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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1983)
Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, June 7,1983 re iel< PAC contributions act as two-edged sword by Jitterbug Ring, hi! Socializing |es offeree ■ Stuc Editor’s note: Dr. Gerald D. Keim is an associate professor of management and Dr. Barry D. Bay singer is an assistant professor of management at Texas A&M. Both have researched the influ ence of PACs on the political process. The following was written at the request of United Press International. by Gerald D. Keim and Barry D. Baysinger help build political war chests to scare away potential challengers. Perhaps it is the politicians who have the power over the PACs since many suc cessful candidates in 1982 collected con tributions from hundreds of different PACs. The question may be put in terms of market power. Is the leverage in the PAC market on the side of the contribution maker or the contribution taker? Market If Thomas Nast were alive today he would create a cartoon depicting a fat PAC man with a huge money bag over his shoulder riding on the back of a dwarfed congressman. Political Action Committee contribu tions are widely perceived as attempts to buy political influence. “To the Highest Bidder,” was the title of an NBC report on PACs. Editorial writers refer to “poli tical body snatching,” “Congress for Sale,” and the “pernicious influence of PACs.” Common Cause has declared war on PACs so that government can be re turned to the people. But statements by corporate public affairs officers during the last election revealed a contrasting picture of the PAC-politician relationship. These ex ecutives expressed growing concern over pressure from incumbent politicians to make early campaign contributions to If PACs could buy votes, the time to worry is when there are only a few PACs with similar interests. power, one of the few subjects on which most economists still agree, is likely when the following conditions exist: (a) few competitors, (b) high entry barriers and (c) no close substitutes for the product or service. Look at the PAC market and consider the first two conditions together. In each general election there usually are two candidates to represent a district, state or seat on a key committee — the incumbent and the challenger. Historically, incum bents win more than 80 percent of the general elections for Congress. Entering this side of the political marketplace is not easy. On the other hand, there are few entry barriers to PAC participation in elections. Today approximately 3,500 political action commitees make contri butions in congressional races. Turning to the availability of substi tutes, incumbents correctly argue that their seniority and their committee assignments cannot be duplicated by a challenger. On the other hand, PAC con tributions are like different brands of gasoline — they are perfect substitutes. In the 1982 election cycle, PAC contri butions accounted for one-third of the campaign expenditures for congression al candidates. The remaining two-thirds came mainly from individual contribu tions. Many politicians solicit PACs with dif fering ideologies or positions on legisla tive issues. Democratic presidential can didate Gary Hart is not accepting PAC contributions so he won’t be “indebted to narrow interests with conflicting agen da.” How can anyone be indebted to dif ferent groups with conflicting agenda? Taking money from groups with differ ing positions on issues makes it difficult to promise much to any of them. That is a key point. If PACs could buy votes, the time to worry is when there are only a few PACs with similar interests. As the number of PACs increases so does the competition among the potential vote buyers. Consider the exchange between PACs and congressional candidates from the perspective of a political action commit tee seeking to advance the interests of its members. Solicitations for contributions may come from most of the incumbents up for re-election and many of the chal lengers. Solicitations from candidates with little chance of winning can be safely ignored. But a candidate who is a prob able winner or one in a close race is a different story. If such candidates are likely to vote on legislation affecting the PACs interests, they are the key players from the PACs point of view. Can the PAC afford to say no to the request for a contribution? If a contribu tion is not made, will the influence of the PAC after the election be diminished? Will it be as easy to get appointments with elected officials’ key aides? Will phone summer. If candidates are likely to vote on legislation affecting the PACs in terests, they are the key players from the PACs point of view. calls be returned as quickly as those from other groups? Will position papers be read? More importantly, can the PAC