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Viewpoint 4 8 * Monday, May 4, 1987 TNo trade Trade bill to punish nations would hurt U.S. in long run For once, Ronald Reagan is on target. As tortured as his foreign policy objectives are, at least his fiscal thinking cap is on. Reagan, along with other fiscal conservatives, is trying to halt a new trade bill that could lead to a trade war. TIip irarlp hill mnstlv from inrrf?a?;int> lananp^f trade surpluses in the United States. This past year the surplus reached a record $58.6 million in this country. The bill aims at punitive measures against such surpluses. But is this bill wise? Reagan emphatically thinks not. Reagan thinks the bill will lead to a damaging era of protectionism and a trade war. He may well be right. The main part of the bill is an amendment by Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo. Under his measure, countries with "excess and unwarranted" trade surpluses with the United States would be forced to eliminate them or face annual reductions of 10 percent under enforcement of the president. It is curious this sudden attention paid to the surpluses. They have been mounting for years and little has been done to stop them. Now Gephardt enters the picture. He is . i i i i__ _ r +1. _ t__ A a ratner unaisunguisnea memoer 01 me nouse vvno just happens to be running for president of the United States. Curious. Perhaps in his desire to become known to the American people, he neglected to think about the consequences of forced sanctions against trading partners. Gephardt isn't dumb, though. He has picked a subject many Americans will support, despite their allegiance to Reagan. People are undoubtedly sick and tired of Japanese superiority in the ecomonic sector. America is still the i i: : i * l i * wunu icuuiiig inuusuiai naiiuii, uui 111 iciaiivc luiiiparison to our position in the '50s and '60s, we are significantly weaker. Our goods just aren't needed like they used to be. Japan, on the other hand, is making significant inroads into the world economy and threatens to undermine us in the future. Naturally, it would seem like a good idea to punish those countries, especially Japan, when they so plainly threaten our economy. But because they threaten us already, it would be dangerous and foolish to antagonize countries who could very well hurt us right back. The future could hold high tariffs, restricted trade and bad feelings if the bill became law. \171 * i i i x A: w iuu ij? ueeueu ij? some icvei-neaueu coiieenirauon on the subject and not negative, reactionary moves by overly ignorant congressmen. By convincing other countries to develop their own domestic growth,we could eventually ween them off American markets and establish a safe level of international trade. If there is protectionism and a trade war, we lose. Inflation could rise once again to the ridiculous levels of the '70s, and everyone would feel the pinch as free trade gets squeezed. I pt\ hono Coni?rp<ifi. e^neciallv Genhardt and all the I? Op 1 I J 1 congressional democrats from South Carolina who voted for the bill, learn to see the forest for the trees and open their eyes to bigger economic threats from within and without. Maybe then they will realize our ecomonic problems are our own fault and need to be solved from the in side and not by pnnishmg our partners. w <m way* uws ?mM um^quav wfiwti! mw-. Jem #5 g? toivm ^ i W ~ " ~ ?? KLEkEL rt> .1 "I WW K> T|VAMK_ pr~*l joM R?iHPf:><mi.(oi4VpR. Nc*crH iMli- CAf-JLy, Rc tfcl VV " I MZf it# iic ft 1 oft0V ~~ Irr r *?/? ujj k rcll us what's on your mind. Letters must There is a limit of I he tvned. double-spaced and no more than the same writer. 1 250 words. Include name, address and We reserve the righ telephone number for verification. Names on outdated topics I will not he withheld. Guest editorials are topics. limited to 500 words. Indicate whether you Write to: Viev are a student, USC staff member or com- Gamecock, Drawer / inunity member in letters and editorials. Columbia, S.C. 292C You may gra Paperwork. It's no longer who you know or what you've done that moves you up the ladder of success, but whether you can fill out the proper forms, like mailing resumes and turning in tax returns on time. I thought pursuing a career in journalism was an easy escape from math and accounting. But when