SAT..KAY33.1S31
TKo:.:ixaTi-rs-i$
While most people will applaud President Reagan's
aspiration to get America's economy "in gear again,"
all would be astounded at an ultimate aim of gutting the
social security program. Senior citizens would as soon
cough up blood as to take Reagan's soon to be recogniz
ed menacing medicine for a budget balance cure.
Cutting the budget down while at the same time beef
ing up the defense expenditure can only be accomplish
ed by cutting into the "entitlement programs," accor
ding to Alice Rivlin, director, Congressional Budget Of
fice an arm of Congress charged with keeping an eye
on whatever menacing minds occupy the White House.
Mrs.' Rivlin, speaking in front of an astounded au
dience of the Commonwealth Club of California in San
Francisco, recognized and renounced the continuing
cutting of the Administration's hatchetmen as having,
only one ultimate direction. Death to the social security
system as people appreciate it today.
Ronald Reagan's wags will run the excuse by the
Business In The Black '
When The Party Is Over
Social Security Slips Away
By Charles E. Belle
public of too much remuneration for the retired.
Writing figures such as an increase of thirteen per cent
for social security beneficiaries, but only nine per cent,
for real wage earners. Figures don't lie, but liars do
figure. Social security stems from a smaller base
therefore is bound to have a bigger percentage increase,
what's more, many a man and woman already worked
for these retired wages. . They ye not only "just"
' rewards, they arc earned wages!
When one sees exciting figures as $68 billion in coll
ie sumer expenditures of individuals over 65 for 1973, it
can be confusing. Consider for instance, it is inevitable
that individuals over 65 spend a disproportionate
amount of their funds on health services. So-called
disposable income figures are found flopping from one
side of the pharmacy counter to another at the corner
drug store.
Senior citizens who benefit from social security are
sensible about their meager savings and hard earned
money. Many notices from in and near the White House
will be hailing the happiness and free wheel spending of
persons 35 and over from now on. In fact, in terms of
per capita expenditures, the 55-64 year old household
win become the single most important consumer market
in the country today.
It is a time of life when, freed from the constraints
and financial responsibility of child raising, spending on
self becomes the order of the day. Doomsday arrives at
65 when man andor woman withdraws from the work
place. When TV perpetuates these swinging seniors and
radio sings praises, please be aware of the age dif
ference. Otherwise, the disappearance of the social security
system will slip by unnoticed until you become 65. It's
then that the big bad old social security system "they
cut becomes a bit missing part of your carcass.
-
A bill to extend the voting Rights Act of 1965 has
been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Charles Mathias
and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Peter
Rodino.
Ordinarily an extension of what has been an effective
instrument in enhancing minority voter participation
would be regarded as a safe bet for passage. Yet a
number of southern arch-conservatives, headed by
Strom Thurmon and bolstered by conservative gains in
the 1980 election, are out to prevent passage of the
Mathias and Rodino legislation which seeks to extend
the life of the Voting Rights Act beyond 1982.
There is no question that the Voting Rights Act has
played a crucial role in assuring due process for blacks
and other minorities in the electoral process. As a conse
quence of the Voting Rights Act there have been
dramatic increases in minority voter registration and
voting. Since 1965, the number of blacks registered in
the South has doubled. This increased participation has
resulted in pressure on elected public officials and has
forced many such officials to respond to the needs of
Voting Rights IJnder Attack
By Norman Hill
A. Philip Randolph Institute
minority constituencies. Of equal importance is Section
5 of the Voting Rights Act which is designed to prevent
discrimination by requiring that state and local govern
ments show that changes in voting or election pro
cedures do' not discriminate against minority voters.
This is a vital measure because it protects blacks 'and
other minorities from discriminatory changes before
such changes are put in place. Once voting procedures
are in place they must be challenged through lengthy
and expensive court proceedings. Section 5, therefore,
protects minorities from discrimination before it can
distort the electoral process.
The significance of the Voting Rights Act is further
heightened when one takes into account that a number
of reapportionment and redistricting changes will take
place in compliance with the 1980 census. With a strong
Voting Rights Act in place at this critical time, it will be
, possible to prevent discriminatory reapportionment and
the gerrymandering of districts which result in weaken
ing the impact of the minority vote.
