,Page 4-Saturday, November 4, 1978--The Michigan Daily Glbr £i d4tgn BazIgu 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Eighty-Nine Years of Editorial Freedom State Ballot Proposals U Vol. LXXXIX, No. 51, News Phone: 764-0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan The U.N. and South Africa PROPOSAL A PROPOSAL RELATING TO CALLING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. Shall a convention of elected delegates, be called for the purpose of a general revision of the Michigan Con- stitution, any such revision to be submitted to the voters for-ratification?. +A LTHOUGH IT hasn't been given much newsplay, October 23 was an important day. The United Nations gave South Africa until that date to agree to U.N. monitored elections in Namibia, known to the white minority as Southwest Africa. South Africa refused. Instead, it has decided to hold, :its own "free" elections in December. In response, a coalition of African. nations is preparing to propose a U.N. resolution condemning the December elections, and imposing an international economic embargo against South Africa until it complies with the U.N. plan for Namibian independence. We have long favored such sanctions against the racist government of South Africa, ;latest incident only increases for such action. Unfortuna Western nations - specificall and the U.S. - are opposedl resolution. They say it is pr They contend that South Af promised them it will abide by plan this spring, but that it n pits own elections in December o save face. U.N. sources say it is thus I the U. S. and Britain will ve motion in the Security Counc (ouldsend the issue bac touldeneral Assembly. It is exp Assembly would approve the ,,but this process would tal weeks. By that time, the Soutl elections would be a fait accon Universal RESIDENT CARTER c town yesterday to Democrats 'at a Flint rally to p the De'mocratie ticket, and some time out to warn his about the dangers of voter apa The President cited some sl projections that on Tuesday, tlay in each of the 50 states,] .pne-third of the registered would not exercise their civi( cast the ballot for the cand their choice. Specifically, Mr. Carter s unless everyone in the hall vo zr 'have committed an act of disl " The entire nation. We laud Mr. Carter's new in improving voter participation minority and this the need itely, the y Britain to such a emature. frica has tthe U.N. nust hold r in order likely that to such a ail, which k to the ected the measure, ke seven h African npli. Western nations are simply stalling for time. They say they believe South Africa will support the U.N. elections in the spring, and that if they don't, that will be the time to consider sanctions. The problem with this view is that it asks the U.N. to place its trust in the most unscrupulous nation in the world. The only promise South Africa has ever kept is its promise to ignore international pressure, and maintain its white supremecist government. How can the U.S. and Britain expect to have faith in such a nation's alleged good intentions? Last year the argument against an economic boycott was that South Africa was allegedly moving toward majority rule on its own. Not only have we seen no evidence of such a change, but actually the situation has become worse. The regime's decision on Namibia only confirms its intentions to ignore international pressure and continue its oppressive policies. The procrastination promoted by the U.S. and Britain will only give South Africa much more time to circumvent the U.N. or to directly oppose it. An economic boycott has been warranted for years, so it can hardly be called premature now. Negotiations for a transition to black majority rule can still be held during an economic embargo. And it would make the white regime bargain an equitable solution a little faster. That solution can only be black majority rule in South Africa. PROPOSAL B PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT THE GRANTING OF A PAROLE TO A PRISONER CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES INVOLVING VIOLENCE OR INJURY TO PERSON OR PROPERTY UNTIL AT LEAST AFTER THE MINIMUM SENTENCE HAS BEEN SERVED. The proposed law would: 1. List the crimes to which this law applies, which are crimes of violence or crimes resulting in injury to persons or damage to property. 2. Prohibit the Parole Board from granting a parole to a prisoner serving a sentence for conviction of one of these crimes until after the completion of the minimum sentence imposed on the prisoner. 3. Provide that in cases involving conviction for one of these crimes that the minimum sentence cannot be diminished by granting of good time, special good time or special parole. Should this proposed law be adopted? PROPOSAL C PROPOSAL TO PERMIT THE DEPOSIT OF STATE FUNDS IN SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS AS WELL AS IN BANKS. The proposed amendment would: Authorize the deposit of state funds in savings and loan associations and credit unions as well as in banks. Should this amendment be adopted?, PROPOSAL D PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM BEING SOLDTO, OR POSSESSED FOR PURPOSES OF PERSONAL CONSUMPTION BY, A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21. The proposed amendment would: 1. Define an alcoholic beverage. 2. Prohibit sale or giving of an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age 21. 3. Prohibit the possession for personal consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a person under the age of 21. Should this amendment be adopted? PROPOSAL J PROPOSAL TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS; TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM OF 5.6% ON THE RATE OF THE STATE INCOME TAX; TO PROHIBIT LEGISLATURE FROM REQUIRING NEW OR EXPANDED LOCAL PROGRAMS WITHOUT STATE FUNDING; AND TO ALLOW SCHOOL INCOME TAX WITH VOTER APPROVAL. The proposed amendment would: 1. Reduce real and personal property tax assessments to 25% of true cash value of property. 