editeiriQl ifii(ni
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Exon right for times
Wi acree with State Sen. Ernest Chamb
ers, one of the Nebraska gubernatorial
conu-nit-rs. that the major Issues In the race
aro trwj tnree candidates.
The r nackgrounds range from barberlng
to business -to teaching. Their campaign
proposals are equally as diverse and as
rv ef'f stmg. . ,
Chd'iibers, the Independent candidate,
! r Jiccts the image of the thoughtful,
well-meaning idealist. The programs he
advocates not only are thought-provoking,
du? also excite a person as to the prospects
for humanity to survive and better Its lot In
ttv enming decades.
Chambers' programs depend on a virtually
uniitmieci amount Of state funds In an
.nM.it i n troubled economy. One such pro
gram is his proposal for penal reform. '. ,
Such a program w6uld.no doubt foster an
improved penitentiary with a better charted bf
reh.j. jiitatmg the inmates It houses. But the
program's - cost - would be high,, If not;
astronomical. .
The Chambers' campaign without a doubt, .
ha-, teen a real blessing for the state. His
caruiiaacv would be significant If merely
became ;t is the first time a black has filed
and run for the office of governor In the
6tato's 107-year history.
And we think several of his Ideas should be
seriou: ly considered by the next governor,
including elimination of the state sales tax in
favor of a tax on intangibles and increasing
urban-rural cooperation.
Stale Sen. Richard Marvel, the Republican
candidate proposes some fundamental
changes in government structure and prior
ities, if ho is elected. He has drawn up a plan
to divide state government departments Jntd
four areas human resources, natural re
sources, community affairs and administrat
ive affairs. According to Marvel, his
experience as chairman of the Legislature
Appropriations Committee has given him the
chance to evaluate the performance of state
departments. The inefficiencies his staff has
discovered in the departments indicates the
need for a change in the present structure.
Marvel proposes to individually evaluate
state department director; an act that may
cut down the amount of inefficiency and
waste which runs rampant in government
bureaucracy. But such acnon is a very slow
weeding out process. Nebraskans are paying
an arm and a leg for prices of food and other
Items. They need direct action from the
governor, aimed at reducing inflation as on
the household level.
. It is unfortunate that in this election, such
Idealistic and potentially worthy proposals
made by both Chambers and Marvel must
take a back seat to what we believe is the
major Issue facing the nation and the state at
this timeinflation.
And it is on the issue of inflation,
farticularly. that the programs advocated by
ncumbent Gov. J. James Exon merit his
re-election.
Exon has made a career of "pocketbook" .
Issues. He has conceded exercising his veto
, on legislative appropriations more than any
.governor in the state s history.
One example is Ins refusal to issue bonds
for highway construction, which is advocated
by both Chambeis and Marvel. "Yet, under
the Exon administration. Nebraska last
month became the fir it state to complete its
interstate system, which is financed "by
matching federal ; ; n t j Mate funds.
If Exon takes cr" for lowering the state
Income tax rates, i.-i-'-er .than simply saying
he has "held the I in.? on taxes," it should be
remembered he ininally opposed lowering
the rate from 15 ' n 13-; and opposed the
recent reduction tt, n ri.
But this is just wot her eomple of financial
conservativism. Exon opposed lowering the
tax rate until it was certam there would be
enough funds in the state ceneral fund to pay
for state programs Anda pay-as-you-go,
bafancinq-the-budgot financial conserva-
tivis"! is one way to hqht inflation. -vj uu,;
Exon has criticized the 260 per cent gro
iwthN
in Legislature expenses, which this year
totaled over $3 million. The administrative
belt-tightening he recommends is encourag
ing to Nebraskans, who are carrying their
share of the Inflationary burden. ' ' ; . '
Exon has an attitude that is right for the
times. And, although we hope for more
innovative programs in his second term, we
believe he deserves student support and the
votes of people throughout the state In his bid
for re-election. ' ' . ,
' Handy Gordon
Lynn Silhasek
. Don't know-don't vote
Most Americans have been told that voting
Is Important, that It is a part of their
obligation as U.S. citizens. So Is hot voting.
