The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, July 03, 1990, Image 4

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Newspaper Page Text! i r i V 4 • The Red and Black • Tuesday, July 3, 1990 OPINIONS « QUOTABLE "You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs." - State Representative Lawton Stephens on why he voted for the bill requiring drug testing for state job applicants. The Red & Black Established 1893—Incorporated 1980 An independent student newspaper not affUiatsd with the University of Georgia Jennifer Rampey/Editor-in-Chief Trevor Padgett/Managing Editor David Johnston/Opinions Editor ■ EDITORIALS How will compulsory drug tests work? Effective July 1, 1990 all new state employees will have to take a drug test in order to qualify for employ ment. Refusal to submit to the test will disqualify an applicant from applying again for two years. The law provides for testing of all student workers, professors and staff at the University. President Knapp will be faced with the challenge of attracting members of the academic community to the University but only if they are willing and able to pass a drug test. The state-wide expense of the test and its complica tions will run into the millions annually. The test costs approximately $50 per person. Where will this money come from? Supposedly the law won’t allow the Univer sity to make the testees pay for it Will the University only hire people who have passed the test in the past so that they don’t have to absorb the cost of testing new people? The costs estimate for annual testing at UGA runs between $500,000 and $6OO,O0O.This does not in clude the money that will have to be spent on a net work to make sure a person does not reapply for a job somewhere else in the state before his/her two year suspension is up. r . Will already high student health fees increase to cover this cost? State funds have not been established or set aside for the funding of the testing. Is all this necessary? People who use drugs can’t perform their jobs. Is it worth it to alienate prospective students, professors and staff for the errors of less than 10 percent of the testees who are expected to fail? The review process for individuals who appeal the test re sults has not been firmly established. What is an indi viduals recourse? What about the Constitutional rights of the individual — right to privacy, the right to be pro tected from unlawful search and seizure without prob able cause, the right to liberty and the right which protects you from being a witness against yourself? Remember all these things not only when it comes time to vote but closer to every students heart- when it comes time to pay your fees. Play it safe The Fourth of July isn’t always a picnic. Despite the fact that this years’ holiday will last only 30 hours in the middle of the week, the Department of Public Safety predicts that from the time the holiday begins today at 6 p.m. until the time it ends at midnight Wednesday, there will be eight fatalities and 125 inju ries as a result of 356 accidents in Georgia. The department reports that at least 40 percent of the fatalities will be caused by drunk or drugged driving. Also, most of the people who die in traffic acci dents do so because they don’t wear seatbelts. It would seem that holidays are easy enough; just take off and relax. But the party atmosphere that sur rounds festive occasions such as Independence Day can mean trouble in more ways than just car accidents. All the fireworks and celebrating that characterizes free days can lead to muddled judgments and bad deci sions. The best way to make your holiday safe is to think about the many other people who will be cele brating independence and remember that you’ve either got to be in class or at work on Thursday. Independence Day provides a valid reason to cele brate if you can look forward to enjoying it. So play it safe this holiday. STAFF NEWS: 543-1809 New* Editor Mary Ratcliff# Sport* Editor: Jon Tully Entortalnmont Editor. Rachel Curry A**oclat* Now* Editor Elizabeth Gradrfy Front Pag* Copy Editor David Johnston Inalda Copy Editor*: Nick Schweitzer. Stephanie Smith Graphic* Editor Howard Fore Photo Editor Wayne Jackson Photographer Marla Clay Staff Writers; Gwinn Bruns. J Leigh Burrell. Carol Causey, Cathy Ferris. Patrick Flanigan. Dan Pool, Jeff Rutherford, J.D. Squlllante, Beth Valinoti, Douglas Wood Entertainment Writer: David Williams Sports Writer David Pace Special Section*/Trends Editor: Marla Edwards Editorial Assistant: Laura Roe Cartoonist: Mike Moreu ADVERTISING: 543-1791 Student Advertising Managers: Kristi Burnham. Krichelle Haiuaiam •enter Advertising Representative: Rick Huggins Advertising Representatives: Jeff Harris. Alan Holcomb, Chris Mungula, Toby Myers, Kipp Mullis, Maureen Musgrove. Lee Netties. Jane Rice Assistant Editorial Prod. Manager Cristina Feindt General Manager Harry Montevideo Advertising Director Robin Stoner Offle* Manager: Mary Straub Production Manager Judy Jordan Claaalfleds/Receptlonlst: Beverly Vaughn The Red and Mack t published Tuesday through Friday during the raguier school yeer and each Thursday during summer quarter, with the exceptions of holidays and exam periods, by The Red end Black Publishing Company Inc. * non-profit campus newspaoer not affiliated with the University of Georgia. 