PERSPECTIVES The Michigan Daily Thursday, October 27, 1988 Page 5 Pw Is 'Quayleism' on the rise? They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are, But they're never the ones to fight and to die." - Jackson Browne, "Lives in the Balance" BY MARK WEISBROT Dan Quayle is a symbol. It's not just his politics, or his ignorance or stupidity. In these aspects he's nothing more than a younger and less sophisticated version of the fool who has occupied the White House for nearly eight years. He's a symbol of everything ugly in America in 1988. And it's not just that fact that the enormous wealth and privilege of his family got him a seat in the Senate at a young age. John F. Kennedy had the same advantages. Quayle's uniqueness is his atti- tude. Watching his debate with Bentsen, I couldn't help being im- pressed with his mean-spiritedness. There was not even a half-hearted at- tempt to cultivate an image that he cared about human beings. This is rare for a politician seeking high of- fice. I LIKE to think this is why he receives such low ratings in the opinion polls. People who are very alienated from politics in general, and especially from an election in which the candidates offer relatively little choice on the issues, can nonetheless perceive his basic inhu- manity. There are a significant number of Dan Quayles on this campus. I don't like to make too much of this fact - they're still a small minority. They're the people who will tell you it doesn't matter how many people are cut down by U.S. bullets in Central America, or how many democratically elected governments are overthrown by the CIA. As long as they perceive some material benefit from these actions, they will support repression, murder, and even genocide. I have seen students ex- press such views even in front of others, in the classroom. To a cer- tain extent they are abetted by the standard "realpolitik" views advanced in political science classes and the supposed "ethical neutrality" of the social sciences in general. I only mention "the Quayle phe- nomenon" because its open propagation as a legitimate moral philosophy seems to be on the rise. Not too long ago, conservatives had to at least pretend that their concern was for the general welfare, and not just themselves. FROM A practical standpoint, the worst part about the growth of Qualyeism is that it's nearly impos- sible to get through to someone who feels comfortable in their material existence and has no regard for hu- manity. Paul Baran, in an essay written in the early 60's, summed up the futility of arguing with such "ethical neutralists" who ask "why some people shouldn't starve if their suffering allows others to enjoy af- fluence, freedom, and happiness." Baran's response was as follows: "Some thirty years ago I was asked these questions by a Nazi student leader (who eventually became a prominent SS man and functionary of the Gestapo), and the best answer I could think of then is the best an- swer I can think of now: a meaning- ful discussion of human affairs can only be conducted with humans; one wastes one's time talking to beasts about matters related to people." The Quayle/beast phenomenon can be seen in the current U.S. re- sponse to the hurricane damage in Nicaragua. It's even more striking in an area that depends for its legiti- macy on being "above politics" - i.e., that of genuine humanitarian aid. The Reagan administration on Monday, almost immediately after the extent of hurricane damage to Nicaragua was known, announced that it would not extend emergency assistance to this impoverished country. AS OF TODAY, there has been no criticism of this callousness by any public figures deemed worthy of quotation by the U.S. media. The hurricane killed at least 50 people and has left an estimated 300,000 homeless in Nicaragua. The U.S. response to this disaster is in striking contrast to their assistance to Jamaica for hurricane damage ear- lier this month. Reagan committed more than $125 million in food, medical supplies, and communica- tions equipment, and sent teams of American technical experts to help with the rebuilding. This is because the Jamaican government was brought to power with the help of CIA-sponsored destabilization efforts in the early '80s. This latest disregard for human suffering is consistent with U.S. policy in Nicaragua over the last several years (or the entire century, for that matter). Our government seeks to punish the people of Nicaragua for having chosen inde- pendence and non-alignment. A ma- jor part of this strategy has been to destroy the advances in health care and human services that the revolu- tionary government was initially able to implement. Nicaragua is currently suing the U.S. for $12 billion in damages resulting from the war of the contras. For those who care, the Latin American Solidarity Committee is collecting money for emergency materials, to be shipped with the Pastors for Peace Convoy to Nicaragua. They can be reached at 665-8438 and will be collecting money on campus this Monday. Mark Weisbrot is a Daily news staffer. WEEKEND MAGAZINE Fridays in The Daily 763-0379 Rent a Car from Econo-Car OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK f4l4c IS ON - Choose from small economical cars to fine luxury cars. " Special weekend rates " Pick-up services upon request. " We accept cash deposits. Friday and Saturday OCTOBER 28 AND 29 ONLY 12:00 Noon - 8:00 P.M. " (Buy It, Lay-It-Away, Order It At A Sale Price) " Company Reps Will Be On Hand To Answer Your Questions! " Register to Win a FREE TASCAM Recorder! 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Management Consultants cordially invites The University of Michigan Classes of 1989 & 1990 to a presentation and reception on Associate Consultant Career Opportunities and Internships in Corporate Strategy Consulting - Boston * San Francisco Thursday, October 27, 1988 The Michigan Union-Anderson Room ,, I