Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M^University Tuesday April 24, 1979 Auto rip-offs go on Last week my beloved VW started weaving across the road like an Aggie out on Saturday night. No big deal, right? Take it to a mechanic, get an estimate and have it repaired. Wrong. I went to five different garages and got five different opinions. Repair estimates ranged from $60 to $350. The first two shops couldn’t tell me what was causing this mysterious wobble in the steering wheel. They wouldn’t even put it up on the rack and inspect it. Too busy, they said. Bring it back in a week. A few educated guesses later, I ended up at another garage down the road. This guy agreed to put it up and take a look at it. No sooner had the air in the hydraulic lift hissed to a silence than he said, “You need new shocks.” Not knowing much about cars, I would have agreed with him had I not just spent $200 during spring break to have them replaced. “Must be your steering damper then,” he said. But I had that replaced at the same time, I replied. “Then I don’t know what’s the matter with it. Sorry,” he said. So much for College Station garages. I move on down to Bryan. The first man wanted to replace my tie rods and my steering box. For a mere $350, I could have peace of mind and not worry that my car was going to careen into a ditch as I drive down the highway. Being a poor college student, I decided my life wasn’t worth $350, so I went to yet another garage. This time, my steering damper only needed to be tightened, but the ends of my tie rods are worn and should be replaced. How much? “Oh, a couple hundred dollars should do it,” the mechanic said. But to whom? I asked. How can you find an honest mechanic these days? If you don’t have some working knowledge of your car or a pocketbook to back you up, there’s no hope. If most consumers are like me, they will take the cheapest route — have the least amount of work possible done just to get the car running. But even then, you are faced with chosing which path to follow in this myriad of “helpful” advice. Some basic mechanics courses are taught at Texas A&M. For people who know little or nothing of the workings of an auto engine. Free University offers a powder puff mechanics course. In the Ag Engineering department, there is a course that teaches the principles of maintenance and adjustments of the electrical, ignition, fuel, lubricating and cooling systems. Or you can consult the neighborhood mechanical genius who loves nothing better than to get his hooks into the vital parts of someone else’s car, especially if he’s never seen that brand of car before. Free advice is worth what it costs you. You say your car is acting up and you don’t know what’s wrong? I can’t tell you that. But if you ever want to know anything about Volkswagons, just look me up. I’ll be driving the green bug with a “For Sale” sign on it. Revenge on Japan By KAZUO MIKAMI NEW YORK — Japan is coming under increasingly strong economic pressure from the United States and Western Europe. Ostensibly the reason is its huge trade surplus, but two experts think the real cause is animosity and jealousy, stem ming from Japan’s post-war economic suc cess. Herman Kahn, a noted American futorologist, and Thomas Pepper, Japan di rector of the Hudson Institute, a policy research organization, say in a book to be published here in May that the pressure is applied “in part, not out of long run consid erations — but mainly, it seems to us, out of a sense of irritation, frustration, and even revenge. ” Kahn and Pepper say there is an increas ingly widespread feeling in the United States and Western Europe that the Japanese have benefited more than any body from the international trading sys tem, yet have done little to help make it work well. The feeling of irritation is shared — though for quite different reasons — by the Japanese themselves, Kahn and Pepper say. The economists’ book, “The Japanese Challenge: the Success and Failure of Eco nomic Success” (Thomas Y. Crowell), says the Japanese feel they have been very suc cessful in beating the West at its own game, and now the West is trying to change the rules in the middle of the game. “The Japanese believe their success rests on their propensity to work hard, to save and invest huge sums, to apply themselves diligently and creatively, and to be willing to take great risks,” according to Kahn and Pepper. The Japanese, therefore, feel entitled to success, but believe that the West is trying. by sheer force and unfair tactics, to hold them back. Japan has taken unfair advantage of the world trading system, Kahn and Pepper say, by placing, encouraging, or tolerating various explicit and implicit barriers to im ports of manufactured goods. But like it or not, they say, that is either past history or, to the degree that it con tinues today, a much less important part of the overall situation than the current condi tions of excess capacity hanging over the Japanese domestic economy. Partly because of excessive investment 5 to 10 years ago, they say, many Japanese manufacturing plants are relatively modern and there is little possibility they can be scrapped or retired. For this reason also Japanese manufac turers are under great pressure to produce and sell, even at prices below average costs. Japan is a country with high income but a much lower level of accumulated wealth, lagging behind other developed countries in almost every aspect of social infrastruc ture or amenities. Kahn and Pepper suggest what they call a “Yonzenso” plan designed to more than double the “real tangible wealth” of the nation in a decade through large-scale pub lic and private investments in super high ways, housing, education, social welfare and social insurance programs. “Some such program,” they say, “would stand the best chance of solving the short and long-term problems of success now plaguing Japan — sopping up current ex cess capacity, getting private