Higher taxes would compensate
for Texas' declining oil revenues
Poor Granny,
Ellie May, Jethro
and Jed. The
Clampetts are
moving from Bev
erly Hills back to
the woods. They
just can’t afford
the cement pond
anymore. As for
ll M
Mr. Drysdale, he’s
facing big prob-
Kevin Inda
Texas is facing a financial crisis. Once
plentiful oil and gas tax revenues are
rapidly declining. Texas’ overdepen
dence on these revenues is the main rea
son lawmakers are currently seeking
ways to cut spending and/or increase in
come. During the next biennium, the
State of Texas will be about $1 billion
short of enough revenue to keep spend
ing at current levels.
Comptroller Bob Bullock is expecting
oil and gas tax revenues to total $4.4 bil
lion for the 1984-1985 biennium. But
LETTERS:
Student input in
Senate encouraged
EDITOR:
In last Monday’s Battalion there was
an article on the Faculty Senate subcom
mittee on Course/Instructor evalua
tions. The article was vague on student
representation because, basically, no
students have been chosen to be on the
committee.
As the ranking student on academic
matters in the Student Senate, I am in
viting any student who is interested in
this area to be on the committee. The
'committee would look at the feasibility
of creating a university-wide teaching
evaluation policy at A&M. If feasible,
the results of the evaluation would
probably be published and made avail
able to students. The Faculty Senate and
the administration are looking for stu
dent input — this is one of the ways that
your voice can be heard.
If you are interested in this area, call
me at 845-3051 (Student Government)
or at my number, 260-7384. Keep these
numbers: as Vice-President of Aca
demic Affairs I want to increase student
input in Student Government. I would
be happy to talk to anyone about Cour
se/Instructor evaluations or any other
academic area, now, and in the future.
James Cleary
Vice-President of Academic Affairs
Politicians sidestep
important questions
EDITOR:
For a long time, I’ve been sitting,
standing around listening to the mass
media and politicians proclaim their
“well founded” status as experts on
communication and information. Yes,
and I even allowed myself to be per
suaded by these mind directing pres
sures enough to attend the recent Wiley
Lecture Series presentation; “U.S.-So-
those same revenues are expected only
to reach $3.7 billion in the proposed
1986-1987 biennial budget. For a state
that relies on oil and gas taxes for almost
30 percent of its total tax collections, a
$600 million shortfall would be a major
blow to the state’s pay-as-you-go budget.
lems. Over the years he’s relied primar
ily on the Clampett’s money as a source
of revenue. But now Drysdale is faced
with the task of finding new ways to
generate revenues — something he’s
never had to do before.
To put the situation in more mone
tary terms, consider that fact that every
time the price of oil drops one dollar,
Texas is losing about $40 million a year
in severance taxes and about $90 million
a year in total revenue. But the future is
even more frightening.
A Texas Railroad Commission study
indicates oil production and reserves in
Texas are rapidly declining. The study
shows that in 1984, 881 million barrels
of oil were produced. Total reserves for
1984 was estimated at 7.6 billion barrels.
But in the year 2003, oil production is
expected to drop to 525 million barrels
with reserves totaling only 4.9 billion
barrels.
If oil production and reserves de
crease as the study predicts, Texas will
be facing a 35 percent decrease in oil re
serves and a 40 percent decrease in oil
production over the next 19 years. A 40
percent decrease in production — as
suming the price of oil remained at $27
charge.
viet Relations: The Quest for Interna
tional Security”.
One could predict from the start the
outcome of the seminar. So, why at
tend? Perhaps it was a desire to learn
the “ways and means” of a politician:
not answering questions by answering
them, agreeing with another by dis
agreeing, or for that matter, convincing
an audience as well as himself as to the
verity of his statements. Perhaps it was a
want for enlightenment on major inter
national issues.
public minds with their mythological
truths and transparent facades.
Rick Matos
Reward offered
for stolen saddle
EDITOR:
Though one of the prevalent issues of
today, Star Wars was barely discussed. It
could be because the subject immedi
ately lends itself to a farcical air as in
deed it should. A previous Wiley Lec
ture Series seminar, “Star Wars: the
Strategic Defense Initiative,” also failed
to convince me of the system’s utility. Is
it too hard to imagine the various flaws
in such systems? Pretend the accuracy of
the system could be as high as 99 per
cent, what of these kinetic energy beams
that fail to “inactivate” (whatever that
means, radiation is still there!) their as
signed ballistic targets? Is it hard to con
ceive, that even with a 99 percent effi
ciency rate, some missiles will penetrate
our defenses and still destroy unpredict
able targets? What decides which mis
siles to or not to “inactivate” on an ex
treme case of overload? Can’t dummy
missiles be sent along with armed mis
siles in order to occupy the various de
fensive satellites? If Star Wars is to be
used in such a manner as to destroy mis
siles while outside the atmosphere (re
ducing radiation exposure to earth), is it
hard to realize faster, lower flying mis
siles that never exit the atmosphere? Is
Star Wars the end or just another begin
ning?
