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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1982)
Page 4 Portland Observer, July 21, 1982 EDITORIAL/OPINION NAACP decision vital victory The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the NAACP economic boycott case is a victory that brings the economic boycott out o f the legal limbo and once again makes it a clear tool for social change. The suit came out o f an economic boycott and demonstrations in Port Gibson, Mississippi. Most o f the 12,000 Claiborne County residents were black but the 1966 Voting Rights Act and the 1964 C ivil Rights Act were largely ignored. On A pril 1, 1966, the NAACP called a meeting to hear a report that had been presented to pub lic officials. The demands included: school desegregation; desegregation o f public facilities; street improve ments; hiring o f black policemen, store clerks and cashiers; an end to verbal abuse by police; and that blacks be addressed as " M r .,” "M rs .” or “ Miss” rather than “ boy,” "g irl,” “ uncle,” “ shine” or other offensive terms. Those attending the meeting unanimously de cided to boycott white merchants until the de mands were met. The merchants sued and the state court awarded 12 merchants more than $ 1.2 million. To appeal the decision the NAACP had to post a $1.6 m illion cost bond, o f which the A FL-C IO and the Auto Workers provided $1 m illion. The Mississippi Supreme Court re duced the bond but declared the action unlawful and assigned damages. The U.S. Supreme Court saw the case as one o f free speech. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in his decision, “ Strong and effective extempo raneous rhetoric cannot be nicely channeled in purely dulcet terms. An advocate must be free to stimulate his audience w ith spontaneous and emotional appeals for unity and action in a com mon cause.” This decision is a welcome departure from the nation’ s increasing restrictions o f free speech, freedom of the press and freedom to dissent. Protect democratic rights The right ot referendum is a hard-won right that the people o f Oregon have exercised since 1902. This right provides the voters the right to refuse legislation passed by the Legislature. Currently the Oregon Constitution requires that the voters have the right to file a petition against newly-passed legislation and bring that legislation to a vote o f the people. The petition can be submitted anytime between the time the Governor signs the bill and 90 days following the adjournment o f the Legislature. Measure 2, which w ill be on the ballot in Novem ber, w ould take away that rig h t. It would make a b ill an Act when signed by the President o f the Senate and the Speaker o f the House. Thus, the presiding officers could de lay signing until it is too late for the people to organize a referendum. The right to referendum can become a sore point w ith legislators who see it as a method fo r the people to undo the w ork they have done. It is most com m only used to stop tax measures. Other Legislators seem to believe that the voters do not have the necessary good sense to take a direct roll in lawmaking. This measure is apparently an honest effort to give the G overnor more time to consider whether to sign or veto b ills fo llo w in g ad journment but it is a serious threat to the peo ple’s right to control their own government. Adopt strict radiation limit The Multnomah County Board o f Commis sioners has backed away from its intention to adopt the nation’s toughest regulations for radi ation emissions from radio and television broad casting. Residents of an area of Northwest Port land, (which already has numerous radio tow ers), have requested that the County m onitor current radiations before more are added. The C o u n ty’ s new proposal, which would limit emissions to 200 microwatts rather than the earlier proposed 50, has met opposition from hams and broadcasters who base their case on “ excessive regulations” that would be difficu lt « T Q W S W .J to enforce. In light o f research that suggests health haz ards and high frequency o f disorders that result from excessive radiation, the health and safety of the residents o f the area should receive first priority. Little is known o f the long-range effects o f broadcast emissions, microwaves and various other types of radiation in the human body and on the genetic process. It pays to be careful, lest we be like the man falling from the top o f the Empire State Building, who said as he passed each floor, “ So far, so good.” /DoYoeFAVoR . 