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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1995)
Friday • March 3, 1995 mm Presidential politicking fools public Phil Gramm's campaign filled with the usual political rhetoric Jim Pawlikowski Columnist P hil Gramm is the con summate politician. He has so much polit ical savvy that he knows exactly what he can get away with. He is one of President Clinton’s most vocal critics, especially when where Clin ton’s lack of military service is concerned. However, Gramm did not serve in the military either. In 1976, Lloyd Bentsen ran for both the Senate and the Pres idency. Gramm, Bensten’s opponent for the Senate seat, argued that incumbents should resign if they are going to run for high er office. In the 1996 campaign, Gramm will be doing the exact j;ime thing he so adamantly opposed in 1976. Gramm’s apparent hypocrisy on these matters should be troublesome to voters. How can a man who consistently say® one thing and does another be trusted to hold the na tion’s highest office? Unfortunately, he is not doing anything that we haven’t seen before. Clinton broke several campaign pledges. He opposed Bush’s policy of repatriating Haitian refugees and criticized his inac tion in Bosnia, yet Clinton eventually adopted essentially the same policies of the Bush administration as his own. Bush promised no new taxes, yet signed a bill with one of the largest tax increases ever. Politicians can get away with breaking campaign promises because American voters generally do not care. We would rather hear empty promises than the truth. Presidential candidate Walter Mondale admitted, in a 1984 debate with Ronald Reagan, that he would raise taxes if elected because it was the only way to get the budget deficit under control. He was right, but who wants to vote for a liberal tax hik er? If one guy says he’ll raise taxes and the other says he won’t, we generally vote for the latter. We don’t think of the consequences. We don’t examine which argument better withstands critical examination. Reagan took advantage of our short attention spans, telling us in 1984 what we wanted to hear — that the budget could be balanced without tax hikes or spending cuts. Gramm is doing the exact same thing. He claims that he will balance the budget without raising taxes or cutting defense or social security. This is what we want to hear, so many will probably vote for him based on this platform. > Never mind that this plan is totally unworkable in reality. 1 We don’t want to hear that we can’t have it both ways. I can think of no politician who has the clout to tell Ameri cans that we must make sacrifices and still receive popu lar support. A recent poll showed that 79 percent of Americans supported the Balanced Budget Amendment. However, when reminded that a balanced budget would require cuts in Social Security benefits, support dropped to 32 percent. If we remain this short sighted, the deficit and all the prob lems associated with it will continue to grow. If we do not give thoughtful attention to the promises our candidates for public office make, they will continue to get away with winning elections on empty promises. Gramm has demonized Clinton by painting him as a big gov ernment liberal who derives pleasure from raising taxes. Nobody wants to raise taxes, of course, but it may be neces- If we don't give careful attention to the promises candidates make, they will con tinue to win elections based on empty promises that won't be fulfilled. sary if we are unwilling to make unpopular spending cuts. Gramm is certain to run a campaign filled with promises that are easy to support. He even said himself that he would run his campaign using “simple” language. “Simple” language means simple-minded campaign promis es, which are painless and easy to support. This is not to say that Phil Gramm is simple-minded. With a doctorate in economics and years of experience as a public rep resentative, Gramm is certainly an intelligent man. He has a firm grasp of free-market principles. He would do as well as anyone could in making them work. Gramm surely understands that the budget cannot be bal anced without strict fiscal discipline and sacrifice, including sig nificant cuts in Social Security benefits and defense spending. But he certainly won’t admit that in his campaign. We don’t want politicians telling us to sacrifice, and Gramm knows better than to repeat Mondale’s infamous mistake. This is part of the problem. The nation’s problems are complex and cannot be solved with rhetoric and empty campaign promises. However, we voters are generally uncritical when it comes to thinking about important political and social issues. Phil Gramm is'going to exploit that. We must not let him. <Jim Pawlikowski is a junior chemical engineering major The Battalion • Page 7 VOO'LL Gtt TV It RLT VMV) M flrtEWDIAtMr MU.. vmi'.r wvj ttWPEUtt To Hi[ EuLMlCf MCHWiHV. The Battalion Established in 1893 Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body, regents, administration, faculty