OPINION February 7,1990 THE CLACKAMAS PRINT Page 2 Foreign aid dollars need to be used for U.S. woes By Aaron Brown Staff Writer If those who are in economic need in this country formed an independent republic of their own, the U.S. would most likely give aid anywhere from 500 million to 1.1 billion. Foreign aid has been escalat­ ing over the years to almost ri­ diculous amounts. In his foreign aid budget request (April 1989) for 1990 before the House of Foreign Affairs Committee, James Baker wanted $14.6 billion allot­ ted to various organizations and countries, ah increase of 10% from the previous budget. Out of the 14.6 billion, 5.3 billion (36%) was to be provided to Israel and Egypt for security(?). The Phillipines, Portugal, Greece, Turkey are to receive $1.8 billion, while “friends” in the Middle East received $1.1 billion. In the first place, where is all of this money coming from? I would like see to this monetary supply that Baker seems to think that this country has. Maybe we do have this money, but still, why does the U.S. government bother to mess with countries all over the world? The government seems to like to place its hand in every comer of the world, hoping that all of this lending will pay off for this coun­ try in the long run. I am sure this was in their minds back when aid was given to Japan after WW II. No one needs to be reminded of the economic force that we helped build (that is now taking over the continent). Maybe the U.S. government is looking after world interests by giving aid to those in need. There is no argument here concerning aid in an economic capacity to those in Eastern Europe (but do the common people ever see the aid?). It is good business to help those countries. However, the foreign aid that is questionable, which was brought up by the bespectacled half of Crossfire on CNN, is the $7.1 bil­ lion that is given to Egypt and Israel et al. Why should we give money to a country to use for military purposes while countries like Romania are trying to get on their feet?« Wait a minute, something went really wrong there. We are talking about billions and billions (sorry Mr. Sagan) of dollars for $659 toilet seat covers and $3000 coffee makers in Israeli and Egyp­ tian barracks, while Eastern Eu­ ropeans don’t get that in a month’s pay. Incredible. Now since we all now know that communism is a repressive failure, the emphasis needs to slow on economic aid to those who use it for military purposes, or to de­ fend against the “red tide.” Sorry Israel, Egypt etc., but others need funds more than you do, like East Europe, or even (gasp!) those in the U.S. So what are we to do about foreign aid? Well, it is great to help countries in dire need (sorry, not the Middle East) and I con­ cede that those like in Eastern Europe do need funds. BUT, once again, America should take a hard look at her own domestic prob­ lems, like the 2,400 DEA agents who need more money in the fight against drugs. A final point to ponder is all the money the government wasted on ousted leaders. One has to remember the Marcos escapade, where all the money went for ¿toes, the Shah of Iran now in exile, and who can forget former CIA stooge Manuel Noriega who probably used his aid on drugs. So your tax dollars are wasted on a banana republic which may be ousted tommorrow. Is that whereyou wantyour tax dollars to go? Negativity rampant on CCC campus By R. W. Jagodnik Jr. Staff Writer Calm it with those negative waves! The higher learning expe­ rience is meant for a positive outlook on life, and not for the further entrenchment in the deep recesses of evolutionary muck. Plain and simple, lighten up! Too often in these times of great political strife and economic uncertainty, students become bogged down with negative waves that disrupt the cosmic balance that every soul should share in this marvelous world of higher education. Someone a while back termed this sort of education as liberal. Where are the freedoms now? How can a college student be liberal when his world hangs suspended by the threads of a negative association with the in­ stitution that the student attends? An important part ofa liberal education is the social atmosphere that the learning takes place in. In high school, a large percentage of the student body support the ath­ letic teams; where as, here, sports events are unattended by a major­ ity of students. “That was then, this is now” is not an acceptable answer. Why is it that so many students work through a whole term perfecting a piece of art and when exhibited, no one shows? Where has all of the life gone in this campus? Granted, this is a community college with mostly part-time and evening students that do not spend much time on campus. In a uni­ versity, the dorms are on or near the campus and provide students with daily and nightly access. However, this difference should not affect the students who attend this institution full- time. All the students are here on campus to­ gether and should act as if they care what happens on this cam­ pus. Here, the sentence, “I do not give a f— about anything,” is far too commonly interjected. If Clackamas jßrint someone does not give a f—, then no one gives a f—, and the campus goes to sh-. See even here, the effects are already trickling down to speech patterns and how edu­ cated do these offensive phrases make students from this campus sound? This is not a plea, and cer­ tainly not one for any particular morality, but it is a look at what has happened on this campus. This is not a plea to encourage better attendance to school functions, but it is a look at what attitude students have toward them. This is a plea to re-examine the dete­ rioration of student morale. The change comes when negativity is eliminated and a positive atmos­ phere is born. Those heavy nega­ tive waves can slap some other shore. The Clackamas Print aims to be a fair and impartial newspaper covering the college community. Opinions ex­ pressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the col­ lege administration, faculty or Associ­ ated Student Government Articles and information printed in this newspaper can be re-printed only with written permission from the Clackamas Com­ munity College Student Publications Office. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication distributed every Wednesday except for finals week. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Office: Trailer B. Tele­ phone: 657-6958, ext. 309 (office), 577 (production) and 578 (advertising). Editor-in-Chief: Jim Titus Managing/News Editor: Brians C. Dotson Copyeditor: Roseann Wentworth Feature Editor: Angela Wilson Photo Editor: Jillian Porter Sports Editors: Mark A. Borrelli Staci Beard Reporters: Aaron Brown Me-Ussa Cartales Amber Cordry Cameron Dickey R.W. Jagodnik, Jr. Dawn Kuehl Margy Lynch Julie Merrlot Lane Scheldeman Jennifer Soper Photographers: Scott Johnson Dawn Kuehl Lane Scheldeman Tim Zivney Business Manager: Gregg Mayes Advisor: Linda Vogt _ Campus Views "If you were the leader of a small, underdeveloped country and the U.S. government gave you $5.5 billion in aid, how would you spend it?" Jeff Gates: Personally, as a United States citizen, I have come tri believe that foreign aid is in most cases a colossal waste of our tax dollars. If we desire to help other nations out of pov­ erty, homelessness and starva­ tion, let us first take care of our own and then assist other coun­ tries in need. inches Matt Merritt: Place the money in a high-interest Swiss bank account for one year and take the interest plus $1 billion and improve the school system. The remaining money would be divided evenly between all other national debts and responsibilities. ■ 1 39.12 13.24 15.07 2 65.43 18.11 18.72 D50 Illuminant, 2 3 49.87 -4.34 -22.29 4 44.26 -13.80 22.85 Shaun Huey: First of all I would ensure that all of the citizens are equally fed and sheltered. Then I would concentrate on education and helping fanners with their crops. After that I would build up the military and strengthen the government 5 55.56 9.82 -24.49 observer 6 70.82 -33.43 -0.35 7 63.51 34.26 59.60 8 39.92 11.81 -46.07 Density Ethel M. Konopka: 1. Mandatory education-free. 2. Develop natu­ ral resources to develop an eco­ nomic base. 3. Join the United Nations. 4. Participate in world trade. 9 52.24 48.55 18.51 10 97.06 -0.40 1.13 1KA) 92.02 -0.60 0.23 12 87.34 -0.75 0.21 13 82.14 -1.06 0.43 Ginny Cowan: 1. Supply food for sustenance until agriculture is developed. 2. Education-free and effective (3-Rs and practi­ cal). 3. Open country with roads; encourage internal trade. 14 72.06 -1.19 0.28 15 62.15 -1.07 0.19