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Viewpoints Our Opinions The market's fall The fashion in Washington is to blame Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, for the recent sharp decline in bond and stock prices. But it may be if Greenspan had waited longer the reaction would have been worse. Bond interest had declined so much-to the 3 percent level-investors had turned to stocks. Long-term bond buyers were banking on continued low interest rates. The Federal Reserve-seeing thef tock market continuing to rise and good growth ahead in the economy—felt inflation could become a threat, raised interest rates. The resulting quick decrease in bond prices and drop in stock prices reflected a change in investor psychology, exacerbated by automatic, computer-driven selling, by traders in both bonds and stocks-and funds. The suspicion is that some were not unhappy to see interest rates rise; higher interest rates mean greater earnings for many institutions. They also unfortunately mean the federal deficit will now increase, because the federal government is the largest borrower on "the street." Markets over-react, or react more quickly at least, because there are so any computer-activated trades. Computers aren't patient. Computer-driven sharp declines have a psychological and snowball effect. That's why the New York Stock Exchange last year inaugurated trading halts when the market moves too fast in one direction. With the economy improving, more jobs being created, and the annual federal deficit being reduced, there is little reason for extreme pessimism. A change in direction for bond interest was inevitable, nor could the stock market continue to rise without a correction. The correction may be looked back upon in the future as one which was needed Accuracy of polls A major news magazine recently conducted a poll about religion. One of the questions asked was whether individuals queried went to church. A pleasant type, the magazine's religious editor, reported later that ninety-five percent of all Americans went to church! Ministers, priests and rabbis across the nation are surely dumbfounded by this lovely finding-which shows how unreliable polls can be. Only about two thirds of the nation's population are members of a church! If most of them attended church regularly there would be long lines at the front door of every church. If 95 percent of Americans went to church (about a hundred million are not members of any church) most would have to stand outside on the lawn or street. Obviously, poll respondents think it sounds good to say they go to church. People often answer poll questions with the thought of how the answer sounds. Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition a - -- *76e ‘Welc<uKe£ 'fyoun *7& *76e £clit<vi. "Pt&Me rfcCcOtejj *7&em: Editor Houston Times-Journal 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 HO- tuv eol«i j mviit a'v p'loPiiLt ti\« i«<- OA (l c, of-1 Co. p««K««i PPij to- fv t nod to- pdilioit l/» c v'c’iimivnl jo*- 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 Mitch Tribble President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising! eresa M, Gavilan Composition: Stacey Shy 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. ISSN:IO7S-1874 Choice, competition, a must in health care plan Federal employees, including the President and Congress, have access to a health benefits system that allows them to choose from among dozens of competing health care insurers. The system is called the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and covers nearly ten million federal employees and retirees. Though FEHBP is not perfect, it allows market competition and consumer choice to hold down prices rather than to allow government to set those prices as the Clinton health care plan will do. It works with a minimum of regulation and is very popular. Under the President's plan, a National Health Board would set the package of benefits we must have. Under FEHBP the covered workers decided for themselves what services they want included. Yearly, they receive information on the plans available, usually two to three dozen, along with the cost of premiums and out of pocket expenses. The FEHBP is a government program in name only; they do not STREET TALK: A group of picketers have decided Sen. Sam Nunn knows more about UFO’s than he’s telling. If this is so and you could ask the senator one question, what would you most want to know on the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects? - Melanie Newsom “How did he find out and why is it being kept a se cret?” Br it., / / "'T Hi Wm Rita Ingram “I’m not that curious about them so I’d probably just ask him if he’s ever seen one himself.” Your Opinion Be objective when selecting a candidate for office Dear Editor: * This week, hundreds of Georgians will qualify to run for elected office, possibly giving Georgia voters more candidates to choose from this year than ever before. While more competition will likely enhance the overall quality of political discussion and debate, it also places a greater burden on registered voters. Faced with so many choices, it's important to be objective when selecting a candidate for office. While office-seekers won't have a definite stance on every issue, it is possible to gauge how they might vote by focusing on the convictions and beliefs that they do have. Understanding these principles is the key to understanding each candidate, and distinguishing one from another. In the coming months, campaigns will truly kick in, as candidates cover the state making promises they hope will catch voters' attention and win their loyalty. With so many elections going on, some voters may Houston Times-Journal set the prices of