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Viewpoint 4 6 ?* Friday, April 24, 1987 GAMECOCK?1' miiiBwmwiii<wiii? Minium it' mm Not again Proposed fuel-tax increase \A)rhu1r1 ho hurrlon fnr rhri\)&r r r vs w i/^ tyi4/ uv/t j vy # i^i f v \^i i Think this was supposed to be the era of tax reform an< lower taxes? Think again. To get around the problem of the ever-present tax issue income taxes have been lowered. But more picky, naggin taxes are being increased. In South Carolina, this has take x a r _ c t a i us inosi receni iorm in a iuei-iax increase proposal. In a nation and a state where the people are loaded dow with taxes, almost to the saturation point, it seems rathe odd that our elected officials would choose to heap mor burden upon us. Politicians seem to feed upon their ow lies when it comes to taxes. They dangle the promise o lower taxes before their constituents like a carrot on stick. Then, when they get elected, the constituents are tol taxes must be raised to generate revenue. Make up your mind guys. The new fuel-tax proposal is one thing ? unneedec And not only is it unneeded, it's just plain dumb. The bil sponsored by House Speaker Robert Sheheen, is part of plan to help pay for a $2 billion highway department pre ject aimed at having four-lane roads linking all urban area of 50,000 or more people. The proposal would raise the ta from 13 cents a gallon to an eventual 18 cents a gallon t fund highway construction. Supposedly, $100 millio would come "pouring" in every year under the new tax In a hearing Tuesday, several businessmen, polit cians and representatives of the tourism industry supporte the increase. Of course, those are people who will benef from it. But the private citizen will be the one who pay: and not many private citizens were there to protest. South Carolina is being faced with a crisis in educatio and a crisis in the state's economy. Proponents of the bi insist it would be a boon to the state's economy. "Goo roads are good business," one of them said. Educated pec pie are good business, too. What is more important: a cos 1 \/ 1111 r Q _ m nriprn c\iotom r\r o o t n t n nrln/-" ij y uiuu liiv/viwi 11 111511YYUJ a j oiv^iu \ji ci owumu oiaic v^uut( tional system cranked to produce absolute excellence? The answer is obvious. If such a tax were used for educ? tion, it would be worth the sacrifice. But somewhere alori the way, priorities got screwed up. A couple of years age the state raised the sales tax by one penny from 4 cents o the dollar to 5 cents. Now, several lawmakers want to rai< the fuel tax 5 cents. That's an awfully distorted ratio ? to 1. The state should explore new and different routes fc generating revenue for their ill-timed highway pipe dreair Toll roads are one such proposal; why not a lottery? Thei must be a myriad of choices besides a tax increase thi would hit every driver in the state. Gas prices will nc always be as low as they are now. If gas prices should ris to late '70s and early '80s levels, a fuel-tax increase ma nfir\H 11 n V-iiirtinr* mr?rp than it limine rvinu uyj iiui 11115 mv/i v> inun 11 uvipj But, if it's passed and they get all that money fc highways, they should lower the legal drinking age back I 18, since highway funds would no longer be a threat tl federal government could hold over our heads. [THE mi WITH A MICROCHIP ?N HIS &H?l)lPER / ?<H 1M<? Woul &.*> \ I ' X <k UOOUM '5 WJ Yrtini \ J. \-vV~A /"X C?*?wktiy VUCROJMf BY .*V-^J /; fc, // \ *u .VU W\ ^ j - ? ' v Write us a letter Tell us what's on your mind. l etters must There is a limi be typed, double-spaced and no more than the same writer. 250 words. Include name, address and We reserve th< telephone number for verification. Names on outdated toj will not be withheld. Guest editorials arc topics. limited to 500 words. Indicate whether you Write to: are a student, USC staff member, or com- Gamecock, Dra munity member in letters and editorials. Columbia, S.C. n Getting the f< d Everyone should take time to spend a day it in a wheelchair. I did, and it's an experience I'll never foreet. ^ ^ I was in reporting class and my professor was handing out story assignments. Nobody n wanted to take the wheelchair story because 11 you would have to spend an entire day in a d wheelchair. This was not for me, I thought. Here it was the end of the semester when we're all rushing around ? who has time to spend a day in a wheelchair? But when he