VIEWPOINTS
fPHORIAlS OPINIONS UITIHS 10 IHf I 0110R
Government and greed:
Why we ran out of gas
■ OUR OPINION: The g,r
tax is both a political
and an economic issue
Though it might be diffi*
cult to believe. ihe original
intention of the gas tax was
not In punish consumers or
sweep them into a political
baltlo between conservative*
and liberals Unfortunately,
the gas tax has had both of
these negative effects
The history of the gas tax
is just about as attractive as
the political debate that now
surrounds it. All of this
chaos started in 1993 with
the |Missing of the Omnibus
Appropriations Bill, which
President Clinton managed
to pass without a single
Republican vote.
The goals of this bill wore
to reduce the deficit and
provide additional funding
for minimum wage ini mac
es and education through
the attachment of a 4 3 cent
gas tax on specific types of
transportation
Six years later, the defic it
is still growing, minimum
wage has not been increased
and education is suffering
more than ever.
Since 1993. we have
watched our government
throw more tantrums, stage
more childish stand offs and
propose more an ban legis
lation than any other previ
ous administration. Some
examples are the govern
ment shutdown, attempts to
rt>|>eal social security and,
well. Newt Gingrich.
But it is incorrect to
assume that every lime you
puli up to the pump you are
paying for another failed
attempt at reducing the
deficit. The extraordinarily
high tax is a result of those
wonderfully capitalist it and
greedy organizations known
as oil companies as well
Yes, the gas tax controver
Since 1993, we base wait hed
our gowmment ihnrw more
tantrums. stage more childish
stand ttjfts and pnspose more
archaic legislation than any
other precious admmt
stratum
---ff
•y in related to the pursuit of
pm ft Is ** well u govern*
men! legislation
Last January Iraq wu
negotiating with the United
Nation* The dual involved
an oil-furfood transaction
Oil refiner* observed this
negotiation and became very
(Tightened that this transac
tion might result in their not
making as much money
became a flood of Iraqi oil
would make their Invento
ries lea* valuable However,
these negotiations disinte
grated and now we suppos
edly have an oil deficiency
But that is not the final
factor involved In this com
plins issue concerning a sun- j
pie tax Both liberals and
c onservativm am using the
controversy around the gas
tax to slab their political
opponents in the back
Both Dob ami Clinton are
trying to look like they are
defending the consumer
Dole is the driving font
lathi ltd the repealing of the
four cent tax. while Clinton
is taking credit for releasing
oil from the nation's petrole- j
um reserves
However, the Omnibus
Appropriation* Bill itself
mandates the sale so the
Department of Energy can
study the cause of price
increases. That cause could
very well tie right under
their nos**: self-centered
politicians snd insensitive
corporations
(MtlWMO
(Mil M»tm
MHWUU
1
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FoR CLiwTbM
> we MoPr.
Landscape needs to reflect diversity
hank you far your quick coverage (OOfc
April 30} of th* iwmi "Power and
I Pin*," workshop who** participant*
JL created *av*ntl art installation*. or Inter
vwliuiw. around campus lata laai month
I was interviewed by phot** for (ha Kummld
article and I apologise if my i«nmurat» muled
•b* reporter Soma critical addition* and urn
Mom need to be mad* about thi* important
weekend
Thi* uma not an *v*nt (ixuiml solely on land
•cap* anhitm t* Tb* organising commuter
included prof****** from four departments in
th* Allied and Applied Art* detoarttnent Work
*hop participant* included students from
throughout AAA, ataff from Dragon Hall and
mwitban of the community at tog*
Th* thorn*. 'Prow and Plat* ' relates direct
lv to a tagiitw at th* bottom of all University
nnnimanti
"An equal opportunity, affirms! iv» action
institution committed to cultural diversity and
compliant* with the Ammruan* with DUabili
lie* Act."
Throughout th* workshop, w* explored
whether or not th* University* physical or
"built" environment express** that laglm* and
wbethet Of not people of minority group feel
welcomed and enabled by th* design of thi*
campus
Universal Design is a tool or a way of thinking
which help* m hi*v* th* expression of equal
opportunity in th* environment ft originated
from the development of barrier>(nw design fix
th* use of people with impaired mobility In
time, many of us who use wheelchair* realised
that "disabled acre**" when meant entering bv
th* back door, or being shunted atida. resulting
in social isolaiion and second-class acxonunoda
Uon
As in the Civil Right* movement, w« saw that
"separata but equal" only meant separate, but
not equal
Universal Design means universal access.
COMMFNTARY
•octal integration and use by nil. By its inclusive
nature, issues of age. gender, ethnicity and ail
sorts of disabilities can be addressed This was
the spirit of the "Power and PI Ate* weekend.
An important lesson was shared by speakers
who have visual impairments. If we design for
ail the human senses, not just for sight, we auto
mata aily expand the integration and participa
<i‘*n of many persons previously excluded by
the built environment. Each of the seven art
installations included multisensory elements as
well as wheelchair access.
Universal Design is l«*»»t achieved by includ
mg minority populations in the design process
If we design "with” people rather than "for"
them, we distribute the power of making dec!
•ions and our result is more inclusive. This is
raw reason why the workshop itself purposeful
iy recruited participants outside of the design
Cnfetstuns. as well as people of minority pupu
BOOS.
The art installation, which wrapped the Pio
neer f- at her, and made connection to the Pioneer
Mother, addressed issue* of gender as they are
expressed in the landscape of the University
What do these campus toons have to say about
power on campus in past and present tunes*
Finally, a common misconception is that Uni
vwrsal Design will toad to a bland, homogeneous
landscape In fact, the opposite is true Tim
wonderful variety of art installation* built over
that weekend demonstrated that int lusiveness
produces a richness and depth of experience in
the built environment
A welcome is truly extended to all, not just in
the words of a tagline, but in the landscape
Dume/ G Hunter it a graduate student in the
landscape architecture department
IfTTfRS
Emerald a no-show
On May 22. (ktrdon Smith
visited the University, but you
would not have known that if
you toad the Emerald.
Smith wanted to meet stu
dent* and answer questions
that they might have of him and
hi* candidacy for ih* U S Sen
ate He did meet student* and
wa* quite clear in answering
their quest ton* at a rally for him
in the EMU Courtyard
Why didn't the Emerald find
his visitation to bo important
enough to cover? Every TV
news station and news radio
station in Eugene (as welt as
The Register Guanf). found his
visit not only significant but
informative and worthy of cov
erage.
Last fait Smith was accused
of avoiding the University and
now after ne walked right into
the heart of our school, the
Emerald didn't seem to care.
Why Is that?
I think it is unfair for the
rwadw* of the EnwraM not lo be
at least informed of a political
candidate'* presence at our
school.
Smith was and is trying to
reach students at the Universe
ty. and he will be hack to
answer more of our questions
Hopefully, next time our
school newspaper will find
Smith's visit important enough
to cover and report on to the
students of this campus
Ryan Pape
Pre-Busmaas Admmatmtton