confronted with business forms, taxes and applications, I wonder where I went wrong. You need a college degree just to wade through the legal rhetoric, and then you have to report your income, family address, phone numbers and private experiences to 'otal strangers. Check the no hnv nnrt v/r?n npvcr tnnm 'wlin li a c q/->_ cess to your personal file. After four years of college, most graduating seniors have filled out enough paperwork to claim social security benefits. And what do they have to show for all this brainwork? Yes, another piece of paper. The only difference is this document is displayed proudly on the office wall, if you're lucky enough to get an office. But, if seniors don't apply for graduation, they can't be legally graduated. And students might even go through the ceremony, just to find out later they hadn't really graduated at all because of a failed course or failure to pay parking tickets. I can picture it now. Parents, grandparents and long-lost friends drive 200 to 800 miles to spend this joyous occasion trying to find me Cool times, $ Two down, this one to go. This is my thesis on drinking and partying. I always thought "It's awful that USC isn'i the party school it used to be, that we nc longer make the Playboy rankings of part} schools because we're professional drinkers But has USC really changed that much sine* the drinking age went up? Cases in point: C "The boat goes up and down, up ant down, up and down," my friends say at thi party. The words are hell. 1 was having fun but I am also very drunk. They make motion lilff a chin in lipavv u/Ptcrc ? nn ?nrl down ? trying to to make me vomit. Good clean college fun. Walking home, I am somewhere on th Pickens Street Bridge, halfway between Nad; and my dormitory, when the beer really kick in. It is raining. I start singing "Singing in th Rain," kicking up puddles and twirling m umbrella. 1 almost stumble because my sens of balance decided to stay at the party. It's a sign of the times here at USC. Coc times, groove tunes and drinking some beer Or a lot of some beer. A bunch of my friends and I play a gam of softball. 1 coach first. 1 pull out a can o Busch, which I'm hiding under my shir because alcoholic beverages are not allowe i f ILetters to th A glimpse of ,inu ??? ? I ct 111111 ct I the future To the editor: translat Yo! Hey! Souchak ? alias This Stephen Guilfoyle (I assume this referrin is who he is taking off from John article ' Belushi in "Continental Divide)! who wc What's happening? I won't be the Pr< able to maintain this all- interest American approach so I'll and coi I The . ? , , Kdltor In C'hlff two letters per month by Rum Heu Kayne Managing Kdltor it to stop printing letters Amv l)elPo to make room for new ^hTnCuU/oyle Assistant Copy vpoint Editor, The i>f?k c:hi*r Russell House, USC, >8. Paula Wethlngton 'yjff ^ I ^ f. duate, but firs among 2,300 other seniors receiving their diplomas ? actually a paper signed by President HnMprman (>vnlain!no that their diplomas will be mailed later. My mother is crying. Her baby is finally graduating. She has heard all the horror stories of college life. She's listened to my pleas for salvation from so-and-so history professor who enjoys watching students crawl on their knees and beg for mercy. Trying to concentrate on not shaking Holderman's hand with my left one, and not to trip on my gown, I am intent on getting this charade over with so 1 can get on with my lite ? first to recuperate at the beach and then possibly think about a job. I am supposed to follow the person before me onto the Coliseum stage, but the name I hear is not my own. Neither is the one an; nounced after that. Wait a second here; i something strange is going on ? panic. Someone taps me on the shoulder and pulls ?roove tunes, i ! I? I on the field, and tell them to head for the mountains. They all get hits, but, because e they stop for those cool mountain waters ina stead of heading for second base, the head s coach gets angry. e Someone 1 know plans B & B parties, y B & B stands for a stronger word for come plain that you'd punch a guy for in the third grade if he called your mom or sister one and >1 Brew. He drinks when he wants to "complain" about the basically stupid or rotten way things arc going. c Cool times, groove tunes and drinking f some beer, that's what it is. t A I a1\i7qi/c