L
The Battalion
-V IE WPOINT
September 21,1981
Slouch By Jim Earle
A"* 0
This is the last time I hi breaking it clow n and bringing it
upstairs. From now on ii anyone wants to steal it, they can
have it. "
Student senator should expect
scrutiny, criticism by press
Editor:
There ’s new hope
for House Democrats
By CLAY F. RICHARDS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — If there is a smile on
the face of Democrats these days it is be
cause their chances of keeping control of
the House in the 1982 elections are impro
ving every day.
It is not President Reagan’s current
budget and high interest rate problems that
are giving Democrats hope. Like most poli
tical observers they know the jury is still out
on the president’s economic program and it
is far too early to tell what impact it will
have on the 1982 elections.
But vital signs within the current and
future House composition are looking
much more hopeful for the Democrats than
they did a few months ago.
Last month, it appeared that Republi
cans would gain at least half the 27 seats
they needed to take control of the House
through the 1981-82 reapportionment pro
cess. Some 17 seats moved in ^‘apportion
ment from Northern and Midwestern in
dustrial states to the Sun Belt.
This pointed to substantial Republican
gains in the Sun Belt states. And in early
reapportionment plans in states like In
diana, Republicans drew lines that gave
them clear advantages.
Almost singlehandedly. Rep. Phil Bur
ton evened the score for the Democrats last
week in California. Burton is the master
line-drawer in California and by the time he
got done. Democrats stood to gain five
seats.
Up until Burton did his deed, the GOP
was counting on at least one and possibly
two more seats in California.
There was also a fear that some of the
Southern conservative Democrats — the so
called Boll Weevils who supported Reagan
on his tax and budget cuts — would switch
parties. In fact, COP Chairman Richard
Richards and House Republican leader Bob
M ichel had reported some Democrats had
made contact with Republican state chair
men back home to open negotiations.
But in a closed Democratic caucus last
week, party leaders decided against taking
any disciplinary action against the conser
vative Democrats because they voted with
Reagan. The decision seemed to be a signal
to the conservatives they are still welcome
in the Democratic Party.
No Democrat is happier these days than
Rep. Tony Coelno, the Californian who
once thought his first chance as chairman of
the House Democratic Campaign Commit
tee was going to be a disaster.
This column is in reference to the letter
submitted by a senator in the Student Sen
ate (September 15, The Battalion). The
senator did not think, in his opinion, that
the press should ridicule members of the
senate for their legislation.
As a reader, I took the senator’s words as
being implied to all types of legislation. The
senator asked boldly, “Is this the way
Aggies want their elected representatives
treated? Instantly my mind put this princi
ple on a larger scale. I was reminded of
various tools that President Nixon’s hatch-
etmen, notably Charles Colson, used to
thwart any attack on the Nixon Administra
tion. Wouldn’t the hatehetmen have loved
to put out such a letter that our senator
submitted crying out with combinations of
patriotic feelings and step-by-step details
justifying the Senates’ truly ridiculous bills.
More on that later.
The Senate needs to understand quite
clearly that the press is not going to support
all legislation, and glorify to the heavens
senatorial actions. The Battalion is the
pidse of Texas A&M, serving Aggies with
top quality journalism. Unless the Senate
passes a bill to control the press, then rep
resentatives may expect close scrutiny as
journalism serves as role of watchdog on
elected officials. Nixon’s administration
found this the case, and so quickly should
the Student Senate.
The senator’s defense of the legislation.
Reader's
Forum
(The Pedestrian Protection Bill, the Motor
cycle and Moped Parking Spaces Bill, the
Bicycle Registration Bill), made no mention
whatsoever whether the so-called created
problems were of major concern to the
Texas A&M population. Apparently no sur
veys were taken to enlist student opinion,
and no mention was made publicly on the
bills to inform students until The Battalion
article appeared.
My first question was just whose opinion
was it that motorbikes were unsafe and un
sightly on our campus? How is a parked
motorbike creating dangerously hazardous
conditions? Regarding overcrowdedness of
bicycles, does the senator suggest that stu
dents are riding more than one to campus?
If so, how? Maybe one per class. Is that it
senator? Wake up and notice the student
population and the size of Texas A&M. In
my opinion, as well as several of my peers,
bicycles pose no drastic problem. Rather
they are the least of our concern.
Needless to say, the proposed legislation
wovdd simply complicate matters for both
students and University Police, wlion
have additional tasks possibly resulfej
additonal officers for enforcement 11
about the cost? Who foots the incre;
costs? The students, of course, tlm
more fees and more fines.
