EDITORIAL Big Brother” has eye on Oregon When George Orwell wrote his foreboding novel 1984. he was attempting to warn the world about the dangers of communism and fascism. The phrase "Big Brother is watching you" was meant to warn people about losing their individual freedoms. However, some crackpots in Springfield have apparently taken Or well's book as a blueprint for their own new order. Flyers distributed last week by appurcnt supporters of Ballot Measure 9 warn opponents that, "whatever you do. we will be watching you." Such ominous lan guage symbolizes the rapidly growing battle lines being created by Measure 9. The Oregon Citizens Alliance, sponsors of Measure 9, claim that its intention is not to promote discrimina tion. but to prevent homosexuals from gaining special rights. It claims that, as a Christian group, it will con tinue to love homosexuals but not their lifestyle. Assuming the OCA is telling the truth, it must real ize that there sue people who do not shsrn: a similar "love" for homosexuals. Rather, they hale homosexu als and uses the guise of Christianity to mask their evil. The flyers warn homosexuals and their supporters that soon "all the real people" of Springfield will take back their city. Opponents of Measure 9 are given the option to "stay for that if you want to. or ... go west to Eugene." Apparently, this "Silent Majority," (S and M?) as the distributors of the flyers call themselves, have hired the same public relations firm as Serbia. Ethnic cleansing has come to Springfield. - To be fair, some opponents of Measure 9 are just as guilty of committing inexcusable acts of vandalism and harassment against the measure's supporters, the most recent example being the drawing of pink triangles in front of the homes of Springfield City Councilman Ralf Wulters and conservative activist Loretta Neet. Both sides arc also apparently guilty of smashing several windows. While the actions of those people opposed to the measure can be attributed to simple fear, the actions of those in support of the measure can be attributed to ba sic hate. What makes the supporters' actions more rep rehensible is that they claim to art in the name of God. These self-appointed judges of morality huve cast so many stones that not only are they apparently with out sin. but are destined for sainthood, assuming the starch from their brown shirts doesn't wither away what's left of their limited brains. While it is easy to poke fun at the neanderthal communication efforts demonstrated by the Silent Ma jority. its ominous threats of violence must be taken se riously. The people of Oregon must decide if they want to live in an Orwellian police state or a free and just de mocracy. Oregon Daily PO BOM 1'!>9 tUGtNt OHIGONttMOJ Tha Oragon Da«y EmaraPJ a puMahad daily Monday through Friday during lha tchoa yaw and Tuaaday and Thundw during lha unmar by tha Oragon Da*y E mar aid Puwanmg Co Inc. a tha Unrvaraay o' Oragon. Eugana. Oragon lha E maraM oparaaa mdapandandy or Via Unnaraay wth oflioaa a Suaa MM a lha Erb Mamona Uruon and a a mam bar at lha Aaaocuaad Praaa Tha EmaraM a prwaa proparty Tha unlawim ramowa or uaa ol papan a proaactxatta by Mm EdMor Pa Maach Nmi Editor Erawrtol ErStor QrapMM Edno* JtoaBwg UwnrFWtor JunPm*y Freya Horn DOnRMM EdRwM E«ter nvm Jnw Sport* EiM*r OamCMitomMu rapra ti •: Tim Ron Btudatd OMInniirtlWhM: Timmy Bator Community: Tim Ns* Mgltai Eduoatlan'ldmlniilritlta: Collin Ponkg Mto:RmiDiC* Waparwra: Oww Alan. Unt) Baucum Man Bandar. Sarah Clark Donna Gann. Uu KnaotM. Damian Mciaan. Suva MM*. Enck Sudancka. Jarr,inarm Woga Copy Mara: Juaw Bronx. Amanda Farma. Akaa Farrart. Mary Warn, TMM lAjtaat. Tnara Moat. Elan Shan. Cnraa Stag*. 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Did you watch the Republican (invention? Did you hoar our president describe the difference be tween liberal and conservative views? He. a conservative, said: "Theirs is to look inward and protect what wo already have Ours Is to go forward.” This statement, besides being another Republican falsehood, defies the very definition of lilwinil versus conservative politics. If you saw it, and If you heard it. you know it was a convention of the pettiest of insults in a world of serious issues. It was a forum for blamo-laying and superficial rhetoric on an evangelical scale. And in the middle of this, our president said, "I know Americans are tired of the blame-game." Yes. we are, and we're tired of Bush knocking us down, tying us up, slapping us around, lying to us, taking us nowhere and being what every president