Eighty-two years of editorial freedom
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Human Rights Party: The test lies ahead
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1973
Millie s new state giveaway
THE STATE OF Michigan is obviously
feeling charitable this year. First, we
see the Million Dollar Lottery where for
just four bits anyone can win a lifetime
fortune; in other words, something for
very little. And now, we have another
case of charity as presented by Gov.
William Milliken in his "State of the
State" address, delivered Thursday.
Milliken used the occasion to announce
his startling proposition of property and
income tax cuts. He proposed that rebates
and exemptions totaling $370 million be
given back to the taxpayers; in other
words, 'something for very little.
The mathematics of Milliken's propos-
als is complicated but basically if you
pay more than four per cent of your to-
tal income in property tax, then 60 per-
cent of it will be returned. Also he pro-
posed that the personal exemption on
income tax be raised from $1,200 to
$1,700.
Milliken's proposal met with an en-
thusiastic response from the legislators
who realized that opposition to such a
popular idea would mean certain political
suicide. And it by no means hurts Milli-
ken's chances for re-election in two
years.
But for once, this proposal of taxes
may actually be in the interests of the
citizenry of Michigan. Nobody' likes to
pay taxes and if the budget has the
mammoth surplus Milliken claims, then
what better method of redistributing the
wealth than to give it back?
Critics may complain about the need
for school financing but since Milliken
made no mention of it, he most likely has
other plans to alleviate that burden.
MILLIKEN IS A gambler. To have that
quality as a governor, is not all that
bad. At least, he is trying to bring about
some changes in an effort to relieve the
growing financial burdens of the com-
mon man. His proposals that were de-
feated in November (elimination of the
property tax and the instituting of a
graduated income tax) were good at-
tempts to rectify' the bad money situa-
tion.
One can only sit back and wait to see
what develops. Perhaps some of the tax
proposals will not go through. Hopefully
most of them will. It is now up to the
legislature to act according to their elec-
torates' wishes.
But in any case, Milliken should be
lauded for at least having the courage
to ask for something like this.
-CHUCK BLOOM
By DAVE BURHENN
THE HUMAN RIGHTS Party
(HRP) held a mass meeting
Thursday night - and somebody
came - nearly 350 persons, jam-
ming the Anderson Room of the
Union, pleaded and argued over the
choices for party coordinator and
steering committee.
The turnout for the session, the
largest in HRP's short history, was
short of phenomenal - but the
crucial test of whether the party
can survive what appears to be a
bitter primary fight is still obscure.
Factionalization, historically a
problem for third parties, 'reared
its head at last August's m a s s
meeting to elect candidates for the
fall elections. The Rainbow Peo-
ple's Party, who infuse their poli-
tics with elements of the rock cul-
ture, broke away from the HRP
mainstream and refused to work
actively in support of the nominees.
Party members of strict ideology
have since formed a caucus called
the Chocolate Almond caucus, while
yet others have taken the n a m e
"Militant Middle."
Thursday's elections for party
leaders was the first test of the
relative strengths of the three cau-
cuses, and more importantly t h e
ability of HRP to remain as a co-
hesive left-wing force in Ann Ar-
bor politics.
THE BREAKDOWN of the vote
for party coordinator showed an
Dave Burhenn is a copy editor
for The Daily.
strate to left-liberals in the com-
man-ity that it is different from
the Denocr-,ts, who did so well in
November.
And, most importantly, HRP
must show that it can survive as
a unified entity and heal the di-
visiveness threatening to tear it
apart, while not sacrificing princi-
ples that made it a distinctive po-
litical force.
THE CRUCIAL challenge for
HRP thus lies in the February pri-
mary and its aftermath. Depend-
ing on the viciousness of the cam-
paign, and especially on the will-
ingness of party members to come
together afterwardsbehind t h e
chosen candidates and a mutually
acceptable platform the Human
Rights Party will or will not sur-
vive.
Thursday night's meeting open-
ed festering wounds, political in-
juries that remain. But at the end
of the session, in the early hours
of the morning, after all of the
cursing and political statements,
accusations and impassioned de-
fenses, there was an atmosphere
that approximated relief.
The party knew where it stood,
it had selected its officers and was
ready, somehow, to tackle elec-
toral politics once again. A boogie
woogie piano played in the back-
ground as the janitors began to
sweep away papers and bottles
from the floor.
The meeting was over. The test
was ahead.
0
A JUBILANT CROWD mobs the newly elected City Council last spring. A splintered' HRP hopes to
increase its council membership this year, but first they must face the primaries.
almost equal strength spread
among the factions, with the mili-
tant middle appearing to have the
very slightest advantage.
