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Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 • Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Die importance of domestic
\enate races depend on
of parliament sinct
leaded many mine*
ie Ministry of Foray
er Netanyahu
f Likud Party 1999.
’rime Minister in
Ml, defeating
MELISSA I RIED
Yet,
hen Congressional
elections ended
yesterday,
emocrats and
jepublicans had spent
epast five months gar-
;ring the votes that will carry them to victory.
conclusion to the election approached,
epublicans showed signs of worry as domestic
sues helped Democrats gain footing and votes in a
ring of critical Senate races.
Before the election. Democrats held 50 seats,
lepublicans held 49 and there was one Independent,
^ger to close the gap in the competition, the
Republican campaigns sang a new song and not sur-
risingly, it sounded a lot like the Democrats’.
President Bush and other Republican leaders
Palestinians-tniRought the elections could be easily won with a fimi
nore dovish can; position on issues concerning homeland security, the
ator Haim Re Jar on terrorism and Iraq. Democrats, on the other
and, have downplayed the military aspects in their
iampaigns and focused their attention on issues that
ave all but disappeared since the 2000 presidential
lection - health care, education and jobs. But as poll
|umbers showed Democratic candidates closing in on
dr Republican counterparts. Bush promised that his
Jandidates could provide better health care, education
id more jobs, in addition to ridding the world of
[cold-blooded killers” who “hide in caves.”
A mixture of politics and selfishness drove the
Republicans to follow a slightly altered agenda to
lick up a few Senate seats. Not only would it please
he president to work with an all-Republican
pigress, it would make Trent Lott (R-Miss.), cur-
}ent Senate Minority Leader, happier. One more seat
vould allow him to reclaim his title as majority
eader, which was stripped from him in 2001 by Tom
)aschle (D-S.D.). Lott is not up for re-election, but
hat has not stopped him from helping fellow
Republicans who are. If they win, he wins.
"For two years with President Bush in the White
Bouse and with a Republican majority in the House
issues
economic and educational issues, not homeland security
Mayor Ann
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the issue in
ing that heal
make an imp
of the churcl
and Senate, I believe we can do things our states and
our country would need that would make a difference
for generations to come,” Lott said.
Putting idealism aside, it is not divided govern
ment that has prevented the United States from mak
ing differences for generations to come and it is not
divided government’s fault for the performance this
past year in the Senate — as is President Bush’s
assessment. Lousy government comes from lousy
agendas. For the past year, Bush has suggest
ed legislation primarily concerning securi
ty, terrorism and Iraq. It is no surprise
that the Democratic Senate failed to initi
ate measures concerning anything
domestic - no one had time for it.
Now that Americans have shown they
still care about issues closer to home,
Bush’s first response is to lament the
Senate for not paying attention to
the needs of this nation. He has
swallowed his foot in the process
because it was his party that
stymied such legislation from com
ing to the floor. But the game of
politics is often too predictable and
it is no secret that Bush is intent on
going to war. It will not matter if
the Senate is controlled by
Daschle or Lott — the war will be
the most important item on the
agenda, once again pushing |
domestic issues aside.
Having one party in control
does not necessarily mean agree
ment among all factions or even
confirm the notion of expediting
issues of main concern to the
party. Within the Republican and
Democratic parties there are
conservatives, moderates and
liberals, and it is highly unlikely
they will always agree.
If Republicans want to demonstrate effective lead
ership and political know-how, they have to learn to
anticipate the wants and priorities of the American
people throughout their terms and not just during
election time.
JON FULLRICH • THE BATTALION
nd Kinship
, SUNY, where be
Culture.
irintf
1 cotton
icing
flderly drivers should be evaluated more often
Tests to determine driving competence could help prevent deadly accidents
T he Sacramento Bee reports
that senior citizens are the
fastest-growing group of
drivers in America and studies
show they are more likely to be at
la ult in car crashes. Although many laurel FRANCK
elderly drivers are competent and perceptive, those that aren't
nave no place behind the wheel.