My opinion of the Student Senates
the organization does not represent
dents adequately hy trying to pass
without student input on the legisation
its effects on student life. Apparent!)
goal of the Student Senate is to heabl
say, we did this, this, and that to help
dents where in reality what is actualh
pening is they are passing more for
regulation at student expense. Take a
senator, at the philosophy of our end
President who suggests a limited rolt
government. Take this on atourlevt
college government. Become elfed
through critical assessment of real pi
lems facing Texas A&M utilizing stndij
faculty, and administrative opinionfotj
basis of legislation. This way andoilr
way, I believe the Senate assuresitsel
proper respect from all Aggies and
press.
A s.
sho'
T(
Martin W. ErJ
2411 Bosque]
Editor’s note: The Student Senate (
conduct surveys and meet with coni
tuents in an effort to determine stud
Sengr
pc
Pit CDUMB/^ VFJWCH <?) P56' W rHXXV)-TRHNt
views on campus problems and prop pit a
legislation. ty v
poti ni
I Bi
While modest by comparison to the Re
publicans, Coelho said the committee’s
fund raising is going so well that it will be
able to donate the maximum of $25, ()()() to
each of the 80 Democratic candidates it has
targeted.
Included are not only Democratic in
cumbents in trouble, but Republicans they
feel are vulnerable and open seats up for
grabs.
“I am predicting today that we will pick
up a minimum of 10 seats in the House in
1982, said Coelho in a statement bolder
than those he has made recently.
What is important is not just the figures,
but that it woidd give Democrats a “work
ing majority” so Reagan probably could no
longer steal off enough Boll Weevils to get
his programs through.
“We will not lose control of the House of
Representatives,” Coelho said.
by Brickman National debt: A red letter day for red
By DICK WEST
United Press International
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Angelique Copeland
Managing Editor Marcy Boyce
City Editor Jane G. Brust
Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell
Photo Editor G reg Gam mon
Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff
Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson
News Editors Jennifer Afflerbach
Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy
Diana Sultenfuss
Staff Writers Frank L. Christlieb
Gaye Denley, Terry Duran, Nancy Floeck
Phyllis Henderson, Colette Hutchings
Denise Richter, Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers Brian Tate
Becky Swanson, Dave Einsel
ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board ol
Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for
students in reporting, editing and photography classes
within the Department of Communications.
Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter
should be directed to the editor.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in
length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and
length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s
intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address
and phone number of the writer.
Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are
not subject to the same length constraints as letters.
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843.
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Battalion is a non-profit, 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-
The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M ’s fall
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United Press International is entitled exclusively to the
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Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved.
Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843.
WASHINGTON — Sometime in the next
12 months, in a dramatic and historic mo
ment, the U.S. national debt is expected to
reach the magic trillion dollar mark.
We can all be proud of our contributions
to this monumental achievement. Few
countries on Earth, or the entire galaxy for
that matter, have been rich enough to run
up 13-digit indebtedness.
Too bad it couldn’t have happened in
1976 when we were celebrating the Bicen
tennial. Then we could have really done it
up right, with fireworks and church bells
ringing across the land. But that was not to
be.
Nevertheless, so glorious a milestone
must not be allowed to pass without cere
mony. Some appropriate salute clearly is in
order and now is the time to start planning
for it. Meanwhile, let us pause to reflect
upon how we got where we are, debt-wise,
and examine where we might be heading.
But first, let’s heave a sign of relief that
we are not the British.
If we used the British cardinal number
ing system, it probably would take another
three or four years for us to pile up a $1
trillion national debt.
The British trillion has 18 zeros as
opposed to the mere 12 we use. Written
out, a British trillion looks like this:
1,000,000,000,000,000,000. Onr trillion,
by contrast, is a relatively puny
1,000,000,000,000.
Putting it another way, a British trillion is
a billion billion, whereas ours is only a
thousand billion. Now for what might lie
ahead.
By logical progression, once the national
debt reaches the trillion level it will move
on up in 17 three-zero increments past the
quadrillion and quintillion marks to the
vigintillian rung.
A vigintillian, by the way, has 63 zeros.
Written out, it 1 o o k s
1,000,000,000,000 ... well, 63 is tool
to put in this small space, but, trustt
vigintillian is a lot.
If need be, however, we couldi
switch to the British system, which go**
the way up to 600 zeros.
It is difficult to predict when any of|
marks might be reached. About alii cad
you is that we are moving right along
It took America almost until World'll
to run up a billion dollar debt. Sinceik
growth has been spectacular.
War and debt rise historically have?
hand in hand. 11 was federal assump#
the states Revolutionary War obligate
that brought us our first nationaldeP |
in the 1790s.
11 there is another major war:
could have an octillion debt almostW
you know it. World peace, on the(
hand, would retard the climb. Try!
patient.
Warped
By Scott McCulk