Letters: Batt cartoon racist <anBf#OI&OCAiCl/AJ0t(S— Editor: In response to the cartoon on page 2 of The Battalion, dated May 31, concern ing the tax exempt status of schools that practice racial discrimination, I submit the following: It is not tunny, it is tasteless and racist. I am sure the word “honky” is offensive to some whites, similar to the way the word “nigger” is to blacks. Surely, you would not use the word “nigger” in a cartoon depicting a white talking to a black. Communiques such as that, re gardless of the intent, promote and esca late bigotry and racism. Throughout the entire Texas A&M System we are trying to bring together all races and ethnic groups for the better ment of the Texas A&M System and hu manity. Actions such as this are irrespon sible and contradictory to our objectives. Please, stop the racist jokes and car toons in The Batt, we don’t need it. Gerald Wright System Affirmative Action Officer US coverage complaint Editor: A behavior control researcher would probably find the low arrest record at the US Festival (in which “none of the bands failed totally disappoint the crowd”) to be a remarkable statistic indeed. Rock fans have a reputation for violence or rowdi ness, but these were apparently acquies cent to the extreme. It would seem that after 25 consecutive total disappoint ments (which each of the bands suc ceeded in producing, per your reporter) there should have been enough collective disgust to ensure a riot of considerable proportions. Remarkable. Journalists owe it to themselves and their readers to be extremely careful with their language and their logic. A TRAMS ATLANTIC RIGHT FOR ONIV ISO BUCKS... how do THey DO IT £. An education test for the president Lain Ellis by Art Buchwald “The Rising Tide of Mediocrity threatens our veyy future as a nation.” Thus sayeth the recent report by the Na tional Commission on Excellence in Edu cation. Here are a few statistics they unco vered. There are 23 million functionally illiterate adults in the country, and 13 percent of all 17-year-olds cannot read, write or comprehend. The average teacher in America makes $ 17,000 a year and must moonlight to stay out of the poorhouse. There are severe shortages of instructors in math, science and fore ign languages. Half of those now teaching these subjects are not qualified to do so. teachers’ salaries and getting more qual ified instructors to make sure our stu dents are equipped to deal with the tasks that lie ahead?” The Battalion for students in reporting, editing and photography clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. USPS 045 360 Letters Policy Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Hope E. Paasch City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor John Wagner News Editors Daran Bishop, Brian Boyer, Beverly Hamilton, Tammy Jones Staff Writers Scott Griffin, Robert McGlohon, Angel Stokes, Joe Tindel Copy editors .... Kathleen Hart, Tracey Taylor Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers Brenda Davidson, Eric Lee, Barry Papke, Peter Rocha Editorial Policy 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 a 1 thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of i exas A&M University administrators or faculty mem bers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper 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 and show the address and telephone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials also are 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 (409) 845- 2611. The Battalion is published Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during both Texas A&M regular summer sessions, 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 Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.' United Press Internadonal 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. President Reagan, irt his radio address, blames the U.S. government’s role in the past 20 years for the country’s education al problems. If parents would just get involved in their children’s learning pro cess, and we turned our education back to the local communities all would be well again, the president said. He was ada mant that the government not increase its activities in education for any reason. If anyone needs remedial education right now, it’s the president of the United States. “Are you crazy? I need every dollar I can get for defense. Bigger budgets for education are not the answer.” “Do you know what it costs the country in unemployment, welfare, and crime be cause Americans can’t read and write?” “I didn’t know I was supposed to study that.” “Don’t you think it’s your duty as presi dent to be concerned about the quality of education in the United States? Isn’t it a question of national security and sur vival?” “All right, Mr. President. Here is a graph. The red line shows where the Soviets are in education, and the blue