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Show The Paper That Dares To Take A Stand March' 4, 1976 The Utah Independent Page 3 TOM ANDERSON THE GATHERING DARKNESS Copyright Jo Hindman 1976 To get their messages out, journalists and reporters have more hurdles to clear than is generally realized by the public THEY ARE PHONIES From news the of the department A poll of approximately 600 local Commerce Chambers of also showed strong support for revenue sharing. Eighty-fiv- e percent Chamber of Commerce of the United States comes a news release titled: of Revenue Sharing: An Idea That Worked. Heres the garbage, in full: (Quote) When a businessman heartily endorses reported funds have been beneficial' to their communities. The Chamber believes the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act should be extended. It does not expire until December, 1976, but Congressional hearings are under way and the question will be debated in the year a Federal spending program, it is not surprising to leam that, among other things, the multibillion-dolla- r program has low That is a overhead. businessmans term for ahead: or operating a business for that matter, a big at government program the lowest possible cost. Revenue sharing has managed to do the job for which it was intended without building a new bureaucracy. The overhead, says a Dayton, Ohio businessman, Thomas B. As Mr. Andrews and his task force found, taxpayers are getting their moneys worth. That is a rarity in these times of expanding but ineffective government. - Andrews, is . (Unquote) The main benefit Revenue Sharing is that local leeches heading their governments can almost pay for it. Washington pays. And thats somebody else. Under Revenue Sharing, opportunity to study the a city your commissioner in Dayton. He now heads a task force of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, which tax dollar is to confiscated and sent Washington and you get sixty-fiv- e cents of it back to you in Revenue Sharing. Why not spend your own money at home, for what you deem best, and not let recently recommended extension of the program. The program is working, there are few hitches or complaints and it has remained scandal free while distributing $22 billion to 39,000 different state and local governments through October 1. Unlike most new federal spending programs, revenue sharing did not require a large new staff to administer the funds. There is a staff of fewer than 100 in the Nations Capital, and at the state and local level virtually no new employees were required. The same number of people were able to do the job with slightly more money to do it with. Perhaps the largest single, new cost was in efforts to involve large numbers of citizens and to keep them informed about how funds were being distributed. One of the main reasons for this performance is that spending decisions are left to the state and local governments. Mr. Andrews also points out that while the federal government can spend more than it takes in, practically ali localities and states must balance their budgets. By and large, he adds, local officials are more sensitive to the taxpayer while federal officials seem more sensitive to the tax spender. get benefits without having to tax the people to executive, had the as of the up the infinitesimal. Mr. Andrews, a utilities program those responding the bureaucrats in thirty-fiv- e Washington keep percent for their own use? Ive told this story many times before, but it bears telling again: A hunter and his dog were lost in a deep forest. Out of food, the hunter, in desperation, cut off his dogs tail and put it on the fire to boil. When he had eaten the bones clean, he tossed them to the whimpering dog, who devoured the remains and then licked his masters hand in gratitude. Thats Revenue Sharing. Years ago, when I operated a business in Nashville, Tennessee, I wrote the Chamber of Commerce as follows: This is our resignation. I know of hardly anything that you are for, that I am for. Universally, local Chambers of Commerce are for every raid on the federal treasury which will help their own town, while they .. prattle about Free Enterprise. In short, they are phonies. -- American Way Features Readers comments and questions are welcome. The Please write us at American Way Features , Box 1098, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863. ROCKY FOR PRESIDENT? Captain Joe H. Ferguson they serve. Always there has been the laissez faire (survival of the fittest) under the editors pencil and editorial policy. Also, the round file for the rejects rather than the slot in the news room. Plus the overworked, most used, sometimes valid editorial excuse, Lack of space. Added to that, some attorneys and judges on the bench are trying to blackrobe the news. Some justices want to decide what facts reporters shall hear and how many facts will be allowed to be taken out of the courtroom to appear in print that reaches the public. Now, topping it off is the stifling threat of trade unionism, the First Amendment and wanting to control free speech. Countering the threat is U.S. Senator Paul Fannins bill, the Fournalists Freedom of Choices Act (S.2712). According to Senator Fannin federal law authorizes, but does not mandate, agreements between labor unions and management, to require journalists in the printed and electronic press to join, pay dues, and be subject to union discipline. (Title 29 U.S.C. 158(a)3, National Labor Relations Act.) However, when such a agreement does exist, clause (159(a) of the same federal law states that the local unions selected bargaining representative must be the exclusive representative of all the employees in such a chapter or unit. It is called the It exclusivity requirement. throws the net over the broadcast journalists writers, commentators or journalists, critics on public issues. Some journalists prefer to manage their own contracts with the boss. Adamantly, the unions want to represent the journalists. And the courts appear to be siding with the unions, as the ups and downs of Buckley-Evan- s vs. AFL-CI- O demonstrate. AFTRA, AFTRA stands for American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. At issue is freedom of choice for the journalists the ears, the eyes, the editorial watchdogs of the pre-empti- ng news-supplyi- ng labor-managem- ent people. The power of unions is nowhere more dangerous than in the field of the peoples The unions government. overflowing campaign coffers scandalously provide the muscle to enforce the unions choices of political candidates and political WHAT IS ROCKY UP TO? Some time ago, shortly after Nelson Rockefeller announced that he was not going to be a candidate for in 1976, this writer commented specifically on the fact that Rockefeller specifically did NOT say that he would not be a candidate for president. That was most interesting, in view of the fact that some of the news reporters interviewing him at the time asked him pointedly whether he would be a candidate for president. When a politician does not give a straight answer to a straight question, you can bet the chances are pretty good that he does not want the answer to that question known. Consequently, Rockefeller's determined refusal to answer the question might prove to be of much significance in the few months ahead. vice-preside- NOW, SOME TRIAL BALLOONS? Cagey politicians sometimes send up trial balloons' to test public reaction to a certain proposal. Rocky recently did just that. His statements as quoted in the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader of February 5 might be a preview of events to come as the 76 presidential race develops. His statement implied a strong positive hint as to the possibility of his running for president, UI withdrew as Vice President, ...My statement included the vice presidency only, as to availability. Beyond that, I have no plans. It's a very fluid situation...my situation." With the power struggle in politics the way it is these days, one can never discount ANY possibilities. And it just might be that Rockefeller is trying to maneuver his way into a position he could never win by election. For example, just suppose that Ford's campaign doesnt go well in the next couple of months. And just suppose that the president were to resign because of health" problems or some other reason. We would have Nelson Rockefeller as president. Thats enough to make any sober man shudder, but it is a possibility. Then, from the advantage point of being president, Rockefeller just might offer himself as a candidate for president in the 76 race. Wild speculation? Maybe so. But who would have thought four years ago that he would be right now? vice-preside- harsh suspensions, fines, censure and other disciplinary tortures are notorious. It inconceivable that such punishment should remain is hovering over those who are entrusted with the sacred responsibility of bringing the truth to the public, the journalists. Of course, some journalists, at the snap of union fingers, prefer to go off the air or cover their typewriters during contract disputes while non-unipersonnel on nt BE A GIVER One day a poor, old woman, with a basket in' hand, sought an audience with President Lincoln in his private office. What can I do for you, - Madam? asked the endeavoring to President, make her feel at ease in his presence. Mr. President, she said. I dont want anything from you. I have not come to seek favors for myself or others. I have come to bring you this basket of cookies, because I heard that you like cookies very much. Mr. Lincolns eyes filled with tears as he said: My good woman, you are the first one to call on me, not seeking some personal favor, or some favor for someone else. Your kindness and thoughtfulness move me deeply. May the heavenly Father richly reward you! The Independent preferences. 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