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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1982)
I Short-sighted system Wanted: Congress to bail out a system that is overex tended and shortsighted The Social Security System had to borrow for the first time in 47 years last month to meet $1 billion in payments. November s cash flow problem is forecast to grow to $60, $100 or even $200 billion in this decade A bi-partisan Social Security Commission issued options this week to a Congress torn on what to do — increase revenue, curb benefits or tax social security income The commission made numerous grab bag suggestions that can be put into two categories: gouge the current contributors or gouge the current beneficiaries For the present wage-earners, the choices are to raise Social Security withholding tax to 7 65 percent, force government and non-profit employees to join, remove the tax ceiling, implement a gasoline tax or increase the taxes of the self-employed For the beneficiaries, the options are: pay income tax on amounts received more than contributed, readjust receiver’s tax brackets or delay, change or eliminate cost-of-living hikes. There are already plans to meet some of the shortfalls with payroll tax increases Realizing that the elderly can not exist currently on pensions that do not take inflation into account, solutions to the Social Security problem should consider the need of future receivers Undoubtedly Congress will adopt some mishmashed compromise The Commission is torn on whether to ad vocate a short-term or long-term solution But it looks like those entering the job market will contribute 40 or more years of income which will never be recovered in payments When the baby boom reaches retirement age the drain on the government will be tremendous. The silver cloud is that by the year 2020 they just may have come up with a fiscally sound system opinion Seeking work Able, willing and seeking work" applies to as many as 15 million baffled and increasingly angry Americans, The phrase appears in the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 (Title 15 of the United States Code, Section 3116) Under that Act, the President can initiate a massive program of public works, retraining and other ways of putting people back to work and increasing our nation’s productivity You can bet that President Reagan will not use his powers under this Act unless Democrats give him that mes sage Even then, he may drag his feet until the clamor from Lafayette Park and the Mall penetrates to the Oval Office and the White House living quarters just as it did on issues like civil rights and the Vietnam War for other Presidents. Charles O. Porter Eugene Surely a jest Who is Scott Williams, and what century is he living in? I read his Nov. 11 letter to the editor and was appalled I am sorry he was hit in the face "with a plastic bowling pin", but it is difficult to be very sympathetic when he advocates harassment of others, even the jugglers, and proposes such stereotypical thinking (i.e. long-hair hippies, hippies-faggots, faggots-awful) His letter is particularly ap palling in view of his claim to be a junior journalism major Surely he jests! Can it possibly be that he has remained so thoroughly ignorant after two years of a college education, or so evidently bigoted while pursu ing a degree in a field that, at least nominally, demands objectivity? I'll wager Williams is not even a student; he must be here for the beer Anne Wyatt senior,pre-journalism womens' studies ' I PONt APPROIE OF THIS WHOt£ ACT—TOO KEMEMgER THAT'' Pessimism ! was amused by Michael Morrow's pessimism. If he puts signs up for candidates, they get destroyed. If he votes for the ‘'right” candidate, Atiyeh wins. Sounds like the lyrics for a blues number. Through the observance of America's freedom of choice, I can choose to put on my head phones to Michael Morrow's pessimism; it is as enlightening as the Pioneer Cemetery. So what if I drain my dad of his million? Tuition is like an up elevator with my dad pushing the buttons Actually he sends me money for a worthy cause; I will not have to sulk during the night in a cave with a group of socialists Money is fun and comforting; I can buy textbooks I can spend it on supporting a candidate and spend my time putting up lawn signs Time and the Cro-Magnons may destroy your symbol of freedom but time is on my side,” but of course Get happy, Michael, the elec tions are not the end of the poli tical process. Maybe two years from now your candidate will win James Kirkland Against grain Apart from its appropriately semi-illiterate aspect, a letter from Rick Galliher contained a glaring contra diction, and a not uncommon misconception The contradic tion warrants no more than repetition to demonstrate how confused was Galliher s rea soning He said, ' Everyone should have the right not to register” and "I would like to declare my support of the U S governments's decision to pros ecute and incarcerate these people ' The misconception lay in