ABCNews.com reports that statistics show drivers older than
w. along with teenagers, have the highest accident rate per miles
driven. Although many states have recently enforced strict meas
les to improve the driving record of teenage drivers, little has
been done to prevent dangerous senior citizens from driving.
In Texas, the Graduated Driver License Program was put into
sheet in January 2001. According to the Texas Department of
nblic Safety, the program changes the original licensing require-
me nts tor persons younger than 18. Phase One of the program
squires the applicant to hold an instruction permit for a mini-
mum °f six months prior to obtaining a license, and any person
acc °mpanying them must be 21 or older.
in Phase Two, the teenager receives his license but may not
r| ve with more than one person younger than 21 in the vehicle
w drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. If actions
a ^ e Bee P taken against reducing the number of traffic accidents
an fatalities involving teenage drivers, the same should be done
‘or seniors.
According to the Aging Parents and Elder Care Web site, safe
riVl "g re quires the complex coordination of many different skills
, n Physical and mental changes that accompany aging, such as a
°w response time and loss of clarity of vision and hearing, can
finish the abilities of elderly drivers.
Minnesota Issue Watch reports that people suffering from
Alzheimer's and dementia have problems processing visual and
spatial information, such as road signs and distances between
cars.
Lawrence Nitz, a political scientist at the University of
Hawaii, told ABCNews.com that his three-year study found driv
ers older than 75 were far more likely than other motorists to be
cited for certain offenses, including failing to yield to pedestrians
and backing up unsafely.
In November 1999, 15-year-old Brandi Mitock of Santa
Monica, Calif, was struck and killed in a crosswalk by 96-year-
old Byron Cox, who hadn't taken a road test since receiving his
license in 1918. This devastating scenario should not occur, and
measures must be taken to prevent those senior citizens who
shouldn't be driving from doing so.
CNN.com reports that 11 states already have age-based
requirements and others are reviewing the issue, but they face
stiff opposition from senior citizens' groups who have caused sev
eral proposed bills to fail.
One such bill, proposed by California Sen. Tom Hayden,
would have required drivers 75 or older to pass a written and
road test when their licenses came up for renewal, among other
measures. Another blocked bill in Oregon would have required
drivers older than 80 to renew their licenses every two years
instead of four, and to take driving and medical tests.
Seniors claim that not being able to drive would reduce their
independence, and say that many proposed measures are age-dis
criminatory. What they fail to recognize is many proposed meas
ures would allow capable drivers to continue driving while pre
venting their dangerous counterparts from causing further deaths
and destruction.
Jamie Fitten, a professor at UCLA School of Medicine, has
designed a series of quick, inexpensive tests that help identify
elderly drivers suffering from mental confusion. "People who are
at risk on the road need to be identified before they hurt them
selves and injure others," Fitten told Minnesota Issue Watch.
Another measure could be to routinely test seniors with road and
written tests and then place restrictions on their driving abilities
accordingly.
A process for alerting officials to questionable drivers already
exists in Washington, and it would be highly beneficial to expand
this type of program, reports the Seattle Times.
A form called Recommendation for Driver Re-examination
can be submitted to the Department of Licensing, which then
investigates and can request that a driver visit a physician to be
evaluated. Based on the evaluation, the department can conduct a
road test and revoke or restrict the license, and if the driver refus
es to comply with any of these requirements, his license is sus
pended.
If seniors are worried about getting around, they have many
options to choose from. Most cities offer discounts to seniors on
public transportation. Senior centers, churches and community
service agencies often provide special transportation services.
Many times, family members and friends are more than happy to
act as chauffeurs to keep loved ones off the road.
Senior citizens who oppose these measures and others should
have nothing to worry about if they are capable, safe drivers.
They should support the fact that their unsafe peers need to be
taken off the road before more tragedies occur.
