14The Daily Tar HeelMonday, November 7,
ulb? lailg
96th vear of editorial freedom
Karen Bell, News Editor
MATT BlVENS, Associate Editor
KlMBERLY EDENS, University Editor
JON K. RUST, Managing Editor
Will Lingo, city Editor
Kelly Rhodes, Ans Editor
CATHY McHUGH, Omnibus Editor
SHELLEY ERBLAND, Design Editor
Editor's note: The Daily Tar Heel editorial board the
editor, the associate editors and four editorial writers
voted 4-3 to endorse Dukakis for president and 4-3 to
endorse Jordan for governor.
Michael Dukakis for president
Disappointing is a good word to
describe the campaign, the candidates,
the rhetoric and the runaround of the
1988 presidential race. The nasty tone
of the political advertising and the
look-pretty, say-nothing approach to
debating forced voters to spend too
much time listening to politicians say
far too little.
Unlike the candidates, constituents
can waffle: when they cast their votes
on Tuesday, they must choose, based
on the promises and the records of
Republican candidate George Bush
and Democratic candidate Michael
Dukakis. In both areas, Dukakis is the
best choice.
With his work as vice president,
Bush has experience oh his side. But
he seems to have held a series of top
positions without making much of an
impression in any of them. Bush
doesn't seem to have done anything
terrible; sometimes he doesn't seem to
have done anything at all.
Some credit Bush with foreign
policy experience, citing his service as
U.N. ambassador, CIA director and
ambassador to China. But the one
notable example of his foreign policy
judgment his choice to remain silent
about the Iran-contra arms for hos
tages deal contributed to a national
embarrassment.
Bush says he wants to be known
as the Education President. The
thousands of college students who
were denied financial aid when the
Reagan-Bush administration slashed
its way through federal grant and loan
programs probably chuckled when
they heard that statement. If Bush
supports Pell Grants and other
federally-funded student aid pro
grams, what was he doing while
Reagan made cutbacks in educational
spending?
Even Bush's campaign promises
Bob Jordan for
The gubernatorial race of 1988
represents a hard choice between some
soft candidates. Both Democrat Bob
Jordan and Republican Jim Martin
have a lot of flash that never seems
to generate any heat. The result is that
neither candidate has had to answer
tough questions on the state's future,
and the issues have been allowed to
go largely unaddressed. One issue that
neither candidate has been able to
ignore, however, is education, and
education is the reason that Jordan
should be the next governor of North
Carolina.
North Carolina has one of the worst
secondary educational systems in the
country, with consistently low scores
on national tests. This situation puts
young North Carolinians at a disad
vantage, both in the job market and
in competition for scholarships and
college placement. The poor quality
of education is also a discouragement
to companies planning to relocate their
businesses and their employees' fam
ilies here. Paradoxically, the state's
higher educational institutions rank as
some of the best in the land, but
saddling these institutions and
employers with suspect graduates can
only cause difficulties. A governor
committed to education is imperative.
As lieutenant governor, Jordan has
a record of positive educational
reforms and initiatives. He helped pass
the School Facilties Act, a long-term,
$3.2 billion construction plan, which
for the first time uses state money in
school construction. He also helped
raise teacher salaries, far more than
Martin's proposals would have
allowed.
Jordan's support was instrumental
for the Basic Education Plan, an eight
year, $800 million commitment to the
quality of secondary education in the
state. Martin originally opposed this
1988
afar Mnl
Jean Lutes, Editor
KAARIN TlSUE, News Editor
LAURA PEARLMAN, Associate Editor
KRISTEN GARDNER, University Editor
SHARON KEBSCHULL, State and National Editor
MIKE BERARDINO, Sports Editor
LEIGH ANN McDONALD, Features Editor
DAVID MlNTON, Photography Editor
Kelly Thompson, Design Editor
he supports college savings bonds
designed to help middle-income par
ents save for their children's college
education demonstrate a bias
toward upper-income levels. The bond
proposal conveniently ignores the
children whose parents are unable Or
unwilling to save money for college.
Dukakis has demonstrated more
willingness to commit time, energy and
funds to educational programs. As
governor of Massachusetts, he sup
ported increases in state scholarships
and in teacher salaries.
