The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, May 04, 1987, Page 8, Image 8
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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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*
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
*