Did I hear the answer to these and
many other questions at either lecture
attended? While thanking the Wiley lec
ture Series staff for their efforts, I wish
to chastise the politicians who sidestep
the issues and attempt to influence the
This letter is to any Ag who can help!
As the police beat reported in The
Battalion last week, ten tires were stolen
off of horse trailors belonging to mem
bers of the Parson’s Mounted Cavalry.
But that report didn’t mention that a
saddle was also stolen: my saddle!!
Now, I’m not a member of PMC. I’m
not even in the Corps of Cadets. But I
have a horse up here and I enjoy riding.
OK, at least, I used to.
It is a western saddle and it means a
lot to me.The PMC has reason to believe
that the items were stolen as a joke (or
revenge). And they have ideas on who it
might be (along with a few leads). None
of the items have been returned (so far).
But a detective is investigating.
I am offering a reward to anyone
who can help me get my saddle back. No
questions will be asked! I don’t want
anyone to get in trouble, I just want my
saddle. So, if it was a joke, and you know
where it is, or you know someone who
might, let me know. Or put it back
where it came from. Any information
leading to the recovery of my saddle will
be rewarded.
Please help me if you can, Ags! The
saddle has a faded, yellow-green, cush
ioned seat. It has a padded cinch and an
old, worn leather breast-collar. There
are two cracks (lines) on the saddle
horn. There might also be a thick, dark
chocolate brown saddle blanket with it.
(Yes, they took my blanket,too).
If anyone has any information, please
call 260-6065 or 260-7486..
Thanks, Ags. It means a lot to me.
Jodi Felton, ’87
Reagan misplayed ham AS
in disarmament game
By ART BUCHWALD
Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate
I had no objection to President Rea
gan turning down Mikhail Gorbachev’s
suggestion that the West join the Soviets
in a freeze on medium-range nuclear
weapons. What did bother me was the
haste in which it was done.
“I’m aware of what ourscenarioj
Marshal. What 1 want to knowisj
Reagan is in favor of it.”
The words were hardly out of Gorba
chev’s mouth when the Western White
House rejected it as a dirty commie
trick. One got the impression the Rea
gan administration was more furious
with the freeze than if the Soviet pre
mier had announced he was going to
double the number of SS-20s on the So
viet border.
“Our people now have theory
there are a lot more Pershing
Europe than the United Statesnij
mil to, and if the Americans agreed
freeze at this time it would givette
8-to-1 advantage over us.”
I The Unit
‘ iomber soo
complex m
: system, and
engineer pi
program.
■ Dr. Rich a
“Now you tell me. Why die
know this before I made an
freeze our missiles?”
There is no question in my mind that
Mikhail was making a grandstand play
for the benefit of the NATO countries.
Yet if disarmament is a game — and
everyone knows it is — it would have
been much better for our side if Mr.
Reagan did not react so predictably.
“Our KGB people in Washinm
sured us that the White Housew
denounce your offer because itr
endanger their request for an ini
military budget. The fact the pn
didn’t can only mean we’ve
mated number of nuclear w
United States has aimed at us.
you why we can’t trust the Amei
They’re always crying they are
in missiles — when the true factis
are ahead.”
A&M’s Cen
nology, also
think tank,
Bhairman ol
Bie U.S. Ai
Brand and a
dynamics la
lerson Air !•
Sep<
Had the president responded imme
diately that he was “very interested” in
the Gorbachev proposal and wanted to
“fine-tune” it, this is what probably
would have happened in the Kremlin.
“What do I do if Reagan
freeze his weapons? Should I savj
f reeze is off?”
a barrel — would deprive Texas of over
$16 billion in oil taxes over the next 19
years.
The State of Texas can no longer rely
on oil and gas taxes as a crutch to sup
port the state. The oil industry will con
tinue to provide a significant source of
revenues for the state but nothing like it
once did. The State of Texas needs to
instigate new ways of generating reve
nue that will provide a steady source of
income — mainly new taxes.
The thought of new taxes might an
ger most Texans, but in actuality we’re
spoiled. Texans pay less state taxes than
the residents of 43 other states. In 1983,
Texas paid an average of $579 per ca
pita in state tax while the national aver
age was $739 per capita.