shouted, "OK. Ten extra points for this story," I was motivated to take it. j- I planned on spending April 15 in the ig wheelchair, but when I woke up and saw the ^ black clouds, I changed my mind. 1 thought ' of all those people in wheelchairs who n couldn't change their minds. Suddenly, 1 felt ?C sick about all the times I had comnlained 5 about walking to class in the rain. But the sun came out that afternoon, and I ir went to Russell House patio in the manual j wheelchair. I waited for Gregg Donaldson, ' chairman of Students for Accessibility, who was going to show me some difficult places on ** campus. )t We went to Gambrell Hall first. As we ;e made our way over there, I discovered some y hills on campus that I had never noticed while walking. Gregg zoomed up the hills in his electric chair, but my arms struggled to push )r the chair to the top. I felt awkward as people :o walked by and noticed me struggling. The ramp going up to Gambrell is zigzagged, shaped like a maze. With a little energy Letters to thi Contest is SVS . n Guilfoylt serious task easy, is t behind tl To the editor: thefutur We are writing this letter con- trying tc cerning Stephen Guilfoyle's arti- time fo< cle entitled "Spending a wonder- somethir ful day with the prez." Being the After students who originated the humor. "Spend a Day with the Presi- once sai dent" idea, we are happy to see our idea that at least someone noticed our or wo enorts. as resident advisers on transmit the Horseshoe, it is our job to never se provide both educational and somedaj social programs for the residents ding a who live around us. "Spend a Stephen Day with the President" was such but we < a program. It seems that you have misunderstood the purpose of our program, Mr. Guilfoyle. Its purpose was not to let a student eat "in a $70,000 kitchen," nor was it meant to allow a student to meet a. ambassador from Panama" and share "a common man's martini" at Pappy's. The Wf"}I purpose was to allow a student to actually see and experience what Dr. Holder man does in a day ? To the < not to hear about it from a third First < party like yourself or The that 1 < Gamecock. cannot I Much time and effort was re- been go quired to carry out this program. how hai It appears that not much time the oth< and effort was utilized in writing prejudi ZZZZZ The j. | . , Milor In < hl?*t I wi ? * vy Horn Hen Kaytw ManuKinK Kdllor j right to stop printing letters Amy lies to make room for new J$ph %Moyie AsilsUnt C'op> Viewpoint Editor, The i>nk<hi?f wer A, Russell House, USC, tndy??h'el ' ' ' New* hdilor 29208. Paula Wethmeton I I **m i\>v. mm i . p _ i t? set oia uie spi w teMn ,r/" left, I made it up the ramp only to confront two sets of double doors. With one hand I pulled open a door, and with the other I tried to desperately push the wheel over the hump at the bottom of the door. Then someone exiting the building rushed to help me. And as I was getting on the elevator, someone ran to hold the door. Then when we were leaving Gambrell, a guy walking by noticed me struggling to get out, and he turned around to help. I was surprised how eager people were to help me. 'I'U r\ i Va 4 1 U fi r\ I /\ u/nrU fT>ll /"?1 t Vl nC O ?"% f\ I lieu nigui, 1 iiau iu wasn auu my roommate said I should use the wheelchair. She had to be kidding, I thought. 1 have a test to study for and a term paper due. But since the laundry room is in the basement of our apartment building, it seemed like a simple task. As 1 sat in the wheelchair and poured detergent in the machine, 1 was frustrated because 1 couldn't see how much powder I e editor cle. It is a very easy task demoralizing the very ark at vnnr HpcW Mr nf hnw wp Innk nr hnu e, and find humor with to make ourselves loo ns of others. What is not relaxing our hair, or t o interpret the reasoning Those who are fi hcse actions. We hope in their own rights of e e you will spend less time equal under law. You ) find humor and more of any blacks and i :using on reasons why work together for son ig was done. has nothing to do with all, we have a sense of ty of a certain one's ri We find it (as you've ing signs of prejudi d) "incredible to know quently, if blacks chc i, hated or loved, cursed together and work i rshipped, has been well as whites, that ted to people we will dividuals' or groups' r e." Who knows, maybe not doing ourselves a t there will be a "Spen- cutting down the mc Wonderful Day with opposite