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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1983)
f opinion Slouch By Jim Earle AMP Take it slowly with ERA II Social Security sweepstake begins by Art Buchwald There is one solution to the Social Security bankruptcy problem that has not been suggested yet, and that is the government might hold a sweepstakes for eligible senior citizens. The Depart ment ol Human Resources could hire one oi the professional sweepstakes com panies to write and mail out brown en velopes to everyone on the Social Secur ity rolls. The letter would read: DEAR MRS. DALTON, Do not throw away this letter. You may have won one of 300 prizes adding up to $1,000,000 in the 1983 SOCIAL SECURI TY SWEEPS TAKES. Yes, that’s what I said, ONE MILLION DOLLARS in prizes offered to you absolutely f ree bv the SOCIAL SECURI TY CLEARING HOUSE. All you have to do, MRS. DAL- I ON, is return the enclosed coupon with your LUCKY number on it and you will be eligible for our MILLION-DOLLAR SWEEPS TAKES. Just think, MRS. DALTON, if your number is picked on March 15th, you could win $250 A MONTH FOR THE RES I OF YOUR LIFE. You may be holding the WINNING ticket in your hand right now. But if you don’t send it back right away you could be the sorriest senior citizen in America. I know what you’re saying. No one wins in a SWEEPSTAKES. But MR. CARLOS SEGURA, aged 70, of Long Beach, California, won $50,000, MISS KI I I 5 SO AMES of St. Louis, aged 83, won $75,000, and MR. & MRS. JASON MARKS of Sun City, Arizona will receive Social Security checks for the next 20 years worth (are you ready for this?) over $100,000. Not only will you be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE of $250 A MON TH FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, but you will also have a chance for other SU PER PRIZES in this once-in-a-lifetime SOCIAL SECURITY SUPER- S W E EPS FA K ES DR A WING. Listen to some of these other GRAND prizes. A MONTH’S STAY in a PRIVATE room in the hospital of your choice, ALL MEDICAL EXPENSES PAID or $60,000 in CASH. FOOD STAMPS FOR FIVE YEARS worth $20,000. FREE HEATING FOR ONE YEAR worth $5,000. A TWELVE MONTH VACATION IN A NURSING HOME WITH YOUR OWN ROCKER worth $30,000. You are probably asking how we can afford all these unbelievable prizes at NO COST TO YOU. The answer is that the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINIS TRATION has a trust fund which was set up to take care of American senior citizens. The trust has decided the fairest way to distribute the money it has left in it is to hold a SWEEP- STAKES, making it possible for people who otherwise would get nothing from the system to win a SUPER PRIZE. There is nothing to buy and a Social Security employee will not call on you. Consider this SWEEPS TAKES the U.S. GOVERNMEN T’S way of taking care of its retired citizens who can now look for ward to enjoying the September years of their lives, PROVIDING their LUCKY number is drawn. No one has a better chance than you, MRS. DALTON, to wan — so give your LUCK an opportunity to work for you. But you have to get your entry in NOW. The SOCIAL SECURITY CLEARING HOUSE may never have as much money to distribute among its winners again. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ol Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference hditor Diana Sultenfuss Managing Editor Gary Barker Associate Editor Denise Richter City Editor Hope E. Paasch Assistant City Editor Beverly Hamilton Sports Editor John Wagner Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings Assistant Entertainment Editor. . . . Diane Yount News Editors. . . Jennifer Carr, Elaine Engstrom, Jan Werner, Rebeca Zimmermann Staff Writers Maureen Carmody, Frank Christlieb, Patrice Koranek, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti Schw'ierzke, Angel Stokes, Tracey Taylor. Joe Tindel Copyeditors Jan Swaner, Chris Thayer Cartoonist .’ Scott McCuflar (Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari, Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio Garcia. Rob Johnston, Irene Mees Editorial Policy I'hc BiitUilinn is ;i non-profit, sell-supporting news- pupci operated as a eonnnnnity set vice to fexas A&-M L tiiversin and lityan-(.ollege Station. Opinions ex pressed in I he Battalion are those of the editor 01 the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer Anxious to do a good turn for the women of the country, House Democrats have made ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment a top priority of the 98th Congress. Yet the initiative does not wholly jjlease groups which will eventually take responsibility for changing the minds of often-truculent state legislators. W hile grateful for the continued focus on ERA, many advocates feel that a rush to ratify the amendment now might prove a fool ish tactic. Without a breather to allow women’s organizations and other pro- ERA groups to reorganize for the next campaign, ERA II could fare no better than the late ERA I. Democrats, of course, have considered themselves the “party of the ERA’’ since 1980, when Republicans, under the sjjell of a then-visionary Ronald Reagan, dropped support of the amendment from the GOP platform. Democrats have wisely been running with the ERA ever since. The amend ment proved to be the only issue at the DNC’s sleepy mid-term convention in Philadelphia last summer; less than two weeks after the ERA died in June, House leaders threw a strange reintroduction celebration on the W’est Capitol to herald a second try. Last week, perhaps sensing an oppor tunity to widen the president’s gender gap. House Democrats ranked ERA above all other legislative proposals and promised to hold hearings as soon as pos sible. Nearly 200 have agreed to cospon sor reintroduction (compared to about 30 House Republicans). Yet enthusiasm for ERA II isn t as well mobilized beyond Washington. Admittedly, autumn campaigns in sev eral states last year resulted in important gains for ERA supporters. In Florida, concerted work by feminists helped to increase from 17 to 28 the number of women in the state legislature, making jjossible a future victory in the long- recalcitrant state senate. In Illinois, a Democratic takeover in both houses has created the necessary three-fifths margin needed to pass the ERA on Phyllis Schlaf- ly’s home turf. But in other closely-contested