The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, September 24, 1981-Page 3
Social Security
'U' prof: It's not bankrupt yet
, The current crisis in Social Security
is not a major threat to the solvency of
the system, University economist
William Haber said Tuesday.
At an Ann Arbor Trust Company
meeting, Haber characterized the
Social Security system as "a gigantic
insurance policy which touches the
lives of every American family" and
"the most important single piece of
legislation ever adopted by the
American Congree more than 45 years
ago."
He strongly urged "that we deal
with the short-term problem and
arrange for a leisurely examination by
a committee of the Congress of the
problems to be faced by the Social
Security system in the year 2010, when
a more serious crisis is likely to develop
mas the result of demographic changes."
Haber, former dean of the College of
Literature, Science and the Arts, is
professor emeritus of economics and
adviser to University executive of-
ficers.
Haber said the Social Security
system "is not bankrupt and is not
going to go bankrdpt. The drastic cuts
proposed are partly influenced by the
severe budget deficit which faces the
administration. The Social Security
trust funds should not be a part of the
general budget of the federal gover-
*nment. When a deficit appears likely,
the temptation to cut Social Security
outgoesis too strong to resist."
THE ECONOMIST cited five causes
of the present problem in the Social
Security system, which, including
retirees,. survivors, and the disabled,
makes monthly cash payments to more
than 36 million Americans:
* "People live longer. In 1940 the
average life expectancy at age 65 was
12.1 years; in 1980 it was 14 years."
" "We lowered the retirement age to.
62 twenty years ago and that made
many more eligible for benefits earlier
than 65."'
* "We indexed the monthly payments
by relating them to cost of living
changes, that is, to inflation. The in-
crease of more than 11 percent in mon-
thly benefits in July of this year alone
increased Social Security outlays by
more than 1 billion dollars."
* "Unemployment has remained at
nearly eight million people for a long
time. Men and women who do not work
do not pay social security taxes."
a "We have introduced disability
payments and medicare long after the
plan was established." k
"CONSEQUENTLY," Haber said,'
"the relationships between income and
outgo have been materially changed. It
is important to note, however, that'
while the Old Age and Survivors In-
surance Trust Fund may be in difficulty
in 1982 or 1983, the other trust funds for
medicare, hospital and disability have
substantial reserves.
"In my view, therefore, the drastic
cuts proposed are not, justified. The
short-term cash flow crisis can be met
by a simple legislative act making it
possible to borrow from one Social
Security trust fund for another. I
strongly urge that standby authority to
borrow from the general fund with in-
terest for a limited period of time
should also be provided."
These charges, the economist con-
cluded, "could meet the short-term
crisis without destroying the integrity
of the Social Security system upon
which millions of Americans depend."
HABER COMMENTED on several of
the specific proposals for Social
Security:
The proposal to drop the minimum
benefit, he said, "completely overlooks
the fact that we are concerned with
social insurance and not private in-
surance."
The proposal to reduce the cost of
living allowance to less than full reim-
bursement for inflation "may have
some merit, although it, too, would do a
grave injustice to millions who depend
upon their monthly benefits," he said.
Proposed across-the-board cuts in
benefits, he said, "are not justified.
Better administration and elimination
of ineligible claimants are always in
order."
The proposal to completely repeal the
act and leave old age security to the
private sector would be a tragedy, he
concluded.
Splash .Landing
A few ducks frolic in a pond made from water displaced by the Fuller Glen project. The ducks were probably just
passing through on their way to their annual hiatus in the warmer climates in the south.
'Roots' plaque stolen,
Reagan may postpone cuts
WASHINGTON (AP) - President
Reagan, trying to assemble a new
ckage of budget cuts acceptable to
.Congress, has backed off a plan to delay
next year's cost-of-living increase in
Social Security, congressional sources
said yesterday.
A presidential spokesman, mean-
while, declared that Reagan has no in-
tention of embracing the suggestion
from some quarters that he seek a
postponement of the tax cuts already
approved by Congress as a means of
holding down the 1982 deficit.
CONGRESSIONAL sources, who
asked not to be identified by name, said'-
the president still is considering
recommendations for delays in cost-of-
living benefits under several programs
other than Social Security, including
some pension plans and verterans'
benefits.
