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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1981)
page 4 tuesday, november 17, 1981 daily nebraskan Stockman should abandon his budget-cutting ax When Ronald Reagan went to Washington, he promised Americans he would make changes. No where were the changes more criticized than in the Reagan economic program. Even though Reagan couldn't articulate how his program would work, he told the American people to trust him and let his men get a hold of the reins of government. With time, we were told, the budget would be balanced, taxes lowered and the United States would enjoy military superiori ty over the Soviet Union. But, recently, the news out of Washington is that the budget won't be balanced by 1984 as promised. Surprise. The only chance to balance it now lies with increases in taxes which Reagan is loath to do, and furthermore, will not consider. But last week, hudget director David Stockman was reported as saying that the Reagan economic program won't work and that it is designed to aid the rich in this country. Surprise. Critics had been saying that for a long time, but no one really paid any attention. Any criti cisms that Democrats, economists or the poor had Biases engrained in senate with the program were just too bad. But now the man who is an integral part of making the program work says it is all a lie. Stockman even said some figures were adjusted to meet the administration's plans. After being taken to the woodshed, Stockman apologized for loose talk and Reagan appears to be happy with him. Although he has taken some flak for even granting the series of interviews, it must be re membered that even if Stockman thought the in terviews were off the record, he's still telling the truth. Many Republicans think Stockman has mortal ly wounded the president's program and should be replaced. But nice guy Ronnie Reagan is not about to do that. Like it or not, he needs David Stockman. He needs Stockman because he is the one per son who really can explain the intricacies of the budget process to the folks on Capitol Hill. He al so needs him because he is the president's main hatchet man. When the budget gets fat, Stockman starts chopping. It would be a setback to have to dig up another official who could combine Stockman's know ledge with his Atilla the Hun ruthlessness. The question before Stockman is simple. When did he first know the president's program was a Trojan Horse designed to aid the rich and why does he feel obligated to work for it? The answers lie in Reagan's efforts to have his programs portrayed as part of a crusade. In a cru sade, nobody bothers to let the little things, like facts, get in the way. Maybe criticism of Reagan policies will merit further attention in the future. Chances are Stockman won't be fired unless his ability to sell the president's program is totally impaired. That's not likely because Stockman is the shield that protects Reagan. But if Stockman doesn't believe in the pro gram, he shouldn't wait to be fired. He should simply resign. This isn't the necessary resignation he offered Reagan, but the real thing. Just pack up his budget charts and go. Maybe then we can go back to believing all of the magic coming out of Ronnie in Wonderland. By voting to omit the mandatory non discrimination clause from the electoral rules last Wednesday, the ASUN Senate showed its true color - all white. The para dox of the issue is that the senators had made repeated statements claiming sincere commitments to create a more diverse stu dent government in previous meetings. The only time a candidate is account able to the discriminatory rules of UNL is after being elected, according to Dean of Students David Decoster. If it is difficult to enforce non-discrimination policies for political parties, what makes the senate think there will be any difference after the election? Under the present system, how can UNL students possibly elect a senate that will not practice discrimination? We have electoral rules which can't prevent parties from practicing it in their selection methods, or even in their party platform ideals. We have no criteria for judging when it exists and no penalty for practicing it. And we have a set of student government representatives who don't even understand what it is. How many times have issues come up over the years that the student government (sm iJ7 HSPfSSllSil Editorials do not necessarily express the opinions of the Daily Nebraskan 's publishers, the NU Board of Regents, the University of Nebraska and its employees or the student body. USPS 144-080 Editor: Tom Prentiss; Managing editor: Kathy Stokebrand; News editor: Steve Miller; Associate News editors: Dan Epp, Kim Hachiya, Alice Hrnicek; Night news editor: Martha Murdock; Assistant night news editor: Kate Kopischke; Entertainment editor: Pat Clark; Sports editor: Larry' Sparks; Art director: Dave Luebke; Photo graphy chief: Mark Billingsley. Business manager: Anne Shank-Volk; Pro duction manager: Kitty Policky; Advertising manager: Art K. Small; Assistant advertising manager: Jerry Scott. Publications Board chairperson: Margy McCleery, 472-2454. Professional adviser: Don Walton. 473-7301, The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL Publications Board Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, except during vacation. Address: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets, Lincoln, Neb.. 68588. Telephone: 472-2588. All material in the Daily Nebraskan is covered by copyright. Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. 68510, Annual subscription: $20, semester subscript ion: $11. "POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daily NebrasKan, 34 Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets, Lincoln, Neb., 68588." has dismissed as "too political" or "ir relevant social issues"? The homecoming elections have no relevance to anyone who is not a member of the Greek system, and can't be defined as anything but a social issue, yet the senate sees fit to spend time and energy on it every year. But when an important political issue arises, it is promptly dismissed as being too controver sial for the senate to take a stand on. Time and time again, student govern ment representatives are elected by an overwhelming white majority, a group that has no concept of who they represent or even why they're representing them. When someone attempts to raise an issue beyond the frivolous level "bf resolving to congratulate the football team, the person is treated by the senate like some sort of subversive. Eventually, the student body will realize that its supposed student government is too limited in diversity, power and scope to ever do anything of lasting significance. This realization can be frustrating to those with visions of substantial improvements which could be made by an active, politically aware student government. "Senators often argue that they repre sent their constituents to the best of their ability and in some cases this may be true. But often situations arise which are just out of the scope of some individuals, but are nevertheless important student con cerns. Senators are elected to represent stu dents from their academic colleges, but many student issues are not college related. Perhaps the meaning of the word con stituency needs to be redefined. If stands on issues seem to be continuously divided between Greeks and non-Greeks, males and females, whites and non-whites, perhaps the real voting constituencies aren't divided along academic college lines at all. If this is the case, the senate should move to correct this error. Let's face it: the present system of government just isn't working. No matter how patronizingly sympathetic some senat ors may be, there is a knowledge and sen sitivity about some students problems that the present senate just doesn't have. Although a few pieces of legislation have passed showing some attempt to express concern for the various problems and issues, there is no better government than a government that is truly representative of the people. Until the senate develops a structure which will define what it is, who it repre sents and what it can accomplish, students can expect the same confused, narrow, minded and ineffective student government next year. IS 10 HNt f WAX 10 jfySr ( MKKE THE CcXuMBlA ) ( SPACE SHUTTLE WORK... mm s to tSi editor Big Red spirit alive Last Saturday the scalpers outside the stadium had a field day because at least 300 people were trying to buy tickets to the Iowa State game. I had almost resigned myself to watching TV football rather than pay $35 for a single when an elderly gentle man in a red blazer asked if I needed a tic ket. Immediately I offered Mm $25 for it, but he said I could have it for nothing. He didn't want it to go to waste since his granddaughter, a senior home economics major "who is earning mostly A grades at UNL," was shopping and wouldn't need it. Upon my insistence he finally accepted $5 for it; he then offered to rent a stadium chair for me when he got his. Sitting in section 40, we shared his program and the great Nebraska win. Thanks, Granddad, whoever you are for a great afternoon. True Western hospitality is alive and well in Nebraska. Ron Carter NEH Resident Fellow Government lacking Kim Hachiya's Nov. 6 editorial was on target, I have had a bellyful of government of form but empty of substance. We need statesmanship, not showmanship, I chal lenge both the Democratic and Republican parties to offer, and the people of this state to elect, a competent alternative to Charles Thone, Surely we are capable of better. RonWinther Graduate, Math T