As critical as the particular features of the Voting
Rights Act are, what is equally important is the sym
bolism of this Diece of legislation: The Voting Rights
Act is an essential indicator of the U.S. government's
commitment to due process and full participation.
At a time when the Administration has announced
that it favors easing job discrimination rules for com
panies with federal contracts; at a time when the Ad
ministration is seeking to cut back the activities of the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; at a time
when the Administration is drastically cutting federal
programs designed to provide training and education
for black, Hispanic, and white poor; and at a time when
the Administration is cutting back such social programs
as food stamps and unemployment insurance, failure to
pass the Voting Rights Act would indicate a major
retreat on the part of our government from the concerns
of blacks. Hispanics and other minorities.
It would further suggest that the conservative forces
swept into power in 1980 are seeking to undo those pro
gressive elements of our legal system which seek to pro
mote full participation. Such a signal would have a chill
ing effect upon minorities, and would serve to exacerbate
racial tensions. As a result, it would be a disservice to all
Americans, black and white.
In my last column, I provided you with easy and ef
fective techniques of persuasion. Here are more tips for
you to follow:
1 . Do not try to win an argument. Whether you like it
or not, no one wins an argument! Often, when people
accept the point-of-view of another person, they dislike
the person who convinced them. Arguments make
enemies, not friends.
So, allow the other person to express hisher ideas
even if they differ with the way that you view the world.
Let them know with a smile and an affirmative nod of
the head, that you respect their ideas and that you con
sider it a privilege that they are expressing their ideas to
you. Whether their opinion is right or wrong, they will
like you for allowing them to express their ideas.
Remember, most people are opinionated and have
developed a need to hold on strongly to the ideas that
they have. Most people are confronted with anger when
thev attempt to make their views known. They will con-
Coping
The Wonderful Art Of Persuasion:
Part III
By Dr. Charles W. Faulkner
sider you to be pleasantly different if you allow them the
freedom to speak.
Opposing a person's ideas is equivalent to saying to
them, "You are not intelligent," or "I don't like your
ideas, so I don't like you either." In any case, they are
likely to interpret it this way. If you merely acknowledge
them and listen quietly, they might ask your opinion the
next time.
2. Congratulate, praise, respect and respond very
favorably whenever a person does something. Praise a
person for the smallest accomplishment and do it
sincerely.
Most people live in a society that puts them in com
petition with everyone else. This feeling of com
petitiveness induces a feeling of profound stress which
some people feel whenever they are in the company of
-i?
irons
Extra
Drj
m$0m fcifer : gD
V - H IP
it
1 if awes .
r -
...if VIMS?
Jr:.y fUS""
ft,'
mm
Seagram's
ExfraDrg
Gin
ym4 ,'mmtm- mJtf
ftom , . 4 1 1 or i ho Moot
OMitifDOftiC
mmmiiiTiBi
i
1
II
s . Xcw ,y-
someone else. This feeling of stress, which results from
competitive insecurity, is disconcerting, distasteful and
difficult to endure.
When you praise, rather than compete and attack a
person, you produce a pleasant sensation of comfort
and relaxation in the other person. They will enjoy be
ing in your company. They will like you. and, because
they do like you, they will probablly be hesitant to do
anything to offend you.
Your praise will have produced an atmosphere that is
conducive to persuasion. When you are cool, calm, and
relaxed you feel good and company admires you. When
you praise the other person, you produce happiness and
respect. In order to persuade someone to do something,
you must not become an opponent. Without telling a
person to like you, that person must automatically feel
obliged to do so.
Taking It Out
(Continued from Paac 14)
Hopefully Americans will join with me
and others to convince the Administration
and our nation's leadership that we cannow
afford-policies which reduce taxes and
Government spending at the expense of
those most in need.
Close
families
should never
letafew
hundred miles
keep them
apart.
tjr cC f ..-'
jT vjl , v
Whether your family is scattered
across a county or across the
country, you can still get together
often. And inexpensively.
Just go Greyhound.
We.can take you and your
family to just about any city or town
in America.
And we can take you there in
style. In safety. And in comfort.
So next time you want to get the
whole family together, leave your
car at home. Leave your worries at
home. And leave the driving to us,
ijtc.ppof whued wv m pbhuio from wain
- m