The president is scheduled to unveil
his latest round of budget cutting
proposals in a nationally broadcast ad-
dress tonight. Aids said changes still
were possible in the package, expected
to total more than $16 billion in new cuts
for the fiscal year beginning next Thur-
day.
Reagan hopes to hold the 1982 deficit to
around $42 -billion, but many
economists and congressional figures
say that persistently high interest rates
will make that task difficult even with a
new round of cuts. But though Rep.
Kent Hance, (D-Texas), and other
backers of the president's program
have suggested delaying his tax cuts,
deputy White House press secretary
Larry Speakes said, "We're going to
stick by our plan."
ASIDE FROM THE apparent retreat
on the Social Security issue, the
president was under heavy pressure
from some Republicans in Congress to
abandon his reported intention to seek a
three-year phaseout of the general
revenue sharing program for cities and
lcoal governments.
Reagan declined to discuss specifics
at a meeting with senior citizens at the
White House.-
KKK card left
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (UPI) - A bronze and spit in t
plaque dedicated two days ago in honor Hughes ca
of the slave Kunta Kinte, ancestor of act" and of
"Roots" author Alex Haley, was stole plaque at sta
overnight and replace with a Ku Klux "While va
Klan calling card, police reported they can nei
yesterday. means to all
The 18-by-24 inch plaque was pried about justic
from a brick sidewalk at a city dock nor said.
where it had been place during an
elabotate Monday ceremony attended
by Haley, Gov. Harry Hughes, other of-
ficials and a crowd of about 500.
IN ITS PLACE was left a white
business card with red print saying,
"You have been patronized by the Sept.
KKK." Above, in black, was printed,
"The Invisible Empire, Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan."
"I wish we were back in the time of
Kunta Kinte and had the kind of.
punishment they had at that time so we
could have a stock and pillory down
there," Mayor Richard Hillman said.
"The perpetrators could be chained
there so everyone in town could walk by .5
behind
heir face."
lled the theft "a despicable
fered to replace the $1,000
ate expense.
ndals can remove a plaque,
ver remove what this fight
citizens who are concerned
e and equality," the gover-
City -
Send to:
ACADEMIC FINANCiAL SERVICE,
P Uox 134 (MD)
Doarborn. M1 48121-9134
SCHOLARSHIPS- GRANTS-LOANS
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Computer will match your qualifications with a
minimum of 5 funding sources or your processing
fee will be completely refunded.
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or call(313) 278.3877
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Department of Theatre and Drama
AUDITIOS
28 and 29, Call Backs Sept. 30, 2518 Frieze Bldg.
Moliere's
TARTUFFE
Roles for
women & 7 men
Lorca 's
THE HOUSE
OF
BERNARDA ALBA
Roles for, 10 women
I "
H APPENINGS
HIGHLIGHT
The Kelsey Museum presents an illustrated lecture by Estelle Brettman,
the executive director of the International Committee for the Preservation
of the Catacombs in Italy, introducing a special exhibition in Auditorium A
of Angell Hall at 7':30 p.m. tonight. The lecture marks the opening of the
exhibit "Vaults Of Memory," at the Kelsey Museum..
FILMS
School of Public Health-Noontime Film Fest, The Killing Ground, Aud.,
SPH II, 12:05 p.m."
Cinema Guild-Blow-Up, Lorch Hall, 6 p.m., 10:15 p.m., Model, 8 p.m.
Law School Gay & Lesbian Student Association-In the Best Interest of
Our Children, Rm.150, Hutchins Hall, 7:30 p.m.
The Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies-The House on
Chelouche Street, Aud. C, Angell Hall, 3 p.m.
PERFORMANCES
Professional Theatre Program-Mirandolina (The Mistress of the Inn),
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 8 p.m.,
The Stage Company-Hold Me, a play by Jules Feiffer, Canterbury Loft,
332 S. State St., 8p.m.
SPEAKERS
Vision/Hearing-Sem., Pamela Johns, "Development of Photoreceptors
in Larval Goldfish", 2055 MHRI, 12:15 p.m.
Dept. of Chem.-Physical Chemistry Sem., Chan-Hong Wang, "Piezo and
oyroelectricity of Polymers," Rm. 1200, Chem., 4 p.m.
CC & ILIR-Chalk Talk: MTS Command Language, CC Counseling Staff, 1011
NUBS, 12:10 p.m.
CC & ILIR-Intro. to MTS (Session 3) Blb Blue, CC Staff, 2235 AH, 7 p.m.
