The Battalion
Viewpoint
September 24, IS
Slouch By Jim Earle
“How could your ride be leaving early to go to the Louisiana
Tech game? Isn’t it a home game?”
Reagan’s honeymoon:
Is the end in sight?
By HELEN THOMAS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Reagan’s honey
moon, longer than for most occupants in the
White House, appears to be coming to an end.
As some of his policies hit home, there are
signs that there is some slippage in his popular
ity. In many ways, judgment has been withheld
because his administration has been on a pro
longed shakedown cruise. But the critics are
becoming more vocal.
Time is running out and on Oct. 1 his econo
mic recovery program goes into effect. Then it
will be Reagan’s new prosperity or Reagan’s re
cession, depending on which way the economy
goes, and even the economists appear confused
at this stage.
Up to now, his top aides have been blaming
Jimmy Carter for inflation, high interest rates,
and just about every other thing that ails the
country.
But the ball is in Reagan’s court now. Like all
of his predecessors, he urges Americans not to
expect “instant solutions’’ to problems that have
been so many years in the making.
Ironically enough, the men of little faith have
been the Wall street investors, his strongest
supporters. Except for the organized labor spon
sored solidarity march in Washington, there
have been no organized protests against his mas
sive cuts in social programs that have been ing
rained in the system for decades.
But the impact of those cutbacks are just
beginning to be felt by those who will suffer the
loss of jobs, food stamps, school loans, and other
benefits. The reaction is setting in and the White
House is getting more feedback from the disen
chanted.
It appears to surprise Reagan that big busi
ness is not completely sold on the idea that
prosperity is just around the corner. He had
strong words of optimism to the National Feder
ation of Republican Women in Denver last
week:
“I am convinced today as I was when we
introduced the package that this economic plan
is as good as money in the bank — and if I were a
betting man, I would wager the rent money on
it.
“Now, I’ve listened to those chicken littles
who proclaim the sky is falling and those others
who recklessly play on high interest rates for
their own narrow political purposes. But this
concern about a plan not even in effect yet is
nothing more than false labor.
“We will not practice dilettante economics,”
he said. “We’re committed to the economic plan
and we’re committed to achieving it by holding
to a firm, steady course for the long run.”
Reagan told the gathering that the high in
terest rates had made his job more difficult. But
he and his top aides are totally behind the Feder
al Reserve Board in keeping them high.
Anyone who has been around Washington
long enough knows that if the White House put
the pressure on and decided that the rates were
indeed too high, there would be ways of getting
that message across to the Federal Reserve
Board.
The president miscalculated on the cost over
run of his 1982 budget and has had to return to
Congress to urge that it be trimmed by billions
more. But this time around there is a definite
stiffening and he may find it more difficult to get
his new cutbacks.
Republican leaders, worried about the 1982
election, had urged him to back oft on some of
the deep cuts in social programs.
Reagan has set a difficult agenda for himself.
He wants to increase the defense budget by 7
percent annually to impress the Russians with
the nation’s military might and resolve.
He wanted a tax cut and he got it. He also
wants to balance the federal budget by 1984, a
goal which will take some doing if “supply side”
economics and the trickle down approach does
not work.
But Reagan’s answer to the pessimists is, “I
told the American people we were going to turn
this economy around and we’re going to do it.”
the small society
by Brickman
6\\ovi THAT
PfrAl 2 ---
IfA '5AL&4 TeVAY-
/ ^ CD"
01981 King Feature* Syndicate, Inc. World right* reserved.
Warped
Even pro-nukes should question
proposed nuclear power plant site
Until now, the activities of the anti
nuclear groups have seemed to be little
hindrance for this nation’s attempts to ex
pand it’s energy resources. I have always
been in favor of the development of nuclear
power, and I still am.
But the location of the United States
newest such plant should raise questions in
the minds of even the most staunch nuclear
power supporters.
The recent protests by anti-nuke forces
in California are significantly different from
such protests of the past and therefore, de
serve more serious consideration.
Granted, most of those who gathered in
attempts to block the operation of the Diab
lo Canyon nuclear power plant are veterans
of the anti-nuke campaign, most notable
among them, rock singer Jackson Browne
and actor Robert Blake. But this time, con
sidering the location of the Diablo plant,
the anti-nukes have firm ground to stand
Bernie
Fette
an integral part of that planning.
But in the case of the
amount of precaution can guardagaiit!
possibility of mother nature contributi
a serious nuclear accident —
which has the frightening potential4
ing the historic San Francisco ei
seem minor in comparison.
Since the beginning of the protesli
Friday, more than 1,300 protesters!
been arrested and with their number!
nificantly diminished; they
upon.
The problem is, the ground in that sec
tion of California has a history of being not
firm.
