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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1981)
I l Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Tuesday April 7, 1981 u is Slouch By Jim Earle “Whenever I get discouraged about how little I’m earning when I figure my taxes, I remind myself that I’m still earning more than Chrysler and Ford combined!” Stockman proposing zero-based services By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — The dictionary de fines “radical” as “going to the foundation or source of something, ” and in that sense the views of budget director David Stockman on the role of government qualify for the word. A couple of weeks ago, asked about the administration’s proposals to end federally financed legal services for the poor, Stock- man said: “I don’t believe that there is any entitle ment, any basic right, to legal services or any other kind of services, and the idea that’s been established over the last 10 “I don't believe that... every service that someone might need in life ought to be provided, financed by the government as a matter of basic right.... We reject that notion. ” years that every service that someone might need in life ought to be provided, financed by the government as a matter of basic right, is wrong. We challenge that. We reject that notion.” Very simply, Stockman has proposed what might be called zero-based govern ment. It brings into question scores of social assumptions that had been accepted in the conduct of government for decades. It should be added that what Stockman said about entitlements and services were not the words of Ronald Reagan, and that is what really counts if any conflict arises. But Stockman said “we” and until someone higher in the government says otherwise, it is reasonable to assume that he is talking about administration policy. Stockman’s declaration appears to go well beyond services that might be called frills. There was no reservation in what he said about untouchable “safety net” prog rams for the elderly, the unemployed, the poor and for military veterans. And indeed the latest reductions did take some nicks out of those programs, the basics of which the president said at least twice would be maintained in the 1982 budget. But what about 1983 and beyond? The National Governors Association, analyzing Reagan’s budget proposals, says if the “safe ty net” programs, national defense and in terest payments are exempt from cuts, the administration will have to make additional reductions averaging 25 percent in each year through 1984 to achieve its planned balanced budget. If that is true, and there is a “shoe that has not yet been dropped” in the long term Stockman budget-cutting strategy, no one can claim after the budget director’s state ment that he had deceived the public. One completely speculative example: What if the administration decides it costs too much to maintain the Interstate High way System with tax dollars and proposes “user fees” — tolls — to pay for keeping the roads in condition? The interstate system was sold to the nation in the 1950s as a super system of highways, always to be free for any user. But that was 30 years ago, and the assump tion that the interstate system always would be free could be inoperative in the 1980s. Does that sound a little farfetched? Perhaps, but Illinois State Sen. Don Tot ten, proposed exactly that solution to inter state highway system maintenance in Washington at a conservative political ac tion conference in March. He got a good round of applause. Warped Invalidate returns immediately Whatever credibility the spring elec tions ever had has now been shattered. Last week, denial of the vote to graduat ing seniors resulted in the invalidation of many results. That was only the first fiasco in what looks like an attempt to see who can foul things up the most. ★First, the Student Government Judi cial Board tried to redeem whatever credi bility the spring elections had lost by void ing the races in which graduating seniors were barred from voting. Unfortunately for the J-board, Student Government and the elections, that effort failed when Board Chairman Paul Betten court opted to hold the four-hour meeting behind closed doors. That meeting — a breach of the J-board’s own goals of “due process, justice and openness” — was enough to damage the already-shaken cre dibility of this spring’s elections. And the reasoning for closing the meet ing is the most absurd we’ve yet heard from the cloak-and-dagger crowd in Student Government. That reasoning: “To keep the burden off the members of the board when they are formulating their opinion.” The J-board’s job is to form opinions — how can we trust their judgment when we Sidebars By Dillard Stone know neither the facts being presented nor the rationale behind their conclusions? ★ It now turns out that the Election Com mission’s credibility — and thus the credi bility of the election itself — has been blown away by a whirlwind of security breaches on election results. Some stu dents outside the races and outside Student Government have said they knew the unre leased election results. Election Commission members have been flapping their mouths without careful ly considering who their audience might be. That’s obvious. One student who said he had been told some results approached The Battalion with what he knew, offering to sell the results. That’s incredible. ★ Even more incredible is J-board Chair man Paul Bettencourt’s unpardonable ve ture into breach-of-ethics land: Bettencoir was also a candidate for Off-Campus Aggit president. He