investment moving again, returning the consumer to the market, and reducing the enormous trade surpluses that bedevil Japan’s rela tions with the United States, Europe, and increasingly, other countries in Asia.” Letters to the Editor KK hems, haws Editor: My bicycle was stolen a little over a month ago. When I discovered it was missing the first thing I did was file a report with Uni versity Police. As I left their office they said, “You’d be surprised how many of these bikes we recover.” In light of my experiences this weekend I would indeed be surprised. While jogging Sunday morning I spotted my bike chained to a post beneath the walkway across from a DeWare field house. Again the first thing I ’ did^was report it'to'University Police. I soon. discovere4.iL,\WaSL my v jnisfbrfune to have found the bike on a Sunday morning. After thirty minutes of consultation be tween the dispatcher, an officer and a girlfriend they decided they could not find a record of my theft report. It must be, they concluded, locked up upstairs. No one had a key, and after another thirty minutes of hemming and hawing (which included a trip over to look at the bike) they refused to take any action and suggested I come back Monday morning to talk to the sergeant. Monday morning wasn’t much better. The key to the room with the records was found, but the theft report was not. A list was found tht made mention of my report, but the person who compiled the list (and who also files the reports) had copied down the name of my apartment complex instead of my last name. “He’s about to retire,” explained the woman who was looking for the report. They decided to forget the theft report and after more consultation gathered the bureaucratic courage to take decisive ac tion. Twenty-five hours after I spotted my bicycle we took off to cut the lock. Needless to say, it was no longer there. If I ever see my bicycle again, I will not hesitate to cut the lock off myself and take it home. In the improbable event the thief reports it stolen, I have every confidence that the University Police will never figure out I took it back. I heard a lot of complaints this weekend about how many bikes were stolen from campus. Is it any wonder why? — Jay P. Lukens Graduate student Appreciate peace Editor; Israel and Egypt have achieved an honest peace treaty lately. Some people, though, seem to prefer denouncing it instead of appreciating its enormous values for more than 30 million people who selected peace instead of killing. Actually, this letter is in response to Mr. Amer Sheikh’s April 16 letter. The presi dent of the Texas A&M Muslim Students Association has managed to mislead too many people by writing incorrect facts and wrong ideas. I hope they were only a result of lack of knowledge. First, he bases some of his accusations on UN resolutions which call for Israeli with drawal from all occupied territories. A bet ter survey shows that the 242 Security Council resolution states: “... establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region should include the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from occupied territories in the present conflict...” (Nov. 22, 1967, the UN Monthly Chronicle, December 1967). This is not violated by any means by the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Then, he “proves” that Israel as a coun try, preparing for peace, doesn’t need mili tary aid. I wish there was no need for that. If Israel could count on the other Arab countries to follow Egypt, it would gladly give the money and return occupied areas. Later he talks about the Palestianian problem. Trying to doubt the democracy in Israel, he forgets that there are Palestinian movements in Israel and they are free to express their ideas in public. For example, not long ago a big session was held by Pales tinian students at the Hebrew University at Jerusalem. However, demoncracy doesn’t mean freedom of violence. The only times the army and police forces act, are against violent demonstrations which risk life and peace. (By the way, I wonder whether the Arab countries grant the Jews in their coun tries even a small part of the rights the Palestinians have in Israel.) Finally, reminding justice for Palesti nians, I wonder what solutions he has. How can Israel trust an organization like the PLO to be a good neighbor when those terrorists declare day and night that their target is killing and wounding innocent Is raeli citizens? Maybe they should improve and change their ways and realize that peace cannot be forced with violence. Maybe they should follow some UN basic notions against killing innocent people. Peace can come to the Middle-East by understanding and not fighting. That is the only right way for justice. —Tal Nahir, ’81 Thotz By Doug Graham Let me guess...You bad -to hold down 3 Jobs do pay •for school, work -for chaviTies, -Sell blood, Qnd -v-ake 2.3 Vi ours. Mossy, £o\ipas$ion. .O iKSl—:—3. c Move 5* Pet a spider today Editor: Have you ever wondered why anyone would have a tarantula for a pet, let alone handle it and then call it beautiful? By join ing the American Tarantula Society you’ll soon realize why a tarantula can be such a unique and interesting pet and not the dangerous, if not deadly, spider most be lieve it to be. If anyone would like to know more about the ATS (or even tarantulas) and how to join it, give me a call at 693-4771. —Greg Martin, ’81 Letters to Dr. Miller The Battalion is offering a new reader’s letter section to give students more access to the newspaper and to the University. “Talk with Dr. Miller” is a forum for readers to address questions to the admin istration about University policies and pro cedures. ‘ Questions should be addressed to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, and should specify that they are to be used for this column. Names and phone numbers will be required on all questions and Dr. Miller has the option to decline to answer a ques tion