But the fate of HRP was no
clearer after the meeting than be-
fore.
All three caucuses had slates for
the party positions. In the process
of nomination, questions about the
candidates' politics and beliefs on
party strategy,resulted in arlot
of "dirty laundry" being aired.
Members of the three groups
traded charges, and attacked both
personalities and politics. T h e
hot, tired participants often seemed
ready to leave the meeting in Au-
gust. Rainbow people, especially
seemed to bear the brunt of the
attacks, primarily for their re-
fusal to give the HRP fall support.
YET, DESPITE the harsh crit-
icism leveled, nearly all of the
candidates emphasized that despite
their differences, the party mem-
bers should unite behind the basic
goals of HRP.
For instance, newly-elected par-
ty coordinator Sue Steigerwalt, ran
as a candidate for the Chocolate
Almond caucus. Yet she also garn-
ered much support from "Militant
Middle" members as well as non-
aligned participants. Eschewing a
strictly doctrinaire approach to the
party affairs, 'she seemed to exude
a willingness to work with all par-
ty factions.
These, then are the problems for
the Human Rights Party. To sur-
vive another year in Ann Arbor, it
must show that it can still elect
candidates. It must also demon-
Jetters to The Daily
NiXOn appointee lays a bomb
Are nuclear weapons to be used against
North Vietnam next?
"I would have to study the answer to
that," says possible future Deputy Secre-
tary of, Defense Williams Clements.
Clements, in his sentiment, seems
merely to be following in the footsteps
of erstwhile Defense Department Secre-
tary Robert McNamara, who said in 1967
that, "enemy operations in the south
cannot, on the basis of any reports I
have seen, be stopped by air bombard-
ment-short, that is, of the virtual an-
nihilation of North Vietnam and its peo-
ple."
Today's staff:
News: Gordon Atcheson, Bob Barkin, Mike
Duweck, Tammy Jacobs, Jerry Nanninga.
Sue Stephenson, Sue Tretheway.
Editorial Page: Lindsay Chaney, Bill Hee-
non Martin Stern.
Arts Page: Gloria Jane Smith, Jeff Soren-
son.
Photo Technician:' Tom Gottlieb.
Spoits Staff
JOHN PAPANEK
Sports Editor
ELLIOT LEGOW
Executive Sports Editor
BILL ALTERMAN.............Associate Sports Editor
BOB ANDREWS ............ Assistant Sports Editor
"SANDI GENIES.............. Assistant Sports Editor
RANDY PHILLIPS........Contributing Sports Editor
MICHAEL OLIN .......... Contributing Sports Editor
CHUCK DRUKIS......... Contributing Sports Editor
JOEL GREER ............ Contributing Sports Editor
At the cost of thousands of Vietnamese
deaths and casualties, the Nixon Ad-
ministration learned McNamara's lesson
again last month. Are they now con-
sidering an even more drastic step?
Time and again, North Vietnam has
withstood the fall brunt of an American
aerial assault. Although the devastation
wreaked in the December bombings un-
doubtedly took its toll, there is no sign
now as there has never been that the
destruction will force capitulation.
The "just peace" which Henry Kissin-
ger says the President requires will not
be forced by conventional bombing, and
it has become apparent that the Paris
peace negotiations will lead nowhere as
long as the U.S. makes no significant
concessions.
It is reassuring that 'White House
presidential press secretary Ronald Zieg-
ler said yesterday that President Nixon
has made clear repeatedly that nuclear
weapons are "not one of the contingent
elements he will use in relation to Viet-
nam." Yet, Nixon has been known to
make dramatic turnabouts in policy, as
well as acting upon impulse.
The President is faced with a flounder-
ing policy; in the past, as with his eco-
nomic moves this week, he has acted de-
cisively in like situations. The Presiden-
tial nominee for the number two spot in
the Defense Department does not defini-
tively rule out nuclear weapons, and we
can wonder if perhaps Nixon himself
feels the same way.
In this case, we must not allow oir-
selves to be presented with another "de-
cisive action."
-ZACHARY SCHILLER
Monster-maker?
To The Daily:
I FEEL RESPONSIBLE for com-
menting on Dave Hornstein's auto-
biography, since it was none other
than me - by inviting him into the
Action Mandate - who launched his
career and created a monster, fig-
uratively speaking. I first met
Dave five years ago when, dur-
ing a protest walk-out from Oak
Park High School, we found our-
selves holding opposite sides of the
same picket sign. Sincetthen,heach
of us has regarded the other as
weird, to say the least, but we
have also worked together on var-
ious political/cultural matters
(from recalling Brad Taylor to
re-orienting the LSA Student Gov-
ernment).
