opinion
Simpson/Mazzoli is
solution to nothing
It’s probably a form of flattery when a large number of
people are interested in one person’s vote, although it’s
doubtful that Rep. Jim Weaver is enjoying the attention he’s
received over his recent vote on the Simpson/Mazzoli bill.
That bill, sponsored by Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo. and
Rep. Romano Mazzoli, D-Ken., and strongly supported by
Pres. Ronald Reagan, is intended to allow the United States
to maintain some “control of our own borders,” Reagan has
said.
It would strengthen the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and increase the amount of U.S. border patrols on
the 2,000-mile Mexican border. It would provide amnesty
for certain aliens, allowing them to eventually claim U.S.
residency, and it would require employers to document that
employees are legal U.S. residents.
If signed into law, the bill also would allow farmers to
import migrants to pick crops in danger of rotting on the
vine because no other laborers will pick them.
These are the highlights of the bill that narrowly passed
in the House 216-211 in June. Amendments have given it a
different look than the bill that swept through the Senate in
May 1983, so much so that co-sponsor Simpson says he can
not accept it as is.
The Simpson/Mazzoli bill is a bill that seems to satisfy
no one. According to Time magazine, “Republicans and
Democrats, conservatives and liberals, business organiza
tions and union leaders have lined up on both sides.
Amendments have switched the AFL-CIO from strong initial
support to last-minute opposition.”
Indeed, the House vote breaks down to 125 Democrats
and 91 Republicans for the bill; 138 Democrats and 73
ACpUUliLcUI2> U(jpU56U.
Weaver was one of the 125 Democrats supporting the
bill, and his vote has raised the ire of the American Civil
Liberties Union of Oregon. The ACLU says Weaver made up
his mind at the last minute to vote for the bill probably
because he believed nothing better was attainable.
A Weaver spokesperson said that the congressman con
sidered it the best of several alternatives and that the poten
tial existed for worse legislation. So Weaver voted for Simp
son/Mazzoli because he believed something had to be done
about the illegal alien situation. But the ACLU disagrees.
Because the bill that passed the House is so different
than what passed the Senate, a conference committee has
been created to reconcile the differences. And the ACLU is
intent on changing Weaver’s vote before a final vote is taken.
Weaver generally sides with the ACLU on issues and is
considered a friend, says David Fidanque, the Oregon ACLU
associate director in Eugene. “We don’t want to hit (Weaver)
over the head with this, but we do want to send a message,”
Fidanque says.
As it now stands, the bill hardly seems to be in the best
interest of most of the people in this country or in Mexico.
Not only is it futile to enact legislation that is surrounded
with a cloud of confusion, but there are potentially
dangerous repercussions.
Instead of fussing over the stream of illegal aliens, most
of whom perform jobs already turned down by U.S. citizens,
the INS will be forced to spend a disproportionate amount of
time chasing down counterfeit identification, a job some
consider outside the agency’s capabilities.
Instead of more than one million illegal aliens — some
estimates place the number in excess of six million — step
ping forward to claim legal status, there’s a possibility most
will shun the opportunity. The documentation required to
obtain residency probably exceeds that of most aliens, so
stepping forward may invite deportation. And those who do
claim residency and meet the requirements may find the In
ternal Revenue Service is waiting to claim back taxes.
Worst of all, the provision allowing migrant workers to
be imported could be abused and those workers could be ex
ploited. Opposition to this provision is so broad-based as to
include Simpson, the AFL-CIO and Cesar Chavez, president
of the United Farm Workers.
One fear is that the imported workers will face condi
tions even worse than what now exist. While crop pickers
have few options now, they will have virtually no options
under the provision. Chavez reportedly referred to it as a
“rent-a-slave” program.
With so many negative aspects built into the bill and
with no better argument in favor of it than that it beats alter
native bills, we must concur with the ACLU.
Our message to Weaver is clear: vote no on
SimDson/Mazzoli.
letters
Review offends
Douglas Pyle’s opinion of the
Carnival Theatre’s current pro
duction of “Side by Side by
Sondheim” demonstrates once
again that obscenity can be the
unlikely fellow of beauty and
truth insofar as they are usually
in the mind of the beholder.
To take a fleeting moment
from the show which he found
in poor taste and make it the
principle thrust of his remarks
suggests he, too, knows how to
offend.
As a member of the Carnival
Theatre production organiza
tion it is inappropriate for me to
offer counter opinions. I am
biased, of course. Perhaps you
will admit to a few items of
evidence.
Stephen Sondheim is usually
thought of as the wittiest lyricist
since Frank Loesser and the two
of them need share that distinc
tion perhaps only with W.S.
Gilbert in the entire history of
popular musical theatre.
Janet Descutner’s reputation
as a presenter and master of
dance is well established and
will not be tarnished by Mr.
Pyle’s inability to see its simple
grace and appropriateness.
The musicianship of those
assembled for the production is
first-rate by any standards. Jerry
Williams is a nationally
recognized scenic and easel ar
tist whose muted and slightly
impressionistic displays of the
internationally famous posters
of Sondheim’s shows strove to
capture a nostalgic mood
designed and expected of the
writers of the review.
If one is indisposed to the
concept to the “show review”
format, gentle and straightfor
ward presentment or intricate
and witty theatre tunes, then
the piece is not for them. All
others are welcome to form their
own opinions, which 1 hope
will be shared with a whistle of
delight.
Faber DeChaine
Professor of theatre
Department of speech
Slavery illegal
In the letter by Professor Rice
printed July 17 he concluded
with a comment suggesting
America shared a rapport with
the USSR on the subject of slave
labor. I believe that in his at
tempt to make a point about the
exchange program, Rice has not
fully considered the com
parison he has made.
Although the United States
has deplorable actions in its
history, specifically the practice
of legal slavery, such actions are
eventually viewed as deviations
from the basic principles on
r
which this country was
founded.
While the United States was
founded upon the ideas of in
dividual liberty and human
rights, the guiding philosophy
of the USSR has always been
that whatever accomplishes the
goals of the Soviet state is
moral, with the corollary that
ithe citizens are the chattel of the
state.
Slavery has been outlawed in
the United States for a century,
while slave labor camps are still
active in the USSR and will be
as long as the principles behind
the regime remain unchanged.
Even if there are similar occur
rences in the histories of the two
nations, one must look deeper
to see how such actions relate to
the basic ideas behind the foun
dations. I fail to see how there
can be a rapport between two
such opposing views about
slavery.
Gary L. Johnson
Postdoctoral associate,
chemistry
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