color just t Guilfoyle" program ? the color of our own ioubt it. J Bob Bennett Finance, Finckney-Leuare R.A. . n a ? Kumy i.ewis ic rni/ Desaussure R.A. " lWA too serioi ;es must _ lh , To the editor: If tnopihpr Bemusedly, pe< t-vJgV'l.IlVl nothing better to do listening to the stra editor: made around the Stu( at all, 1 would like to say ment oltice these daj im pro anti-prejudice. I drama: nominations I ?elive the battles that have cidents, accidents, ing on lately. I've noticed allegations. But wh rshly each race is treating mean? It seems th ;r. We are both guilty ot Hogue's recent victc ce, however; we are some people pretty u] Gamecock Assistunl Ntws Kdltor* Sports Kdltor Todd /fines Jeff Shrewsbury Hrendu lilylh Assistant Sport* Kdltor Viewpoint Kdltor Wayne Washington HaI Millard Photograph) Kdltor Money Kdltor Thomas Humphrey Candy Hurr Assistant Photography Kdltor truturrs Kdltor Nick I eoncavullo Tamara Willis (.raphk* Kdltor Assistant Km In res Kdltor Robb Lane Patrick Jean / #1 .. I ? * " ~ prrBi^'nninw ent on wheels < was using. I needed to change the water temperature, but I couldn't reach the button. When I tried to get out of the chair, my roommate, who was spying on me, hollered, "Don't you get out of that chair." The n-?:xt day, I used the wheelchair to get to my class in the Humanities building. After T rr\1l t%r\ />n thn nlnunfr\r T f rin/l t/\ turn ni'Aiin^ A 1 \J llvU UU IIIV vivvaiv/l ? 1 II IVU IU t til II aiuuuu and push the third button ? but I couldn't reach it. A man pushed the button for me and he exited on the second floor saying, "OK. This is the second floor. Have a good day." I ^ was thinking people on campus had never W been this friendly towards me. Then I went into the bathroom and, like most girls, I like to primp. But I couldn't see myself in the mirror, so I went to class. The funniest part of the day was when I was leaving the Humanities building. As I made mv wav towards the door, a euv stormed talk ing with his friend to open the door for me. As he held the door open, I struggled to get the wheelchair over a rubber rug. I tried and tried as he and his friend watched patiently. Finally I was so flabbergasted and embarrassed, I got up, lifted the chair and walked out the door. Both stood looking confused and amazed. I have since realized how much I had taken for granted the use of my legs. Now when I'm doing everday things like getting ice from the freezer, walking to class in the rain or looking in the bathroom mirror, I have to think about when I was in the wheelchair and couldn't do such simple things. ? . 9 own rights help but think these guys really / we choose take themselves (and everyone k better by else) far too seriously. Really, anning. people are accusing Hogue of beghting for ing an "antichrist," a "greek" quality are (the guy is a chemical engineering do not hear major, maybe they'll call him a whites that "geek" next). lething that We hear former SG high i the equali- potentates fretting over the ghts, show- future of the empire and issuing ce. Conse- stern admonishments to the >ose to stay young usurper. Finally, (well no, together as there's bound to be more) Allen is the in- Hershey tells us in his letter of ight. We're April 17 that he "hates" the new ny Rood by SG president. That's stupid. You rals of the might dislike an SG president; o fight for scorn, laugh at, or disagree with skin. ? are all perfectly useful expressions as well. But "hate?" oe Daulerio sophomore It really might be time for everybody to lay off for a while am and see if the new regime is going to deliver or not. The campaign is Mk nCl_-. over, students voted and a lot of LlSiy people's favorite candidate lost. That's too bad; he would have been a good president. But it's 3p 1 e with time to pack up the posters and have been put it all behind. By the way Mr. nge sounds Hershey, just what does a "greek lent Goven- rubberstamp" look like? and /s. It's high where can I get one? blocked, in- Lighten up, there'll be other hints and elections. lat does it at Michael Charlie Terreni )ry has got International studies pset. I can't Graduate student ^ Dalebook Kdltor Director of Student Media \ Kathertne Gilbert hill Clements 1 Comic* Kdltor Production Tracy Mixson Chuck Norris Wire Kdltor Son Ha j Gillian Smith Advertltlng Manager Advlter Margaret Michels Bill Rogers AtiUlant Ad vert Wing Graduate Aultlanl Manager Mary Anne Banich Jon Hodges ?