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Viewpoints Our Opinions Emerging Trade Rules Between U.S. And Japan The emerging trade rules battle between the United States and Japan isn't totally one-sided. Japan has helped the United States—as well as having out-traded us with unfair rules. Japanese automotive quality, by comparison, revealed Detroit's sloppiness, revived the U.S. automobile industry, after threatening to replace it U.S. automobiles today are competitive. The Japanese work ethic, which features the idea employees are part of a close-knit manufacturing family, to loyally support the family and do their best to improve products, also has had an effect in this country. That work ethic from Japan helped make unions more responsive to competitive goals. It is in the area of tariffs where Japan has misbehaved badly, and ever since World War n kept up trade barriers preventing foreign companies from competing fairly. These barriers must be lowered if the huge U.S. trade deficit is to be corrected. Whether this is the best time to launch a retaliatory effort, unquestionably justified, is the question. When the Japanese economy was riding high, the nation booming, that was a better time. Now, with Japan in recession, with a new prime minister who promises needed reform, whose support base is precarious, there's some doubt whether Washington should have allowed him six months to get on his feet. The answer will only become clear when the final outcome of current U.S. pressure is seen, on the dollar and yen, on the survival of the Japanese prime minister and on the U.S. trade deficit. That will take some time. As to the merits of the selected discrimination case, the Clinton Administration and trade representative Mickey Kantor are 100 percent right. For ten years and several agreements a U.S. cellular phone company has been waiting to be allowed into the vast Tokyo area trade market. The Japanese had promised to remove barriers and give the U.S. company a chance to compete fairly. They have not honored their commitment and still don't offer to honor it. This is traditional Asian sleight-of-hand. Sooner or later it must be ended. Important Dates In The Month Of March To Remember The birth anniversaries of four presidents are observed in March. James Madison, fourth president, was bom in Virginia on the 16th in 1751. Grover Cleveland, first Democrat elected after the Civil War, 22nd president, serving two non-consecutive terms, was bom in New Jersey in 1837. Andrew Jackson, 7th president was bom on the 15th in 1767 in South Carolina. John Tyler, tenth president, was bom in Virginia, on the 29th, in 1790. The 2nd is Texas Independence Day, the Boston Massacre took place on the sth in 1770. Alamo Day is the 6th in 1836. Oliver W. Holmes was bom on the Bth in 1841, Girl Scout Day is the 12th, Maryland Day the 25th. Spring arrives on the 20th at 3:28 p.m. EST, lasting until June 21st, when summer begins. 76e T&etcam&i 'fywi *detten& *7* Sditvi. "PUgac /4cCcoie4& t£e*K. To: Editor Houston Times-Joumat P.O. Drawer M Perry, Ga. 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association - Ea.W- - <W atAe- ja*AfKAciv* oa- tiU. p*i«AA, OA live. AcqKt p«ojx£e- to aAAvmtf*, <uui to- petition- ilk** oa'i^anme/vt'|on- a/ 'veA'ie*- Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc., Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans President Vice-President Treasurer Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis, Bill Overton Advertising:Teresa M. Gailan Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Please limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped return addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069 The Unfair 'Pushbutton' Strike Bill Must Not Pass The "Pushbutton" Strike Bill sponsored by Senators Ted Kennedy and Howard Metzenbaum has recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would force businesses to punish or fire employees for exercising their Right to Work by doing their jobs during a strike. This so called "anti-replacement worker" bill would force employers threatened by a strike to cave in to union boss demands, or shut down. If liberal Senators Kennedy and Metzenbaum get their way Big Labor would call strikes when they wish for any reason they wish and they could win every strike they call as easily as pushing a button. Union chiefs have declared the Strike Bill as their top legislative . H % M . hi i p*t£*m*. ■ - 4BHT ’VI J§Pl§, ’ iHBr °' v flr ,'!§ t x% JK k ■> .a i iHWPhi IMbUBT* / ;; r■ i Perry Scrapbook Perry Girl Scout Troops held a cake bake-off at St. Christopher's Church In 1984. Winners In the Yummy Chocolate Cake division were Jennifer Warren of Troop 225, first place; Christie Horstlng of Troop 266, second place; and Cindy Griffin of Troop 266, third place. Judges for the competition were Shirley Parker, Beverly Wade and Leanne Bennett. STREET TALK: A recent report released by the state indicates that eight out of 10 children on wel fare in k Georgia are there because their fathers are not paying child support. The report also says that the state is currently looking for 467,000 parents-mostly fa thers-who owe child support and that last year more than $250 million in child support ordered by the courts in Georgia went unpaid. This week, we asked locai residents their opinion as to what-if anything-should be done to remedy this situa tion. jig* jjflb j Eunice Barnes “They should be run down and made to pay. It’s their responsibility. ' j Jimmy Reese “If the person responsible is getting a paycheck and not paying their