line shows where we are. Note the blue line is going down every year and the red line is going up. What does that mean for the nation?” “American parents aren’t doing their job.” “It could mean that. It also could mean the country is not spending enough on education to meet the Soviet threat. Now, Mr. President, here is another chart. It indicates that if we keep turning out peo ple not equipped in the sciences, com merce, or technology, we will soon be overtaken by our competitors through out the world. As the nation’s leader, what should you do about it?” “Work for a constitutional amend ment to bring back prayers in the schools.” “I’m not certain that’s the correct answer. Would you consider raising “I’ve advocated tax breaks for parents who want to send their kids to private schools.” “That isn’t the right answer, Mr. Presi dent. You have to consider the illiteracy bomb in this country with the same se riousness you consider the threat from Central America.” “You don’t expect me to appear before a joint session of Congress just because Americans can’t read and write?” “It could eventually become a bigger threat than El Salvador.” “If I did that, Congress would take away my tax cut for this year. Are you seriously asking me to choose between the education of our children and a 10 percent tax cut?” “Mr. President, your homework assignment was to read the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education last night. Apparently you watched television instead.” “It’s not my fault. I didn’t know I was going to have a test today.” afford to discover the tUiswetL^ questions is no? r {, I he PAC contribution is ErlL Thui tion money — it is not so mud Bom 226 buys but that the FAC can’tiRThis su (discover the consequences of J|ered, la \ dr< .i<l( ,il;<> the VVatergait|»k s an revealed numerous illegalcorpoiH^? aiK * tributions to the Nixon re-eleaJL ol " st ’ un. What did thesefirrasi!«M g cing 0 a l ( paigi millions? Except for a few likeim ster j 1 ^ lobby, precious little. As testoKses, wii vealed in case after case, eiR admitted giving to avoid the®® tactics of the Nixon White HoiwK^t Gi protection money. ^ Today there is no evidence arm tactics by incumbent official- theless, the market powerrenuRl the politician. As PAC moneylitR both sides of most issues, thesultl B y behind these contributionsmaiH | be the perceived consequenceiRhe Co giving. Bo;ik1 mr fecial me tn|rizatior V rKnel for _Br. ■ The b ■t Colie dentSchoc dent H. R. Reagan the NEA by Donald A. Davis B > 'T at ‘ 01 United Press Interaationii ■jL () WAS HINT; TON — Thatdb, rhyme about the three Rs isabS expanded. Now there is a founlH to reading ‘riling and ‘rithmetit R * 11 add Reagan. ^■.Ilie President Reagan has latch education and it will beacentej the future months of the admini-f particularly as a campaign issue the president seek re-election. I T he issue emerged, explosive! the National Comission on ExceliJ Education wrapped up a length) 4 Unitet - _ A LNl the nation’s public school systtMe Arkai teachers providing instruction,tlshootout i ty of their information and the-Botester who eventually is produced bvB^zed ears of study. Their report was® 6 Rew it <— l blanket condemnation and wasilR.^ uco ' tical equivalent of gold on the gup [ UvI ( Reagan hailed the report andpB ne j^ at| and presidential aides quickh a [group potential as an issue. Bdergroi Reagan contends that the vaifcalil whe already spent on education by theRe bulk government failed to produce Ma standing students desired. ■” ls ^ The president had been preaclM 11 ,!^ 11 ’ some time about the value of vot^ educational training and urgingsH mmanc j to jump onto the computer band|i e price tl Then, he changed directionshariljtate Trc criticized some of the same itenwnesborc were condemned in the commissiflbw crow< port. In the process, he attackedtp 111 ^ 3 )'- tional Education Association. I Although he did not say soB # speech to the graduating class| q Hall University in New Jersey left the impression that the N® . ^ been sitting by idly while tlieH^ ^ school system went down the dr® IX Lk system called for merit pay for teachers,® pollsters say is popular, but an irlj- ^ ^ is staunchly opposed by the NEmC vJ Reagan has not abandoned® call for abolishment of the DepBg^ 1 ^ of Education, but has pushedilB ut j lern back burner. Rs killed In all, it adds up to a late-lARjured b issue of the sort that Reagan like ■'that strut basic that Americans want theirdities said. to have good education and tint Russell enough failing grades on educati'^'dle, port card for the past decade to stable ground for attacks by the®?^; j tration. And, too, as Reagan knows we! cheap. He can criticize, appoint commissions and continue touse [jp tion as a political issue withouter ing to actually solve the problem 35, also Berrys Wa tsted in s SI “HEY! KNOCK IT OFF! 1( KNOW THE RULES!”
