Monday, August 27,1934
Paga4
Daily Nebraskan
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ohn DeCamp talks big, Is big, has
big influence and in typical fashion,
insults big.
His latest target is Gov. Bob Kerrey, or
"King Bobby," as DeCamp calls him. Last
week DeCamp suggested that LB 3 was
designed to cover up wrong doing3 at
State Security Savings. He implicated Ker
rey, Banking Director Roger Beverage
and Bill Wright, Kerrey's associate and an
owner of the bank. The bank has filed for
protection under Chapter 11 of the fed
er il bankruptcy code.
Kerrey characterized DeCamp's re
marks as "blabber" and said he didnt
understand the Neligh senator's "personal
insults."
The feud between the two powerful
Nebraskans centers on the banking issue
pending in the Legislature's special ses
sion. Each has a bill and hopes to see it
passed.
Undeniably, some measure is needed to
protect the citizens of Nebraska from the
problems several banks are experiencing.
It would be nice if some of those who lost
their savings could see Commonwealth
Savings Co. bought by an out-of-state
bank. They might even get some money
back.
But this feud is slowing the process.
DeCamp's flamboyant style often gets
results. However, a direct personal attack
on the governor accomplishes nothing
but division.
Kerrey and DeCamp reportedly met
Friday on H Street between the Gover
nor's mansion and the Capitol and ex
changed words. After the incident, Ker
rey said he was angry, and that DeCamp
takes insulting people "lightly." Kerrey
says he doesnt.
If Kerrey and DeCamp. were two men
exchanging harsh words in a bar or even
in a private office, the whole thing could
be called an unfortunate conflict; people
do fight.
But these two are public officials
probably the two most powerful men in
Nebraska. Disagreement is fine, but
DeCamp's personal attacks are unciviliz
ed. Memories of DeCamp complaints about
unjustified charges and insults are fresh.
Not long ago he was fighting charges con
cerning relations with his daughter and
charges of wrongdoing in his political cam
paign. He should know from experience that
such charges can damage one's life. And if
he knows something the rest of us dont,
he should tell us what it is, instead of
slandering a man he is supposed to be
able to work with in a civilized manner,
even if he does not agree with him.
n rr
iviessa
F
reedom is inherently risky.
In a free society, some mem
bers will behave badly. That
is inevitable.
Society can reduce the risk of
bad behavior by forming laws
and devising punishments for mis
behavers. Those who break laws
forfeit their freedom and subject
themselves to the proscribed
punishments.
re
ms encourcLae invasion
II V U If j
V
mm
Chris
: A Burbach
Society is within its bounds
when it reacts to a violation of
law by imposing a punishment
that fits the crime. Society is
within its bounds when it openly
and honestly attempts to deter
crime and encourage good be
havior. Society steps out of bounds
when it seeks to lessen the risks
of freedom by taking away its
members' freedom of choice.
Such a theft appears to occur
with subliminal communication
messages aimed at influencing
human behavior that are beamed
below conscious perception into
the subconscious.
In other words, messages can
affect the way someone acts, but
the person is unaware of it.
That constitutes a detestable
invasion of privacy and, poten
tially, a dangerous weapon.
The way subliminal communi
cation is employed today seems
harmless. A few stores plant anti
shoplifting messages on their
Muzak tapes as a deterrent to
would-be thieves.
WeVe also heard stories of ad
vertisers slipping tidbits into our
subconscious, such as curvace
ous ice cubes in television soft
drinks and hot buttered popcorn
into the frames of movies. The
Federal Communications Com
mission has banned that type of
advertising, on radio and televi
sion, and rightly so. Harmless as
it may seem, subliminal advertis
ing is wrong because it denies
freedom of choice.
That's the dilemma of sublimi
nal communication as it stands
today a question of invasion of
privacy. However, the dilemma of
subliminal communication potent
ial for tomorrow forms a much
more serious scenario.
To see that dilemma you have
to think big a!a Hal Becker, a
subliminal communication mag
nate. Becker is quoted in a United
Press International article in the
Aug. 12 Omaha World-Herald as
suggesting that government use
subliminal messages "to encour
age safe driving and discourage
crime and drug use."
On the surface, that proposal to
attractive enough. It could save
money and lives and reduce crime.
It could make a more harmon
ious and productive society.
But the plan is like cheese in a
loaded mouse trap. Before we
pounce on the idea, we had bet
ter consider the consequences.
If the government adopted
Becker's proposal, society could
reap the aforementioned benef
its. But at what price? Are we wil
ling to barter our psychological
freedom away? And if our govern
ment gives itself the power to
program safe driving into our
minds, can it not then gain the
power to program positions on
more complicated issues?
Maureen Phillips, a lawyer from
California, has "urged legislation
requiring public disclosure when
such (subliminal) messages are
used," according to the World
Herald article. She did not go far
enough. In fact, It's a ridiculous
scenario "Please fasten your
seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen.
The movie today is 'Jungle Book'
The movie contains subliminal
messages against heroin use. En
joy your
Does telling people you're going
to brainwash them make doing it
OK?
Although a proposal such as
Becker's promises some good, it
forebodes much greater evil, and
its price i3 too high. Congress
should reject such proposals, and
ban public use of subliminal com
munication. It is the only choice
for a nation that values freedom
above all else.
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p.
i ii -!
conomic ireeclom o
f'Mew Right
contradicts personal restrictions
ALIAS The Republican Party has a deal for
you. Its dominant right wing, especially the New
Right, is bristling with ideas.
conservative at all. It is, they say, the beginning of a new
Coh
era of economic freedom. But what you dont pay in
taxes, you will in personal freedom.
You don't have to look any further than Rep. Newt
Gingrich (R-Ga.) to see the bargain the Republican New
Right is offering. Gingrich is the very personification of
the GQFs New Right. He has just published a book,
"Window of Opportunity which is part political manE
fesio and part technological blueprint for the future By
the time Gingrich gets through with outer space, 'for
instance, it will be &n outpost of the American free
enterprise system and we will alL he assures us be
better off as a result '
Th57. nS1 "redr I3) is impressed.
This is not the tome of a Cat-earth conservative whose
idea of an economic program is to lower taxes, abolish
welfare and blast the commies to kingdom come. It is,
instead, a thoughtful even daring program for the
nature any mere is not much in it tnat Gary r an or aim
of Yuppies would argue with.
Yet its premise of virtually unbridled economic free
dom is contradicted by a social program that is oppres
sive. Gingrich, like others cn the New Right and like
Ronald Reagan himself, believes in school prayer, de
nounces homosexual rights, thinks abortion ought to be
outlawed and has nothing but contempt for the ERA All
this is proclaimed in the name of values, but pragmatic
politics is at work as well The Star Wars economic
program will need the support of people who could not
care less about outer space but care wry much about'
school prayer.
Whatever the basis for these views, they represent
nothing less than an attempt to restrict personal free-
liiereiore aoortion is murder, that b net the view
most Americans. And to tell a woman that a fetus in the
first month is a person and she cannot abort it even
though, say she is 15 years old and raayie the fetus is
deformed is both a loss of personal freedom and
heart-wrenching human tragedy.
Costinsed ca Ts.2 &