( / EITHER SHOVEL SNOW OFfr C) ^ R SOLAR
PANELS OR GET ME MORE ANTI-NUKE
PAMPHLETS TO BURN.-.I'M FaEE2lNI>f
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C5r rah
Opinion
Nuclear report card
good, but not great
The Kemeny Commission s report on the Three Mile
Island nuclear accident is a breath of fresh air in a controver
sy that more often resembles a street skirmish than a crucial
national debate.
Among the findings:
— The fact no member of the general public has been
injured by nuclear power in the past 25 years of nuclear
plant operation has made the utility industry too casual
about the potential risks.
— No one was discernibly injured from the extremely low
levels of radiation released at Three Mile Island.
— The principal ill effects on humans was “mental stress”
caused in part by misinformation put out by government
officials involved.
— There was no imminent danger of a hydrogen bubble
explosion as mistakenly reported by those reponsible for
assessing the status of the nuclear plant emergency.
To us, some things seem clear:
If the nuclear energy business is to survive in this coun
try, it will have to improve its construction and design
methodology and pay closer attention to safety.
However, despite the risks, the nuclear power industry
still has a good record. It would be a mistake to close down
13 percent of this country’s power generating capacity,
either by a legislated national moratorium or as a result of an
unjustified national hysteria.
Bangor, Maine, Daily News
the small society
by Brickman
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The Battalion
u s p S 045 360
LETTERS POLICY
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Liz Newlin
Managing Editor Andy Williams
Asst. Managing Editor Dillard Stone
News Editors Karen Cornelison
and Michelle Burrowes
Sports Editor Sean Petty
City Editor Roy Bragg
Campus Editor Keith Taylor
Focus Editors Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers Meril Edwards, Nancy
Andersen, Louie Arthur, Richard Oliver,
Mark Patterson, Carolyn Blosser, Kurt
Allen, Debbie Nelson, Rhonda Watters
Photo Editor Lee Roy Leschper Jr.
Photographers Lynn Blanco, Sam
Stroder, Ken Herrera
Cartoonist Doug Graham
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
Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-
supporting enterprise operated by students
as a university and community newspaper.
Editorial policy is determined by the editor.
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Friday
November 9, 1979
Dick We st
New book with ‘postdated hindsi$
takes a look back at tumultous M
ContiniL
ep up witz
lined that
rs behincz
its tajcz
ablishes i«
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — If you sometimes
find yourself feeling nostalgic about the fu
ture, a couple of new books may help you
recapture the good old days that are yet to
be.
— Political apathy countered by giving
away toasters to voters.
— Evelyn Wood, the speedreading
pioneer, offering television fans courses in
speedviewing.
One is called “The ’80s: A Look Back at
the Tumultous Decade 1980-1989. ” In the
$6.95 soft cover edition, it devotes 264
pages to wistful reminiscences about the
years just ahead.
The other tilt of the time frame is pro
vided by Robert Orben, a professional
humor consultant and former gagwriter for
Red Skelton, Jack Paar, Dick Gregory and
Gerald Ford.
The authors, three New Yorkers blessed
with postdated hindsight, sentimentally
recall such impending developments as:
— America’s first solar electric chair.
— Kidnap victims becoming legal tender
in Italy.
He reports that everything funny about
the 1980 presidential campaign has already
been written.
Orben, who has composed enough quips
to fill 44 books, claims all the comical
aspects of next year’s race are covered in his
latest collection, “2,500 Jokes To Start ‘Em
Laughing.” It provides wisecracks about
the spring primaries, one-liners that antici
pate the summer nominating conventions,
jests about Harold Stassen and so on.
In cases where the butts of the jokes
haven’t been determined, Orben has con
veniently left blank spaces. Anyone
wishing to make a mark as a political wit
need only fill in the blanks with appropriate
names.
Here, for example, is your basic New
Hampshire primary joke: “With (Blank),
(Blank) and (Blank) on the ballot, this could
be the first primary in history where every
body runs second.”
Here’s your basic drunk candidate joke:
“(Blank) is really looking forward to work
ing the New England circuit. He thinks it’s
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermouth.”
Here’s your basic liberal candidate joke:
“(Blank) is trying to eliminate
which is ridiculous. That’s all
have left.”
Here’s your basic convention:
just applied for a job as (Blank's)!
speechwriter. It’s not much wort)
steady.”
And here’s your basic dumb
joke: “(Blank) has got more braiii|
entire head than you’ve gotinyt
finger. ”
Be advised, however, that son*|
1980 campaign gags had grown
before the book was published. F«|
pie: “The (blank) campaign folded!
they named a beach chair after it I
When I visited the seashore fel
mer, I saw Lowell Weicker beachd|
over the place.
s spring,
| fall befor -
lity tax stafc
npany h«-
yment is cr
‘‘We can’t
1 he credi -*
high city en*
of office
)ut of 500
ere are 7’’
pual turno
l percent
ep up with,
pstry, anc
fining schc>'
ptor, he ad
“It becc
An er
V
• * t
«■>>., :
By RIC
When it n
lege Station
than usually ;
p night.
; The couno
Petition sign
ion resident
Sleeting citin
age channels
I The petitic
■k of main
nainage syst
tally the Sc
lan Circle ;
teas as be
boding.
ale Wagn
:nt, addresi
'blem, sayi
iVization of t
particuk
Valley distric
“It’s not cor
ndy Circle
jagner said,
teekor one b
ns everywl
pblems.