Dave's references to conflicts
(not "shouting" except on Jacob's
part) between Bill "Great Pump-
kin" Jacobs and myself on the
LSA government are correct, but
he neglected to add that Jacobs
always hated him even more than
he hated me - I can't remember
how often he threatened to "beat
the shit out of" him. It is unfair to
imply, though, that the LSA gov-
ernment suffered by having a co-
herent leftAction Mandate groupj
clashing with the conservative Ja-
cobs pre-GROUP/Integrity faction.
When we served on LSA - and
no thanks to the Jacobsians - we
achieved such lasting gains as
funding, Administrative Board par-
ity, the revival of efforts for peace
research at Michigan, establish-
ment of the LSA Student Judiciary
and (with parity) the LSA Academ-
ic Judiciary, approval of operat-
ing procedures and all legislation
now in effect, and the beginnings of
efforts to support the departmental
associations.
I think the success of LSA-SG and
the failure of SGC in the M a r k
Green struggle proves that the work
we did back then perhaps laid
some important foundations.
-Bob Black
Class of '73
Jan. 10
No-fault faults
To The Daily:
I HAVE BEEN driving in Mich-
igan for seven years and have nev-
er had an accident. I own an auto-
mobile which is mechanically
sound, but otherwise of little value.
Like many drivers I have no in-
surance and am thereby required
to pay a $45 penalty to drive.
I had looked forward to the "no-
fault" auto-accident settlement re-
form, but I now realize that I
have been misled as to the actual
nature of the act. I find that I will
be required to insure my auto-
mobile after the new act goes into
effect. I have attempted to "fight"
insurance legislation since I have
been driving with little suecess, i.e.
the $45 penalty and legal complica-
tions.
Requiring all automobiles to be
insured by powerful monopoliza-
tions with the stipulation of string-
ent legal action by the state against
those who do not insure their auto-
mobiles is unreasonable. There are
a number of sensible and justifi-
able reasons for not wanting or
having insurance, which may be
economic and/or political. T h e
state, in taking these steps, is cer-
tainly furthering restrictios upon
the freedom of individuals, both
physically and idealogically. Are
not these acts in violation of basc
American idealogical and political
statutes? What has become the re-
lation between state and private
monopolies? Will the poor be fur-
ther persecuted for their economic
and cultural deficits? And most of
all, will the powerlessness of t h e
American people be further real-
ized?
If any group or individual feels
they may be of help in solving this
political and legal problem I would
be willing to begin legal action
against the state of Michigan. If
there are any ways to challenge
this new act on legal grounds I
would desire the aid and support
of knowledgeable individuals.
-Michael Brochue
Jan. 4
Omission
To The Daily:
YOUR LIST of candidates for
City Council in Wednesday's Daily
inadvertently omitted the name
of Mano Walz, Democratic candi-
date from the Fifth Ward. I would
appreciate your printing this as a
correction to inform your readers.
-Walt Scheider
Jan. 11
Dear John
To The Deily:
I NOTICED that the honorable
John Feldkamp adeha statistical
comparison between the dorms of
South Quad and Mosher-Jordan. He
stated that, in absolute terms, more
males and females returned to
South Quad than Mosher-Jordan
last Fall.
Very good, John, but you neglect-
ed to mention the fact that South
Quad's food budget was four times
the size of Mosher-Jordan's food
budget.
-John Blodgett
Rick Roeder
Jan. 11
Get involved-
write your reps!
Sen. Philip Hart (Dem), Rm.
253, Old Senate Bldg., Capitol
Hill, Washington, D.C. 20515.
Sen. Robert Griffin (Rep),
Rm. 353 Old Senate Bldg., Cap-
itol Hill, Washington, D.C.
20515.
Rep. Marvin Eseh (Rep), Rm.
412, Cannon Bldg. Capitol Hill,
Washington, D.C. 20515.
Sen. Gilbert Bursley (Rep),
Senate, State Capitol Bldg.,
Lansing, 48933.
Rep. Raymond Smit (Rep),
House of Representatives, State
Capitol Bldg., Lansing, 48933.
i
"Vietnamizotion is virtually complete."
-Sec. of Defense Laird..
The pains and pleasures
winning a Million
By SARA FITZGERALD
THURSDAY WAS the day my number didn't come up.
Instead, the lottery picked 250 and 570, and I wasn't even close.
So, at least until the next time I buy a ticket, I was saved from
the pleasure-and pain-of winning the Michigan lottery.
