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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1980)
Industry spokesmen: Chronic ills affecting steel manufacturers by JAMES A. WHITE United Press International NEW YORK — Most American businesses can look on the recession like a hangover — it will quickly pass. Not so for the steel industry. The economic slump certainly will cut domestic steel ship ments 10 percent, possibly 15-20 percent, this year. Even after recovery, steel’s problems will remain. The industry’s weak ness is chronic, with any real cure years away. So said steel executives at the industry’s annual meeting sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute last week in New York. The message was not new-—just more strident in placing the blame for steel’s woes on Washington rather than Pittsburgh. While foreign governments seemingly do nothing but help their steelmakers, steelmen contend, Washington constantly hurts domestic producers by allowing unfairly priced imports, requiring tough environmental standards and taxing away the money the industry needs to rebuild itself. The result, they say, has been the loss of 100,000 domestic jobs over the last decade and the prospect over the next decade that the United States will become as dependent on foreign steel as it is today on foreign oil. “There seems to be a widespread misconception — a mis conception evidently shared by some, not all, of the present administration — that these trends are somehow magically going to reverse themselves overnight,” said U.S. Steel Chair man David M. Roderick in the keynote speech to 1,000 steel executives. The “some, not all” was added to Roderick’s prepared text to soften the condemnation of the Carter administration. But steel executives overall did little to mask displeasure with Washington that time was being lost in taking the corrective steps needed to revitalize the industry. The industry believes it needs to spend $7 billion a year in the 1980s to get out of its slump, compared with its $2.9 billion annual average in the last decade. A forthcoming Washington study on steel’s needs is expected to fix a lower price tag. U.S. producers say they have to catch up with the new investment made by foreign makers. “Our problem with technology is not knowing what to do but in having the resources to do it,” said William E. Dennis, vice president of AISI, the industry’s chief trade association. The U.S. industry, he said, “has been liquidating itself due to the fact that depreciation and net income has been inadequate over a decade to replace capacity.” The problem feeds on itself. “The current image of the industry as being low in profitability, capital-starved and a government whipping boy does not make it an attractive place for bright young people to pursue a career,” Dennis said. Steel’s research investment also has been deflected in favor of projects that promise a shorter-run payoff ' fM r RN '•'> <■—; Some steelmen think the means are at hand to increase efficiency. “The industry must find ways to do a better job with what it has and that means it must focus its attention not on invest ment in new equipment but rather on more efficient use of people,” said S. Edward Renner, vice president of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp. Researchers from Canada’s Dominion Foundries and Steel Ltd. said the industry can reduce its energy consumption by 30 percent if it puts today’s best know-how to work. Whatever the industry does on its own, Lewis W. Foy, who shortly will step down as chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corp., and other executives feel it won’t be enough without help from Washington. “Unless things change, the worst is yet to come,” Foy warned. “It’s a bleak outlook but it may be inevitable unless the government acts.” Viewpoint The Battalion Wednesday Texas A&M University May 28, 1980 Hov fort Texas A& I have a thre I session. Registrati I 12 noon. Cl i The regis registering i — Secure istration pae Political system is the only viable solution to problems ofminoritk by ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — The day before the riots began in Miami, the NAACP in New York announced a $500,000 prog ram to register and get young blacks to the polls this year. The two events are mentioned together because they have a connection. From everything that has been said and written about Miami, it appears that blacks there have little leadership and even less political clout. It would be foolish to say that there would have been no riot in Miami had the blacks there been more powerful politically. But it is almost sure that many of the complaints of Miami blacks would have been dealt with had they wielded more influence in and on government. This is not civics book theory. It is based on fact. Blacks in other cities — from Atlanta, Detroit, Newark and Los Angeles for four—have pooled their political power and gotten results. Those results included the election of black mayors, but more than that they included a voice, often for the first time, in the way those cities are run and in the distribution of public resources. Perhaps more to the point, they frequently brought reform of police departments and their dealings with minor ities. It is obvious that the problems of disadvantaged people in this country cannot be solved solely by political action. It will take far more than the election of blacks to public office to solve the economic, educational, health, housing and social prob lems of the nation’s minorities. It will take among other things, intelligently planned, efficiently operated public programs