Dukakis has proposed a loan plan
for college students that would allow
them to pay off the loans through
deductions from their paychecks after
they graduate and begin making
money the greater the income, the
higher the deduction.
Also, Dukakis has called for a
commitment of $25 million in seed
grants for the fight against illiteracy.
His desire to address this problem
should be of special concern to North
Carolinians, whose state ranks 43rd in
the nation in literacy levels.
Dukakis' support of gun control and
his commitment to addressing social
problems such as the inadequate day
care system are commendable. And
Bush's harping on the pollution of
Boston Harbor is misleading; Dukakis
inherited the polluted bay from his
Republican predecessor. His environ
mental record earned him a "B" from
the non-partisan League of Conserva
tion Voters; Bush rated only a "D
plus." Calling either candidate an excellent
choice would be a mistake. Both suffer
from a lack of innovative proposals,
and both have a disturbing tendency
to snipe at each other instead of
addressing real issues. But a choice
must be made, and one is clearly better.
Vote Dukakis for president.
governor
program, in the belief that business tax
incentives were more important.
The only reform Martin can claim
is the Career Ladder Plan, a peer
evaluation program that puts existing
teachers on a differentiated pay scale.
Whatever its mass political appeal, the
program does not attract potential
teachers to the field, and some suggest
that it causes internal difficulties and
jealousies.
Many voters, despite these differen
ces, still have reservations about
Jordan being governor, reservations
that are not wholly unfounded. Jor
dan's impolitic manner on the cam
paign trail has alienated many voters,
especially minorities, whom he
deserted, and the "redneck vote in
eastern North Carolina," which he
inauspiciously courted. These cam
paign blunders raise doubts about
Jordan's ability to lead and to inspire
the confidence needed to be an
effective governor.
Students, however, must remember
that the governor directly affects many
aspects of this University, from its state
funding to the composition of the
Board of Trustees. John Pope the
trustee who has questioned the need
for a Black Cultural Center, com
plained that UNC has too many female
students and generally displayed a
shockingly insensitive attitude toward
the University's educational mission
is a strong supporter of Martin. Pope's
term as a trustee is over in 1989, and
the governor in office could re-appoint
him. Such an ill-advised gesture would
be much more likely under Martin's
leadership than Jordan's.
A governor with proven concerns
about education will greatly benefit the
University, the students and the state.
Bob Jordan, for all his shortcomings,
would be that governor.
It's time again for that revo
r ri tomorrow, time will go plodding
along, the Beatles will still be broken
L up and 1 still won't be able to grow
a beard and there's not a damn thing
any of us can do to change any of that.
What we can do is this voting thing.
A little over 200 years ago, a bunch of
radicals in America came up with the keen
idea of fighting the British Empire. After
pulling off what we call the American
Revolution, our ancestral liberals decided
that the best people to govern their baby
bureaucracy were the people themselves.
Indeed, each election in America is a
revolution, and each citizen's weapon is
his or her vote. Due to the sacrifices of
those who came before us, we can alter
or affirm our country's direction through
voting. It takes only a few minutes, but
its impact is seen in awesome ways. Make
no mistake voting is as powerful as the
mightiest revolution.
Yet look at the statistics: more than 75
percent of people our age, 18 to 24,
typically do not vote; half of all Americans
who can vote usually do not; and the lowest
turnout in 40 years is predicted for
tomorrow's national election.
Maybe the races that were decided by
a notoriously scant number of votes do
not convince everyone of their importance.
John F. Kennedy was elected over Richard
Nixon in 1960 by slightly more than
100,000 votes out of roughly 70 million
cast.
Voting's individualistic nature should
not lessen our understanding of its
importance. The argument that "my vote
does not matter" is like saying that one's
presence at a basketball game won't add
to the crowd's spirit. (If everyone took that
attitude, then it would be up to the Rams
Club to cheer the Tar Heels to victory.)
Say yes
to bonds
Editor's note: the author is
the chairman of Orange
County Citizens for the
November 8 bonds.
To the editor:
I write in support of the three
bond issues to come before
Orange County voters on
November 8. The need is urgent
and the bonds represent a
conservative, business-like
approach to their funding.
