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Kjm Adams, Sports Editor
Rachel Perry, Coy Editor
Kevin Kirk, Wire Editor
Edwina Ralston, Editor
John Drescher. Associate Editor
Lrcv Hood. AVws Editor
Ketth Kisg. Arts and Features Editor - "
' . Scott Sharpe, Photography Editor
Sajy.- Clay Andrews. Ted Avery. Phoebe Azar, Cufton Barnes, Maria Baxter, Matt Cooper, Margaret
Desai ssi re, Jackie Fields, Terri Garrard, Bob Haas. Speed Hallman, Jeff Hiday, John Hinton, Lou
Ann Jones. Jeff Knight. Kenneth Mingis, Sonja Payton, Ann Peters, Carol Scales, Lynne Thompson,
Randy Walker. Business Manager: Rajeanne Caron. Advertising: Nancy McKenzie, manager, and Paula
Brewer, coordinator. SecretaryReceptionist: Linda Cooper. Composition: UNC Printing Department, FPG
Composition. Printing: The Hinton Press. Mebane. '
Countd own fo r eq u a I i ty
It was disheartening to note the sparse turnout across the state at last
week's kick-off rallies for the final countdown drive, for the ratification of
the Equal Rights-Amendment. Granted, in North Carolina, one of the three
states needed to approve the amendment before the June 30, 1982, deadline,
chances for passage are not good. But all is not yet lost. Supporters of the
amendment must rise to the challenge offered by National Organization for
Women president Eleanor Smeal and "fight to win.".
Legislators must be encouraged to assess the all-important amendment for
what it says, not for the ridiculous half-truths that the opposition has built "r
up around it. The ERA would directly affect the law and no other aspect of
American life. '
The language of the amendment is simple, straightforward and seemingly
inherent in the principals of a nation dedicated to justice for all: -
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account of sex. ,
In an age of shifting political mood, the amendment is needed now more
than ever. Already legislatures are seeking to turn back some of the rights
women have thus far been awarded. Congress is now considering proppsals
that would erode some regulations designed to enforce equal-opportunity
measures and the Supreme Court, through its recent ruling that upheld a .
singlesex draft registration and several other decisions, has demonstrated its
willingness to tolerate sex distinctions in the law. Indeed, as the Constitution
now reads, such distinctions are entirely legal.
The example of the draft registration has been a scare tactic cleverly
employed by the opponents of the ERA. Although most of the arguments
against coed registration are outdated due to the increasing emphasis on.
technology of our military strategy, still there is no absolute guarantee that
the ERA would require the registration of women, but that issue would
properly rest in the Supreme Court's interpretation of the law rather than the
changing whims of politicians.
Passage of the amendment would provide the needed underpinning for the
rights that women have already gained and ensure that the achievement of
greater equality depends on the Constitution. Passage of ERA is long overdue.
i -
$ay it ain't so, J immy
If Lt. Gov. James C. Green's press conference on June 26 was supposed to,
as he said, "fully and completely inform the people of North Carolina" about
his involvement in receiving a cash gift from a Fayetteville contractor. Green
failed miserably. In the 17-minute meeting with the press, Green made a
farce of the conference by repeatedly dodging questions and refusing to
elaborate on his answers.
The conference was called so the lieutenant governor could put to rest
the controversy surrounding his acceptance in 1977 of $4,774 from William
W. Crowell, president of Crowell Constructors. Before giving the gift, Crowell,
later convicted of bid-rigging, had paved a driveway on Green-owned property
for only about half the real cost of the paving. Crowell then paid Green
back in cash the amount charged for the driveway. State and federal investi
gators have concluded that Green broke no law in accepting the gift.
Green has said that he would not accept the gift if offered to him today.
Uut instead of putting the issue to rest with honest, open answers. Green only
served to fuel the fire By his refusal to address questions by the press, the
same questions many of North Carolina's citizens would like to have answered.
Perhaps worst was Green's answer to the questioner who asked why Green
wouldn't take the cash gift today.
Said Green: "To be perfectly frank with you, I don't need it right now...."
