Page 4-Sunday, February 19, 1978-The Michigan Daily Eighty-Eight Years of Editorial Freedon, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 117 News Phone: 764-0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Your choice in 4th Ward REPUBLICAN voters in the city's Fourth Ward are the only ones who must vote in a primary election this year, and it is not an enviable position. Both candidates are so woefully limited in scope and lacking in a basic under- standing of the city's needs that we can- not in good conscience endorse either man. Consider the choice: Earl McIntire or David Fisher. McIntire, 29, is an em-,_ ploye of University Microfilms. In speaking with Daily reporters, he ap- peared to have little grasp of individual issues. Somehow, however, he prom- ised to reflect the viewpoints of his con- stituency, whatever they may be. He has treated his campaign as a crash learning experience: "the more I've gotten involved in it (the campaign), the more I see that there's a lot more to it than 'let's fix the streets.' I mean everything relates to money." This is a statement displaying the typical sim- plistic political philosophy and the re- luctance to take stands on issues that McIntire's campaign has fostered. David Fisher, 33, an engineer, CPA and former University football star, has run a different sort of campaign. Perhaps, however, it would be more appropriate to say he is having it run for him. Former Ann Arbor mayor James Stephenson has managed Fisher's campaign, and has expressed a char- acteristic lack of interest -in the con- cerns of University students. He re- fused to let Fisher speak to Daily repor- ters, and explained, "the Daily is not the only way to reach students." He can speak at length on the issues, but Fisher only goes so far as to outline the two opposing viewpoints. A solution must come some time later: I don't know the complete picture, it demands more attention" follows most discussions of specific concerns. Nothing these candidates are presently doing can be labeled as par- ticularly wrong it is what they are not doing, be it relating to students, speaking with authority on issues, or speaking up and formulating a plan of action on these issues that are all serious deficiencies each Republican Fourth Ward voter must weigh when they vote on Monday. Now that Carter's last "ditch" ef- fort to save his canal treaty is showing signs of success and the Senate isabout to embark on a lengthy debate over the subject, it might be a good time to shovel aside some of the bovine fecal material that is sure to ac- cumulate on the floor of the Senate to get at some real issues. If you read the newspapers you might be under the illusion that we are dealing here with great matters of state. ON THE ONE hand there is the conservative fear that "our" canal is being jeopardized by a "tinhorn" commie dictator. You would think that conservatives would be embarrassed at defen- ding a virtual socialist enclave, but whatever flies the stars and stripes must be sacred. The liberals, on the other hand, see another chance to humble us before the world, to prove that leviathan is really a "good ole' boy". Ever willing to be suckered by the petty dictatorships that in- fest the planet, they don't realize their own government has gotten into the act. I suggest that for the current debates that the Secretary of the Interior designate the Senate as the first federal amusemqnt park. CONTRARY TO the treaty supporters' notions, their document does not weaken Americantimperialism, it merely changes its form and subtly strengthens it. The canal will remain American in everything but name. Outright control will continue to the year 2000 when military control will, like the stench of bloody conquest, linger on. In the meantime we will have bought Panama. As Ellsworth Bunker of Vietnam fame, one of the treaty's negotiators put it, "It is not ownership but use that is important." Use and control, however, are the essence of ownership. To'be sure, Panama's price is impressive. Currently, the U.S. government pays Panama $2.3 million per year for use of the canal. After the treaty the payola will be upped to around $370 million per year in various packages. So why the change in the form of ownership? Why the big payoff? Is it merely to show everyone abroad what great guys we are? I doubt it. Any South American politician above the rank of Corporal ought to be able to see through this scam. The Romans, who were eviden- tly more sophisticated in political matters than we are, would probably know the answer. Their phrase, cui hono? (who benefits?), tends to reduce these great issues to their usual paltry ends. Who benefits is revealed in the December 5th issue of the new magazine, Inquiry. In an ar- The treaty is a scam By Gerry Wolke nment to pay its debts hence, the canal treaty. Wait, there's more. The treaty also stipulates that Panama must buy the products