Washington
Inflation: nation s No. 1 problem
with no easy solutions for Carter
“The city d
onsibility i
n’t claim re
esponsibility
Mayor Pr
loved the cc
ver to the cii
By HELEN THOMAS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Carter
keeps saying that the rate of inflation will
be going down by the end of the year. But
he does not explain the reasons for his
optimism.
Carter meets with his economic advisers
on an average of once a week. He has pri
vately indicated on several occasions that
he is disappointed with the advice he has
been getting. In fact, economists as a group
are not currently his most favorite people.
Carter has succeeded in getting the na
tion’s labor leaders to pinpoint inflation as
the nation’s No. 1 problem. But there are
no dramatic moves or magic answers as
Americans dip into their savings and worry
about a recession.
The experts are saying it could taper off
from 13.2 percent to about 12 percent with
some declines in food and energy prices.
Carter has adamantly and consistently
ruled out controls, asserting they have not
worked in the past.
The president has backed up Federal
Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker’s
tight money policies that have practically
closed out the money markets. The presi
dent also says he does not agree with Volc-
ker that Americans are going to have to
make big sacrifices in their lifestyle.
Carter has dampened talk about a possi
ble tax cut next year on grounds that it
would exacerbate inflation. But some
sources believe that it is not completely
ruled out.
Inflation fighter Alfred Kahn, who took
over with such a bang, charming Washing
ton with his glib remarks, calling inflation
“bananas, ” has slipped into the background
except for an occasional speech. He is a
professor who has said at the outset that he
can always go back to Cornell.
Barry Bosworth, deputy administrator
for the Wage-Price Council, quit to return
to the Brookings Institute. Bosworth did
not make any points with the White House
when he refused to rule out mandatory
wage and price controls as a possibility at
some future point.
Meantime, the White House seems to
be pleased with the team of Miller and
Volcker, having dumped former Treasury
Secretary Michael Blumenthal who rub
bed Carter aides the wrong way. The Geor
gia clique considered Blumenthal an elitist
who did not fit into their circle.
Sometimes, Cabinet officials finally
speak their mind when they are cleaning
out their desks and ready to depart. Such
was the case of Juanita Kreps, who has
resigned as secretary of commerce.
Kreps revealed that althoughshek I
a major federal department that deal I
all aspects of business, she wasff "
from the top economic policy i
the White House. She was assured! K
not a “sexist” thing. On the other |
valid reason was given to deny herai I
the administration’s top-strata ec« P
policy making.
She apparently does not intends i
to her teaching post at Duke Uni« |
although her previous positions d
chancellor and professor are still tin [
her. Instead, she feels that a loti f
lessons in economics she once I
longer hold true.
In many ways. Carter apparent!)
the same way as he searches for ans* t
the scourge of inflation which plagi* |
ery American household.
Letters
New service open to qualifying Ags:
Cars towed for a bargain rate of $55
Editor:
As Aggies and devoted Thursday night
Lakeview patrons, we feel obligated to
warn all other fellow Lakeview Ags of the
perils of A-l Wrecker Service. Yes, you
read it right — A-l has expanded its service
from their existing Skaggs Parking Lot
Branch in College Station to a Bryan
Branch located on Tabor Road (Home of
Dennis Ivy and The Waymen).
This highly personalized service, now
available for the low, low price of only $55,
begins with a friendly and understanding
Department of Public Safety Trooper who
will personally call in the professional A-l
Towing Staff without even having to dis
turb the lucky victim’s dancing fun.
To qualify for this service, all that is re
quired is 1) a car 2) a roadway 3) a rear tire
touching the the roadway shoulder and last
but not least 4) a bored Department of
Public Safety Trooper.
If you are lucky enough to fill the above
requirments you are now eligible for the
benefits available to you by the considerate
and well-educated crew of the A-l Wrecker
Service — and your car will be towed away
for the bargain price of only $35 ($55 Total
— $20 for the Ticket and $35 for the tow-
in). No Visa, Master Charge, Bank-
Americards, or checks accepted.
The most exciting part of this rapidly
expanding service is returning to the spot
where your car was parked. At this point,
the lucky female victims must learn to use
their charms to procure a safe ride home or
fall victim to the now drunk Lakeview Pat
rons. Happily enough, however, most
Lakeview Patrons are “Good Ags” and the
female victims are safely escorted to their
homes by three handsome Aggies. So ends
an expensive night out to Lakeview.
Now, all joshing aside, the facts were: 1)
Three female Aggies parked along side Ta
ber Road 2) A DPS trooper ticketed the
vehicle and had it towed away for having
the right rear tire one inch on the shoulder
3) Three female Aggies were left stranded
without a car.
Our questions are: 1) Was it so difficult
for the DPS to simply notify the Lakeview
owner that a maroon Thunderbird would
be towed away if not moved? 2) Is it more
dangerous to have a car’s right rear tire
parked one inch on the roadway shoulder
or is it more dangerous to leave three
women stranded without a vehicle,
out I.D.’s and without money oni
deserted road?
We, the three female Aggies, sub®!
letter to hopefully save other Aggi“"
and their sanity. We hope you
“have” to be “picked up” at Lakeviel
— Judi Puli'I
Editor’s note: This letter was accomp-"
by two other signatures.
THOTZ