or request others on the staff or faculty to answer it. Questions and answers will be published on the editorial page. Top of the News CAMPUS Filing for committees to begin University committee application forms were made available to students Monday. The Student Activities Office in Room 221 of the MSC has the forms and information about all University committees on which students may serve. Filing ends May 3. Students who have a 2.0 GPR or better and who are in good standing are invited to apply. STATE Court grants Jurek new trial The 5th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals Monday granted a new trial to Texas death row inmate Jerry Lane Jurek, convicted of the Aug. 16, 1973, slaying of a Cuero policeman’s 10-year-old daughter. The ap peals court, by a 2-1 ruling, said Jurek, 22, at the time but mentally immature, was held without contact with his parents or a lawyerfor42 hours and coerced into signing two confessions that were major factors in his conviction. Senator criticizes budget plan The Texas Senate Monday refused to consider one of Gov. Bill Clements’ major proposals for increased control over the state bureau cracy — a plan to give a special budget execution committee authority to reduce appropriations of state departments and agencies. Sen. O.H. Harris, R-Dallas, won a 18-13 margin for the proposed constitutional amendment but fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to debate a measure in the Senate. “This in my view is perhaps the most insidious and dangerous proposal we’ve had before us,’Sen. Chet Brooks, D-Pasadena, said. “I’m afraid the protections we now have would just be washed away.” Ft % NE\ Court jy ml breed they pi of the lishers The NATION Officials preparing for shutdown U.S. nuclear officials, their spirits buoyed because the Three Mile Island nuclear plant has cooled down enough to eliminate the possibil ity of another dangerous bubble, are preparing a timetable to guide the plant to a cold shutdown. Victor Stello, director of operating reactors for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Friday the plant, where America’s worst nuclear accident occurred March 28, will not be brought to a shutdown for at least several days. Stello reported the temperatures in the reactor’s core cooling system dropped 57 degrees to 175 degrees Fahrenheit in 24 hours. It was the first time the coolant had been brought below water’s boiling point. Steelhaulers shot by truck driver Three picketing steelhaulers were hit by a shotgun blast at a truckstop near Youngstown, Ohio, early Monday hut dissident Teamsters vowed to continue the strike unless steelhaulers are allowed to vote on their own on a new contract agreement reached during the weekend. Police in Austintown Township, near Youngstown, said the three pickets were shot by a trucker hauling steel whom they were trying to detain. Police said the unidentified trucker would be charged with felonious assault and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. William E. Evans of Leetonia, Larry C. Greathouse of Warren and Scqtt E. Smith, Hubbard, all in Ohio, were treated for minor injuries and released. ave ment. press ; Men md pr “He gsion i udk l; ibove tion, H ai Wet that ioi lie figi swer q and op tele Tin tes" utes i mind' tary ab thorn libeler WORLD Mother accidently kills daughter A housewife whose husband and 4-year-old daughter were taken hostage and killed in a Palestinian guerrilla raid, accidentally suffo cated her 2-year-old daughter with a pillow while trying to stop her from giving away their hiding place by crying, police sources in Tel Aviv said Monday. An army communique, summing up the pre-dawn raid Sunday on Nahariya, said only “the terrorists took over a flat in an apartment building, where one little girl was killed. But police sources said Samedar Haran apparently cut off her daughter, Taels, oxygen supply as her husband, Danny, pleaded for the life of their 4-year-old, Eynat. The mother was hiding in another room and put a pillow over Yael’s face when she started crying. The guerrillas took the father and Eynat with them when they fled back to the beach where Israeli security forces had found their rubber boat and were waitingfor them. T-shirt meal sustains fishermen Two fishermen recounted Monday how they survived four days in choppy waters by clinging to a wooden crate and eating a T-shirt after Typhoon Cecil sank their boat. The government-owned Philippine News Agency said Aniceto Mangubat and Emelito Pugador were rescued Friday by a fishing boat off Masbate Island, 250 miles south east of Manila. The two men said they were with seven other fishermen in the motor vessel Marina Uno when they were caught in the typ hoon’s 118 mph center winds April 16. “Our boat was literally lifted up and slammed down the sea,” Pugador said. “We just tried to hold on to anything afloat. ” Mangubat had his T-shirt on, which served as food for four days. They ate sparingly, piece by piece, the agency quoted the two survivors as saying during an interview Saturday. Combined reports Monday showed 31 deaths from the typhoon, mostly drown- ings. i WEATHER Partly cloudy and mild with a low in the mid 60’s and a high of 80. Windw will be N-N.E. at 5-10 mph. The Battalion MEMBER LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday through Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor LizNi Managing Editor Andy Wi Asst. Managing Editor Dillard SI Sports Editor SeanPf City Editor RoyBi Campus Editor Keith Tad News Editors Michelle B Karen Cornel Staff Writers DougCi Mark Patterson, KurtAbi Carolyn Blosser, Richard Oli" Judie Port, Diane Blake, Mi Edwards, Lyle Lovett Editorial Directors Karen Scott Pem Cartoonist DougG: Photo Editor Lee Roy Leschper Photographers Lynn Clay Focus section editor BethG Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, supporting enterprise operated by as a university and community Editorial policy is determined by the