and a lot of money over a long period of time to make them work. During the 1960s, it was shown that the majority can It shamed, cajoled or even frightened into providing some minorities. But when the pressure is eased, the peter out. More riots might start them up again, might trigger even harsher repression. , The political system provides the one legitimate way It commit the country to long range solutions of social pro! People who use their voting power to reward their friends ml punish their enemies in this country usually get what te want. Using the vote is considered the smart way town That is what the NAACP is trying to impress on young black in its registration and get-out-the-vote effort. It made da from the start that the purpose of its campaign goes beyoi simply signing up a lot of new voters —it wants to countertli pressure now being applied on Congress to balance thefeden budget at the expense of social programs. Said Benjamin Hooks, executive director of the NAACf, “The largest group of unregistered potential voters in country today are our nation’s youth. Our political actio; program therefore will specifically focus on registering mi educating them and getting them to the polls. “In effect, we will create a massive new army of voters wk will answer those legislators who vote against their intereslii the new budget.” Many politicians won’t be impressed by Hooks’ words to P n P resi (1 year. But if the NAACP succeeds in building a voting blocd r enin & young blacks in 1980, you can be sure attention will bepaidii the next election year. — Report t main floor oi to be taken — Report the main flo — Report — Report — Turn i station, 212 -secoi — Begin < Students registration i tional late re The last d June 5. Nixi op United Pi WASHING'] ite tapes, th lit eventual! At9 a.m. to ives was sch 1-booth listi Americans' marriages to autos are not headed for divorce court imencans, o irve basis, ai ie voices of her White H lotted to cov lemocratic N /the so-calle lers unit. by DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — While economic and energy conditions appear largely to blame for the current slump in new car sales, gossips are whispering that America’s love affair with the auto mobile is going sour. I never stoop to talebearing myself. But if you find Lee lacocca writing to Ann Landers, you’ll know the affair is at least temporarily on the rocks. Oh, well, it was swell while it lasted. Fabulous, in fact. As celebrated in song and story, America’s love affair with the automobile was so deep and abiding not even the Edsel could put it asunder. What’s to blame for the rift? As is so often the case when you come to the end of an affair, you can’t really single out any one thing as causing romance to fade. Some experts in matters of the heart say the automobile had become less sensitive to America’s needs and begun to take its lover for granted. Other counselors in human-auto relations suggest that for too long America was too blinded by love to recognize its adored one’s faults. Now, having finally discovered the automobile was less than perfect, America feels betrayed. There was a certain amount of immaturity in America’s infatuation, they say. America needs to grow up and put aside its foolish fancies and accept the automobile for what it is. If these are the reasons for the estrangement, it’s as much These are th le cover-up i ney General Jc one’s fault as the other’s. Maybe it isn’t too late to patch thinji ji advisers I up. A trial separation may be the wisest course. That way can see how they they get along without each other perhaps be more willing to take each other back. Both should see lawyers and try to work out an amicablt settlement. While these situations are always messy, muchol ours and will ohn Ehrlichn Nixon later £ lad burned th The 31 tape; from 9 a.m issions range: the strain and heartache can be ameliorated if financial bitter ness can be avoided. After all, America has been supporting the automobile for lours. Record years. It certainly would not be fair, now that the bloom is of Id, but listen the rose, for America simply to cast the automobile aside like [ Archives spc an old shoe and leave it to shift for itself. lid the tapes In Chrysler’s case, Congress has approved a program of Juality, and p< government-guaranteed loans, but I should think Simon) would be more equitable and appropriate. Even if they aren’t hitting it off too well these days, ljust can’t believe America and the automobile are headed for Splitsville — not after all they have been through together. It sounds more as if America were in a mid-life crisis, casting goo-goo eyes at bicycles, subways and just about anything else that moves. Well, the automobile is more than just another pretty con veyance. Eventually, I trust, America will come to its senses and realize it and the automobile were made for each other, If not, let’s hope they can at least still be friends. mewhat disa Officials at t an inn o Marijuana Harvard researchers offer advice on its use by PATRICIA McCORMACK United Press International Kids do more than play in the “grass” around the schoolhouse. A lot are already beyond experimenting with marijuana — about one-sixth between the ages of 12 and 17 are “users.” Among high school seniors, about 10 percent admit daily pot use. Questions about the risks of marijuana to adolescents — and pre-adolescents — are coming up more frequently these days, says June’s “Harvard Medical School Health Letter,” because younger kids are using the stuff now and larger amounts are being used. “Only in the past 15 years has marijuana become a truly common recreational