debt, wage garnishment is cer tainly one remedy. Also, it’s tax time, so if that per son is getting a return, garnishing that may also be effective.” priority, and they may get the Senate votes to enact it unless we take action now. Big Labor pumped over S4OO million into the 1992 elections to gain votes in Congress and the White House. President Bill Clinton has vowed to sign the bill once it reaches his desk. The bill would require businesses to fire workers who disobey union boss orders not to work. It would also require businesses to fire temporary workers hired to keep their company afloat during a strike once the striking workers were ready for their jobs back. The damage to our economy would be extensive. Not only would strikes affect the businesses & »r mi /*§- fqm 1 Anne Sinyard "A more diligent search should be made to locate these absent parents. The responsibility should not fall solely on the taxpay ers.” m. .. mSmmr JtKr Rita Haslem "Lock them up. if they don’t pay it when they’re supposed to, they should go to jail." Houston Times-Journal Saturday, February 26,1994 - targeted, but they would affect their suppliers and the consumers as well. You can rest assured that if the bill passes, there will be more union led strikes that could cripple this nation, driving the cost of many goods sky high. Workers who are not union members will be forced to join and pay the dues just to keep their jobs. And as our economy reels under the effects of Big Labor's demands, government revenue will shrink, taxes will rise again and the cost of living will skyrocket. Big Labor is pulling out all the stops to pass this unfair legislation. The only way to stop it is for grassroots of America to contact their U.S. Senators now. If you believe as I do, as a free enterprise wllL Milton Beckham "If children are not being supported and there is a legal order, the person re sponsible should be found and brought back into court. If the person can’t pay his support, he needs to be made to work so that he can.” -.JP 11111 ' Jl. m " y>>. k Ji; Joshua Garner "Maybe what is needed is some type of government mandated probation, stiff penalties or other type of punishment to make those responsible aware that it is a serious situation." page 4A fItTT . | TVibble I thinking American, that we don't need forced unionism with Big Labor and union bosses controlling our industry, businesses and virtually our economy and way of life, then please fill a Petition and mail it to your Senator at the following address: Sen. Sam Nunn, 303 Dirksen senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510- Sen. Paul Coverdell, 204 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510. Shipley I WmMKrn Church pastor | Discussing The Freedom Of Education Congressman George Miller (D- Califomia) has introduced a Bill that has alarming implications for home schoolers and those with children in private schools. This bill (H.R. 6), with Amendment 2124, is being referred to as a "re-authorization" of exist ing legislation controlling educa tional institutions called "The Elementary and Secondary Education Act." Congressman Miller has, with his re-authorization, included Amendment 2124, called "Improving America's Schools Act of 1994." Amendment 2124 man dates that all teachers, in all public, private, church and home schools be "certified by the (individual) state." A portion of this Amendment follows: "Each state applying for funds under this Title shall provide the Secretary (of the DOE) with the assurance that, after July 1,1998, it will require each local educational agency within the State to certify that each full-time teacher in schools under the jurisdiction of the agency is certified to teach in the subject area to which he or she is assigned..." The Amendment's aim ai private, church, Christian and home schools, is seen in its definition of "elementary" and "secondary" schools: "The term 'elementary school' means a non-profit day or residential school that provides elementary education. . . the term 'secondary school' means a non profit day or residential school that provides secondary education..." HR 6 and Amendment 2124 mandates that every 'teacher' in ev ery classroom be certified by his or her state. Further, this legislation mandates that those certified teach ers follow the Outcome Based Education curricula adopted by their state. In effect, if the education institutions in the state want any federal funding, they must comply. Another factor in the certifica tion criteria is that HR 6/Amendment 2124 requires every secondary level teacher to be certi fied in every subject he or she will teach. Secondary level public school teachers are certified only in the specific discipline they teach, whereas non-profit and home school teachers will be required by law to become-certified in every discipline. Bear in mind that teacher's certi fication is granted only after a full college curriculum (minimum 4 years) is completed. Many could not meet these requirements and would be banned from teaching their own children. Also, it is an almost impossible task to become certified in every subject one would teach their chil dren. It is interesting to note that Texas Congressman Dick Army had drafted and proposed a "counter amendment" to #2124, called the "Home School/Private School Freedom Amendment,” which reads: "Nothing in this Title (HR 6) shall be construed to authorize or encourage Federal control over the curricula or practices of any private, religious or home school." Congressman Army's Amendment was defeated in com- Please see SHIPLEY, page 9A