'SÄÄT ARE (LAflcRLAW R e F o RM^ F c tU g C j OMTHC D em o crats One step forward, two backward by Dr. Manning Marable The only people smiling through this economic recession o f I982 have been the leaders o f the Demo cratic Parly, (.’rises in Lebanon and Central America illustrate the path etic condition o f the U.S. State De partment. Reagan’s policies toward the Soviets have alienated European allies A i home, interest rates are still fluctuating at historically high levels. Ten m illio n Americans arc o ffic ia lly unemployed; m illions more working part-time want fu ll time jobs. A ll in all, a pretty dismal picture for the GOP, as they face the November, 1982 elections. As things stand now, the Demo crats stand to increase their margin in the House o f Representatives by at least 18 seats. The Republicans w ill continue to dominate the Sen ate, because 13 Republicans and 20 Democrats are up fo r reelection, making the Democrats vulnerable. At the slate level, the Democrats have already gained in strength even before the elections have taken place. Five incumbent Republican governors in the Midwest are re tir ing. fearful o f the anti-GOP back lash that is in the works for this No vember. In Slate Legislatures across the country, the Democrats should receive a net gain o f at least 300-325 seats. Less than one m onth ago, 897 Democratic delegates from 50 states descended into Philadelphia to dis cuss their immediate strategy against Reagan. Billed as a m id term party convention, it was ac- tually more o f a beauty pageant for potential presidential hopefuls. The choices were diverse enough: Dtxic- crat Sen. Ernest F. H ollings o f South Carolina; a Carter-type, New South governor, Reubin O. Askew o f Florida; ex-astronaut Sen. John Glenn; McGovern’s 1972 campaign manager, Sen. Gary Hart o f Colo rado; and Sen. Alan Cranston o f California. The two leaders, former Vice President Walter Mondale and Sen. Ted Kennedy, delivered effect ive polemics against the Reagun A d ministration. Everyone tried to be polite. The convention endorsed the freeze movement for nuclear weapons, on the condition (hat “ overall p a rity " with the Soviets existed. It fell back on the economic policies o f the New Deal and Great Society, calling for a “ v igorous and comprehensive jobs program to rebuild, renovate and upgrade water and sewer services, bridges and streets, mass transit and other infrastructure facilities.” For conservatives, the convention ap proved a series o f tough crime-fight ing resolutions. The “ party o f peace” revealed its actual position by supporting the Zionist invasion o f Lebanon as a blow against “ international terrorism.'* But the Democratic “ Love-In” could not last. Outside the convcn- tionhall, black police officers in the Guardian C ivic League threw up picket lines to denounce “ liberal” Democratic Mayor B ill J. Green’ s position on a ffirm ative action. At one point Pat Green, the irate wife of the Mayor, got into a bitter argu ment with the black tops. Three blocks away, over 1.000 working class and poor people in the Asso ciation o f Com m unity Orguniza lions for Reform (ACORN) held a “ counter-convention” to protest the Party’s " lip service to the needi est.” Adding to the Democrats’ woes were inadequate facilities in their hotel, which stranded hun dreds o f delegates in the lobbies, and faulty air conditioning. What docs all the hubbub por tend? Basically, uny Democrat—ex cept a neanderthal like H ollings— looks pretty good against Reagan right now. But that “ plus" is negat cd by two “ minuses.” The Demo crats have turned (heir convention into what one reporter termed “ a strictly top-down a ffa ir.” Unlike in 1972, blacks, fem inists, progres sives, and left-liberals were not in positions o f authority. Second, the Democrats have a lot o f rhetoric, but no real united program that is a clear alternative to Reagan. With one step forward, and two back, our best hope is to continue mobilizing people outside the Democratic Party, so long as Dixiccrats, neo- conservatives and astronauts are at the helm. Dr. M a n n in g M a ra b le la D i rector of the Race Relations In s titu te . Fisk U n iv e rs ity . Nash ville. TN. Washington Hot Line by Congressman Ron Wyden Q. President Reagan vetoed re cent attempts to provide a JJ billion subsidy to boost the h a rd -h it housing industry. Are there any al ternatives in the making that w ill help get the in d ustry back on its feet? A. Total recovery o f the housing industry depends on lowering inter est rates—and that w on’ t happen until we lower the federal deficit. But there arc some measures that I believe w ill give housing a boost. One o f these is to remove barriers that discourage private pension fund investments in residential mortgages, as a