should never be — a rich, blind, aim less. human hot-air machine. Wo can do batter, and we can do bettor now. And by the way, If you're only mildly con cerned about the future of our heullh tare sys tem and the future of our social security system, you probably have no idea what they're current ly like untier Bush. Under the Bush administration. I have been forced to suffer the symptoms of two perma nently disabling injuries while being denied the proscribed corrective surgorios Additionally. I lost nearly everything I owned and was pushed into bankruptcy during "a waiting jieriod for evaluation,” even though the outcome was found to have been predetermined by the White House. Regarding the first injury, 1 was told, "though your condition has been verified, we are deny ing benefits, as you are capable of performing work not Involving the use of your hands." My case worker confirmed this to me bluntly: "You gotta lose an arm and a leg to get any ben efits these days!" The second Injury was diagnosed last March. It is progressiva arthritis of the left foot. Imme diate surgory was recommondod. But toll me. how can a minimum-wage earner afford to take the necessary time off from work? It won’t bo oasy using a cane with disabled hands, yet somehow I can already imagine the Bush ad ministration's advice. “Stop complaining. You are still capable of holding tho cane with your teeth!" And so, in my opinion, any president who says, "America is the land where the sun is al ways peeking over the horizon." displays an in credible tendency to avoid reality And I'm sor ry. but my world is real, my pain is real, my needs are real. Mr President .. . your Ups, my foot. Rood my vote! As we seek to establish a sustainablo founda Tum to CLINTON. Page 3 Republicans want less government By William D Wit! Tho Republican Party convention hold this August in Houston demonstrated a re newed commitment to Republican princi ples. While not evory speaker nor every dele gate shared a complete unanimity of beliefs, it is nevertheless true that a powerful message came forth. This theme was ovident in tho platform, the speakers, the delegates and tho atmosphere on the convention floor. It is equally clear that tho message coming from Houston was radically different from tho message that came from New York during the July Democratic Party convention. Rarely in re cent history have two candidates and thoir poli tical purties expressed such divergent and dis tinct messages. This is healthy for American de mocracy because voters are given a clear choice on tho future direction of their country. Republicans approach critical issues very dif ferently than Democrats. I will address this in four general areas: economic policy, social poli cy, moral direction and foreign affairs. Republicans believe government is too big, too expensive and too porvasivo. The more gov ernment tries to do, tho less effective It be comes. Furthermore, by its very nature, govern ment is an inefficient provider of goods and ser vices. Freedom is enhanced when tho poople re strict government to doing only those things that individuals or private organizations are un able to accomplish themselves. Instead of gov omment-conlrolled manipulation of the econo my, government should provide minimal eco nomic regulation. This will create the condi tions whore individuals can be empowered and motivated to holp themselves. These views tan bo seen in the Republican party's rail for a balanced budget amendment. It can also be demonstrated in the Bush Adminis tration's call for lower taxos and lower spend ing. By restoring fiscal discipline to a bloated federal government and at the same time in creasing incentives to work, earn and invest, we will build a more prosperous future for all Americans. Republicans believe that the private sector is best suitod to solve social problems such as health care, education and homelessness. Tho role of government should bo to facilitate pri vate-sector initiatives and responsibility. Health care is a good example of this tenet. While the Democrats espouse either a central ized national health care system or a coercive "play or pay" program on employers, the Re publican message calls for tax breaks for lower Income people so they can best select and pro vide for thoir own health care needs. Solutions lie in enhancing individual choice and respon sibility, not in providing centralized solutions that are then imposod on the people. In the field of education, Republicans believe that monopolistic public school systems are cer Tum to BUSH. Pag* 3