was a candidate in the vet election he was in charge of certifying. Bettencourt could have avoided the« flict, since J-board bylaws provide fori member to excuse himself voluntani should there be a conflict of interest. In this case, there was a conflict c terest, yet Bettencourt still ran the J-boa proceedings — behind closed dc Maybe Bettencourt wanted that one exercising of what limited judicial powe he’s got before his term was over. But ing an ego isn’t enough justification ford ing into doubt the results of an election. The only way to restore any credibility!! the electoral process is to invalidate tk entire election ... NOW! Otherwise, tit election isn’t the Spring Circus anymort it’s the Spring Farce — and it would raon than befit the election’s conduct if student were to laugh it off the record. It shouldn’t take a sledgehammer hitij our heads to tell us there’s something (b tically wrong with the election process, Will we continue to beat ourselves uni! we re senseless? OKppss ©fl3l P/CUlv&>7ju0<Jr€L The Hoi team will n stars in G. i tonight at' Scheduh we: Mike 1 rick, Ron Mauek, Mil rile, Tim Neilsen. Th signing aul time, and laken durin The Ag] includes Ur fy personal The bas sored by th. It’s your turn Direction change due to policies Editor: Dillard Stone, in his editorial of March 30, stated that conservativism and tradition might keep Texas A&M from becoming what it could be and that “progress and tradition are on a collision course with des tiny.” He also cites President Rudder’s break with tradition and its results. An examination of the facts leaves very little support for his seemingly blind attack on all tradition. If there is any reason for considering any change of direction at Texas A&M it can reasonably be confined to administrative and academic policy and not the students’ traditions. President Rudder did away with com pulsory military training and restrictions on admitting women, two things which clearly stood in the way of the growth and develop ment Aggies had chosen as a goal for A&M. Any suggestion that the remaining Aggie traditions such as Muster, Silver Taps, the Twelfth Man, and others adversely affect the progress of A&M is absolutely ridicu lous in view of the facts. Texas A&M, in the span of a few years, grew from a small state college into one of the leading universities in the country with many of its programs ranking among the best in the nation and its enrollment more than doubling. This rapid progress is no thing short of astounding and continues un abated. The question is, what made this remarkable progress possible? What forged the tremendous devotion and dedication that was needed to accomplish such a feat? As even Mr. Stone notes, it was tradition. Texas A&M’s traditions fostered the needed sense of dedication, unity, and de votion that continues to fuel rapid growth and progress and, at the same time, brings Aggies national acclaim for their spirit and sense of togetherness. This unity among many differing group! is the real basis of the “Aggie Spirit” whicl has accomplished so much. The only thin! our traditions keep us from becoming ii complacent, uncaring, and ordinary aw the way to insure A&M’s continued progre ssion into a “truly great” University is notto blindly follow a policy of change for the sak of change but to stop worrying about whether we are non-regs, CTs, Greeks, non-Greeks, etc. and concentrate on tht traditions that bring us all together» Aggies so that they may continue creatinf the spirit that has proven itself to be at integral part of the growth, progress, and uniqueness of Texas A&M. R. S. Hilliard By Scott McCullar The Battalion ISPS MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Dillard Stone Managing Editor Angelique Copeland Asst. Managing Editor. .... !. Todd Woodard City Editor Debbie Nelson Asst. City Editor Marcy Boyce Photo Editor Greg Gammon Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff Asst. Focus Editor Susan Hopkins News Editors Venita McCellon, Scot K. Meyer StaffWriters.' Carolyn Barnes, Jane G. Brust, Terry Duran, Bemie Fette, Cindy Gee, Phyllis Henderson, Kathleen McElroy, Belinda McCoy, Kathy O’Connell, Richard Oliver, Denise Richter, Rick Stolle Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers Chuck Chapman Brian Tate EDITORIAL POUCY The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-Col/ege Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi ty administrators or Acuity members, or of the Board of 0-15 Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper^ students in reporting, editing and photography das# 1 within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matt# should be directed to the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. Tt* editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for styled length, but will make every effort to maintain the author intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the addres* and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and V* not subject to the same length constraints as letters Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, Th* Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fe® and spring semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.Zo per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rate* furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Build ing, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 United Press International is entitled exclusively to th* use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to i] Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843'