Laurel Franck is a junior
English major
MAIL CALL
a ^$ want a new head coach
0 improve football team
n0t B °' n £ to Be - * h ave never been on the
lous iQQ Um k ancB/va g on , even after the miracu-
Hedin " season - 1 believe that Slocum is a
top-no^h ^ ea< ^ . coac ^ on a g 00 ^ d a Y ar| d f° r a
" ■ a thletic program at a major university,
overall 5 <aoesn * cut it- People point to Slocum's
Dni r f corc * anc i sa y he's a brilliant head coach.
e n cj n . 0ut that the record that they are refer-
Houstn m i : * LJ< ^ es annual games against Rice,
Confer n ’ , U anc * Baylor during the Southwest
agajns^L 65 ^ a y s - When Slocum is pinned
nation k eBte coa ches and programs in the
played Th e l0 ? es ' Sets
th/!.: Those losses an
out-coached and out-
■ lose losses are taking a toll, not only on
ii/f ans » but on the program as a
Hole arm
11 is f °‘ M k . s n °t as feared as it once was.
ds ° r k reason that the football program
gro U nH ? t an g e now ' before we lose more
director ° — as anc * Oklahoma. With an athletic
perfect t P 0s ' t ' on opening in January, now is the
avaiiab] T 6 ^° r ^ at c h an g e - Great coaches are
klfavor't ° r P' c ki n 8' including the sentimen-
age ( e Gar y Kubiak. I think that in this day in
^nsivp 8 ?^ ense wins ball games, we need an
has pnt + ^'oded coach with clout. Gary Kubiak
« ot ^ be the first and only choice.
Make this easy on all of us R.C.! Here are your
choices as I see them: you can leave now with dig
nity and respect, apply for the new athletic director
position or wait to be fired. You make the choice!
Chris Lewis
Class of 2000
I am offering $1 million to the salary of a new
football coach immediately. I am going to all
alumni, The Battalion and the Houston Chronicle
with my offer.
R.C. Slocum does not have what it takes to ever
take A&M to a national championship. Our season
will end up either 5-7 or 6-6. For Vision 2020 we
need leaders for our athletic programs.
Hire Jimmy Johnson to be the athletic director
and head football coach. Pay him $3 million plus
our donation so A&M can become a great football
program. What A&M has become is pathetic and
alumni are tired of it. Its sad that since I graduat
ed we have become worse than Texas Tech. We
used to be great a long time ago.
Dr. Gates, if you do not make this change now,
we will continue to fall and lose all respect. A&M
needs a facelift now!
David J. Sanguesa
Class of 1985
Voting based on race only
perpetuates racism in America
In response to Collins Ezeanyim's Nov. 5 column:
I am sorry you feel that way about the
Republican Party, but I am glad you wrote what
you did. I think you indirectly hit on an issue
that I think is very important. What it boils
down to is the failure of the voting public to
recognize what side their political bread is but
tered on. Why should someone who is essen
tially a Republican vote Democrat, based prima
rily on race? Racism continues mostly because
people continue to make race an issue. Do
people not realize that affirmative action breeds
racism, and that voting based on race does not
help the country one bit?
Matthew Dozier
Class of 2003
Tobacco testing strengthens the
legal system and allows privacy
In response to And! Baca's Nov. 4 column:
Testing for underage smoking is not a ques
tion of students' rights, it is purposely used to
take steps towards the elimination of underage
smoking among students today.
That is not to say that privacy should be elim
inated, but if actions can be taken to preserve
privacy and the foundation of our legal system,
then what harm is done? This law is aimed at
those who break the law by smoking under age,
it is not to undermine the innocent.
If testing is done throughout the school by a
totally random process, then no one will be sin
gled out and "humiliated." In fact, passing the
drug test would be helpful on their image. It
shows the rest of the community that they do
not smoke for the better of themselves.
If this activity is so crucial to students that it
balances out their life, then there is a simple
solution: don't smoke. This is a decision here of
right and wrong. It is up to students to make
that decision and the school to do everything it
can to guide students in the right direction.
Smoking may have been an aspect of the cul
ture and history of America, but so have segre
gation, gangs and murder. Just because some
thing has been here for some time does not
mean that it is right and should be condoned.
Justin Decker
Class of 2005