123 N. Jackson St.. Athens. Ga. 30601 Third class posugs paid at Athens. Ga. Subscription rate; 124 per year Opinion* expressed in Thd Red and Black other than unsigned editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not necessarily those of The Red end Black Publishing Company Inc. All rights reserved. Reprtnts by permission of the editors. 'fate* 6 '^’Urna*! ^ er . JmtndLe^zi?, Me 9 dddZ J mdeherdeMinl960,r j d»y a tank mb fhague The Mes Men Mr ingfaniv. Stalin, wags foundingparr- 'ler nU C+esl.r, a W3. firm. Stalin, ws a founding part- ^ f_ r , . , ... ntr of Hitler!, St aim, a m- wm * Marshall Flan FMarand J°r mergers and acquisitions received an MBA IrvmlVAT . udeef /■ &—tai ticn tir/n m tfe early y or p e g lub n ~ Mr. Germany p lather was a premment NationalSocialist whe Universal health care is answer to U.S. crisis Today, 37 million Americans have no health insurance. 32 percent of these are children, while 55 percent are employed adults in low- paying jobs. Lack of primary care, prenatal care and preventive care for these persons explains why the U.S., which pays more for health care than any other nation, ranks 17th in terms of life expectancy and 20th in preventing infant mortality. Historically, changes in the health delivery system have been wrought by political pres sure. The merchant marines, veterans, elderly and the poor have all benefited from govern ment-funded health insurance programs. Declines in care are directly related to sky rocketing costs. From $75 billion in 1970, total costs have risen to over $600 billion per year. Reagan era cost-cutting schemes have forced hospitals to deny care to the poor including re fusing to admit the sick and prematurely dis charging the ailing. The emphasis on saving money undermined the physician - patient relationship and sowed the seeds of distrust be tween the government and health care profes sionals. Experts are split on a solution. The American Medical Association, fearing further intrusion on health care decisions and threats to physi cian’s incomes, argues that all employers should be forced to provide health insurance Irwin stressing As I write this column, I am busy out working and out-stumping the three Demo cratic men who are trying to take my Georgia House seat. There are several issues that sepa rate me from my opponents. First, there is education. I am the only candi date with a professional background in educa tion. I am the only candidate who is familiar with education in Georgia from kindergarten through graduate school, both as a student and an educator. While all of my opponents talk about quality education, I am the only one who has been “in the trenches” improving educa tion. The second issue that separates me and lumps all of my three opponents into the same category is the issue of choice. I am the only candidate in this race who believes the option of abortion must remain a legal choice. I am the only candidate who believes that the decision regarding abortion should be a private, per sonal one by the woman who is pregnant rather than the state government. I am the only candi date who believes women are capable of making and must be trusted to make such personal, in timate decisions for themselves and their fami lies. A third issue which separates me from my opponents is reapportionment or redistricting. I am the only candidate in this race who supports single-member legislative districts. Our state senate already has single-member districts. Our house districts are predomi nantly single-member districts, with a few mul tiple-member districts and a couple of at-large districts in Fulton County. I support the notion of all single-member districts. We have seen ——(CD Scott Starling j jMfcwPw and Medicaid coverage should be extended to the poor. The American College of Physicians holds that only a program of comprehensive re form will solve this nation’s crisis. The ACP is right. This nation should adopt, as a policy goal, a national insurance program to guarantee all citizens access to basic health care. A national system would provide a safety-net of insurance coverage, including pre-natal, well-child, and other primary and preventive health care which would improve the nation’s health. The costs of a national program would be off-set by gains in worker productivity and reduction of administrative costs, presently 22 percent of all costs, associated with present pro grams. education and Karen Irwin how smoothly they function across the country in various district situations. Single-member districts provide for smaller districts which fa cilitate legislatures in providing more constit uent service and more overall community involvement. Less time is spent in travel and more time is available for direct service to con stituents. The fewer the citizens one represen tative represents, the greater the opportunities the representative has to know and to meet the district’s needs. For example, imagine an office setting wih 10 executives and two secretaries. Which do you think would work better — both secretaries working for all 10 executives doing similar tasks but with no division of labor (multiple- districts) or five more executives with a dif ferent secretary (single-member districts)? Don’t you think that one secretary who works for five executives can organize his/her work load and will get to know the individual needs better providing for more quality service? Don’t you further see that each secretary would then be more