cpp qt Ipact r\np ctiulpnf in m\/ I V 1 Ul *T UJJ JWV U V IVU.H V/IIV .HVIUVill ill 111 J d classes coming in with haggard expression and e editor e in a more personally 'tell a friend' rnethc style. If the British style the happenings, ad (bit) confusing, the Well, the idea of ts (parenthesis) will kept in the dark unt e. "retirement beach t r linf n mimminn Ni nlK'i f r\i< i:> L^CUUIt nvit 51111111x1115 iviviua iwa; g and replying to your set my teeth on edge of 29 April. I'm the one the hell out of me) a; >n and spent the 'Day with into this writing frei isident.' I gather you're the latest issue of Tht ed to know the outcome I just don't have tl icerned that I may use the now to tell you a Gamecock Assistant News Kdltors Sports Kdllor lodd Nines Jef/ Shrewsbury nrenaa ntytn Assistant *ports Kditor Viewpoint Editor Wayne Washington flat Millard Photography Kdltor Money Kdltor Thomas Humphrey Candy Barr Assistant Photography Kdltor Features Fditor Nick Leoncavallo Tamara Willis Graphics Mltor Assistant Features Fx! I (or Robh l.ane Patrick Jean i x so . *x x. < * t don (hp lint* me aside. The administrator has a computer sheet unraveled to the floor. "Sorry," she says, "we can't seem to find your name in our A filpc Vmi'11 h<iu/> tr\ cp/? unnr aHuispr Thprp'? nothing we can do at this point but refer you to your adviser." It's a bad dream, a recurring nightmare when you're this close to graduation. What pains we have to go through to survive in today's computer age. How many times have you received a telephone bill for calls you didn't make? Or had your name on a mailing list you didn't sign? Those who believe computers make life easier by eliminating paperwork are the same ones who probably hire accountants to do ^ their dirty work. You try working at a ^ newspaper when the computers break down, and 10 stories have to be rewritten from scratch, no notes. We are so dependent on the machines, we forget what it's like to function manually. For most of us, the bills stack up, as do the thousands of other papers received through the mail each year. It seems that everyone is willing to offer a special deal, but only if you sign the red line. Just when you think you've A A 1 A 1 A I 1 ! A t I** ' A goi me sysiem oeai oy reauing inc nne prim, ^ you've signed your life away to some insurance or loan company. You think papers can't haunt you after you're gone? Well think again ? and then bury your Bic. drinking beer a marked aversion to bright lights and loud noises, constantly saying "1 shouldn't have done it, I shouldn't have done it" ? yet ? another soul lost to the cult of the Porcelain God. Do you see what I am trying to say here? USC still drinks a lot. USC still parties a lot. A whole lot. * i vc seen guys on meir 111 si ana second binges unable to handle the alcohol. They stumble through the halls of my dorm saying how much they like "John Mellen Cougarcamp" and suddenly get fanatic about playing Trivial Pursuit. I've mentioned drinking ? at least in passing ? in almost every one of my columns. At first I was worried that I might be an alcoholic, but then I figured it out ? I'm a ^ college student. Drinking to excess is OK, as long as it's not a habit. If I don't know the tales of USC's drinkinc from first-hand experience, I hear them from others who live similar irresponsible lifestyles. So, next time you're sitting around in your room killing a six-pack by yourself and looking back on the good 'ole days when USC was a party paradise, don't be fooled. The parties are there; you just have to look for them. Look hard. " 1 >d to reveal details, but I'll reveal all (whoa!) next semester. For now, here's a you being glimpse of what is to :il inevitable come? ???... .The Jim and in Florida Debbie Day ? People, Porcelain 5t" certainly and a President ? Dr. Holder: (frightened man's view of gift-giving (and nd threw me what did 1 get). nzy to catch Is your breath bated? It's not ? Gamecock. your fault, Steve. Try Clorets. lie time right Debbie Coulter 11 the gory History,freshmau ^ ' " | Datebook Kdilor Dlrrt tor of Sludrnl Mtdla Katherine Gilbert Bill Clements I omic? t.diior Production 1 Tracy Mixson Chuck Norris I Wire hdlior Son Ha Gillian Smith Advrrlltlng Mirmgrr j Advltcr Margaret Michels Bill Rogers At.iUlanl Advtrliilng ( radualr Assistant Manager Mary Anne Hanich Jan Hodges *