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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 1982)
opinion Battalion/Pil July 20,1| Slouch By Jim Earle “The tightness across your chest, the feeling of strangula tion, the pressure on your back — does it occur when you ’re not wearing your backpack?” Business is good at weapons bizarre by Art Buchwald War and destruction in the Falklands and Lebanon may be bad for people, bit it has certainly helped the arms business. 1 went over to see “Madman” Ranged who runs a weapon’s discount bazaar across the street from the Pentagon, and he was writing up orders like mad. “Everyone used to want surface ships,” he complained. “Now, all they want is submarines. You can’t predict people’s tastes. I’ve got a warehouse of frigates I can’t give away ever since the French missiles sank the British ones.” “Who are hour best customers now, Madman?” I asked. “The Third World countries. They used to come in and buy a few used tanks and maybe a broken-down artillery piece. Now, they want F-16 fighter jets, missile launchers, radar-controlled anti aircraft guns. I don’t know where they get the money, but if it isn’t top of the line, they’re not interested.” “They’re probably spending more on defense than they are on food, housing and creating jobs in their countries.” “I don’t ask questions. If their people can’t eat it’s not my problem.” “Obviously, you’re not being hurt by the recession.” “You have to be kidding. Whoever heard of a recession stopping arms sales? A general from a Third World country came in the other day; nice guy, beauti fully dressed in a new uniform; wanted a gross of heat-seeking missiles that could shoot down F-5 fighter planes. “While he was waiting to have them packed, I showed him our latest electric ally controlled land mines. The guy went nuts for them and ordered 50 gross. Then he asked me if I had any howitzers? I took him in the back and showed him a 1982 model and he was like a kid with a new bicycle. He took two dozen.” “Where did he get the money to pay for the stuff? “He went across the street to the Penta gon and explained he wanted it to kick the hell out of the Soviets. They wrote him out a check on the spot.” “You have a great location,” I told Madman. “The best in Washington. Now, here’s the funny part. As soon as that general left, another general came in from the Third World country that borders the first general’s. I told him what the other guy purchased and sold him an entire system to fool the heat-seeking missiles the first guy bought. Then I talked him into buying 1,000 mine detectors that could blow up the mines. I also sold the second general a long artillery piece that could knock out the 1982 howitzer. It was an $80 million order.” “You have a good business here,” I told the Madman. “I make a living. The beauty of it is that no country considers itself safe any more. The Reagan administration has cut down on economic aid to the Third World because you don’t get a bang for it. But they’re upping military aid to win the hearts and minds of their people.” An Israeli military attache came in. “What can I do for you, sir?” “I have $65 million worth of Syrian and PLO weapons in my pickup outside, and I was wondering if you want to buy them.” Madman Ranged went outside. “It’s all junk. There’s no market for this stuff. I’ll give you $250 on a trade-in, and that’s just because I’m a nice guy. What do you want to buy?” The attache took out his list. “Forty planeloads of cluster bombs, 10,000 artil lery shells and six AWACS.” “Speak slower. I can’t write it down that fast.” The attache said he had some other errands and would pick up the order in the afternoon. “What are you going to do with all the Syrian and PLO used goods you bought?” I asked him. “I’ll probably sell it to Bangladesh. I don’t want it cluttering up my yard.” Taking the ax to big government by Helen Thomas United Press International WASHINGTON — President Reagan says his “new federalism” proposal to turn some 40 federal programs over to the states lies at the very heart of his phi losophy of government. And he says: “although some people may find this cause not as glamorous, or as immediate as some others, we’re deter mined to see it through.” But with hard times and the job lines increasing, he may find it an uphill battle to sell the program to the governors, the mayors and the county of ficials who are already overburdened. The plan has been revised and is still undergoing some revisions to make it more palatable. It provides for the feder al government to pay the costs of food stamps and Medicaid while the states would take over the aid to families with dependent children. He said that proposal for an almost $40 billion transfer of some 35 federal programs to the states over an eight-year phased-in transition would be accompa nied by equivalent revenue sources to fi nance them. A trust fund would be set up under his plan to pull in revenues from federal ex cise taxes on alcohol, tobacco and tele phone services and general revenues, to pass on to the states. But there is a lot of skepticism and resistance on the part of mayors, gov ernors and county of ficials that the cities and states will be abandoned in the pro cess. He also was stung by criticism of the program by Sen. David F. Durenberger, R-Minn. who called it “baloney” and said he hoped that it was not simply a “fig leaF’ to cover up lack of compassion for the poor. Reagan spoke earlier in the week be fore the National Association of Counties in Baltimore and insisted that “the more government we can keep at the local levels, in local hands the better off we are and the more freedom we will have.” “Now, there are some in Washington who scoff at such an idea,” he said. “T hey speak condescendingly about America’s county seats or city halls and state legisla tures. Claiming a monopoly on compas sion and wisdom, they airily dismiss gras sroots representatives as incapable of seeing the big picture.” Furthermore, he said: “Forcing the American people to accept the dictates of a swollen government in Washington has been one of the more serious mistakes of this century.” Reagan is the first president in many years who is more interested in domestic issues than in foreign policy. Hell thrust into crisis decision making of the blow up in the