This particular power plant happens to
be located dangerously near an offshore
fault line, making it especially susceptible
to earthquakes, as that area has been in the
past.
Earthquakes which devastated southern
California in the past provide enough
reason to believe that the location of the
Diablo plant may prove to be a serious mis
take.
Not to say that nuclear power plants in
general are an evil. On the contrary, any
nation such as this one should do every
thing it can to utilize alternative sources of
energy to insure the nation’s future.
But at the same time, that nation should
also do everything it can to insure the safety
of its citizens for the future.
Herein lies the problem.
It would seem safe to say that when
planning the construction and operation of
a nuclear power plant, careful preparation
by scores of highly qualified personnel are
chance to successfully block the opeos
the plant.
Tuesday, the Nuclear Regulator[
mission granted the plant a go-aheadl P‘ zer W ' 1
gin low-level testing. Although it»i
several days before testing actuallybf; , ir [. anc jq
the Pacific Gas and Electric
operator of the plant, says it in
“start the process immediately.’
Before long, the only thing residei lefactres:
dancer
woman.
Imagin
ballet an
the area can do, outside of
hope that there will never be anotk
inor in southern California
It’s true that natural disasters arep , ^ (
ble and in numerous areas of the
but the judgement of those persons r ‘ l " S( ’ m
planned the site of a nuclear power
earthquake-prone southern Ci
surely must be questioned.
uvf CDUJNW& oeteKX-© CHWo-raeu-t - n /. roc
By K
As the
the audi
tra bega
: th
cendo as
The 1
look like
Europe,
ity as th
Houston
Peer G;
“Peer
MSC Of
Society,
gian fant:
The st
a careles:
unfullfille
It also
waits for
a newly i
nymph,
gloomy fc
At var
the play,
costuinec
townsme
1840s Eg
The ai
sturnec
Perhap
ender sc
eunion <
iam Pizzi
eig, pla;
’eer had
or stealii
The am
iaslically
pas de i
:ople —
»urses.
Dr. Ch
bate vice
tffairs, se
within th<
where fac
,dd the n
McCai
;enerally
ro years,
luling of c
the publis
It’s your turn
Campus should be clean for visitoi
Editor:
Listen up Ags! There is a home game
Saturday which means there will be several
thousand visitors on campus. There will be
a lot of Old Ags, parents and families roam
ing about campus noting a lot of changes:
the new buildings, the new parking lot, the
trash. Trash? You know, the beer cans and
bottles in the parking lots (visitors see these
first), the coke bottles and cans, the candy
wrappers, the shopping cart hanging in the
tree by Keathley-Fowler-Hughes, not to
mention the overabundance of trash pro
duced by an overabundant number of stu
dents.
It is apparent that we cannot keep our
campus clean just for ourselves and each
other. We only make the job harder for the
maintenance personnel. However, let’s
make a special effort to clean up the campus
— just for a few hours on Saturday — espe
cially for the alumni who still remember
that Aggie pride so many of us have for
gotten.
Kimberly Bradshaw ‘82
but will make every effort to
author’s intent. Each letter must
signed, show the address and phone®
her of the writer.
Letters Policy
Letters to the Editor are welcome on all
topics. Letters 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,
Columns and guest editorials are
welcome, and are not subject to thei
length constraints as letters. Address!
cjuiries and correspondence to: Editor,
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, k
A&M University, College Stal
77843.
By Scott McCullar
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Angelique Copeland
Managing Editor Marcy Boyce
City Editor Jane C. Brust
Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell
Photo Editor Greg Gammon
Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoft
Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson
News Editors Jennifer Afflerbach
Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy
Diana Sultenfuss
Staff Writers Frank L. Christlieb
Randy Clements, 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
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory
students in reporting, editing and photngnph
within the Department of Communications.
Questions or comments concerning any edited
should he directed to the editor.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 3®
length, and are subject to being cut if they are l
editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for sht'
length, hut will make every effort to maintain lliei 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
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Edit*. 1
Battalion, 216 Heed McDonald, Texas AMI U«W*
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
ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of
Regents.
The Battalion is published daily during Texas AW 1
and spring semesters, except for holiday ami ex*^
periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75persemestH,®
per school year and $35 per full year, Advertisinf ^
furnished on request.
Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald! •
ing, Texas A&M University, College Station,TXT**
United Press International is entitled cxclusivfh® 1
use for reproduction of all news dispatches ere
Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein
Second class postage paid at College Stati
The cc
scope of
courses th
authorize!
example,
nomics
A&M i:
McCant
“For
made a
that are
the invt
He st
moved
added i
unusual
easier
approv
Board.
The
course
similar
course;
the pa
ment.
The
IHM