' Each election year, Americans enter voting
booths and mark their choices for office.
Sometimes those choices Involve much
forethought. Other times, they are based on
little more than whimsy.
. Too often voters will vote for candidates
they have never heard of, running for offices
they did not even realize were vacant. They
might vote for a candidate on the basis of sex
or because his or her name appears first on
the ballot or because he or she has a last
name of a particular ethnic origin.
The only valid reason for selecting a
certain candidate Is his or her qualifications
and ideology. Voters must inform themselves
about political races by using campaign
literature, news sources and, if possible,
personal contact with the candidates.
If voters know nothing about the contend
ers, they have no business voting In that
particular race. Information must bo tha
basis for giving a candidate a vote. If It Is not,
the American political system will continue to
produce inept representatives, chosen by the
same voters who later compalin about
sluggish government.
Nebraska has chance to stir up stagnan
fpi f" 1 1 Y f
Editor's note: Joseph Dreisen H a OHL
sophomore majoring In poSHfcai selenca.
Wat ;hinc the televised debate between the
Nebraska cubena'torial candidates Wednes'
day nc"!. audiences once again had a chance
to witness' the mediocrity which prevades
Nebraska politics. ' . ' '' '
ft - VN
0 '
Intangibleshis . support of G. Bradford
Cook (former director of the Security and
Exchange Commhs on) and Pichard Nixon,
or the fact th.it tv- h;is voted against
Inflationary measike s concur nhg such things
as welfare, education or various other social
.programs but, v, hen it omes to Military
appropriations and Defense spending, (need-
less waste in many caSes), Thone votes
"aye."
Probably the best chance of denting his
wall of mediocrity sut founding us, lies in the
Success of Thone's opponent .
Hess Dyas. Democratic candidate-for the
1st District congressional seat, is like a
breath of fresh air for Nebraska. His is a
likeable, effective campaigner, who has risen
from the underdog position to a point where
he has Thone fighting for his political life. He
Is bringing his cause to the people, hearing
them out on the Issues, seemingly sincere In
his" wish .for better and more effective
representation. .
While Nebraskans cannot be expected to
elect Kennedys or Fulbrights, we do have a
chance this yearIn Hess Dyas and Ernie
Chambers to at least stir up the stagnant
state of affairs Nebraska politics have fallen
Into. It's your choice, a clear cut choice at
that.
There seem to be no real differences
between Exon and Marvel.
On nc other hand, State Sen. Ernie
'Chamber?, differs greatly, from the other two
candidates.
Chambers is by no means mediocre. The
mediocrity mentioned before Is reflected In
the fact tnat Chambers simply will not win
the governo ship.
Hunnr i" debate he 02ms screes 2
being tr- most capable Candidate of the
three in n.. cool end articulate manner, ho
talked o much needed tax reform and
antitrust .ir:;oo. His statements simply may
be campaigned rhetoric, but at least
Charr ce' suggested tho need for such
things scmething Exon or Marvel did not.
" So why cn'i Chambers be elected? ., !
"He' is a. black man a. bjacK man I'ssn
enough to suggest a ne4d for changt In this
state and the word "change" tente to
suggest something evil and sinister to
Nebraskans, .
They insist on re-electing men liko Son.
Romar, .H'uska and Cart Curtis, paragons cf
mediocnt . ' ' ,
' They " cct representatives. like Charles
Thone, wnc claims, he has" don wonderful
thing-; 1 nis constituents. He hss-glvcfi
them federal Building, vatersheds and
ail kircs c ? nee tangible objects. '
He : ) ,-.ls voted against unnecessary
and i;. i.. i:.f ary spending.
WhT there does hot mention are the
4 rftr-
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november4, 1974
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