Opinions Baby boomers bring change to political, social scene By Cliff Blue BABY BOOM -- We read that one in three Americans born bet ween 1946 and 1964 ? is settling down. According to a new report, the great majority favors the married life over being single, would like to see more respect for authority and frown on greater acceptance of marijuana use. We read that full retreat from the tumultuous '60s and '70s is not taking place. A majority of young Americans also say an equal marriage is the lifestyle they find most appealing, one in which husband and wife share responsibility for work, homemaking and childrearing. About 60% reject traditional statements about a woman's place being in the home, endorsing in stead the proposition that "work ing women make more interesting partners in marriage." Politically, Baby Boomers -- now 45% of the voting age popula tion, are more likely than older Americans to claim liberal views and to identify themselves more as independents; only 5% think government can be trusted. NEW CAR SALES -- U.S. new car sales rose 5.8% in November from a year earlier to 590,527 units in the United States. The domestic auto companies reported that dealers sold 227,540 cars in the last ten days of November, up 24.1% from the 168,388 units sold in the year-earlier period. General Motors sold 357,247. Ford's November sales were 139,319 and Chrysler sold 61,605 and American Motors sold 18,604 in November. TOO EARLY -- Senator Helms and Governor Hunt appear to have entered the Senate race too soon and about all they have ac complished is to spend some money. So far as votes are concerned we doubt that many votes, if any, have changed. If both statesmen would promote their records and program, we feel their money would be better spent than trying to make their opponent look bad. Neither Hunt or Helms are likely to have opposition in the primaries. DAVIDSON COLLEGE - Davidson College was ranked ninth among the nation's liberal arts colleges in a survey published in the Nov. 28 issue of the U.S. News and World Report, David son was the only Southern institu tion to make the top ten of liberal arts colleges with national reputa tions. The survey was based on a TV ads have made Christmas hard on poor Santa Claus By Lucien Coleman Ask a kid what he wants for Christmas, and more than likely, he'll give you a very specific answer, complete with brand names and technical data. A generation or two ago, a little girl would tell Sanja, "I wanta dol ly." But, today, she'll specify "a Little Daisy Cheerful Tears Baby with Lavendar Layette and Diaper Dehumidifier." Instead of just "an airplane," her little brother is likely to order a "Super-Sonic Mach IX Space Bi/ster With Anti-Gravity After Burners and a Laser Lacerator." Where do youngsters develop such accurate clinical knowledge of the toy industry's current offer ings? The answer, of course, is television; especially Saturday Things That Matter morning television. the typical two-to-1 1 -year-old American child watches more than 1,300 hours of television annually, viewing something like 20,000 commercials each year. And those commercials arc put together by professionals who specialize in manipulating the minds of the young. Researchers, psychologists, advertising specialists, and people highly trained in the visual arts work in teams to orchestrate this massive selling effort. Advertisers spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to shape the preferences of juvenile consumers who are too young to think critically or logically. Small children aren't even aware of the fact that someone is trying to lay a sales message on them. All they know is that the friendly clowns, fairies, elves, talking animals, and cartoon characters they love so much want them to have the advertised items. Yet another factor works in favor of the advertisers. Adults might be able to resist the en ticements of TV hucksters, but not the pleas of children who have made up their minds that they must have some new toy. If whining and coaxing won't break down parental resistance, kicking and screaming will. And, if that fails, there are always grand parents. 1 Two ways we'll give you more for your money! SIX MONTH CERTIFICATE 9.65% SIMPLE INTEREST $500 MINIMUM DEPOSIT. Substantial penalty required for early withdrawal ONE YEAR CERTIFICATE 10.626% 10.10% EFFECTIVE ANNUAL YIELD ANNUAL RATE S500 MINIMUM DEPOSIT. Interest compounded daily. Substantial penalty required for early withdrawal. COMPARE! Then come see us. //ertiaqe Federal Savings ?- Loan Assoc iat ion FSLIC RAEFORD *113 Campus Avenue ? 28376 ? Tel: (919) 875-5061 People and Issues poll of 1,308 presidents of four year colleges who were asked to name the nation's highest-quality undergraduate schools. More than 50^o replied. Davidson College, located in Davidson, is a Presbyterian institu tion founded in 1837. It currently enrolls 1 ,400 men and women students, and it's distinguished alumni include Presi dent Woodrow Wilson, former Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, presidents of several major cor porations, prominent physicians, lawyers, ministers, and educators. COMMUNITY COLLEGES -- It has been about 20 years since the Community Colleges really came into life back in 1963 when Gover nor Sanford appointed the 24 *