the and will always be to try and honest citizen while overburdenplace power in the hands of a few were no there looked us as one? when Remember number upon overworked federalstate authorities that they the poDo we when Remember when remember ing did already you hungry people? lice The criminals just laugh and can manipulate and then register there were jobs if you wanted the right thing instead of the easy go about doing their thing If the and finally confiscate all weapone? Remember when we all thing? I love my America I want criminals paid attention to the ons Remember a "American?” to be led stable it person by bought laws of the land they w ouldn’t be The right to own and bear we’re all proud of one who has when our private lives were priarms is spelled in the United criminals vate? When we helped our fellow-ma- n vision one who can hear us one If people would take time to States Constitution and regardinstead of hurting him? who talks until we hear him less of what some people would "hewe had I'm voting for strength this analyze the statistics and posiRemember when like to think this right doesn’t tions taken by groups like Handroes?" time We don’t need whimps No gun Control they would realize belong only to the military’ NaRemember when wc could buy more carbon copies We need that there is no such thing as all tional Guard or whatever These someone that is his own man a home and afford the payment? plastic guns that so called cop rights were given to you and me Remember when a president Please think this time people killer armor piercing ammunition by the people that formulated the stayed his whole term and wasn’t Remember it’s for four years and was never available to the general Constitution and I hope they will “thrown out?” Remember when we have to do it right the first time I’m a Democrat no matter all of the cabinet stayed too? Republic nor was there ever any inalways be there as many people tent by the NRA or any other law have fought for and laid down member when you could trust what abiding organization to make it their lives to protect them lawyers? (I trust mine) Rememavailable Carol J Stewart ber when the law was the law? J Rhees In the same congressional bill Clearfield Remember when the world Ogden People of Utah vote for Gunn lose my sen-tcncea- far-le- ft er " |