accountable? Single-member districts make legislators Examples of successful national programs abound. Both Britain and Canada have pro grams which cover all citizens. In both cases, spending on health care is less than in the U.S., and both countries have better life expectancies and infant mortality rates. Sweden and France have a single, uniform program administered at the national level while Belgium and the Netherlands have na tional programs administered by local councils. The specifics of a national program have yet to be decided. What works best in this country will be dictated by needs and available health care infrastructure. But there is no question that our health care system will remain the most expensive, least efficient and least equi table in the developed world unless reforms are made. The time is right for the U.S. to join all other industrialized nations in guaranteeing access to health care for all citizens. For more information on universal access, contact the American College of Physicians at 1-800-523- 1546. Scott Starling is a Democratic candidate for Georgia’s tenth congressional district seat. The tenth district is composed of 14 counties in cluding Clarke, Richmond and Columbia, and a portion of Gwinnett. Primary day is Tuesday, July 17th. more accountable. Single districts decrease the chances for political gerry-mandering thus pro viding for a more just form of representation. Single-member districts are the only equitable manner of redistricting in Georgia. Two other issues which are very important to me are insurance reform and environmental protection. Consumer protection should be a priority of government at all levels. Georgians should not pay excessive costs for insurance — whether it is for auto, health, life or commercial coverage. It is obvious that insurance regulation in Georgia is not effective. Cost containment measures must be re searched immediately by state and federal gov ernment. Solutions must be implemented immediately. Solutions include stricter examination of in surance companies to stop insolvencies of poorly run companies. All insurance pur chasers pay for bad insurance management when even a few companies go belly up. The state should hold insurance companies account able for broad swings in profits and should make the insurance commissioner more re sponsive to consumer complaints and inquiries. Finally, we must protect our air, water, and soil. I support the promotion and the encour agement of recycling. I also support increased education on environmental issues. Karen Irwin is the Democratic incumbent for Georgia house district 13, post 2. This district includes part of Clarke, part of Madison, and all of Franklin and Hart counties. Primary day is July 17th. choice in race Congress needs a courageous man of action I was the 1988 Republican nominee for Con gress from Georgia’s tenth congressional dis trict, and am now one of two candidates vying for the 1990 nomination. The general perception of a member of Con gress is one of a wimpy man who refuses to lift a finger to take any real action to solve the se rious problems facing our nation. When I am elected as your representative in Congress, I will take the following action: Introduce legislation to repeal the congres sional pay raise of $35,800 a year, as this cannot be justified given our $3 trillion deficit, unbalanced budget and $500 billion Savings and Loan bailout. Demand that the Justice Department be given the resources (budget and manpower) to investigate every possible case of fraud and em bezzlement. Use whatever means necessary to force for eign governments to repeal their secrecy laws regarding money laundered by the S. & L. crim inals to shelter their looted funds, as in the case of Charles Keating who allegedly laundered $100 million to bank accounts in Switzerland, Mark ^ Myers Panama and the Bahamas. Force the International Banking community to assist in recovering all stolen funds and push for the Justice department to put all Savings and Loan criminals behind bars regardless of their standing in the community or political party affiliation. Introduce legislation making it a felony for a political figure to obstruct the legitimate work of any federal regulator. I will keep the public fully informed of my progress at all times and list the names of indi viduals who are attempting to drag their feet or are not cooperating whole heartedly in the process. I will request the president commission create a new private sector survey on cost con trol to make recommendations on ways to elim inate innefficiency from the federal budget. I will fight for an outside investigator for- member8 of Congress, a balanced budget^ amendment, line item veto for the president, reform of the procurement system, campaign fi nance reform and to prevent any and all tax in creases. If you want business as usual, I encourage you to vote to re-elect Doug Barnard. However, if you are ready to elect a leader who will take strong action toward needed re forms, Mark Myers is ready, willing and able to serve you. Mark Myers is a Republican candidate for Georgia’s tenth congressional district seat. The tenth district is composed of 14 counties in cluding Clarke, Richmond and Columbia, and a portion of Gwinnett. Primary day is July 17th.

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The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, July 03, 1990, Image 4