drug,” the Health Letter said. “By 1977, some 43 million Americans had tried marijuana and over 16 million used the drug regularly.” What will be the effect on the physical and mental health of this young genera tion? Will America itself grow soft as a re sult of pot? “Little is known about marijuana’s long term effects on children and adoles cents,” the Harvard experts said in the newsletter edited by Dr. C. Timothy Johnson and put out by the Medical School’s Department of Continuing Edu cation in Cambridge, Mass. “Thus, their widespread use of the drug is a form of mass self-experimentation. “Even if marijuana proves to have few or no adverse effects on the health of young people, the time they spend ‘high’ is time that could be spent in normal learning and physical activity. Growing up should be as drug-free as possible.” The Harvard experts said research over the last 10 years leads to these recommen dations to parents who wish to discourage their kids from using marijuana: 1. Limit access to the drug. If a school or other area becomes identified as a source of supply, parents can take action to change matters. 2. Since peers are the major influence on youngsters’ use of drugs, encourage friend ships with non-using companions to reduce both the incentive and the chance to in dulge. 3. At least delaying a child’s experience with marijuana is probably worthwhile. The later someone begins to use the drug, the less likely he or she is to become heavily involved. Often, use tapers off spon taneously by age 25. 4. Parents ought to think about their own approach to drink and drugs. Kids whose parents have relatively casual attitudes to ward these things are more likely than others to become involved with drugs. Can parents make their kids marijuana- proof? The Harvard experts, ranging from pediatricians to psychiatrists and neurolog ists, say: “Parents protect their children from drug use by being close to them, remaining actively involved with them and their friends, supporting their self-esteem, and expressing high expectations for achieve ment in school.” So what if your school child in such a supportive family takes up pot? There’s not much parents can do, the Harvard experts say. Parents often are not able to help the kid kick the habit. But in the case of marijuana the use is likely to wind down of its own accord in a few years. Should you throw the kid out of the house? Get a divorce? Engage in a psycho drama and blame your mate? “It is probably not productive to let mari juana become ammunition in the war be tween the generations or to treat ex perimentation as a catastrophe,” the Har vard experts said. They advise parents in such a fix to keep some perspective about drugs. “Just because tobacco and alcohol are more familiar does not mean that they are safer than marijuana,” they said. “They are a very real threat to health at every age. Marijuana is still a somewhat uncertain factor, and it may have serious drawbacks, but it does not threaten lifelong severe addiction in the way that cigarettes do. “Nor is it as toxic as alcohol. However, these conclusions should not lead to the conclusion that marijuana is safe.” Other points by the Harvard experts: — No convincing report has yet been published to show that marijuana perma- Guest viewpoints, in addition to Letters to the Editor, are welcome. All pieces submitted to Readers’ forum should be: nently damages the brain. It would not be surprising if there were some effect from heavy, prolonged use, but the weight of the evidence, at the moment, suggests that there is none. — During the “high”, marijuana causes the heart to beat faster and work harder. Although this effect is insignificant in heal thy people, it may be a hazard for anyone with heart disease. — Production of the male hormone tes tosterone and of sperm can be reduced by marijuana, although the effects appear to be temporary and reversible. Effects on females are less well studied but it appears marijuana is capable of disturbing the menstrual cycle. — Young people who are depressed and have low expectations for themselves — and whose parents expect little of them — are more likely than others to make heavy use of marijuana. Heavy use may be a symptom of depression and low self-esteem rather than the cause. • Typed triple space • Limited to 60 characters per line • Limited to 100 lines Readers’ Forum United P the small society by Briclcman WeLL, 'S/WP W^ULP D6 A 01960 King Features Syndicate. Inc. World rights reserved. The Battalion U S P S 045 360 NEWYORI rust Co. Tue te two points ie key lendi vel since th( amped its r ctober. Morgan, tin immercial ba stitution to te. Other bi£ 2-point cuts t( At the sanif tank of Chica) ation, also ci entfrom IStA o., a relative ®nk, reducer ftit from 14V The prime large their rr •mere, has b pril when it lit highest in The decline igns that a < Session will ation rate, a toingintere: to recession E laxed its r tance adopte 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. 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United Press International is entitled exclusively to ^ 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 M MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Dillard Stone City Editor Rusty Cawley Sports Editor Richard Olivei News Editor Lynn Blanco o Pass ID Staff Writers Uschi Michel-Howe! Debbie Nelson, Cathy Saathoff, Scot I Meyer, Jon Heidtke While Photo Editor Lee Roy LeschperJr 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,sill' supporting enterprise operated by student! as a university and community newspaper Editorial policy is determined by the edlW 201 Cc 84e