stales, such Oklahoma, the vote counts haven’t budged. “WY really don’t want the ERA to come back here until after 1981,’ said Wanda Peltier, president o the Oklaho ma Women’s Political Caucus. “We’ve got to have some elections before we’re ready again.” Similarly, in North Carolina the num ber of pro-ERA lawmakers rose after the November election, but not sufficientlv to guarantee a win. Johanna Ettin of the National Organization for Women in Winston-Salem reports that her chapter will need at least two years to lay the groundwork for ratification. "We re all concerned that it be done pro|>erlv.” she said. “I don’t think anyone is in a hurry excejjt in Washington.” Bigger roadblocks, however, may crop up in some of the 35 states which ratified ERA early in the 1970s, before conserva tive forces organized in opposition. Such states may not necessarily rejieat their good judgement: Legislators who voted to ratify have since faced strong opposi tion from anti-ERA cadres at the polls and are under continual pressure to re scind their vote. In Wisconsin, NOVV’s state] opposes reconsideration in itg 1973 state ERA proposal forfj would fail. Warned Marquettell t> politic al sc ic-ntist Janet Bolesf written widely on ERA: State lei will be "exceedingly hostile”aW sidering ERA immediately.“M to have to give them a rest. 'she] Women’s organizations have begun to prepare for 1984, re candidates, targeting races,M course — raising money. In mi® organizers are also readying at for ERA in the 1980s based inert nomic equity than simple equali House constitutional rights mitteechairman Don Edwardse: in a telephone interview that he intention ol expediting the 1-RA.j going to start the hearings an|| them fora number of monthsui got the- votes. We can pass it in the] the Senate is another problem,’' I lowever, though 54 senatotj agreed to cosponsor the ERA thin the GOP leadership shows little! breaking f rom either jvarty policj president. Without Republican ERA may never get beyond Capn The danger for ERA II could Democrats’ tendency to force the tical advantage by pushing the merit onto a gender gap-consda publican Senate. While SenateconS lion might pressure some RepubliS rethink their ojiposilion, it mavaiB-^-' as many in the process. SuchapJ miscalculation could kill ERA lib Fo i)l ever reached statehouses. .egistrati ifg «’ n ne in lilcling ll cult ui- ms of st y^rwnri^ 1 exits AK-M Unit ersit \ administrators or I'acnltt mem- hers, or of the Board of Regents. J he Battalion also serves as a lahoratort newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photographs (las ses within the Department of C '.ommnn 'u aliens. Questions or comments coneerning ans editorial matter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the F.clitor should not exceed S00 words in length, and arc subject to being cut if then are longer, the editorial staff'reserves the right lo edit lelteis for style and length, hut will make everv effort to maintain the author’s intent. F.ach letter must also he signed and show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and arc not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, 1 tie Battalion. 210 Reed McDonald, Fexas A&M L’ui- versity. College Station, TX 77S4:?. or phone (71.5) H4 - ,- 2011. I he Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall and spring semesters, except for holidav and exami nation periods. Mail subscriptions are S 10.7:) per semes ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per f ull vear. Adver tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion. 210 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&rM Universitv, College Station TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatc hes credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station TX 77843. ijiomtj Lite THAT UNTIL W£ FLBW 0V6R A TDXIC WASTCPUMP, tl Letter: Incentives in education Editor: I dedicate this piece of writing to all those who sit throught the drudgery of lectures only to let it off the other ear no soonei they' exit from the exam room. I his article deserves a similar mode of consumption. Aha, so you say there isn’t any incen tive to study well and score high grades these days? And to even those who see some incentive to get an A (the reasons offered are various, ranging from, it‘will help me land a good job, to my peers are all A students), what incentive is there to score a 99.9 instead of a 89.9? There will be one, and a strong one, when a mixture of capitalism and free enterprise plus a little brain (if you have), is injected into the sphere of education. I can already hear you screaming, “What is this nut talking about, anyway?” When the current grading system was being developed, it was assumed that stu dents would work to the limit of their abilities; be it for peer pressure (aha!) or for inner satisfaction (hah, hah!). Need less to say, today these qualities are as rare as the horns on a horse. So com- ■ Sr take”,T r?mpi ‘7 ,hal su ''lc"ts no I„„- gei take their studies seriously but con- j-u ei it asjust one of the things in life you Which ^the 13 t 1 " ^ ^ the L y c ts winch is the only ethical way to motivate the present-day materialistic students? Money, with a capital M. tS ’ So what can he done to incorporate the two, money and education, so as to pro? vide the needed boost to education which is after all our goal. Here is where the ideas of capitalism and free enter- puse come in. I have developed a com- jdete blueprint of the same hut here are the basic rudiments. out that the students wdl form i Jp' 1 - 6 A “Not too hot, man, a 58, but U 1111 ^ ly negotiating with Sue for the But man, I tell you, she’s simf rageous, demanding 5 bucks J point she gives from her 92. ‘ a Jerry, shop around for the lo\' e Thus students who score high^ c their excess points (more u 1311 quired to maintain a particufii poor souls desperately try 111 ?, their heads above water. So stu | are already good in their stuthes^ some jiocket money (a new din 1 , “working your way through 5° those who are not so good at . (| would work harder and lean 1 ^ cause it pinches where it hints (i.e. on purses and wallets). In a short while, you will see full on Friday nights and Sun A ings... The continuation of 1 ie ^ should obviously depend ° n ; d participation and the success program. But isn’t it worth a try? Biju ^ College ' SU