Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1981)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Monday April 20, 1981 Slouch By Jim Earle ‘Oops! Sorry, I forgot about your sunburn By DAVID S. BRODER WASHINGTON — I have a book I want to recommend to you today — a marvelous, breezy book that, among other things, will give you a fascinating prism thrgugh which to view American L ,politics in the.’80s. But first, a disclosure of interest, as the lawyers say, is required. “The Nine Nations of North America,” which is being published next month by Houghton Mifflin Co., was written by a friend and colleague of mine at the Washington Post named Joel Garreau. But I can tell you honestly that, while my con nection with the author gave me an advance look at the book, my commments would be no different if I did not know the man. What Garreau has done is to look again at the map of North America with a fresh and observant eye, and say, “Forget what the maps in the atlas show. Here is where the borders are really drawn.” His “nine nations” jump state and even national lines. Mexamerica includes Mex ico and much of the southwestern United States. Ecotopia runs along the Pacific shoreline from northern California through British Columbia to Alaska. The Islands in clude not just the Caribbean but Miami and southern Florida. Parts of Canada — Prime Minister Trudeau won’t like this — are found in six different “nations,” one of them called Quebec. What is most intriguing to me, as an observer of government, is the way in which Garreau’s bold recasting of our con ventional geography suddenly illuminates puzzling phenomena in our politics. We did not have to wait for this particular author — a red-bearded goat farmer (another bit of inside information) — to come along in order to learn that regional forces play an important part in American politics. All of our history and election sta tistics testify to the fact. But it had not occurred to me until I read his book how many of the seeming anoma lies of current politics are a result of con temporary boundaries. As an example, I can do no better than quote Garreau on “the misleading idea” called Colorado. “Colorado is clearly two different places,” he writes. “The eastern half, which is flat, fertile agricultural land, and the western half, which rises dramatically in the suburbs of Denver to become the Rocky Mountains. “Back when there were few people to speak of in the territory and it didn’t make much difference, Colorado was boxed off into a neat, perfect rectangle, and now the idea it represents has been around long enough to become ^elf-pdf petuajSng. Peo ple speak and think<^f Colorado ai one iden tifiable place, despite abundant^vidence to the contrary .... “That does not, however, make the idea useful. Take the farm protest movement that in the late ’70s resulted in thousands of tractors blocking the traffic of downtown Washington, D.C. It was born of frustra tion . . . that no one cared about the farm- existence, no one was listening. Warped GOP unity: It comes and goes By ME Bal I'Two facu A&M’s Coll New book shows where we reallv live “That frustration did not first manifest itself in the heartland of Iowa or Nebraska. The American Agriculture Movement was born in the wheat fields of eastern Col orado. “That’s not much of a surprise. If any farmer was likely to be mad as hell, it would be he who sent his taxes to Denver, despite that capital’s obvious interest in loosening its agrarian ties. Denver’s great pride today is its shedding of the label ‘cowtown.’ As Denver flourishes (it’s been called the nest ing place of the forty-story crane), it clearly cares less and less about wheat. Denver sees its future in the oil, coal, gas, uranium, copper, molybdenum, and snow to its mountainous, winter-scoured west. De nver is the capital of, and the staging area for the assault on, the Empty Quarter — the most mineral-rich of the Nine Nations. The irrigated farm country to its east is rightfully part of a completely different na tion — the Breadbasket. ” That kind of flash of insight — and flashy writing — occurs all through the book. Texas, it turns out, is a battleground being fought over by the leaders of three nations, Dixie, the Breadbasket and Mexamerica. New England — the only place where Gar reau finds conventional political boundaries meaningful — is also a place whose culture and politics are shaped by the fact that “the progeny of the oppressed (factory and sweatshop workers) are identifying with the economic and ecological ideas of the prog eny of the oppressors.” The temptation to go on quoting is almost irresistible. Let me just say this: “Nine Na tions” is a book to read if you want to find out where you really live. By STEVE GERSTEL United Press International WASHINGTON — As he has been much of the time since the elections, Senate Re publican leader Howard Baker was ex uberant. In a series of votes on the crucial budget resolution, Republicans displayed a “re markable” unity which blocked the Demo crats’ efforts to restore funds for a variety of programs. “I can’t remember Republicans, or for that matter Democrats, ever sticking together so long,” Baker enthused. If it soothes assistant Senate Democratic leader Sen. Alan Cranston to say that the Republicans really trampled the poor, the old, the hungry and the sick, fine. Maybe that is the bottom line. But in purely political terms, the Repub licans consistently clobbered the Demo crats with a degree of party unity that has become increasingly rare in recent times. The bellwether vote probably came on an amendment by Sen. John Chafee of Rhode Island, a liberal Republican. Chafee put together a package of nearly $1 billion in additions that included educa tion, energy assistance, mass transit, health and urban development. The Chafee amendment had a great deal of appeal. A big plus was sponsorship by a Republican. But the amendment also had the lure of allowing senators to get on the record — at least once — on the side of social and wel fare programs. Although assistant Republican leader Ted Stevens later said “I didn’t have to ask anyone not to leave us” on that vote or others, there was considerable concern. A close vote was considered strong enough a possibility so that Vice President George Bush was dispatched to Capitol Hill in the event of a tie. And this was no ordin ary day — this was two days after President Reagan had been shot and, in many ways. Bush was running the day-to-day opera tions of the government. But the Republicans — or