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THE COVINGTON NEWS — TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1976
2A
The debate we didn't hear
In their recent debate on defense and foreign policy
issues, President Ford and Jimmy Carter were so busy
trying to project winning images that some of the most
important substantive issues that should have been
aired weren't.
Although the President's "Polish joke" regarding that
country's domination by the Soviet Union has received
much post-debate attention, the real gut issue facing
the United States hardly surfaced all evening That issue:
The growing belief among defense analysts that the
U55.R. — NOT the US. — is now the world's leading
military power and, moreover, the momentum to widen
the gap even further is on Russia's side.
Democrat Carter, who has been quoted in the press
calling for defense budget cuts up to sls billion, and
whose party platform currently seeks a $5 to $7 billion
budget reduction, stood on shaky ground to challenge
the Administration on relative US.-USS.R. military
strengths. And Mr. Ford, of course, has a Republican
White House record to defend stretching back nearly
eight years. The result was that the single biggest issue
facing America was buried.
Although Mr. Ford, in fairness to him, surely didn't say
just what he meant when he alleged there is "no Soviet
Taxes, and what to do about them, have become a
foremost campaign issue as November 2 approaches.
This is as it should be, since the new tax bill, recently
signed by President Ford, is unsatisfactory on four major
counts:
a) The bill further complicates an already horrendous
ly complicated tax code. Anyone whose tax returns in
volve anything beyond the most basic computations
must either hire an accountant at considerable addition
al expense or else resign himself to endless manhours
and sleepless nights trying to figure out his tax bill for
himself. The quality of our lives is degraded on this
count alone.
b) Instead of supporting the shift of a certain part of
GNP from consumption to investment — now more
necessary than ever as our current production plants
wear out — the bill does the opposite. Double taxation
of dividends continues. The holding period to establish
capital gains has been lengthened from the present six
months to nine months in 1977 and 12 months in 1978
Special depreciation advantages for plant and equip
ment to be installed in areas with high unemployment
were declined by the tax writers.
c) The pernicious effect of inflation on taxation contin-
Korea, Cuba and McGovern
"The recent killing of two American officers at the
18th parallel in Korea,” said McGovern, "should lead the
Congress and the Executive Branch to reexamine the
purpose and meaning of our commitment there." The
Senator says that the August slayings should make
Amencans demand that "we shall make peace rather
than continue toward war" If that sounds like Mumch
style appeasement and surrender, you've got the pic
ture.
It will be remembered that it was this same George
McGovern, and his fellow Senate liberals, who last year
at this time were screaming for normalization of rela
tions with Communist Cuba. But then Fidel Castro failed
to follow his part of the script and had the audacity to
send his troops off to fight in Angola where they remain
to this day.
The George McGoverns in America s government cir
cles, for all their supposed learning haven't yet learned
the clear fact that no Communist dictator respects
weakness We can only hope that the wishful thinking
of these individuals doesn't become the cutting edge of
U 5. policy
Qlouingtnn Nema
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Tax "reform"
domination of Eastern Eurofte," the fact that such an in
credible statement could even escape his lips is further
evidence of the unrealism in the Administration's view
of the Soviet Union.
Dr. Lev E. Dobriansky, president of the American
Council for World Freedom, responded to Mr. Ford's
statement this way: "... Mr. President, ask the peoples of
Eastern Europe and of the nations within the Soviet
Union — Ukraine, Byelorussia and others — whether
they are dominated by the Soviet Union ... Mr. Ford's
grossly political and self-serving statement does not
change the facts as they exist in Eastern Europe. It
remains to be seen whether, in a calmer and less politi
cal atmosphere, he or Governor Carter will take up the
challenge and respond to the call for freedom and na
tional independence which echoes throughout Eastern
Europe and the rest of the world."
Perhaps with the TV cameras turned off, some of the
clarifications that should have been made would have
been made. But that's something we will never know,
and now tens of millions of voters will troop to the polls
next month not really knowing where either presiden
tial candidate stands on the real life-and-death issues
facing America and the world community.
ues. Nothing was done to offset the increased tax rates
which result when income does no more than rise to
keep pace with inflation. Real purchasing power in such
a case declines.
d) The main objective of the tax bill still seems to be
the further redistribution of income, while two major
asjjects of the tax problem are overlooked: 1) the
change in the spending of tax receipts and 2) the change
in the social structure which has shifted the main tax
paying burden from the shrinking upper income groups
to the middle class.
