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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 1983)
» • '• t . \ ■ " k ■ *• i Page 4 Section I Portland Observer, June 29, 1983 The "D ud at H U D " EDITORIAL/OPINION by Dr. M anning M arable Fadeley seeks sales tax ban Senate President Ed Fadeley, a proclaimed foe of the sales tax. has proposed a constitution al amendment prohibiting a sales tax. Fadeley’s proposal — which would replace the House's 4 percent sales tax measure — says: " N o general retail sales tax shall ever be levied for purposes of defraying the expenses of the state." Fadeley expects the Senate to vote on the pro posal this week, possibly Saturday. Fadeley’s intention is to end discussion of a sales tax, an issue that dominated the House for five months before it was finally adopted and sent Io the Senate. Debate on the sales tax effectively cut off deliberation over tax relief alternatives, includ ing a homestead exemption or increasing the upper brackets of the personal and corporate income tax. W ith the sales tax out o f the way, the Senate could move on to balance the state budget and provide property tax relief. O f course Fadeley’s proposal could not gain the support of the House — now committed to the sales tax — or overcome a potential veto by the governor. However, a dtizens initiative cam paign could pul it on the ballot and gain public support. A ban against a sales tax in the State Constitu tion — although not written indelibly in stone — would be a strong deterrent to any serious thought of reviving the sales tax issue. It would also force future legislatures into seeking realistic and just methods of financing slate government. Theft symptom of deeper sins The newly revealed information that Ronald Reagan used briefing papers stolen from the president to prepare for his crucial debate with Jimmy Carter is not an isolated incident. Nor is it just another chapter to the growing ever ex panding story o f corruption in the Reagan administration. The theft o f Carter’s papers — like the spying on the Democratic Party headquarters at Water gate — was an attempt to steal the presidency. It was a direct assault on the people of the United States. Additional examples of Reagan’s flagrant vio lations o f constitutional rights are not hard to find. • The U.S. government has restricted and censored the publication and dissemination of scientific research. • The Justice Department has designated three Canadian films (one on nuclear war and two on acid rain) as foreign propaganda and kept records of those showing the films. • The president imposed censorship on all present and future federal employees, limiting their right to speak on "sensitive" subjects. • The government prevented citizens from re ceiving publications from or (ravelling to Cuba (recently overturned by federal court). • The State Department has refused entry to the U.S. to many foreign nationals, including the widow o f Salvador Allendc, who was invited by California churches; Cuban film makers in vited to discuss their work; Japanese pacifists desiring to participate in a U .N . disarmament debate, etc. • Reagan limited Congress’ ability to review C IA operations and allows the C IA to investi gate U.S. citizens in this country for the first time. • Reagan has allowed the FBI to infiltrate U.S. political groups. The theft of Carter’s papers — the act of cheating on a presidential election — is not an isolated incident. It is further evidence of a com plete lack of integrity and a lack of respect for the nation he heads and its citizens. And this man has the power to destroy the world. Almost three year, ago, a number of prominent blacks — including media star Tony Brown, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and Hosea Williams — made fools o f them selves by defending blacks who sup ported Reagan's candidacy. Now it’s clear that even those blacks within the Reagan administration rival their incompetent, aged boss in their contempt for the unemployed, the poor, and the dispossessed. Even the W all Street Journal, that staunch defender o f Reaganism, re cently concluded (hat the chief black administrator inside the cabinet. Housing and Urban Development head Samuel Pierce, was "reclusive," lacked "interest" in urban prob lems, and often "doesn't always know what he’s talking ab o u t." The Journal article noted, "Increasingly, from Capitol H ill to city halls and even in the W hite House, officials wonder why M r. Pierce remains at H U D . The stories about the reclusive cabinet member, whom M r. Reagan once called 'M r. M ayor' by mistake, are becoming legion." Pierce's latest nickname is "the dud at H U D ." Pierce, who earns S80.I00 per year, was unqualified for (he post from the outset. A labor attorney and a protege o f the Nelson Rocke- ■ ■ U QS Publishers ■ Assin I jiio n K ■ W *1 The P o rtla n d O b itrtre e IU S P S 959 6801 i t published every Thundey by ta ie Publishing C om piny. Inc 2201 North Killing« worth. Portlend. Oregon 972,2. P ott OMice Bon 3 ,3 7 Portland Oregon 97208 Second c le n pottage perd et Portlend Oregon 'g K Mav»»»» t& fa ' __Q The Portland O bterrer w e t eeteMrehed in ,970 Subscription« 1 ,5 00 per year in the Tn C o onty area P o tt m e tte r Send eddrett change« to the Portland O b w -n rr. P O B o . 