PINI Page 4 Friday, November 2, 1984 The Michigan Daily Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Young and up for election 4 By Kenneth Wittenberg Vol. XCV, No. 50 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board Levin for the Senate The voters of Michigan have an easy choice for the United States Senate. They can vote for the incum- bent, Carl Levin, who has proved his ability to conscientiously and power- fully represent the interests of the state of Michigan, or they can vote for the astronaut, Jack Lousma, whose political knowledge and experience is limited to a superficial spouting of his party's line. Lousma has no real political experience, and there is no reason to expect any competence from him as a representative of Michigan's concerns. Levin completes his first term having fought to extend unemployment benefits, relieve Michigan's unem- ployment compensation debt, and limit auto imports. Lousma, on the other hand, recently confided to a meeting of Japanese business leaders that he owns a Toyota. Levin has pushed to make military contract bidding more competitive and supports only modest increases in the military budget. Lousma belongs to that group of dreamy-eyed conser- vatives who support the MX missile system, the B-1 bomber, and the Star Wars missile defense program while at the same time call for a balanced budget amendment. He sees no con- tradiction between massive armamen- ts spending and fiscal restraint. Michigan, and this nation, need political realism of the sort Car Levin can provide. As long as Lousma and his political ilk pursue their grandiose military fantasies, fiscal responsibility will remain a dream. Lousma is particularly ill-suited to represent Michigan. In fact, less than a year ago he wasn't even a resident. He was called from the sunnier climes of Texas to do battle against what the .Republican Party views as a vulnerable Democratic candidate. Lousma's insensitivity to Michigan's political realities goes far beyond his powerful tax-cutting urges (he is a strong supporter of state proposal C) and his encouragement of auto impor- ts. Lousma has naively asserted that "an average high school boy" could grasp the problems of Michigan with three hours briefing. There are no simple solutions to this state's problems and Michigan needs to be represented by someone who un- derstands that. Carl Levin has demon- strated his political knowledge and ex- pertise in the Senate. On the campaign trail, Jack Lousma only demonstrates his naivete. Most likely for a lack of any ideas of his own, Lousma follows Reagan ad- ministration policy to the letter. He supports constitutional amendments restricting abortion and allowing prayer in schools and he supports aid to anti-government rebels in Nicaragua-policies which Levin should and does oppose. There is an outside chance that Lousma will win if he can cling tightly to the coattails of a strong Reagan victory. His chances are slim, however, because in no way does he deserve to be elected. Picture this: a young man in an expensive European suit is standing outside a shopping mall in suburban Detroit. He approaches a woman with her two children. "Hi, my name is Ken Wittenberg and I am running for coun- ty commissioner." The woman starts laughing and avoids eye contact, like someone from Candid Camera is playing a joke onher. "You're too young." "No, ma'am, in fact I have much more ex- perience than my opponent." She continues chuckling and walks away without taking the literature he is handing her. It's just a routine encounter in the life of a teenage politician. I AM RUNNING for Oakland County Com- missioner as a Democrat in the 15th District, which includes all of Farmington Hills, Franklin, and a large portion of Bloomfield Township. Many strangers are astonished when they learn I'm running for political office. But I'd have to say the people whowwere most sur- prised I was a candidate were my friends. Sure, they knew I had worked at the Oakland County Democratic Party all through high school, that I was a Congressional intern a couple summers ago, and that I had been involved in Gary Hart's campaign for president. But even my peers didn't expect I would take the big step of actually running for office. Of course, my parents and their friends unanimously echoed, "What a great ex- perience!" It all started in May when I went back to work at the Oakland County Democratic Par- ty after my first year at the University. The chairperson of the Party asked if I'd be in- terested in running for county commissioner. I thought, "Why not? Everyone should be dragged through the mud at least once in their life." I started attending the county