Neither the tax bill, nor the presidential candidates,
seem to realize the simple truth: if the majority of the
people want more welfare services, they will have to
pay for them in the form of higher taxes.
No mere "soak the rich" proposals will do more than
hide this fact and, if earned out, create further disincen
tives to invest in the new industrial plant necessary to
keep our economic system going
Americans had thus better decide what they really
want. Because if it is to be cradle-to-grave security, then
it is the average American, not just the "other guy," who
will have to pay the bill.
Richard Nixon can be faulted for many things during
his presidency. But Americans can be grateful for one
thing he did: He kept Senator George McGovern from
becoming President by defeating the South Dakota
Democrat in 1972.
Senator McGovern consistently is in the forefront of
American liberals, urging friendship toward this coun
try’s Communist enemies and enmity toward its friends.
His latest "cause," judging from a lengthy speech he de
livered on the Senate floor shortly before Congress ad
journed recently, is the normalization of relations with
North Korea.
This is the same North Korea under the iron fist of Dic
tator Kim II Sung that brutally murdered two U 5. of
ficers at the 18th parallel in August In ordering the ax
murders, North Korea might well have believed they
would cause some soul-searching in the United States
which would lead to a lessening of our resolve to resist
further Communist expansion in Southeast Asia.
All such a strategy required was the "conversion" of a
few key U 5. leaders who would rather switch and run
than fight They found one in George McGovern.
Leo S. Mallard
Skepticism remains
The dollar value of the nation’s
output of goods and services
stripped of inflation (our Gross
National Product) is still not
rising as fast as most Americans
feel it should. The third quarter
figures released last week showed
a growth rate of 4 per cent, and
it was the slowest annual rate
registered since the fourth quarter
of last year.
The first quarter GNP growth
rate this year showed 9.2 per
cent; the second quarter, a drop
to 4.5 per cent; and this past
quarter, an even 4 per cent. The
latest figures don’t indicate a na-
There’s
on Answer!
by Norman Vincent Peale
and Ruth Stafford Peale
48 years old
and a poor memory
Q. How can I have a good
memory? I’m 48 years old, and I
can’t remember anything. I quit
school in the Bth grade, and I
have a good opportunity to go
back to finish high school. But
when I read anything I can’t tell
you what I read. I wish I could
tell all these youths that drop out
of school how important an
education is. Please give me some
suggestions. This means a great
deal to me.
A. But you can remember! In
your question you remember that
you quit school in the Bth grade.
Your problem is just to remember
better.
Concentration is important in
cultivating memory. Fix your
mind on what you see and hear.
Form a definite mental picture of
it. Then believe your mind will
retain it. Your mind will do your
bidding if you learn to believe in
yourself.
Finish high school and every
day affirm, "I have a good mind
and it is remembering what I am
taught."
Our Foundation for Christian
Living has published a booklet
prepared in response to inquiries
such as yours. The title is YOU
CAN OVERCOME ANY
PROBLEM, and a copy of it is
on its way to you. If others
reading this column would like to
have a copy at no cost, send
your request to us: Dr. and Mrs.
Norman Vincent Peale, Box 500,
Pawling, N.Y. 12564.
W hat makes you think
there’s a God up there?
Q. (to Dr. Peale I I’d love to
know what in the world makes
you think there's a God up
there? God. the Bible, and any
stories could be one big fairy
tale, and we’re all playing the
roles we’re supposed to play. I
mean how can you believe in
God. get his messages, and
generally relate to him when he
doesn't answer back? He can’t
talk to you and tell you what to
do. I’d like to believe he’s there
tional economic downturn, but
the slowing of our growth rate
hasn't helped the problem of
unemployment which still looms
at 7.8 per cent.
The Ford administration had
predicted a GNP for the third
quarter of 5 per cent, but the
“recovery pause” has lasted two
quarters now. President Ford has
said that figures on overall
production “mask some promising
news.”
Treasury Secretary William
Simon has termed the slowdown
as “natural and desirable.’’
Everyone in the nation had
ELECTION 1976
and that he’s watching me and
telling me to try new things and
not be afraid. I’m 16 years old
and in need of advice.
A. (Dr. Pealel Many persons
ask the question you have —
especially in the teen years when
all standards and beliefs must be
figured out personally.
While probably no one can
dictate an answer, there are
guides to help you discover God’s
reality. For instance:
You cannot see the
wind, but you know it is
there.