3,37. Portlend. Oregon 97208 MEMBER NW AL \PER Aaeoctaften - Fovndad IgOS A lfre d L. Henderson. Editor/Publisher A l Williams, Advertising Manager 283 2486 N atio n a l A dvertising R ep resentative A m a lg a m a te d Publishers Inc N e w York Bui "Silent Sam " is undisturbed. He has greater faith in the senility of his Great W hite Father than in the urban and socioeconomic alterna tives being put forward by the C on gressional Black Caucus. This black Reaganite is not suffering — he has a spacious office, a good position, and a direct access to the very centers of power. Let urban America continue to d e c a y ...th e "dud at H U D " is doing his job. by Greg Wasson W hile last week's decision declar ing the Congressional veto unconsti tutional got the headlines, the U.S. Supreme Court made another ruling worthy o f examination. In an ap peal originating in Tillam ook Coun ty, the high court struck a blow for the police in the continuing battle between society and the individual. In State v. Bradshaw, the Court upheld as legitimate a confession obtained after the suspect had re quested a lawyer, but before the counsel had arrived. It would seem that once suspects told the police that they didn’ t want to talk, the police would have to leave them alone. The Court evidently agreed with Attorney General Dave Frohn- mayer, though, who argued that a suspect should be free to change his or her mind and confess after initial ly refusing to cooperate with the police. Silence Portland Observer were on lay-off in October in 1982. and in fact the number o f steel pro duction workers has dropped 40 percent in the past decade. In the twelve months between December, 1981 and December, 1982 while collar unemployment has jumped by 1.1 percent; blue collar workers, up 3.? percent; farm workers, up 1.3 percent; and service workers, up 2.7 percent 14.8 percent o f all manu facturing workers are unemployed, and a staggering 22 percent of all construction workers are jobless. Federal reductions in needed social service* means deteriorating urban conditions — poorer schools, low quality health care, inadequate and dilapidated housing. Reaganomics and a vicious attitude toward m i norities and ihe poor has set the stage for social unrest and urban chaos. Quorum o f One A press release from Frohn- mayer’s office quotes the attorney general as saying that the ruling strikes " (a ) proper balance. . . be tween the right o f the suspect to counsel and the need o f law enforce ment authorities to resolve criminal investigations." The right to counsel is not intend ed to be a balance; it is part o f the constitutional shield designed to protect the individual from the in evitable excesses o f the government. Bradshaw provides further proof that the present Supreme Court is committed to reversing the judicial advancements made under that liberal o f liberals. Chief Justice Earl Warren. resent these unfounded eccusntiens! feller/Jacob Javits wing o f the Republican party. Pierce had little knowledge o f urban affairs. Pierce has yet to schedule meetings with key members o f the Congressional Black Caucus. He failed to push for strong fair-housing legislation which he had promised over a year ago. H e has lost several important budget fights with O M B director David Stockman, according to the Journal, and now "some housing- industry officials maintain that M r Stockman has more power than the H U D chief over urban p olicy." When housing, real estate, and urban group, do get a chance to speak with the dud at H U D , "they come away surprised at his lack o f interest in their concerns." What has Pierce accomplished in two and one half years? H U D 's full time work force has been cut by 11 percent, down to 13,412 workers. Rent-subsidies to poor black. Latino and white families have been drastically reduced. Pierce has ordered that all low-rent apartments constructed with federal govern ment subsidies be halted. In short, this black Reaganite is a "loyal soldier" for the president. Meanwhile, the economic condi tions for working class families and neighborhoods continue to deteriorate. 130,000 steel workers (Continued fro m Page I Column 6/ Common, the women would link arms and encircle the nine mile peri meter o f the base. They were told to bring scarves to extend the circle in case there weren't enough women. A military police car with its lights flashing circled (he inside peri meter o f the base. The officers inside peered at the women. “ As (hat car approached us, the most incredible sound erupted from us," said Simone. " I t came from our bellies. I couldn't imitate it for you now if I tried. It was a howl, a scream, a moan. I made a sound like it while I was giving b irth.” That evening Greenham Common air base was surrounded by nine miles o f flickering candlelight. The next day five thousand women blockaded the gates. Since the previous arrests had caused a sensation, the strategy o f the police was not to arrest but to drag the women away. The strategy o f the women was to come back and sit down again. " I t was raining, as usual, and very m uddy." said Simone. " I went back 17 times. It got very rough. W