commission meetings regularly. In late May, I was sitting in the Democratic Caucus before the meeting. In walked the long-term Republican incum- bent I would be challenging. I attributed her somber demeanor to having heard I would be her opponent in the fall. But alas, there was something even greater bothering her. SHE EXPLAINED, her voice cracking at times, that she wasn't running for re-election. She had a warning for the Democratic com- missioners: "I'm a lame duck, not a dead duck." Meanwhile, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I thought I would be up against an entrenched incumbent but now it was a wide open race. She had made copies of her letter of non-candidacy, which she proceeded to hand out personally to everyone in the room... but me. She handed the piece of paper to the person on my left and the person on my right. I think I noticed her slip one to the janitor as she left the room. I had, for the first time in the campaign, been stigmatized by my youth. I rushed out the door to call my office and share the excitement. Political rumor spreads like wildfire and they already had the latest: Her son (31 years old) was going to run for her seat. "But that'll give you a great campaign slogan: 'The office of the county commissioner should be earned, not inherited."' The policial wheels were already turning. THE INCUMBENT'S son won a five-way primary in August while I ran unopposed (a moral victory). We decided 5,000 brochures would be our primary offense (one should be aware that politicians refer to campaigns and campaigning with language more ap- propriate to sporting events or military com- bat). Incidentally, in my literature there are none of the standard campaign brochure shots of "candidate with family, including dog (borrow one if they don't have one), can- didate looking sympathetic while talking to four or five elderly people, or candidate making a point (complete with hand gesture) to union workers (with hard hats, of course). " The reason there are no pictures is simple: People have trouble voting for someone who looks as young as I do. I designed my brochure thinking I'd seen too many political pieces with something like "Vote for Fletcher Pickpocket" on the outside bordered by the words "Honest," "Able," "Family Man." When you open it up, it promises something like a job for every Tom, Dick, and Harry in a "high tech" field, or first priority for "our" district in winter snow removal, or because Fletcher is the truly liberal pol, a brand-new car for anyone who can show the "need". Playing on voter's cynicism, I went with "Amidst all the Rhetoric, some Common Sen- se." (open) "You've heard the promises time and time again, and frankly, you don't believe them. Neither does Ken Wittenberg," etc. I offer the voter nothing I don't believe I can deliver and I give him or her good reason for voting for me. In addition, we also have those "waving hands" to put in car windows (the kids'll love 'em) and business cards. I AM OFTEN asked (right after they ask if I am old enough to run) if I could serve while attending school. The commission is a part- time job of about four hours a week and most board members have other occupations. As you know, a student can find the time to do something he or she really wants to do. I am also asked if I think I can win. Sure. I haven't met anyone who said they wouldn't vote for me. Now it may be that I haven't met enough people but I have met quite a few. I believe we need more young people in- volved in politics today. Politics is not a dishonorable field, although Watergate and Vietnam have shaded our generation's per- spective. I am involved in politics because I believe government can be a tool to fix many of society's problems. Though it is not without foundation, I reject I I Would you vote for this kid? Don't laugh, sin- cerity and integrity know no minimum age. the cynicism and negativism that permeates society's attitude toward politics and politicians. In a recent study, when asked 4 whether they would encourage a son to go into politics, only 13 percent of a Detroit sample said.yes. I am willing to offer my integrity and intelligence, as well as time and effort, to society because politics is, for me, a "higher calling" than any profession I've considered. Concurrently, I don't believe it is healthy for society to have "career politicians." I don't trust someone who may put his or her private ambitions ahead of the aspirations-of his or her constituents. Americans want to be represented by someone who will listen to them, not give them his qr her own views; someone who cares about the life they are leading, not the favors of those who contribute to the