The two school systems in
Orange County need our help.
Rapid growth in the number of
students enrolled in our schools
has them bursting at the seams.
In addition, further reductions :
in class size, mandated by the
progressive North Carolina
Basic Education Program, can
not be met with current facil
ities. The other two bond
issues, which are earmarked for
county buildings and water
resources, are offered to the
voters after careful examina
tion by a citizens' panel to
assure that only priority items
are included.
The voters can vote up or
down on each of the three
components schools, county
buildings and water resources.
The whole package represents
a tax increase of about $31 per
year per $100,000 of property
valuation. With an increasing
tax base the tax burden relative
to these bonds will be lighter
in future years. A modest
investment now will have a
substantial positive impact on
the future of our county.
I encourage all Orange
County citizens to join their
neighbors in support of these
important initiatives.
CHARLES FOSKEY
Chapel Hill
Broken feet, bloody limbs and witch hunts
"We wanted someone that would por
tray the same image as Carolina Dining
Service. Domino 's has a quality image that
we thought was up to the University. "
Bill Dux, director of Carolina Dining
Services, on the decision to let students
put Domino's pizzas on their meal cards.
OHO
" felt super to get another shutout."
Evelien Spee, UNC field hockey
goalkeeper, on the Tar Heels' defeating
Maryland 3-0 to win the ACC tournament.
"People are poking their noses in here
(Lenoir) at noon and walking away."
Thomas Shetley, director of auxiliary
services for Carolina Dining Services, on
the firm's loss of money due to the lack
of adequate seating in the campus
cafeterias.
ODD
"If they are upset with us for going out
and showing support for our candidates,
well, that's politics, especially in the Pit."
Bill Taylor, chairman of the College
Republicans, on the CRs visibility at the
Young Democrats rally in the Pit for
gubernatorial candidate Bob Jordan. The
YDs claim that the CRs broke an agree
ment not to disrupt the rally.
Stuart Hathaway
I Spy
It is important to remember that this
is a presidential race, not a popularity
contest. Likability has little place in our
decision. As a friend of mine pointed out,
when we board planes we don't insist on
interviewing the pilots to make sure they
have good personalities; we don't ask
surgeons to tell us jokes before they save
our lives. We are electing someone to run
the United States, not someone to replace
David Letterman. Go for the issues.
After examining the issues that are
important to me, I am enthusiastically
supporting Mike Dukakis for president.
He is a man of ability and integrity, and
he brings this to bear in his consideration
of every issue and in the management of
his campaign.
But unlike basketball, we are the players
in the elections, not the spectators. We
decide who wins and loses. An election is
a critical event that depends as much upon
collective action as any enterprise.
But, you say, why vote? This whole
government thing doesn't effect me. In fact,
it permeates every aspect of our lives. From
national security to the minimum drinking
age to the protection of civil liberties to
the existence of this University, govern
ment is all around us, although we
freauently take for granted its presence.
But, you say, more informed people
ought to decide who should be president?
Rather than fall back on this cop-out, we
can get hold of some bountiful last-minute
information and decide personally who we
want to be president.
Readers9 Foram
1UE n.8S PRESIDENTIAL ELECnoM -Ww
EITHER WAY, CARTooMlSTS C(NT lSti
Choose
Republicans
To the editor:
This Tuesday, Nov. 8, we will
again be given the opportunity
to do what many people in the
world are fighting and dying to
do elect our representatives
in government. Sadly enough,
in our age group, 18-24, only
about one in three people
eligible will actually cast a
ballot. What a privilege we are
squandering!
In race after race, many
people have said that the cam
paigns were too negative. We
as citizens must look beyond
the "packaging" of the candid
ates to the men and women
themselves. It is your respon
sibility as a voter to research
the candidates' positions . and
choose one to support based on
their and your ideology.
I am supporting George
Bush, Jim Martin, Jim
Gardner, Tom Fetzer, Max
Reece and Bob Crump in this
election. These are choices
made after listening to all the
candidates from both parties in
the news and in person. The
opportunities have been
numerous to hear these individ
uals, and I wish that more UNC
students had cared enough to
listen.