You cannot see love,
but you can feel the love
of your parents and fri
ends.
The marvelous plan of
our universe shows a
master mind.
I suggest you read the Bible,
starting with The Living New
Testament la paraphrased and
modern version). Try the edition
called Reach Out published by
Tyndale.
Husband having affair
Q. I want to die. My husband
is having an affair. We’ve had a
happy II thought) marriage, a
little girl and a lovely home.
Once I found out about it, my
husband made no attempt to
conceal his affair. He says he
does not plan to leave me, but I
must accept his way of life. He
advised me to seek out male
dates and have sex. I will never
do these things. I love my
husband and desperately want to
save our marriage. He says he
doesn't love the other woman, in
fact, perhaps will seek out others
besides her. Should I leave him
or demand that he leaves? Or
should I (can II suffer on?
A. It is not normal for a man
to suggest his wife have sex with
other men. Also, from your
question we deduce that you
yourself need help. Our suggestion
is that you both seek a marriage
counselor.
hoped for better news, but few
have expected a booming recovry
in the light of the world-wide
recession picture.
The brightest spot in the figures
released was the 1.8 million units
termed “housing starts,” the
highest building rate in 31
months. The cost of living slowed
with a rise of 4.4 per cent in the
third quarter as compared with
the 5.2 per cent rise during the
spring quarter.
Skepticism about spending best
defines the thoughts of the
average American as he or she
sees their spendable income
shrinking while living costs rise,
even at a slower rate.
All the predictions and promises
that have been bouncing around
during this presidential election
year have confused people about
the reality of our nation's
economic stability. Few fears have
been calmed, and people continue
to pack away more dollars in
their savings accounts.
Democratic presidential hopeful
Jimmy Carter has been quick to
point to the latest figures as a
continuing economic slide that
means a “continuation of high
unemployment, huge budget
deficits and poor prospects for
any improvement in the standard
of living of the average worker.”
Regardless of who wins the
presidential election the people
will begin to feel much better
about the facts of our country's
economic situation when there is
not so much political “hot air”
blowing around. It is only human
to want to hear good news after
the recession that we have been
experiencing.
The Commerce Department fi
gures show that every region of
the country enjoyed an increase
in new home construction in
September, and the South led the
nation in new starts. Actual starts
for 1976 so far total 1.15 million
units compared with 863,800 for
the same nine-month period in
1975.
Labor department figures based
on a nationwide household survey
report a 15.8 per cent unemploy
ment rate in the construction
industry during September.
According to the AFL-CIO
Building and Construction Trades
Department unemployment is still
rising in the construction indus
try. Their figures show unemploy
ment among construction workers
running 60 per cent in the
Northeast, 34.8 per cent in the
Mid-Atlantic states, 22.9 per cent
in the Mid-west, 20.5 per cent in
the West, and 24.5 per cent in
the South.
These figures were based on a
check of health and welfare
records of the local unions and
on pension check-off records.
Carter's promises to boost the
economy quickly and reduce the
unemployment rate with federal
aid and new programs to help
the working man is pitted against
Ford’s record of trying to weather
the recessionary storm by holding
the lid on short term Congres
sional spending programs that
will bring only temporary relief
through use of the presidential
veto.
Ford’s experience in actually
dealing with national economic
issues shows him up as a cau
tious “workhorse.” In contrast,
Carter has to be the “showhorse”
and make vast promises, even if
they are not backed up with
reasonable explanations of “how,”
to appeal to voters.
But in recent weeks the gap in
the lead that Carter is supposed
to hold in the race has begun to
narrow sharply. I believe that
people are beginning to realize
that all the promises that Carter
is making will cost billions, and
there is no place for those
billions to come from but the
pocket of taxpayers.
It is beginning to sink in that
the Democratically controlled
Congress —for the past 20 years
— has created the costly federal
programs that we taxpayers are
footing the bill for each year.
As election day gets closer the
thought of a Republican
President named Gerald Ford in
the White House for another four
years to exercise his “veto power”
doesn't seem bad at all.
It is really scary when you
consider the possibility of a
Democratic spendthrift Congress
of record having their boy, a
puritan peanut farmer from
Georgia, as president. If he gels
in, this nation is in for an
economic sleigh ride down hill
like "you ain't never seen!
By the way Jimmy, I don't
mind being on your list, but
spare me the prayer please. As a
fellow Baptist of question, I feel
like my straight line “up stairs”
is just as strong as your's will
ever be.