CC & ILIR-Accounting, Forrest Hartman, CC Staff, B120 MLB, 3:30 p.m.
CC & ILIR-Sem., "Micro", Dave Hetrick, ILIR, Seminar Rm., CC, North
Campus, 7:30 p.m.
Atmospheric & Oceanic Science Seminar-Thomas Cravens A&OS,
"Ionospheres of the Inner Planets," 3:30 p.m., 2233 Space Research.
Servant Publications - Elisabeth Elliott, "The Strength of a Woman", 8
p.m., Pioneer High School Aud., Stadium and Main.
Center for Western European Studies-Prof. Bernard Crick, Univ. of Lon-
don, "British-Irish Relations", noon, 5208 Angell Hall.
Center for Japanese Studies-Prof. Robert Cole, "Introduction to the Cen-
ter for Japanese Studies", Lane Hall, Commons Rm., noon, bag lunch.
MEETINGS
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship-Mtg., Michigan Union, 7 p.m.
Sailing Club-Mtg., 311 W. Eng., 7:45 p.m.
Botticelli Game Players-Mtg., Dominicks, noon.
AA-Mtg., M2815U. Hosp. (2nd level NPI), 8:30 p.m.
Scottish Country Dancers-Beginning & Intermediate dancing, Union
Ballroom, 7 p.m.
Campus Weight Watchers-Mtg., League Project Rm., 5:30 p.m.
Med. Ctr. Bible Study-Mtg., F2230 Mott Library, 12:30 p.m.
B'Nai B'Rith Hillel Foundation - Union of Students for Israel, Open
House, Mich. Union Basement, Conf. Rm. 4,8 p.m.
MSA Legislative Relations COmmittee, Orientation Meeting, 7:30 p.m.,
MSA offices 3rd floor Mich. Union.
Preventative Medicine Center-Self Care Clinic, 7:30 p.m., 2220 S. Huron
Parkway.
Women's Center of Ann Arbor-Open House, 610 Third St.
WMU student dies
wit o infection
If TV
PREPARED AUDITION REQUIRED
Sign up in the Frieze Bldg. near the Arena
Theatre
rwuI - - - --
I~mE-m~ m~
KALAMAZOO (UPI)- A Mexican
student who died two weeks after he
arrived for classes at Western
Michigan University was infected with
typhoid fever, university health of-
ficials said yesterday.-
Homero Salmeron Sanchez, 19, came
to Kalamazoo from Mexico City on Aug.
29 to begin classes in WMU's Career
English program. He became ill Sept. 9
and died four days later in his dor-
mitory room.
"IT SEEMS most likely he brought
the illness with him from Mexico," said
Dr. William Hall, chief of the disease
surveillance division with the Michigan
Department of Public Health.
"He arrived on campus not too long
before he developed the symptoms and
the incubation period is one to three
weeks. If he contracted it through the
food or water service at WMU, cer-
tainly we would have had additional
cases," Hall said.
Both state officials and physicians at
the WMU student health .center said
there was little danger of a typhoid
fever epidemic because of the case.
"The potential for contagion-the
potential for anybody geting typhoid
fever because of this particular in-
cident-is nil," said Dr. Robert S. Gove,
chief of staff at the WMU student health
center.
Gove said the health center did not
diagnose Salmeron Sanchez as having
typhoid when he saw doctors there four
days before his death, conceding the
victim's poor English may have been a
factor even though he had an inter-
preter through part of the examination.
However, Gove said it was not
unusual to overlook typhoid because of
the rareness of the disease and the
general nature of its symptoms.
Gove said the only persons in any
danger were the dozen who had been in
close contact with Salmeron San-
chez-including his few close friends at
the school and the university workers
who cleaned the dorm room after his
death.
Gove said those people were being
contacted and would be monitored for
symptoms of the disease.
J,
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'and neW*e
united states
gaustria germa
pain greece yugos
a unisia malta
A and ivory r
AIESEC - Michigan
Room 380, Grad School of
Business Administration
763-1490
INTERNATIONAL:
MANAGEMENT:
DEVELOPMENT:
N 1. A person having
connections with different
countries.
N 1. Persons collectively
regarded as a distinct
social group with special
interests and skills.
N 1. To bring into activity
or reality; cause to be
more effective.
Do foreign jobs, management training and business
I