-7i 1-:—
Petty politics stops progress
Before I begin with the primary'
concern of this column. I would
like to make a few observations.
First, my apologies and condo
lences to the family and friends of
Francisco Renteria. His death truly
is tragic and was completely
preventable. Perhaps if the Lincoln
Police Department and the Univer
sity of Ncbraska-Lincoln police
would take responsibility for their
actions and offer a simple “we’re
sorry,” then we as a community
could close this wound and allow
the healing process to begin.
Secondly, please do not assume
that I have the same views on
various issues as the other colum
nists of this publication. No, 1 don’t
know Mr. Karl or Mr. Tucker. No,
1 don’t agree with them or hang out
with them. I don’t know if they’re
kidding or if they’re really as ...
(oops, I can’t print that). That is for
you to decide.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you
to all those who responded to my
last column. Obviously, this is a
bigger epidemic than 1 had imag
ined, and I appreciate the time and
risk you look to contact me. Thanks
again, and hang in there.
Now let’s get to the fun part.
Congress.
As you may know, the 103 rd
session came to a close last week
end with little being resolved
during the past six months or so —
including by those people who can
gripe and whine the most.
I would have to give that honor
to the Democrats, but only because
the Republicans were so busy
throwing wrenches instead of
insults. It amazes me how much
can be unaccomplished when 535
grown men and women put their
personal agendas ahead of those
who elected them.
The problem here is, of course,
that election time is near. Every
candidate will try any method
possible to get back into office, and
usually that includes undermining
his or her opponent. The fact that
anything gets done at all is what
Basically, it comes down to petty
politics. 7he Republiclowns are
stopping a ny progress in order to make
the Democrahs look bad. And because
most people ha ve no idea what truly
goes on, they are forced to reduce a
technicolor issue to black and white.
surprises me, not the cheap tactics
these scum — er, politicians — use
on each other.
Every system has a pattern of
operation, and Washington is no
exception. Here’s how it works:
Once a new session begins, there is
a sense of unity and purpose. Each
representative is full of ambition
and genuine interest in those he or
she represents. This mood is
infectious, even to the crusty
lifetimers who have their fingers in
special interests’ pockets so deep
they've forgotten which appendages
are theirs.
So. in the beginning months of
the session, actual accomplishments
arc made. For example, the 103rd
passed a bill that guaranteed leave
for workers with a family medical
emergency — a bill that President
Bush vetoed.
Also, Congress passed the much
maligned crime bill, the North
American Free Trade Agreement
and a deficit reduction plan
designed to cut red ink by nearly
$500 billion.
After Congress has operated like
a well-oiled machine for a while,
things change quickly. All the
representatives have now estab
lished enough r6sum£ fodder to
spend the rest of the term going in
circles without doing damage to
their upcoming campaigns. Voters
often hear, “Look what I’ve done
for you, and look what my opponent
didn’t do.”
This sort of strategy soon
deteriorates into what we’re more
familiar with: the name-calling and
reputation-bashing we’ve grown to
endure. When it’s finally lime to hit
the polls, no one can remember
who did what right — only what
people did wrong.
Which leaves us where we are
today: No universal health care,
which we as a nation desperately
need; no environmental reform that
would put more stringent require
ments on careless and irresponsible
corporations; and no lobbying
reform.
Basically, it comes down to petty
politics. The Rcpubliclowns are
stopping any progress in order to
make the Dcmocrabs look bad. And
because most people have no idea
what lady goes on, they arc forced
to reduce a technicolor issue to
black and white. “The majority
Dems couldn’t do,it, so let’s vote
‘cm out.” It’s not that easy, folks.
Let's consider one important
thing: Sen. Bob Dole wants to be
president in the worst way, and
he’ll do anything for it. He is
single-handedly undermining
President Clinton, who in my
estimation is doing a decent job,
considering the abuse he’s been
swallowing. He’s making a con
certed effort, which is more than I
can say for our last leading man.
If lifetime politicians like Dole
would lake a few minutes to release I
their collective heads from their
asses, this country may actually
move forward instead of becoming
the next member of the fallen
empire club.