bill 1 introduced last week would do. The beauty of my bill is that it will not cost taxpayers anything. There are no subsidies from anyone to anyone. Instead, the b ill merely gives private pension fund managers the clear go-ahead to invest in mort gages. I f they do, the housing industry stands to gain. Private pension funds now total almost $300 billion. elim inate a costly and inhumane But because o f regulatory c o n fu regulation that requires Medicare sion, only a small percentage now patients to spend three days in a goes into real estate investments. By hospital before being transferred to clearing up this regulatory co n fu a nursing home—whether they need sion, my bill should boost that per to or not. centage significantly. I introduced that bill alter learn A nother positive aspect o f my ing of a senior citizen who died from b ill, is that it shows promise o f transfer trauma incurred while be meeting the approval o f the ing moved from a hospital to a Administration—and thus, avoiding skilled nursing facility—as required a veto. The legislation essentially under the regulation. implements a key policy recommen I ’ m delighted to report that this dation o f President Reagan’s Com week the House Ways and Means mission on Housing, a policy he has ( ornmittec adopted my provision as said he supports. part o f its Medicare package. I believe my bill is the best—and Although the language adopted last—chance to do something this by the Committee docs no, go as far year in Congress to bolster the sag as I would like (it merely requires ging housing industry. the Secretary of Health and Human As such, it may also be the best — Services to elim inate the require and last—chance to keep Oregon ment as soon as he determines a and the entire P acific Northwest cost-effective means for doing so), it from plunging into a l930s-style de is a giant step forward towards final pression. elimination o f this unfortunate re quirement. As such, it is a victory M edicare update fo r taxpayers and senior citizens A year ago, I introduced a bill to alike. f W í M S c F BWE , COLLAR W orker Letters to the Editor ( UNION SHOTS? O F A LL WoWUNC < PEOPLE. J ust HOW A U You IN F avor of ALL WORKING - fto P U ? To the editor: No one has asked us bu, we want to speak up fo r Senate President Fred Heard. Oregon’ s p o litica l system is far from perfect. It elects imperfect people, puts us in imperfect roles with imperfect resources, subjects us to influences from other imper fect people (lobbyists) and yet asks us to make perfect decisions. Not the leas, o f these imperfect people is Fred Heard, who repre sents State Senate District 27 (K la math Falls), as witness his recent FAVOR OF ALL WORKING / P eople B elieving . . I ’M IN FAVOR i \ °F ALL problems. Sen. Heard is a good person, sen sitive to the needs o f his constituents and the rest o f the state, with insight and concern, serving as well (if no, better) than the majority o f my col leagues. Being Senate President is “ no small potatoes,” to coin a phrase, subject to many long hours o f com m itm ent to the legislative process. Fred Heard has done wrong and admitted as much. But he has more than paid in personal disgrace for this social gaff. Yet, there are those who would seek to rub salt in this open wound and use Sen. Heard’ s m isfortune to their own p o litic a l gain. Personally, we arc going to write to Fred to let him know he has our personal and professional support and we would hope others who arc sensitive to the feelings o f his and his family would do the same. Representative Wally Priestley Senator Bill McCoy i \ W orking , ¡ ! \ P eople ^ O re g o n * S • H i • • H li'Hf & Publishers Association n “ MEMBER N'NA PER Attoeiatlon - Founded 1M5 P o r t la n d O b s e r v e r " H '« Ai I , * ,o“ »' «tATlO The P o rtla n d Observer IUSPS 959 680) is published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, Inc., 2201 North Killings worth, Portland, Oregon 97217. Post Office Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208 Second class postage paid at Portland, Oregon Subscriptions $10 00 per year in the Tri County area Post m aster Send address changes to the Portland Observer, P O Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208 A!McGUherry, Editor/Publisher A ! Wilhams, Advertising Manager Subscribe todayl Receive your Observer by mail. Only $10 per year Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland, OR 97208 ¿NL, » L Name _ 283 2486 National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc New York Address Hit My Mom and Oad read the Portland Observer - why not you? 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