e were dragged by our hair, our arms, our legs, our breasts. There were five arms and three legs broken at my gate alone." The Bradshaw decision erodes probably the most famous case of W arren's (enure, one involving a Phoenix defendant named M iranda. M iranda argued successfully that his arresting officers had failed to ex plain his constitutional right to re main silent and demand a lawyer be fore questioning. Ruling that defendants can't w ill fully waive constitutional rights they don't know they have, the Court re fused to allow M iranda's statements to be used against him. I f constitu tional guarantees are to mean any thing. argued the Court, the author ities must follow the rules established to check the power o f the police. One o f those rules says people should get help from a lawyer be fore the authorities initiate proceed ings which might put the suspect in jail. And, the Warren Court didn't limit the idea o f restricting the po lice to protect the individual to the guarantee o f counsel. In I960, the panel considered Jones v. U .S ., a case where the police had burst into an apartment without a warrant — an act prohibited by the 4th Amend ment — and arrested a friend o f the owner. The suspect contended that even (hough he didn’t own the dwelling, he had been subjected to an unconstitutional search and the evidence should be suppressed. The Warren Court agreed. Ruling that the Constitution protects peo ple. not property, the Court held that the police had no right to be in the apartment and refused to allow the state to admit any evidence T h a t’s when Simone cut her hair "W h e n I was pregnant I was told to eat healthy food, to take vita mins, and to avoid tobacco and alcohol. After my children were born I was told to give them the best possible nutrition, medical care and education. We mothers are encour aged to take responsibility for our children's safe passage through this life. " A n d that is exactly what we are doing at Greenham Common. Soci ety has placed on us (he responsibili seized in the search. Granted, if evidence obtained in violation o f the constitution is ruled inadmissible, the slate's case some times collapses and the defendant goes free. However, the Warren Court considered that an acceptable price for keeping the government honest. The present Court? I f you liked Richard Nixon, you’ ll love Chief Justice Warren Burger. In 1981, the Burger Court showed its official dis taste for the Jones decision, writing: " (W e have) overruled Jones and instead limited such Fourth Amendment claims to those per sons who h)d a reasonable expec tation of privacy in the area or ob ject o f the search.” My favorite reactionary. Colum nist James J. Kilpatrick, applauds this restriction o f the Warren doc trine He contends that the discom fort o f watching a guilty defendant go free justifies overlooking police improprieties. I would respond that Kilpatrick's obsession with the individual crime is misplaced. The more important consideration is the effect on society o f granting the police additional dis cretion. I f America is truly different than other societies, if we are sin cerely concerned about protecting individual freedoms, we have to do something different than simply turning the shock-troops loose In their drive to wage a successful war on crime, authorities, both fed eral and state, seem to have forgot ten that too much power goes to the head and discretion inevitably leads to abuse. ty for the future o f our children We are fulfilling that by opposing these missiles. "W e women at Greenham C om mon are not asking someone else to please stop the deployment o f cruise missiles for us. W e have taken it upon ourselves to stop them. I know cruise missiles are not going to be deployed in Britain because we women have made a personal commitment that we will not allow it. "T h e greatest crime is silence." Letters to the Editor To th e Editor: I would like to voice my objection to the headline o f the article on Ethiopian Jews in the June 22nd issue. The article provided inform a tion on the background and current status o f the Falashas, black Jews in Ethiopia, as well as comments about the inactivity o f the Israeli govern ment in providing assistance to this group. However, the headline read. "Israel Rejects Ethiopian Jews." I feel that this is misleading and may be perceived as reflecting an anti- Israeli bias. The article was more about Ethiopia’s rejection and mis treatment o f the Falashas than about their rejection by Israel. Based on the inform ation contained in the article, Israel can more accu rately be described as “ neglecting" rather than “ rejecting" the Falashas. It is mentioned that the Israeli gov ernment is keeping a low profile and is relatively inactive in response to helping the Ethiopian Jews, espe cially in comparison to Russian Jews, who are Caucasian. I do not doubt that this is related to the fact that the Ethiopian Jews are black, and that this racist attitude o f the Israeli government justly deserves criticism; however, I feel that the headline did not accurately reflect the content o f the article. D o ro th y Parker (Editor's Note: John Blank, authoi o f the article, was not responsibh f o r the headline. J
