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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1981)
The Battalion Viewpoint .m December i 1 ii h ij i j Slouch By Jim Earle “My letter home came back saying it was undeliverable, and no forwarding address. Probably just a post office mistake, but then maybe “ Book discusses actions of political committees By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — A California professor has written a book praising political action committees, which will be greeted by some in this town like a defense of diptheria. In “A Nation of Associations,” Dr. Alfred ! Balitzer of Claremont College wrote that . PACs, as the business, labor and issue- oriented groups that raise campaign funds for favored candidates are called, are the Congregational Church or the Democratic Party. This conclusion collides with that of most Democratic and some Republican office holders, who contend that the explosive growth of PACs threatens to immobilize American politics in a snarl of single in- , terest issues. They say the purpose of these groups is to buy government. Balitzer’s book argues that PACs will not endanger but enhance the political system. He quotes at length from James Madison in the Federalist Papers and says, “ ... the more political committees that are gener ated, the greater the multiplicity of in terests that will be promoted and thus, the more individuals that will find a home in the political system.” Balitzer says many of the major social and political reforms of the last two centuries in the United States began as single interest movements. His point is that if it was legitimate for the abolitionists to campaign against proslavery lawmakers 125 years ago, it is no less so for the Moral Majority and the ProLife move ment today to form political action commit tees and seek election of candidates friendly to their goals. It is a good debating point, as is his reply to people whose causes are being impaled: They should organize their own commit tees and do battle on the field of ideas. However, in the case of PACs, there are some other points to examine. First, even Balitzer concedes that the main function of PACs today is to raise money for election campaigns. PACs today are not trying to persuade the opposition or “educate” the public; they simply are trying raise and spend dollars to help elect candi dates who will vote their way on the issues they care about. Just as the public may ask whether the individual who makes huge campaign con tributions is trying to “buy” a public official who will do his bidding, it would seem just as proper to ask whether similar amounts of money from groups interested in specific issues have a similar goal. Why don’t these groups use their money to publicize their arguments rather than to support candidates who already agree with them? There is no doubt that any group that wants to support candidates for public office has every right to do so. But for Professor Balitzer to clothe all such activities in the soft glow of republican righteousness and democratic pluralism may betray a level of naivete surprising even from the most shel tered academic. the small society by Brickman MAY &XT A U2T THIMK AS fBcoV AS o\^&- C 1961 King FMturM Syndicat*. Inc. World rights rwrvd. i The Battalion USPS 045 360 MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Angelique Copeland Managing Editor JaneG. Brust City Editor Denise Richter Asst. City Editor Diana Sultenfuss Photo Editor Dave Einsel Sports Editor Frank Christlieb Focus Editor. Cathy Saathoff Asst. Focus Editor '. Nancy Floeck News Editors Phyllis Henderson, Mary Jo Rummel, Nancy Weatherley StaffWriters Gaye Denley, Tim Foarde, Sandra Gary, Colette Hutchings, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Laura Williams Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers . . . Daniel Sanders, Colin Valentine Greg Watermann EDITORIAL POLICY to ^fextis'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 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. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates 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 the 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 77843. Needed: first-rate justice system 1982 is on its way, and although folks here may not know it, it’s decision time in Brazos County, Texas, U.S.A. The decision: are Brazos County tax payers willing to settle for a second-rate criminal justice system or will they demand the finest brand of justice money can buy? In recent months, jurors have indicated they prefer the latter by returning stiffer sentences for individuals convicted of crimes. Crooks in Brazos County are no longer going to get off easy, the jurors say. That’s fine for now, but in about another year jurors may rarely have their say in court if something is not done soon to ease the burden of the county’s two district courts. Presently, the courts are plagued by rapidly increasing backlogs of cases, and the future promises no relief. For as prosecutors are forced to contend with almost 200 cases more each year, as they were in 1981, most likely fewer and fewer cases will ever reach the trial stage. Instead, an increasing number of them will be pleaded out. Brazos County District Attorney Travis Bryan III has expressed his personal dis taste for plea bargaining, calling it a second- rate brand of justice. When deals are cut, criminals usually receive lighter penalties than a jury probably would have returned, he says. In fact, he has made an experimen