candidate; and above all, know that some one will give them the straight facts as he, or she knows them, not evade the truth to get elected. I have no illusions as I immerse myself, in politics. I know there are limits to what one person can accomplish in government ser- vice. But I also pledge that I will never sacrifice what I believe is right in order to get elected. One gentleman I met on the cam- paign trail told me to get out of politics. "It's a dirty business. There are no honest politicians." He said Ihwas naive and idealistic for believing that integrity, not money, wins elections. He may be right and I may be wrong. For now, I'll just keep on my merry way toward political office. Sincerity and integrity has no minimum age or' ex- piration date. Wittenberg is a sophomore in LSA and4 is running for county commissioner of Oakland County.. Pursell for the House D ESPITE SERIOUS reservations concerning his defense policies, we support Republican incumbent Carl Pursell to represent the 2nd Congressional District in Washington. Pursell, who hails from Plymouth, holds an invaluable seat on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Sub- committee, which provides funding for education. His efforts to save vital funding to the University during an era of massive cuts to higher education are commendable and necessary. A loss for Pursell would mean losing pull on this coveted appropriations subcom- mittee, pull that Michigan desperately needs. Pursell has maintained a moderate to liberal stance throughout most of his Congressional tenure which began in 1976. He is pro-ERA, and recently in- troduced legislation on wage discrimination. He is pro-nuclear freeze, anti-draft, and was steadfastly opposed to the MX missile system until 1983 when, as his supporters put it, he used the system as a "bargaining chip" to gain votes for one of his pet bills. Regardless of his motivation, we question such a wishy-washy and misguided defense stance. His vote supporting the MX remains our most serious reservation concerning his candidacy. The Democratic challenger, Michael McCauley, has an abundance of energy and sincere concerns about education and welfare. He opposes the MX and is handy with defense statistics. A teacher at Plymouth-Canton High School, McCauley, however, has never held public office. While inexperience can foster fresh, un-politicized views in Congress, McCauley's hedges on naivete and lack of direction. In light of Pursell's support for social programs and seniority on the ap- propriations committee which provides lifeblood to the University, we encourage his re-election. i Sinclair UEThOt W:o199. EEu.S STARWAS ROGRAM IS A STATUG ucxSS,( x^ r ~VlN G prklAN MP ~c 99% OF AIN TE FlsRST cL0?AL NUCLEAR~iS EXCAN E..I,___ R ,wW a A MN 500 ULMA CBMS .. HOIEV~, ANOTHER fSOO uVERE -______ J TH BODE IN SU~-ICIE1UK.7 l^ 1w +cc -- ' GUS C LETTERS TO THE DAILY All u. a Arguments in favor of Proposal B v L A/" To the Daily: On November 6, Michigan voters will be given the oppor- tunity to rescue a successful and essential environmental program by voting yes on Proposal B. In 1976, Michigan established the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. This fund was to set aside a fixed share of this state's profits from mining and drilling on state land for the purchase of public recreation lands. The idea was that profits from the short-term exploitation of our state's resour- ces should be earmarked for permanent, tangible benefits which both the present and future As a result, although the Trust Fund would have contained nearly $150 million this year if left undisturbed, it now contains little more than $8 million. In effect, the State Legislature has broken a promise with our future. Proposal B will reaffirm and guarantee this promise. If enac- ted, this proposal will roll the Land Acquitision Trust Fund into a new Natural Resources Trust BLOOM COUNTY Fund whose revenues will be protected by the state con- stitution. This bi-partisan proposal has the support of groups from every segment of Michigan society, as well as the support of Governor Blanchard and former Governor Milliken. We feel that it is in the interest of every citizen of Michigan to assure the con- tinued existence of natural recreation areas which are both easily accessible, and carefully developed. Approval of Proposal B is essential to securing these goals. We urge Michigan to vote yes on B November 6. -Jack Lipschult October 3 Lipschultz the Michigan Law Society. is a member of Environmental by Berke Breathed I "9 7OPAy'.5 c85 t6cm7 1 A5 wu KZLA5 I* WOMEN AAND FKZrh KN .AND INDIANS. ANP L.EW6.1 ANP 5c'AtIhKN M~R&t. I~ 1W6KtWF 11 4.I~ ~1~ JILZt '.