.lustier is a nrws-rditnrial and broad
casting major and a Daily Nebraskan
columnist.
-1 I
Back the troops: Ride a bike
Hold onto your hats, folks. Here
we go again.
Just when you thought Desert
Storm — also known by George
Bush's administration as Operation
I Am Not A Wimp — was over,
that sly dog Saddam Hussein is up
to his old tricks. And the United
States is right there to defend Q-4
Quik. I mean. Kuwait.
For those of you who arc lost up
to this point, please turn to the wire
page and read the story about Iraq.
Then go back to your crossword
puzzle.
What's a three-letter word for
the lifeblood of our moderntsociety?
(Hint: “Beer'* has too many letters.)
That’s right. It's ‘oil’’ — that
miracle liquid found in everything
from your gas tank to your hair
(some of us in smaller quantities
than others).
If you remember the last time
this Saddam Hussein stuff hap
pened, you'll recall that gas prices
shot up.
We were facing a shortage, the
gas companies said. We all had to
tighten our money belts to support
our men — and women, of course
— over there fighting for freedom
and the American way.
Never mind that by the time the
war started, tankers with plenty of
black gold already were on their
way here. But when we move so
much as another frigate to the
Persian Gulf, the oil companies see
dollar signs in the deployments.
Now we arc amassing our troops
there again, and even though
nothing may happen, filling your
tank is probably going to empty
your wallet. Donrt say you weren't
warned.
As for me. I’ve got my bicycle.
Bikes are a popular form of
transportation for college students
for many reasons.
They’re cheap ... well, some
We import most of our oil from other
nations, and the cost— both in
dollars and iti human life— keeps
going up. Most of the money that
leaves our country never will come
back. It is hoped that the opposite will
be true of our troops.
bikes cost more than my car, but
most are less than $ 1,0(H).
They’re convenient... well, if
you don’t mind being sweaty when
you reach your destination.
You don't have to hunt for a
parking space for your bike ... oh,
hell, that’s not true cither! The bike
racks are even worse than the
parking lots.
Ridine a bike is literally a pain
in the behind — especially if you're
wearing a backpack.
Drivers try to run you over.
Pedestrians on campus gripe when
you nin them over. Thieves will
take the front tire, the rear tire, the
scat, the playing card stuck between
the spokes or even your whole
bicycle if you don’t have a lock
made of kryptonitc.
The worst part, though, is not
getting the respect you deserve.
I’ve plunked down $40 for wheel
reflectors, a front headlamp and a
blinking rear light. With all this
light radiating from my bike, you'd
think drivers would be able to sec
me.
Apparently they don’t. Just
yesterday, some guy in a minivan
cruised past me less than six inches
away. This happens all the time.
That’s why I have learned all the
proper hand signals — right turn,
left turn and “Turn this!”
No matter how furiously I pump
my legs, I can't keep up with the
gas-powered traffic. But I don’t
understand why drivers gel mad
when they wind up behind me. If I
was ahead of them in a car. I'd
probably take the parking space
they wanted. Then they would have
to know the proper hand signal.
Take all the bicycles you see on
campus today, and imagine that
they’re cars. Do you know a four
letter word that many students
would utter upon finding this
parking pandemonium of Biblical
proportions? (Hint: No, it’s not
“beer,” you drunkards.)
Besides freeing up a parking
space, a bicycle is one less car
spewing exhaust into the air we
breathe. And one less car on the
road means that much oil is being
saved.
Plus, the less we rely on foreign
countries, the stronger we will be as
a nation.
We import most of our oil from
other nations, and the cost — both
in dollars and in human life —
keeps going up. Most of the money
that leaves our country never will
come back. It is hoped that the
opposite will be true of our troops.
So support our men and women
overseas. Buy war bonds. Stop the
insanity. Ride your bicycles.
The parking space you save
could be for the guy who almost ran
you over.
Paulman Is a senior news-editorial and
history major and a Dally Nebraskan colum
nist. ®
FINALLY
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-_423-8996|
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Concerto Barocco
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A carefree new ballet choreographed to the music of the 1940s by
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