2. Limit state equalization increase to 2.5% for any year. 3. Establish a maximum of 5.6% on the rate of the state income tax. 4. Allow legislature to authorize school districts to levy up to 1% income tax with local school district voter approval. 5. Prohibit legislature from requiring new or ex- panded local progams unless fully funded by state. Should this amendment be adopted? PROPOSAL H PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES AND TO ESTABLISH A VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR FINANCING EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AT PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS. The proposed amendment would: 1. Prohibit the use of property taxes for school operat- ing expenses. 2. Require the legislature to establish a program of general state taxation for support of schools. 3. Require the legislature to provide for the issuance of an educational voucher to be applied toward financing a student's education at a public or non- public school of the student's parent's or guardian's' choice. Should this amendment be adopted? voter registration came to At the Democratic convention in urge New York in 1976, the new presidential endorse nominee was giving a checklist of the he took goals of his party in the coming years. audience "And how about this one?" the thy. President said. "Universal voter registration," which he then made a tatistical major thrust of his platform. election Since then, we have not seen the less than administration make any effort to push I voters through this needed change. Universal c duty to . voter registration or same-day voter lidate of registration may not increase voter interest in elections, but it would aid that definitely make voting easier and ted, they more likely. Without the hassles of oyalty to registration a month before an election, more adults could make that iterest in last-minute decision to vote that could . For too make a difference. n voter And since it is statistically the Lk to the disadvantaged who are unregistered, decided universal voter registration would ie most likely take away that disproportionate nes who representation of the upper-class in tions are American government. The task ahead antaged, is to convince all adults that if enough hat their people decide their vote does count, then the two major parties will be e praised forced to become responsive to their e, we can unmet demands. The immediate task ission in which Mr. Carter should be pened to championing is his own call for PROPOSAL K PROPOSAL TO GRANT AUTHORITY TO COURTS TO DENY BAIL UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING VIOLENT CRIMES. The proposed amendment would: 1. Permit denial of bail to a person accused of: a. Murder, treason, armed robbery, criminal sexual assualt 1st degree, or kidnapping for extortion; b. A felony involving an act or threat of violence if the person has been convicted of two crimes involving violence within the previous 15 years or is on bail, parole or probation for such a crime. 2. Provide that trial must be commenced within 90 days after denial of bail or bail shall be set. Should this amendment be adopted? PROPOSAL M ! ;- . long now, we have seer attendance at the polls shrir level where most elections are by only a handful of th interested people. And the o most consistently sit out elect the lower class and the disadv who have now lost all hope ti vote even matters. But while Mr. Carter is to b for his "get out the vote" driv( ,only question one blatant om his sales pitch. Whatever hap universal voter registration? a universal voter registration. PROPOSAL E PROPOSAL FOR TAX LIMITATION. The proposed amendment would: 1. Limit all state taxes and revenues, excepting federal aid, to its current proportion of total state personal income and to provide for exception for a declared emergency. 2. Prohibit local government from adding new or increasing existing taxes without voter approval. 3. Prohibit the state from adopting new or expanding present local programs without full state funding. 4. Prohibit the state from reducing existing level of aid to local governments, taken as a group. 5. Require voter approval of certain bonded indebted- ness. Should this amendment be adopted? PROPOSAL TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST 90% OF GAS TAX REVENUES FOR GENERAL ROAD PURPOSES AND THE REMAINDER FOR OTHER TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES, AND TO REPLACE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION WITH A TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. The proposed amendment would: 1. Provide that at least 90% of gas and license tax revenue be used exclusively for general road pur- poses. 2. Provide that remainder of gas and license tax revenue and not to exceed 25% of sales tax on cars and parts be used exclusively for other transpor- tation purposes. 3. Limit bonding for roads, streets, bridges and other transportation purposes to amounts to be derived from specific motor vehicle tax and sales tax revenues. 4. Replace State Highway Commission with a non- partisan State Transportation Commission which shall establish a state transportation policy. Should this amendment be adopted? El Ir*W I , l ! 41t rf 4 ,.' ' 1, PM 4 t ' i*7 01, .rM /,J1 .,,.. .1 , k1 : a., C t r , ,+i' I 'I M." :". '. ? -t f"4&, '- - 'e. I', z ~V~4JuainZ.inMA RN 'C,': ''ti s i rmm r.Uti Aif i+I .. .l,1 !" It , / i " '' 't,' S; r +.': I S ,N, 1'Y, '' i \[ r i . , L. 'f, fir, t,; f " I 1 ', V f Ins t! r " r l vo J 1 fJ" . :.. Y >> , " {11 '(t ' ,; r . ' > , ', 5 i // 1 t ' ' 1 , r s ± t '3 ! :... . .t , c, , r. . y 4 t! t ., '" p 4' i f't tti 1