or staff. Columns, guest columns, cartoons and letters express the opinions of the authors. Contact the opinion editor for information on submitting guest columns. Mark Smith Editor in chief Jay Robbins Senior Managing editor Heather Winch Managing editor for Business Sterling Hayman Opinion editor Erin Hill Asst, opinion editor EDITORIAL 'SJT.gor;.. i TOHiiet) it wooU) fflss.iwni. tt»At (KfffR Mf'l. T'rt VfAb!! mMUll!!! •fcor, MK. vou canJ oau Tore ^Mcen.! Acrarvk Paying & Paying The Board of Regents should limit any fee increases to those which are absolutely vital. This month, the Texas A&M Uni versity System Board of Regents will consider, a proposal that would in crease several student fees in order to make up for lost state funding. While funding cuts will severely tighten the Universi ty’s budget, Texas A&M is in a much better position to ab sorb sudden, dramat ic financial stresses than the average stu dent. The proposal would carry an aver age cost per student of $200 per semester. This jump in fees, coupled with proba ble increases of resi dence hall rent, stu dent services fees and the recreational sports center fee, is too great to justify. The University should at least spread out the fee increases in this proposal over two years. Even slight increases every semes ter would be easier for money- strapped students to manage than this immediate fee hike. If these fee increases are forced on A&M students, then the Board of Re gents should guarantee that the mon- PROPOSED FEE INCREASES Tuition (per credit hour) In-state undergraduate: $28 (current) to $30 (proposed) Out-of-state undergraduate: $171 to $176 In-state graduate: $48 to $60 Out-of-state graduate: $200 to $206 Parking Commuter: $55 to $75 Reserved (staff): $135 to $200 Night permit: $1 5 to $35 Summer: $20 to $55 Garage roof: $150 to $180 Garage priority: $225 to $270 Zachry basement: $225 to $270 Garage inside: $200 to $240 Garage visitor: $.50/hr to $.60/hr Applications for admissions: $25 to $35 ey will go toward maintenance, re pair and expansion of parking facili ties, and keeping course offerings at current or higher levels. This money supposedly is needed to make up for budget cuts, so it should be used to prevent cuts in pro grams and services, not to pay for other University expenses unrelated to tuition, parking and admis sions. The last thing any student wants to hear is the news of higher expenses, however, if the Legis lature cuts the Uni versity budget, then raised fees are al most inevitable. Students can work to make the best of this bad situation by first contacting their legislators to discourage the proposed 12 percent higher education budget cuts, and second by express ing to the Board concern that money from any increase be justified and used appropriately. Texas A&M should not sacrifice qual ity because it has to tighten its belt, but A&M students should not have to take up all the slack by themselves. M A11 CAUL Those assaulted at Gramm rally should file complaints As a former Texas Peace Officer and a former stu dent, I am saddened that some people at the Phil Gramm rally may have publically violated state and federal laws. I urge those who may have been assaulted and/or denied their constitutional rights, as well as people who witnessed these events, to formally contact the University Police department or the local office of the FBI. Additionally, if these people feel that these as saults and civil rights violations are part of an on-go ing effort of a particular group or that the University supports these illegal actions, they should also re quest broader investigations and pro-active protec tion from the University and other law enforcement agencies at future events. Donald Arnold 1 Class of ’84 Dance team supports TAMU, deserves show of respect This letter is in response to MariClare Feeney’s March 2 letter. Yes, the dance team left the stands with two minutes left in the game. But if you would have taken notice, the girls were still in G. Rollie White. The team had been asked to sign posters for the fans after the game. They left the stands to set up. They also signed the posters well after the game had ended. So, to say that they don’t support Aggie basketball is wrong. To say that they don’t support A&M is ridiculous. The dance team shows enormous support. Ags, how about showing some Aggie spirit and supporting other Aggies instead of bashing them? Donald G. Thomas II Class of’94 Tolerance of homosexuality only first step, not enough In response to the March 2 letter concerning homosexuality, I think it’s great that the Catholic Church now preaches tolerance. But to condemn a lifestyle that is not a choice, instead of the per son living that lifestyle, seems to be the loophole around that pesky “love thy neighbor” thing. The Catholic Church has stated that it is OK to be gay, as long as you remain chaste. But most religions and governments don’t recognize same-sex marriages. So homosexuals can’t mar ry, but