I urge you to support these
candidates because I feel con
fident that they will serve you
well in Raleigh and in Washing
ton. I believe that the stands
they have taken on the issues
and their records of achieve
ment make them worthy to
receive my vote.
I hope you will agree with
me and cast your ballots in a
similar manner for these qual
ified individuals. Most of all,
I hope that you will take the
time to become informed, make
some decisions, and exercise
your opportunity to vote
Tuesday.
RANDALL McBRIDE
Senior
Biology Chemistry
Week in Quotes
BOB
" was not given an active sentence
because this is a witch hunt." CIA
protester Graham Entwistle, on the
discrepancy between his sentence and that
of fellow protester Dale McKinley. Ent
wistle was given 72 hours of community
service and a 21 -day suspended sentence,
while McKinley recieved a 21 -day prison
term.
BBS
"I'm delighted to represent the Univer
sity. My goal is to make the University
look good and make them want to come
back. " Libby Barbee, one of the three
students chosen to be receptionists for the
crew of "Good Morning, America'' during
their stay in Chapel Hill. UNC was one
site of the show's week-long series "Charles
Gibson Across America: The Vote and the
Voter."
BBS
"Did you order the CIA atrocities?"
Inquired by CIA protesters in front of
Lenoir and Hanes Halls as they held out
platters of "bloody limbs" to passersby.
lution thing
Though gaining momentum, Dukakis is
behind in the polls. While they by no means
necessarily reflect what will happen
tomorrow, polls have served one purpose
to show that Dukakis has maintained
his integrity throughout this campaign. His
opponent, George Bush, began the most
negative attacks in recent elections and has
given lip-service to popular issues. He has
wrapped himself up in an American flag
and thrown up smokescreens to blind
voters to the real crises facing this nation.
Dukakis has refused to engage in such .
campaigning. What the polls reflect is that
a man who will do anything to be president
is ahead, while a man of values and
principles is behind.
It has been predicted that millions of
potential voters won't bother to vote
tomorrow; many will participate in the
symbolic action of not voting. Swell. But
those that don't vote must be ready to
accept the consequences of their nonaction.
This washing of hands to avoid respon
sibilty is self-destructive, and the fate of
our nation for the next four years will be
martyred on a cross of acquiescence.
Neither candidate plays a riff on our
inspiration-sensitive heart strings? Well, as
the wrestler-philosopher Rick Flair is fond
of saying, "Whether you like it or whether
you don't like it, take a good look at it,
because it's the best that's going today
(Ahwooooo)!"
What gets you mad? What are yolu
happy about? If you desire a change br
wish continuity in any issue of national
state or personal importance, vote to stc
it happen. We empower ourselves to do
this. Only in America.
Stuart Hathaway is a junior political
science and history major from Charlotte,
Rand is on ;
our side
To the editor:
Members of the UNC-CH
community should be strongly
supportive of Tony Rand's
candidacy for Lt: Governor.
Rand is a Chapel Hill graduate
with many long-standing ties of
loyalty and affection for this
institution. His understanding
of the state appropriations
processes and the appointive
powers he would exercise as
lieutenant governor will ensure
the enactment of proposals to.
strengthen UNC recently put
forward by Chancellor Hardin
and President Spangler. The
election of his opponent
ensures only protracted squab
bling between the Democratic
controlled Senate and the office
of the lieutenant governor.
Tony Rand is on our side.
STIRLING HAIG
Department
Romance Languages .
BO
v
"If we have to wait until 1992 before
we get a new building, we will be out . in
the hall." Margo Crawford, Black
Cultural Center director, on the BCC's dire
need for more space than is available at
the Center's present site in the Student
Union.
B B B
" like where I am. " Chancellor Paul
Hardin, on whether his appearance on the
taped portion of the "Good Morning,
America" broadcast would entice him to
abandon the University and pursue a career
in television.
B B B
" don't think any of us knew he was
really hurt, including him, because he's so
big and strong." UNC basketball
forward Steve Bucknall, on the team's
surprise at J.R. Reid's injury. Reid is
suffering from a stress fracture in his left
foot and will be forced to sit out the first
six to eight weeks of the season.
Compiled by associate editor Laura
Pearlman.
4
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