tal move to do away with plea bargaining. But still, he admits, something has to give. The county’s district attorney and his costs will not be a factor. The SlO-itj gate bar courthouse expansion project, nowu the orig way, will have space for three addfej to sell ° courtrooms. But time is crucial. Flounderingin cision only will prolong a resolution problem. And the courts’ backlogs will j By Twelf Deni iart owi e and ! ided ti since no tinue to increase 50 to 100 cases per a c i os each year. Parr Only state legislators can create anti) David V i four assistants can handle only so many cases before they are forced by the Speedy Trail Act to begin plea bargaining to dispose of some of the cases more quickly. Taxpayers need not settle for such second-rate ciminal justice, however, there is an alternative — to push for the creation of another district court and demand top- grade justice for the county. Another court would mean at least one, maybe two, additional prosecutors and another judge for the county. Such addi tional manpower at the courthouse would tremendously ease the demands being made on present prosecutors and judges and thus expedite the disposal of cases. And for the taxpayers who are concerned about their security and their families , the estimated $170,000 yearly expense of oper ating another district court would be nominal, especially when construction ing thei less to f :ent to ;hjp. Pa lot will :heir sh p for s The ' ng the t entory distict court, but it is highly unlikel] will do so here unless Brazos Cowilr first made a case for itself duringtlii legislative session in 1983. This year has but 16 days remaig 1983 will soon he here. So now is for tax payers to come forth and if voices let their elected officials kno» concern about the future of the cm district courts. Contact the county commissioner they will be ultimately response seeing that the courts are more importantly, state Rep. Bi! D-28th District, said enlistingtheCm sioners Court’s support would be a b tor in Brazos County’s case for an court. Without it, the county woiil handicapped, he said. With a 61-percent population k from 1970 to 1980, Brazos Countyisbiij out all over. And if precautions an ffiiefex taken immediately to handle theovt 5t Y’ s y in the courts, individuals best lochj will he busting free, virtually unpunii * T. i)« sc B) In a ion s n ess?” 1 as, th< f'our id I ai qr Steven. 1 ind As akes a Work, k a good Steve It s your turn Puckett review distorts Editor: I am surprised that the editors would condescend to print such tripe as that writ ten by Daniel Puckett, who appears to be a pseudo music reviewer. In his article of December 10, “Go-Cos bring back ’60s” he expresses biased opinions and distorted tacts that totally destroy any credibility a reader might have accorded his article. He says, ”... and I found hippies revolting and most of that decade’s music abominable First of all, I don’t believe anyone cares to hear Mr. Puckett’s views on hippies in a music review. Secondly, as to the “abomin able” music released in the ’60s. . . well, maybe he’s right, with groups like the Moody Blues, Grateful Dead, Kinks, Byrds, Rolling Stones, Who, Bob Dylan, Beatles .... Another of Mr. Puckett’s dubiously documented facts is stated previously, “They (LPs from the ’60s) all had one or two good songs and the rest of the tracks were total dreck.” Taking the Beatles as the epi tome of popular music in the ’60s, maybe Mr. Puckett would care to point out the “one or two good songs” on some of the following albums so we mortals could finally have the definitive word as to what is “dreck.” “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Yellow Submarine, ” “Abbey Road. ” “Let It Be” ... Susan Bos Keathley Hall Editor’s note: This letter was accompa nied by five other signatures. Elves give out candy Editor: Studying for finals is extremely mind bog gling — especially in a library filled with wall-to-wall students. The four people who passed out candy canes Monday night with cheerful greetings of “Merry Christmas and Good Luck on Finals” really lightened up the atmosphere. These “elves” spread both the Aggie and Christmas spirit. Thanks a bunch and Merry Christmas to y’all too! Barbara Berryman Angela Dodd Spence Hall Basketball fans needed Editor: Last Thursday I was one of the few people who went to the basketball game to see Texas A&M play Sam Houston. The Ags won 81-53 to extend their record to 2-0. I got to the game just before the tip-off so I expected to get bad seats, but to my sur prise, half of the Coliseum was empty. The students who were there sat next to the band and tried to raise hell but there wasn’t music fad enough noise to drown out the op? 1 1 fans. That’s not like Aggies. Texas) definitely has a chance to win the* ^ ence this year, hut they can’t doit"’ 31 fan support. Everyone knows thattl' ^ can change the momentum ofaga# 1 team in a matter of seconds. Thefansf 1 major role in the outcome of any? especially basketball, because tlieL are usually pretty close and atanytit team can either get blown out orbin' 1 other team out. I’m giving my support 3 urge other Ags to do the same soSb ■ Metcalf can have another successful f Chris W I Class ^ ^ Bemember: drive safely Editor: This is just a friendly note toreminde' one to please drive home safely fortbe ? days this week. Too many people have been killedd I highway during the holiday seasond" I excessive speeding. Please Ags, don : | come another statistic. Drive carehill' enjoy a safe holiday season. Mark Lc : ^ 503$ !