premiums nor specify the standard benefits package. Costs are controlled by workers choosing plans on the basis of price and service in a highly competitive market rather than by regulation. Recently, the federal government announced that premiums for the many plans available through the program would increase by an average of only three percent next year, and that 40 percent of enrollees would get decreases in premiums. Not many health plans I know of have that record. FEHBP has worked well for federal employees for more than 30 years. Pres. Clinton recently attempted to dismantle the plan and shift federal workers into a nationwide health care program. He had to back away from this when pressure mounted from federal unions and congress. When something is working, why mess with it? With minor modifications, a system such as FEHBP could be expanded to cover all Americans. The Heritage Foundation's ■ ■ ' jh. ■» Paul Felty "I’d want to know how the government has been able to keep that informa tion a secret when leaks seem to be the way of life in Washington.” jpr jgp Stanley Orantes "My question to him would be: What do you know that you’re not telling us?” Saturday, April 30,1994 "Houston Times-Journal page 4A Consumer Choice Health Plan is based on the same principles as FEHBP consumer choice and competition. No doubt our present health care system has problems. Costs are rising far more than necessary, jobs and many Americans are without insurance. But, turning the entire system over to the feds is not the solution. The Heritage plan would provide affordable health care for all Americans through a competitive market of health care plans. Consumers would shop for coverage that meets their needs at a price they can afford, with incentives to seek the best value for their money. Under the current system Americans receive tax breaks for health care only if they are covered by a plan sponsored by their employer. There is little choice of plans. The Heritage plan would give tax breaks directly to workers and not to the employer. Low income Americans would receive vouchers to be used to purchase a plan. This would allow people to A'f Gina Reese "I d want to know where they’re from . . .what planet they live on.” JM*-. ■ Jr Inez Strowder "I’d want to know what he knew.” take the easy way out and cast their ballots for the candidate that loods the prettiest, speaks the loudest, or is affiliated with the "best" political party. Others may simply vote for the office-seeker that their friends, co-workers or the media endorse. Unfortunately, more often than not, those voters will be unhappy with the results of their vote. They may elect legislators who aimlessly shift their attention from one "hot" issue to another without providing meaningful leadership. Voters could make candidate selection easier if they asked themselves a few simple questions and took the time to discover the answers: •Which candidate do I most trust in a leadership position? •Which candidate best represents my basic beliefs? •Which candidate has the most reasonable, common-sense solutions to our problems? Undoubtedly, you will never find a candidate that you agree with completely, but these questions will help narrow the field of contestants, and allow you to fulfill your duty as an informed voter. Kelly McCutchen Executive Director for the Ga. Public Policy Foundation *Bob I Tribble I * J choose their own plans and retain them when they change jobs. Out of pocket medical expenses would be offset by tax relief. Under such a plan the self-employed and those not insured would be able to purchase health insurance. The Heritage plan should provide lower costs, enable workers to keep their plans when changing jobs, there would be less paperwork, equal treatment for all ages and encouragement to work for those presently on welfare health benefits. Why should Americans settle for any less choice in health care that their Congressman, mailman or the President's family? After all, we pay the taxes that make their jobs possible. Veto F. l LmJ Role y I ■H|| Staff writer | A time to be bom and a time to die "There is a time to be bom and a time to die." Ben Franklin observed that only two things in life are cer tain, death and taxes. And, despite medicine's best efforts, there is still not a cure for death. Recently, there has been a rekin dling of debate surrounding the final days of man. It is interesting to note that the debate on the final days on earth has shifted in the last few years. In the 60s and 70s, medical sci entists and others made remarkable breakthroughs, curing diseases that once wiped out entire groups of people, creating new treatments that allowed people with heart disease and other ailments to live lives decades longer than they could at the start of the century, inventing life support systems that would keep a person alive while his body healed itself. Until Karen Ann Quinlin, there was little discussion about the qual ity of life. Quinlin was a young woman, athletic, that had a severe injury, leaving her in a coma for years. After a long time on life support systems, Quinlin's family requested that doctors let her die. The hospital and doctors refused to take her off life support. The Quinlin family sued the hospital and doctors for permission to take her off life support. In a case that made it to the Supreme Court, and that sparked national de bate on passive euthanasia, the Quinlin family was given permis sion to have the life support sys tems removed. Today, it is recognized that ev eryone has the right to passive euthanasia. All a person has to do is sign a living will, giving his re quests on heroic measures to the hospital and medical staff. And, in a sense, calling this Please see ROLEY, page 6A