Which, we presume, means that if the wealthy Green needed money now he
would use his position as the second-highest ranking elected official- in the
state to acquire some.
Regardless of whether he broke the letter of the law. Green's actions in
accepting the gift are not those expected of a public official. Green's press
conference, called to clear the air, has only served to leave a nagging cloud
A historic appointment
President Ronald Reagan named Arizona
Judge Sandra D. O'Connor to become the
first woman justice in the 191 years of the
Supreme Court Tuesday. With his appoint
ment the president fulfilled his campaign
promise to appoint a woman to one of the
first vacancies on the Court
If confirmed by the Senate, O'Connor
could assume her position as early as Oc
tober, when the court begins its 1981-82
term. She would replace Justice Potter
Stewart, who announced his retirement in
June. '
"O'Connor is currently serving as a State
Appeals Court Judge. She previously held
the position of majority leader of the
Arizona Senate. As majority leader, O'Con
nor backed the Equal Rights Amendment res
olution, bringing opposition to her appoint
ment from Moral Majority and conservative
leaders. - -
More money problems
The controversy over the troubled Social
Security System continued this week as trus
tees urged Congress to act swiftly or face
bankrupted funds as early as 1982. ;
Secretary of. Health and Human Services
Richard Schweiker, Labor Secretary Ray
Donovan, and Treasury Secretary Donald
Regan recommended that President
Reagan's proposals to aid the ailing system
be approved quickly, or Congress should
find other proposals which will accomplish
the same objectives. The President's plans
include reducing benefits to current and
future users of the system and penalties for
early retirement If no action is taken, the
trustees warned that the old-age and sur
vivors trust fund, which pays most of the
monthly Social Security benefits, would be
unable to pay benefits by late 1982. And the
hospital insurance trust fund, which finances
Medicare, would not have enough money to
fulfill its needs in eight to ten years.
However, Democratic opposition argued
that the system was being used to help
balance the president's proposed budget.
Sen. Bill Bradley said he felt that the ad
ministration was using two sets of figures to
enhance its proposals. In budget calcula
tions, he believes the administration uses a
6.6 percent estimate of unemployment rates.
But for assessing the future of Social Securi
ty, Bradley said that at a more pessimistic
9.7 percent unemployment rate was being
assumed.
The arguments are expected to intensify
before a proposal is agreed upon.
trouble in England
Rioting and looting plagued the city of
Liverpool, England, for several days this
week. The riots occurred in the Toxteth slum
district and accounted for more than 250 in
juries to police and 120 arrested youths. Al
though several riots in Britain earlier this
year were racially motivated, officials said
the Toxteth violence was simply citizens ver
ses the police the community against au
thority. - "
Many of the residents of Toxteth are im
migrants, poor, and jobless. Theorists hold
that the police were viewed as symbols of
their problems, and a natural source against
which they could vent their frustration.
And a threat in Poland
Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A.
Gromyko visited Poland to discuss the up
coming Communist Party Congress in that
country with party chief Stanislaw Kania.
Kania was apparently successful in allaying
Soviet fears of the Polish liberalizing pro
cess, and Gromyko left with an indication of
grudging acceptance of the congress.
Soon after Cromyko departed though,
Polish transportation and dock workers is
sued new strike threats, the first in more than
two months. A strike would greatly increase
the Soviets' concern over the events of next
week's congress. It was a similar congress in
Czechoslovakia that prompted Russian inter
vention in that country.
Higher prices?
The Reagan administration is considering
removing price controls from natural gas in
1982, three years ahead of schedule. It is
estimated that such a move could raise fuel
bills as much as 54 percent.
An Energy Department report cited the es
timated increase along with several benefits
of full decontrol. Benefits included remov
ing the regulatory burden of price controls
and cutting oil imports.
Administration officials such as budget
director David A. Stockman are in favor of
faster decontrol, but Republican leaders in
Congress, which must approve the adminis
tration's recommendation, would prefer not
to open the issue this year.
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cf doubt and suspicion hanging above Green.
HThe Tar HeelThursday. July 9, 1931