at least most of them — held. When the roll call was over, the amend ment had been easily defeated 59-40. For ty-two Republicans, or 79 percent, voted against Chafee. Eleven, or 21 percent, sup ported the amendment. The Chafee amendment could still have won — if the Democrats could have match- _ in separ; Certainly.Bjovative, ig ir ded. John Ho nure and [ lessor in ssociat ed the Republicans’ unity was a type amendment very muchiit^ecessary ii with Democrats. er, they But Democrats could provide votes (63 percent) while 17 (37 pei almost all Southerners and Westi sided with the Republicans. The display of party unity, on during consideration of the budget tion, bodes well for President Reaj his economic program — if it hold; Although no one expects total IJamuaill forever or even very long, the t “J neve showed surprisingly quickly. a L ny/f >_ a When the Senate Budget Com* met to approve the fiscal 1982 buMbased C only days after the end of the floor acfc: cellenct three Republicans joined Democratsl scuttle the resolution 12-8, the firstiiM ve ^ defeat for Reagan’s economic prograrl iwni th The three — Grassley of Iowa, Syiai teacher Idaho and Armstrong of Colorado-ET , considered staunch conservatives wkr!(P a ject to the size of the deficit. evaluatl There always has been suspicion ijT Reagan’s problems in Congress Jtry departn come eventually from the right. fee] that (r What is surprising is that it camesosspajor role ly after Baker was basking in victor) \^ 0n * Hogg sa larch and jntributec ion, his ually rec | On the lived bef fuire, the i rsonnel ; ote: “D: 'ell-fundei by both ii fork. His :ounts, o Idition, hi Scant servi the Organ dergradi William hired as ar lexas A&h in 1970 an< years later, an above-a teaching e 1 ve never est rated I departmen hons.” Bassichi; It’s your turn Iranian captor-students irresponsible Apologies due Editor: In regards to Mr. Mostafavi’s letter on April 14, we would like to make a few com ments on behalf of the so-called childish irresponsible students of the “Highway 6 mentality. ” 1. We don’t believe that Mr. Queen was invited as an expert on Iranian affairs, but as an ex-hostage. He was to relate his experi ences while giving pertinent background information. 2. We acknowledge his feelings towards Iran, but how would you feel after being held hostage, or should we say P.O.W.? You referred to some students as giving a childish and hostile reaction. How do you compare hisses to kidnapping an entire embassy? Was that not “childish?” We love our country and were shocked at this act of aggression. It will take a long time to recov er mentally from this terrorism. 3. Next he commented on this being an institute of higher learning. We recall the captors in Iran were also students. Old Glory was burned and our president called a devil by Khomeini. This is not a way to make friends with America. In regards to Highway 6, Mr. Mostafavi, it does indeed run both ways (hint). Mark Stubbs ’82 Martin Mueller ’84 Editor: There are times in life when we are placed in most unpleasant situations. The worst of these involve matters of life and death. At 9:30 last Thursday night, as I pulled on to University heading west from South College, I nearly struck a young woman walking across the street. To whom ever she was, I apologize and wish I would say this in person. In circumstances as this, can a finger be pointed at a party; identifying them as the guilty party? I was not speeding or racing, nor would anyone cross a street without looking first. When she looked, I may have not yet turned on to University. I could not see her for a car ahead of me in the next lane. Every good story, not that this one is. ! T.T. Su ihimself a ; He sak 'ear sciei has an antagonist. Ours occurs at theM light. This many angrily told me to, “Vi ^ me j m{ it. ” The bottom line(s) to this, inaddife ' "M ost ( my apologies is a comment to those di they nee< too slow to think, are quick to judge.^ 1 Sugiha placed in an accident situation we cam position i take time to judge who is at fault, butqi ly think of a way out, by God’s grace, inti | At th to avoid a tragic event. jr) 61 ’’ With the congestion on Universitye" * so late at night the motorist and pedestrt esearc j 1€ alike must share the burden of keepin?f ’ “yj e c neighborhood a safe one. To the ped' aid. “Wi trian, the adage, wear light coloredclotlii 1 (ruction at night and do not take for granted yoiK* bow.” be seen. To the motorist, there is nevff 1 “safe” time on the streets. Alwaysbea Hes to the world around you. Silver Tapsm* sorrowful reminder how life can besom* pectantly cut short. Jt is subj esearch “Whei they rece Tom Johiit 1 tecord oi He sai provides By Scott McCullar STRANGE. 1 PONT FEEL WHAT ARE- \ OH, HI PAUL, LIKE DOING ANYTHING YOU DOING 1 |'N\ TUST AT ALL, DESPITE ALL THE jaerrittp/staring OFF THINGS | HAVE TO VO.J "“V ll N T 0 SPACE. r~ ^^ 1 f yV'lA ^ / ^ ^ i The Battalion l S F S " 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 Staff Writers Carolyn Barnes, Jane G. Brust, Frank L. Christlieb, Terry Duran, Bemie Fette, Cindy Gee, Phyllis Henderson, Kathleen McElroy, Belinda McCoy, Kathy O’Connell, Denise Richter, Rick Stolle Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers Chuck Chapman, Brian Tate Brian late EDITORIAL POLICY The Battalion is a non-proBt, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College 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 faculty members, or of the Board of 045 :?«() Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory nevnpaf* students in reporting, editing and photography & within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial should be directed to the editor. “The i or resea ^fBrants b; He ad hinking vould h; io asked ionure h LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for it)!' 1 length, but will make every effort to maintain the an 1 intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, not subject to the same length constraints as !i Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor. Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Univi College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M and spring semesters, except for holiday and exami periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald ing, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX United Press International is entitled exclusively use for reproduction of all news dispatches creditedtl 1 Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein re Second class postage paid at College Station, TX