can’t have sex with a person unless they are married. What a way to address the issue of homosexuality! While the church’s policy regarding homosexu ality is a good first step, there is still a long way to go. Margaret Gordon Class of ’96 Corps serves as keepers of tradition, preserves history I’ve been tempted to write many times, but Terry Cockerham’s Feb. 21 letter convinced me to do it. Even as Cockerham was cursing the Corps for not being punished for hazing as a sorority or fra ternity would have been, an article on the front page proclaimed that the members of Pi Kappa Phi would not be punished after all, although most people I know would classify someone being bound with duct tape in the bed of a pickup truck as fair ly clear case of hazing. The Corps does not condone hazing, just as Matt Segrest said. Members of the Corps of Cadets don’t really be lieve that we own the campus, but we are aware that we are an integral part of the University. We are called “Keeper of the Traditions,” and tradition is what this great place is all about. This is not in any way intended to ignore the ac complishments of “non-regs.” They also contribute immensely to A&M. Cockerham and anyone else out there who may truly dislike our beloved Corps of Cadets should simply accept us for what we are — a fine military organization that breeds leaders of tomorrow. Don’t take it upon yourself to denigrate an organi zation and a lifestyle you couldn’t possibly under stand, unless you lived it. Katy Carlson Class of ‘9 7 False information about AIDS, Louganis spreads fear I am amazed that Elizabeth Preston was allowed to write a column about Greg Louganis without us ing any facts. Her column lacks merit for the follow ing reasons: the AIDS virus cannot survive in an olympic-sized pool with chlorine in it, and even if it could survive, the virus would have been so diluted that there would have been no chance of infection. The doctor should have know to wear gloves when treating anyone. It’s as if Preston implied that people who get AIDS deserve it because they don’t take the proper precautions — morally or by using gloves or con doms. How does that argument sound? It is people like Preston who spread the fear of AIDS because of a lack of knowledge about the virus. Get educated about AIDS and spread facts, not fears. You have accused Greg Louganis of attempted murder incorrectly. Nathan Blasingame Class of ’95 Littlefield lacks respect for Aggie lifestyle, traditions This is in response to Kyle Littlefield’s Feb. 28 column in which he boasted that he was an Aggie and not a “two-percenter.” He thinks he’s an Aggie simply because he attends A&M. This could not be further from the truth. He obviously doesn’t un derstand what this University is about. A&M was built on traditions, and that is what distinguishes this school from every other school in the world. I would like to see Littlefield name one other school that remembers students when they pass away. It’s pretty sad that this University cares enough about students to remember them, yet Si The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and will print as many as space allows. Letters must be 300 words or less and include the author's name, class and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, clarity and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 01 3 Reed McDonald. A valid student I.D. is required. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call Fax: (409) 845-2647 013 Reed McDonald E-mail: Batt@tamvm1 .tamu.edu Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-1111 VTA m.::* iZfr* they don’t care enough to take the time to under stand what it is all about. Attending Texas A&M isn’t just enrollment, it’s a lifestyle. And if Littlefield doesn’t know what it means to be involved with A&M and its traditions, then he is not an Agg(ie, he is simply a student at Texas A&M. Erick Wes ter holm Class of ’95 Greek organizations seek to serve others, not to isolate It seems in Michael Mason’s Feb. 27 letter, he believes Greek organizations should be removed from Aggieland. I know that he is not the only one. Are Greeks not a part of A&M? I’m a member of a Fraternity. It isn’t only a so cial organization; we also realize we have been for tunate in life, and we work in the community for those less-fortunate. The really unnerving idea in Mason’s letter is his belief that Greek organizations foster “elitism, segregation and racism by their very existence.” Mason needs to realize that his intolerance of dissenting opinions is the reason this campus in curs conflicts. His narrow-mindedness prevents him from meeting hundreds of Aggie Greeks. If I were never to talk to my non-Greek friends again because of my “elitist” attitude, I would be one lonely guy — without a roommate. Mason believes being an Aggie is a state of mind. Well in my mind, I judge each person in dividually. If Mason met me and liked me, would he quit talking to me when he found out I’m a Beta? Jason Penny packer Class of ‘96 m i