Middle! found the administration totall) 1 pared and lacking in direction, On the domestic front, thepresi a man with a mission — tocutdoi “fat” federal government and power over to the states. Underoi circumstances no politician is resist taking on more power < authority. But he needs the whel to back it up, and he suspects federalism” may leave the local munities high and dry. With prospects fora bigimproii in the economy dimming, Reagan’s “the recession has M] out” statements, and the job lines ii ing all over the country, the vvarii such a program has increased. In terms of the cities, an origin; of the administration’s housing charged that federal aid has had pling effect on cities and hastramfo mayors from “bold leaders” into stalkers of federal aid.” “I believe the extent of theprol that we face today is in direct propoi to the extent to which we have the federal government to muslin out of control," he told the county} cia' B Letters: Insanity defense problems | Gas plant opposition’ Editor: The Battalion Letters Policy USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Diana Sultenfuss City Editor Bernie Fette Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb News Editors Tracey Buchanan, Daniel Puckett Diane Yount Staff Writers Cyndy Davis, Susan Dittman, Terry Duran, Colette Hutchings, Hope E. Paasch, Joe Tindel Jr., Rebeca Zimmermann Copy Editors Gary Barker, Carol Templin Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers .... David Fisher, Octavio Garcia John Ryan, 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 Uni versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (713) 845- 2611. Editorial Policy The Battalion is published three times a week — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — during Texas A&M’s summer semesters, except for holiday and ex amination periods, when it is published only on Wednes days. 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 Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or faculty mem bers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial mat ter should be directed to the editor. 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. A problem has come to my attention that I think needs to be brought before everyone at the University. No, it’s not a letter that will result in hundreds of nega tive 12th man replies but it is nonetheless very important. This problem concerns the new parking spaces painted and now fully filled each day on Throckmorton Street (where the new light was installed on Jersey). In addition to now having parking on both sides of the incoming and outgoing side of the street (there is a median), the University Police have painted everyone a potential death trap. These streets are now so narrow that cars must pass very close to other parked cars in order to pass a cyclist, but even worse will be the dan ger of combining these narrow streets with the new shuttle buses. These buses which are much wider than cars will allow a less than minimum safety factor next fall w r hen they approach and leave campus daily. It’s sickening to think of the possibili ties such as a car door opening just as a bus is passing a bike or moped. Why these spaces were added seems of minimum value when one considers the danger that will be faced next fall. I’ll be graduating in August and my life will be spared, but I strongly suggest that students, faculty and the University Police, as well as Jim Ferguson of our administrative services, change routes, build a bike lane or re move those few new spaces that will cer tainly result in a fatality unless we use a little foresight right now. ned expansion of the Halbouty Building and the construction of a physics and en gineering building. The loss of these spaces will displace day student and ran dom parking in lots 50 and 51. Editor: Parking dangers In regards to Phillips Pelroleuifl was construction of a natural gas procr iko plant near Lake Somerville: The Texas Air Control BoardisP" M sole agency responsible for the review pres the air permits which may be appliaP 1 ^ freig Editor: Rich Cole Class of ’82 Editor’s note: Parking spaces were added along Throckmorton Street as a direct response to the loss of450parking spaces in Lot 7 beginning in the fall semester. The lot will be closed because of the plan- The release of Leighton Hurst, who murdered his roommate last year, illus trates the problem of the insanity de fense. People are released in a short amount of time after committing serious crimes without any guarantee that they are any more sane than they were when the crime was committed. The insanity defense rests on a faulty assumption. A person is released when determined to be no longer dangerous. Psychiatrists cannot predict how danger ous a person is or will be. There is no test which can be given. Clearly, something needs to change. As so often happens in emotional issues, there is a “backlash.” Abolishing the insanity defense will not solve the problem. Mentally ill criminals will still exist, and in time most will be paroled. The “guilty but mentally ill” laws offer a better idea, yet there is the danger that the released people will be branded “mad and bad,” making re-adjustment in socie ty harder and increasing the likelihood of new criminal activity. The insanity de fense is an important issue which must be dealt with rationally and carefully in order to produce a solution in the best interests of society while optimizing the patient’s recovery. to this facility, the EnvironmentalPro®^ tion Agency does not have anyjuriMton; tion for the issuance of this permit. 1 T Now is the time to voice youropp P<mi tion to the construction of this plantB )u | preserve the environment in and aroi|p lrr Lake Somerville. Write to the following addressiiSp West Loop, Suite 300, Bellaire, Te 77401. When you write, please give) 1 name and address. Monroe Shif 605 E. Manslitj BrenM Grove problems Editor: As an avid Grove-goer, I wouldlill make the following requests in the| terest of maintaining mental sanity! physical well-being for those of us' frequently attend movies at the Gro'1 1) Hire somebody who knows ho''| FOCUS the film before half the sho«| over. 2) If we are not allowed to bringin| own snacks, at least, PLEASE! getrii that stale popcorn. Yuck! Margaret Lasater P.O. Box 2104 Laura L. Geldel Rt. 3 Box 4