or services of a wide range of American businesses from Pepsico (remember them from Nixon's Russian deal?) to Pan Am which are connected to those same Contrary to the treaty supporters' notions, their document does not weaken American imperialism, it merely changes its form and subtly strengthens it. ticle which is must reading by professor Murray Rothbard en- titled, "The Treaty that Wall Street Wrote," professor Roth- bard shows us that "the nub of the Panama treaty is a bail-out operation, by which the American taxpayer is being gulled into subsidizing, and even salvaging, a handful of U.S. banks." IT SEEMS that the Panamanian government, on the advice of certain New York banks, created a banking haven free of taxes and onerous regulations. So far so good. The few banks there expanded rapidly in number to 73 with assets of $8.6 billion. Unfor- tunately, a substantial part of the money was funneled into the Torrijos government in the form of loans as part of the deal. But like most nondeveloping coun- tries saddled with a smothering, state the only effect of these loans has been to increase Panama's debt which has reached $1.7 billion while consuming 39 per cent of its budget in debt service alone. With default threatening such banks as the Chase Manhat- ten, the First City National, or the Bank of America among others a way had to be found of enabling the Panamanian gover- banks through their directors. Panama will become, in effect, a client state. No wonder the con- servative Movement of Indepen- dent Lawyers - of Panama denounced the treaty as the "first American intervention in our country of the twenty-first cen- tury." Actually, the treaty starkly resembles the previous interven- tion. Originally, Teddy Roosevelt felt that he should purchase the right to build the canal from a bankrupt French company. The U.S. government was willing to pay $40 million to that company but unexpectedly the Colombian government, sovereign over the isthmus at that time, demanded a $10 million cut. Now Teddy could have easily paid them off out of the $40 million but instead he feigned indignation and formen- ted a revolution using American rebels. The reason is simple: the French company -had been bought by a syndicate of Teddy's friends headed by J. P. Morgan. Not only did Roosevelt save his friends $10 million, he later paid them twice what they had paid for the stock in order to form the government's U.S. Panama Canal Co., the socialist enclave our conservative friends will defend to the death. THERE ARE larger questions., generated by this sorry mess than American image abroad or, whether this will benefit the-, Communists or not. The practice- of buying markets for American business abroad with foreign aid is about to come to the end of its; credit line. Massive defaults that, could shake America's banking' industry are imminent as third= world nations economically petrified by their governments; have no way to repay the loans., There is a grave danger that the~ banker's friends in the Federal: Reserve System will bail them: out with an even greater inflation: thereby enabling them to be: repaid with cheap, depreciated, dollars; in effect another tax on- the rest of us.a Furthermore, how much longer, are we going to allow this unholy: alliance of business, labor, and: government (what Rothbard: calls "friendly fascism") to ruin our economy at the expense of~ our liberties? Economy and State must be separate just as Church and State and for the same reason. Religion is a valuable thing to most people, but- when it aligned itself to that in- : stitution of coercion, the State, the result was Papal wars and: inquisitions. Unless we begin to show as much wisdom as our founding fathers we may. yet find Panama an attractive place to live. The solution to the Panama problem is not a new treaty, nor is it status quo imperialism. Various libertarian proposals have been brought forth, in- cluding just giving the canal to Panama or selling it to the highest bidder. Attractive as those solutions are I regard the best idea as having originated with economist Milton Friedman, concerning the. question of nationalized business, and independently by local liber- tarian William Minard, concer- ning city services. The solution is the same: form a corporation and give equal shares of freely tradeable stock to the Panamanian population to dispose of in any manner they see fit. Not only do we let the "people" decide in this case but better yet, we let the person. (;err Wolke is one of 4,Ant Arbor's leading promnoters 'o libertarian thought. andI is a freqluent contribitor to the Dail's E(itorial page. J ~; ~. .~.. - h6 *~1L1 ~]i s 3r. l L .{. 