At some time everyone probably has thought about what they'd
do with $1 million if they had it. Since the lottery was established,
it has become a regular topic of conversation, and some of my friends
have even started making itemized lists.
I too have done a bit of thinking on the subject-I mean, you've
got to be prepared in case you should win.
First my mind ticks off the usual things for myself - a trip around
the world, a new car, a boat, maybe even a house.
BUT THEN I'd always planned to go back-packing. And my 1970
compact car doesn't look snazzy, but it makes good mileage. And
I have no place to keep. a boat and who knows where I'll be living
next year. I have more clothes than I need, enough food to eat, and
after working and living on $100 take-home a week, you get used to
doing without the "frills."
About this time, my friends all would be crowding around asking me
what I'm going to do with my winnings. My friends . . . who dutifully
bought their tickets, talked about what they'd do with the money, then
rushed to the UPI machine to read the numbers and find out they'd lost.
When you work closely with a group of people, you sort of feel that
your good fortune is theirs.
So I plan a massive trip to New York City for 40, with hotel rooms,
theater tickets and plane fares courtesy of the Fitzgerald Lottery Fund.
But then I can't get to sleep at night.
Why should I worry about the happiness of a bunch of upper middle
class kids when there are so many other pressing problems in the
world - or even at this University?
SO I SEND off some money to rebuild bombed-out hospitals in
Vietnam, and help Bengali refugees and donate some to the research
funds for cancer, heart disease, perhaps multiple sclerosis. Then
I could give enough money to start a woman's department here and
donate money for a women's library (and as principal contributor spec-
ify that it named after Wonder Woman.) The money for a University
day care center would be a drop in the bucket of my lottery funds, and
there might even be some money left to improve the intramural facil-
ities. If it was an election year, all my favorite candidates would get
a little something: Andif you're rich, you're entitled to a little frivolity.
So maybe I'd establish a fund to send Student Government Council
presidents to South America for two months in the winter tostudy
"The State of Latin American Student Governmens." And, and, and .
About this time, other people are getting wind of the Fitzgerald
Lottery Fund, so I am forced to hire a secretary and install a separate
phone line. And the calls keep coming in, and I feel guilty because I'm
still trying to plan that trip to Europe, while all the time trying to
decide who I should give the next $1,000 to. Then I'm advised that I
should invest the remaining money so that my foundation will always
have funds, and there's taxes to pay, forms to fill out and I've got
migraine headaches and an ulcer to boot.
When I was younger, I used to watch "The Millionaire" show on
t.
Fretting over the economy.
Consult your local socialist
By ARCH BOOTH
I CAME ACROSS a speech on the
national economy the other day
which turned out to be so interest-
ing that I thought I would share
some of it with you.
This speech was delivered by a
very high-level government offic-
ial, but it seems to have been large-
ly ignored by the press. As you
read some of this man's comments,
you may enjoy trying to guess his
identity. I won't give it away until
the end of the column.
He worries about capital invest-
ment: "The situation in the import-
ant sphere of capital construction
is improving but slowly. The terms
of construction are still too long."
And he is concerned, like so
many of us, with improving produc-
tivity: "Nor can we be quite satis-
fied with the results of the year
with respect to the introduction of
new machinery and the growth of
labor productivity. The share of the
increment of outnut due to higher
many American businessmen a n d
economists in recent years. But
what really surprised me w a s the
official's attitude toward organized
labor. Even though he is not us-
ually thought of as siding with
capital in labor disputes, he had
some very strong words about un-
ions on this occasion:
"To' be concerned for the welfare
of the working people does not
mean to reward all workers re-
gardless of their contribution to
production. Everywhere wages
should be earned, and everyone
should be fully aware that the size
of these wages directly depends on
his contribution to the production
achievements -. .
"Trade unions, which have been
invested by law with extensive
rights in matters of wages, r a t e
setting and payment scales, may
help considerably, in particular, to
increase the role of payment ac-
cording to work done, which is a
major form of material incentive.
"Trade unions should also give
more attention to the important
matter of the mechanization of la-
bor."
IN SHORT, here is a man who is
worried about lagging capital in-
vestment; poor productivity, espec-
ially in construction; lack of pro-
gress in automation; insufficient
spending on research and develop-
ment; the poor attitude of the un-
ion work force, and worker wage
gains in excess of productivity in-
creases.
Now, who do you think he is?
None other than Leonid I. Brez-
hnev, premier of the Soviet Un-
ion. The speech was delivered last
year to the 15th Congress of the
Soviet Trade Unions, Moscow.
Why have I spenttso much time
demonstrating that the world's top
Communist frets about many of the
same economic problems that are
bothering the world's top capital-
boll- N"M "k.