his apparent acceptance of the na tionalistic line of pap that there is something unpatriotic, even un-American, about draft resis tance On the contrary, a strong objection to involuntary servi tude has been part of this country’s popular ethic since its independence was established by a volunteer army and especially since the civil war Conscription is not only mor ally objectionable, it goes against the grain of freedom loving Americans. The present government s re establishment of draft registra tion for 18 to 22 year olds — those too young to have a clear memory of the cost of the unde clared, unpopular, and unjus tified Vietnam war and how it was resisted; young enough, perhaps, to have not yet learned firmly that as adults they have the obligation, as well the right, to decide for themselves when to kill and offer themselves to be killed — was one of the xrass— examples of American political pragmatism in recent history A draft register does as much to "preserve our way of life" or "defend freedom in the western world" as any U S Marine Kyle DeBord Wasting time This letter is in response to the article in Tuesday's Emerald which was about the seventeen member citizen's group that filed a lawsuit that protests the naming of the performing arts center Many more important things exist than wasting ones time on a lawsuit of this kind These "citizens" should complain about the economy, the non passage of the equal rights amendment, or the effects of a nuclear war The people who initiated the lawsuit should be honored that "their" performing arts center was given $3 million extra in which to operate, instead of be ing angry about the fact that Eugene is not in the name of the center. Although the following was not a factor (according to the donors) in the Hult's decision. I'm sure that if any of these ci tizens donated this large amount of money to a center, the benefactor would want the center named after them. Considering two of the points argued, that the “defendant failed to give at least twenty-four hours notice of the meeting and “the notice given by the defendant failed to adequately inform news media,” is the reai issue that the “citizens didn't get a vote,” or is it that the lawsuit initiators are jealous of the Hults because they didn't have $3 million to donate? Manny Hernandez freshman, theatre Well-done, but First, congratulations to you and your staff for generally fine and thorough election coverage — before and after It was well done, and hopefully cured some apathy But was it necessary for you to mention what clothes Margie Hendriksen was wearing to Harris Hall that night? Margie is a fine legislator who ran a strong and efficient campaign for Senate District 40 s seat It is important to her constituents that she will be in Salem working for us It is not important that she wore a blue cocktail dress on the night of her victory. Or if it is important to know that, is it also important to know that George Wingard wore a brown tweed blazer, or Ross Anthony a navy blue one? Please, women in positions of authority are important, but it is not for their outfits Continuing to make fashion reports on them aids neither their credibility nor yours Kathryn Olney Office of the Librarian Oregon daily emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through F riday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co . at the University of Oregon Euqene OR. 97403 The Emerald operates Independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Frb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press New* and Editorial 686ss 11 Display Advertising and Butene** 686-3712 Classified Advertising 886-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 666-SS11 Editor Marry t Steve Pag* 2 Managing Editor News Editor Assistant News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Higher Education Departments and Schools Student Government E iiturtft Politics Community General Staff Advertising Manager Classified Advertising Production Manager Control*#* John Mealy Marian Green Cort Eernaid Joan Nyiand Boh Baker Mike Piplingef Paul Dan/er Jonathan Sieyie Cort Eernakl Dehhie Howled Sandy Johnstone Bichard Burr Sean Meyer* Mir heie Malatsa David Brown Darlene Gore Salty Oljar Vtt tor .a Koch Jean Ownhay letters policy The Emeiald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of Interest to the University community tetters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned In to the Emerald office The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or content Vour turn' is an Emerald opinion feature submitted by members of the University community. "Vour turns" must be limited to 500 words and typed This editorial column will not be edited by the staff, but selection will be based on appro priateness Letters to the editor and "Your turns" should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300 EMU Unsigned editorials appearing in the Emerald are based upon the majority opinion of the editorial board Friday, November 12,1982
