editorial
Farmers are just
tip of the iceberg
President Ronald Reagan believes that, “someone must
stand-up to those who say here is the key, there’s the
treasury, just take as many of those hard-earned tax dollars
as you want.” Reagan made that statement as he vetoed a
farm-aid bill designed to help out Midwest farmers facing
foreclosure. Apparently, Reagan sees himself as the “some
one” who is willing to stand-up against federal over
spending of “those hard earned tax dollars.” This is hard to
accept, coming from a president whose administration has
added a trillion dollars to the national deficit.
The current farm crisis is not a budget issue, as Reagan
has tried to make it and it certainly is not going to disappear,
as administration officials hope. Some surveys put the
number of small-scale farms being pushed out of business at
more than 2000 a week. Reagan maintains that it is a much
smaller number.
The current farm crisis originates in several ongoing
events. Land values during the last two years have declined
dramatically. In some parts of the Midwest, land values have
dropped by as much as 50 percent. Interest rates, fueled by
the ever-growing national deficit, have remained high and
crop prices, undermined by big harvests and declining ex
port markets, have stayed low. This is the same economy
that Reagan has assured us is standing strong due to the
economic policies of his administration.
The economy, however, is not standing strong. Farmers
are one of the key indicators that show this. The federal
deficit is far from balanced as Reagan promised. In fact, the
deficit has soared since Reagan took office. We are walking
on economic thin ice. The cry of the farmers cannot be ig
nored, and the fact that they are faced with mounting debt
only typifies what life in America has become for a majority
of people. From college onward, we are taught to accept that
being in debt is the normal condition in life. We are a debt
ridden nation being led toward economic crisis by a debt
ridden government. The farmers are just the tip of the
iceberg. The signs of economic instability have been around
for years. But during brief periods of economic upswing, we
tend to forget the whole picture. In the past, war has pulled
us out of economic decline. Are we heading that way again?
Considering the current military build-up in this country, it
wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Gulls is reaping the
harvest he has sown
Political problems for Rep. Pat Gillis, R-Portland, are get
ting worse. This comes as no surprise, considering that
Gillis is responsible for putting himself in a political mess to
start with. During his election campaign, he devised a
political mailing that falsely appeared to be an endorsement
from the National Association of Retired Persons. Further
more, in his personal description in the Oregon Voters
Guide, he stated that he had a masters degree when in fact he
never attained one. He has since been indicted by a Marion
County grand jury on a charge of lying about his educational
background.
Portland voters outraged by Gillis’ dishonest conduct
have successfully gathered enough petition signatures and
are asking for a recall election. We hope they get it. We also
hope that the results of such a recall election will force Gillis
out of the Legislature. The 24-year old representative ap
parently had some bad training while preparing for a
political career. He should have thought more carefully
about his future goals before stepping into the realm of
dishonest politics. He is now reaping the harvest he has
sown.
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Farmers First
letters
Oppose funding
As a Democrat, l whole
heartedly support having op
posing political views
represented in the political
arena. I think that having a
quality conservative newspaper
on campus would be a positive
contribution to students’
political awareness. Although I
do not support this conservative
ideology, I do see the benefits of
a balanced system.
Unfortunately, the Oregon
Commentator does not fulfill
this need. As a result. I oppose
the IFC's funding of the
Commentator.
Debra Liebowitz
Vice-President
University Democrats
Cash crop?
It seems as if the higher
education advocates are com
plaining about the budgets
again. I can see no reason why
our own campus takes part in
this useless begging. The
University has its own means to
an end, a cash crop!
The trees on this campus are
worth money. With a logging
operation working on campus,
we could help make ends meet
as well as expose visitors to
Oregon’s famed timber in
dustry. Thirteenth Ave. could
be opened to log trucks and
heavy equipment. A single FMC
skidder could handle all of the
logs on campus with ease, and
the military treads wouldn’t
tear up the lawns too bad,
although we might have to
replace a sidewalk or two. A
few good fallers could sneak
some logs out of Pioneer
Cemetery, making it look like
the wind blew them over.
There’s some prime spots for
log decks, too. Right between
Chapman and Condon would be
great, there’s plenty of room for
a loader and trucks.
Sure, some environmental
types might oppose this opera
tion. but so what? Why let a
minority group ruin our educa
tional quality? You’re probably
saying to yourself, “sounds
good, but what happens when
we run out of trees?” Well, the
money made from the logging
operation could be invested in a
non-taxable high profit product,
like cocaine. The University
could supply this high-demand
item at competitive prices. Just
think about the cash flow at the
University coke gardens! The
solution has to be presented,
let’s take action.
Bill Brewer
Psychology
Unethical
Once again the vocal left have
succeeded in their campaign of
censorship. Claiming to speak
on behalf of the University
students, they have prevented a
visit by CIA recruiters. It would
be appreciated if these same
self-appointed guardians of
civil liberties would allow
others the freedom to learn of
viable career opportunities.
They have no right to
disallow the student body the
chance to hear the views of
those they may oppose, nor to
claim to be students’ legitimate
representatives as they do.
Students for Ethics in Govern
ment is the organization respon
sible for the Tuesday, Feb. 26
kangaroo trial. Margie Boyd,
organization member, was
quoted as saying, “We do not
believe that such an
undemocratic agency should be
granted the privilege of campus
use.”
This action was certainly not
a showcase of democracy. The
fundamental result of SEG’s ac
tion was to deny to others their
most basic freedoms: speech
and assembly. Dangerous
precedents are being set when
one group is allowed to ban the
CIA and the Marines and be
given favorable coverage in the
press. Yet, if some were to voice
opposition to the Young Com
munists or the Gay and Lesbian
Alliance, they would be por
trayed as fascists.
A time will come when only
one set of opinions will be
available. No matter whether
that opinion is yours, is that
what you want?
Dan Amos
Political Science
New mascot
As a University of Oregon stu
dent, I have been constantly in
undated with quacks about my
school mascot, the duck. I have ;
had it up to here with quack at
tacks. milk and quackers. and
being up at the quack of dawn.
They assume that all of this will
roll off my back like water. I’m
finding it difficult to maintain
proper duckorum with this
riduckulous symbol hanging
around my neck. In short, I
think we should say, ’duck
this.' and get a new mascot. I
have a modest proposal.
After looking at other animal
possibilities and a variety of in
sect life indigenous to Oregon. 1
decided to try another tack.
(The mighty Oregon Gypsy
Moth just didn't sound right.) I
thus stumbled upon the ideal
team name — the University of
Oregon UFO's.
The “U of O UFO’s” just rolls
off the tongue. We have a
perfect group motivation state
ment — KLAATU BERADA
NIGTO! The school colors are
appropriate for LGP’s (Little
Green Persons). (Please note the
symbiotic relationship between
the average alien and the in
digenous moss.)
Our frisbee team, the ‘Flying
Saucers,’ would finally garner
the respect so long deserved,
and who’s going to mess with a
team that carries ‘orayguns’?
The football team could be out
fitted with detection devices
hidden in their helmet antennae
(colloquially known as ‘deely
hoppers'). Our advanced
technology and scientific [
research efforts, such as our
research in marsh gas propul
sion and hubcap airfoil
aerodynamics, would finally be
taken siriusly.
I like to think that there
always are... possibilities.
I-et’s join together to make our
university truly universal.
Megan Snyder
Crystal Smithwick
Computer science
English
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