'lI LETTERS TO THE DAILY How, To The Daily: What the Daily has p in this section regard Samoff case deserves discussion and a especially in the light present emphasis put b educational instituti teaching as one of their n portant priorities. Wh should be concerned wit Samoff case is, broadly s the problem of how o about assessing a pro teaching capacity. Let me start by agree those who argue that t very difficult question to But given this difficul Black's complaint may b not to judge a resented in one misleading but very popu- They, ing the lar idea. Succinctly put, let me thing careful say that there is something edu- of t ttention cationally wrong in a position politi of the that seeks to judge the quality They y major and teaching of a professor on the Black ons on basis of the grade he gave a the l most im- student. Grading is only a small dent hat one. part of the teaching respon- h in the sibility. Constant feedback, ac- speaking cess to the professor and, last but ne goes not least, the provision of a stimu- D fessor's lating interaction and advice to the student are all more import- tri ing with ant parts of the teaching activity his is a which are often forgotten by both aut resolve. students and faculty in. the em- p ty, Mr. phasis given for grades as the e useful only measure of performance. th prof's quality are specifically the kinds of s that make Joel Samoff one he best teachers in the ical science department. also explain why Mr. k's opinion is anomalous in light of the tremendous stu- support for a recon- sideration of Joel Samoff's tenure decision. The University of Mich- igan needs more good teachers of Professor Samoff's caliber because this is what education is all about. --Mervat Hatem Graduate student in Political Science Submissions of essay and opinion to the aily's Editorial page should be typed and ple spaced. They will be returned to the 4thor only if a request is made to do so. ublication is based on conciseness, clarity of ought and writing, and overall appeal. LOOKING BACK THE WEEK IN REVIEW 'no surprise: rent's up A T THEIR monthly meeting this week the University Board of Regents gave their rubber stamp ap- proval to the now annual 7.4 per cent in- crease in dorm rates for next year. The Regents credited rising utility costs for the increase, which will also increase the cost for family housing units by 13 per cent. Between 1974 and 1978 dorm rates have risen 32 per cent while the increase in the Consumer Price Index over the last four years has been 34 per cent. During their two-day meetings the Regents also approved an increase in student activities space which will be financed by a mandatory $1.50 increase in the student fee. The revenue will cover improve- ments to the plant Building next to Crisler Arena and the Student Ac- tivities Building basement workshop. The improvements are intended to provide more space for theatre and crafts groups. In addition $24,000 will be spent to ex- nand and increas husservice. ... that merit discussion and public clarification." Specially, Detwyler revealed that University Robben Fleming sits on the Board of Directors of Deere and Com- pany, who sell and manufacture agri- cultural equipment in South Africa. Some employes of the company in South Africa earn 19Q per hour. Detwyler urged Fleming to provide "clear evidence" that his service on the Board of Directors of Deere and Com- pany "is appropriate." Fleming has told the Daily that he will supply such informationin the form of a statement, to be submitted sometime after the President returns from an excursion to Saudi Arabia - where he is advising the Saudis on higher education. The same day Detwyler's analysis appeared, the University Regents were challenged by John Powell, chairman of the Washtenaw COunty Coalition Against Apartheid, to reveal any con- nection they have with corporations operating in South Africa which may present a conflict of interest. The only immediate reaction on the issue from the Regents came from Deane Baker, who said he was per- cnnalh Al nnninteI that the dahate Although the announcement put the Democrats in a difficult position, it caused more of an upheaval in Griffins own party. Griffin had announced last April that, because of family concerns, he would not seek re-election. When William Milliken decided to ruD for governor again, and not seek the Senate seat, several well known Repub' licans threw their hats into the Senate ring. Congressman Paul Ruppe had been encouraged by Griffin himself to seek the Republican pomination. In addition to Ruppe, Oakland County Prosecutor L. Brooks Patterson and Lt. Governor James Damman were taken aback by the belated Griffin candidacy. Patterson said "a lot of people made plans on this ten months of denials that he would run. A lot of people have really been hurt by this." Patterson decided to remain in the race accusing his party of a "power conspiracy." He vowed to make Grif- fin's indecisiveness a campaign issue. Damman dropped out of the race and Ruppe decided he would step dawn and leave nblic life for the time being. UNIVERSITY President Robben Fleming surveys the Regents at their meeting last week.