It’s time for Drysdale, as well as his
customers, to face the facts. It looks like
the Glampetts aren’t going to be back in
Beverly Hills for a while so Drysdale can
no longer rely on the their money as a
significant source of revenue. Drysdale’s
customers aren’t going to be happy, but
it’s time for him to raise their service
“Comrade Number One — this just in
from Santa Barbara. President Reagan
thinks your offer to freeze the SS-20s is
a very generous one and he is glad you
put it on the table.”
“What are you saying, Marshal Po
temkin? If Reagan likes my plan there
must be something wrong with it.”
“Our intelligence people have come
to the same conclusion. They are per
plexed that Reagan would jump at it so
fast. Our scenario was that the president
would dismiss your proposal and attack
us for maintaining a 10-to-l missile su
periority. 'Then we could attack him for
wanting to keep the arms race going,
thereby winning the hearts and minds
of the West European population.”
“No, Comrade Number One.
would make it appear we belied
Americans are stronger than wej
What you must do is to improveod
offer of a freeze by making a uniai
reduction in weapons. This will a
the West. T hey will be certain thei
reason we’re doing it is that we™
many missiles w f e can afford to req
our nuclear arsenal without endacj
ing our defense. Reagan will toil
publicly say it’s a trap and denom
for it. And then we’ll be known ini
ern Europe as the peacemakers’’
GRAPEV
timing and
j-eaucracy k
Separated,
las finally
dfe and a
had never s<
In a tear!
ftVorth Inte
lay night,
iis wife,
laughter, 1
Tram Hi
Phan lande
1975 for wh
two-year su
mculture
DP
“That’s what you said befortl
freeze speech. Suppose he doesnij
nounce me and says he’s glad tosttl
offer on the table? How long do I
to keep disarming Mother Russiil
show how strong we really are?"
“Until Reagan cries, ‘Uncle.’”
Some students are not
quite ready to
AUSTIb
Lee Lucas I
tion only tl
in numeroi
killing on!
crous,” the
of Public Si
“In over
... took (ol
crime,” Co
some of th
as far as th<
them.”
At varioi
have com n
Adams sail
Kevin S. Inda is a senior journalism
major and a weekly columnist for The
Battalion.
The end of April
is always a time for
change.
April marks the
beginning of Spring.
Ann
Cervenka
Spring means students inevitably find
lying in the sun and playing baseball or
frisbee more important than studying.
Unfortunately, the end of April also
means that the end of the semester is
just around the corner. Projects, papers
and programs are due. Deadlines are
piled upon deadlines, assignments upon
assignments. Just as one is tackled, an
other arises. But just as the weight of all
the last-minute obstacles begins to lift,
it’s finals week.
That is, unless you’re a graduating se-
But what about the rest of thoifi
niors who are still unemployed.
I was talking to a fellow journal
major the other day. She merely*
“Get drunk.”
Others plan to spend moneyinsi
of make it, maybe by travelingtol
rope. But after that? Who knows. I
Still others talk about swallol
their pride and moving back homo
their parents, maybe to work at Mel
aids until they find a real job.
I know these people will findi
places in the real world, and I wish Ik
the best of luck.
But for now, I think I’llbecontcni
enjoy another three semesters atTe
A&M.
Right now, they may be working like
the rest of us, trying to turn everything
in to professors and finish with tne last
» P 1
round of exams.
A good friend of mine rattled off a
list of about ten assignments, projects,
exams and reports that his professors
crammed into his last two weeks at
A&M. Sure his schedule may look hectic
now, but I know he has caught a glimpse
of that light at the end of the tunnel.
Something about the attitude of these
graduating seniors is different.
Some simply don’t care anymore. But
all seem to be wearing perpetual smiles.
The thought of graduating after four,
well maybe five, long years of hard work
and hard fun makes their faces light up.
They know that they actually will walk
across that stage and get the long-
sought-after diploma.
They are all too happy to remind
their underclassmen friends: “This is
my last exam,” or “I can’t wait to go to
Lake Somerville during dead week.”
Sure, some may miss their college
days, but look at what they have to look
forward to: the real world.
No more of the wholesome, pseudo
world of Texas A&M.
That means no more going to the
Chicken on Thursday nights. Or no
more late-night Dominoes Pizza orders
with roommates.
But that also means no more bounc
ing checks and asking parents for
money at the end of the month. The
real world means real money; unless, of
course, they don’t have a job.
When they are asked what they are
going to do after graduation, the an
swers vary.
I have neard it all.
Of course there are the few people
who have the perfect job lined up with
the number one company in the field
and who will be making top dollars
fresh out of school.
For these people, the answer is sim
ple. “Ell begin my career.”
Ann Cervenka is a junior jourm
.major and a staff writer for
Battalion.
The Battalion
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Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
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