Epinion 4 Page 6 Wednesday, July 14, 1982 The Michigan Daily 'Third force 'politics 4 The Michigan Daily Vol. XCli, No. 39-S Ninety-two Years of Editorial Freedom Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Geography lives GIVEN THE FACT THAT the Department of Geography no longer exists, the Daily supports the administration's plan to resurrect the department as a smaller, but cheaper "program." We reluctantly supported the elimination of the department because we felt the tough economic realities facing the University necessitated some fundamental cuts. There still is a need and desire within the University community, however, for some sort of geography curriculum. The plan for a Program of Geography will meet that need much better than the administration's original plan to save a hodge-podge assortment of geography classes by placing them in other departments. The new program will be taught by former geography professors and will consolidate the curriculum into a workable plan. Missing from the administration's plan, however, is an un- dergraduate degree program. This is obviously essential for students wishing to pursue their interests in geography. Of course this new program is no substitute for those wishing to keep the original department, but it does keep the study of geography alive at the University. Sharing the pie E VEN WITH a severe recession and huge budget deficits, one federal agency has been making out like a bandit-the defense department. Finally, however, it appears that the feast at the Pentagon may be reduced-but only to a modest banquet. White House officials are now saying that defense spending for 1984 probably will be trimmed from original estimates of $247 billion because of continuing budget deficits. And although the cuts may total $10 billion, the budget cutters still will be trimming fat without reaching the meaty essentials. While 1984 may seem like a long way off, Congress still has not set the defense ap- propriations for fiscal 1983. Some judicious cut- ting could be made there, too, despite the Pen- tagon's perennial whine that the nation's defen- ses are being neglected. Congress is still looking for ways to cut the budget and its deficits. And now that the budgetary pie is getting smaller, it's time to take more from the Pentagon's huge slice. By James Ridgeway WASHINGTON, D.C. - The relative banality of mainstream party politics today tends to ob- scure one of the most interesting political trends in the nation - the continued rise of the indepen- dent, or "third force," in political life. For conservatives, the third force is typificed by the programs of the New Right - at- tacks on abortion, government bureaucracy, demands for tax limitations. Among liberals, it focuses largely on the women's movement, which despite defeat of the ERA is poised to become a far more aggressive political presence, and on the new upsurge on environmentalism. AS IN THE past, these groups operate primarily outside the two main parties. But increasingly, neither party will be able to make much headway without serious consideration of their interests. Single-issue politics werecrucial to the Republicans in 1980 and now could very well exercise con- siderable influence within the en- feebled Democratic Party. To cite one powerful example: The National Organization of Women (NOW), which promises to run women as candidades in elections across the nation, raises $1.3 million a month - more than the Democratic Party itself. With 200,000 members, 300 paid staf- Snli fers, 700 volunteers, a network of 750 phone banks stretched across the country, two political action committees (PAC) and a nation- wide network of highly skilled - political operatives, NOW has all the makings of a powerful political machine. Since President Reagan took office two years ago, single-issue groups on the liberal side have increased both their financial base and membership. In respon- se to the New Right's attack on abortion, for example, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) increased its budget by 50 percent to $4.5 million this year. It can turn out 10,000 workers for political cam- paigning, and this year will spend about $1.5 million on the election. The Sierra Club works closely with other environmental groups - the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, the Solar Lobby and Environmental Action - all of which have set up political action committees and together will spend close to $2 million by November. "The environmental movement came back from the grave, thanks to James Watt," says Tom Matthews, a partner in Craver, Matthews, Smith, the direct mail firm which raises money for most of the leading liberal groups. "I would say the Reagan administration added 40 percent to our business in 1981." FOR CONSERVATIVES, "Reagan's election caused us to appeal to the public differently than we did earlier," said Richard Viguerie, chief conser- vative fund-raiser. "Before, we were able to build campaigns that opposed liberal legislation. With Nixon, Ford and Carter in the White House, it was very con- ceivable they would sign liberal legislation." Now, he said, "We can stop legislation, but we're not in a position to pass legislation. So we've got to continue to build a conservative movement in a dif- ferent way." The heart of single-issue politics is a relatively small slice of the population - the 10 million or so individuals who respond to direct mail solicitation. With the sides evenly matched at 5 million apiece for liberals and conser- vatives, these individuals do much to determine the issues and programs debated within both political parties, in Congress and at the White House. MOST OF THE 10 million are middleaged, white, well- educated, with incomes over $25,000. They make fairly small contributions ($10-$25) to causes they believe in. They are reached not through television but by mail. The millions of dollars raised through these small contributions enable professionals to wage fierce campaigns for or against specific causes, such as food stamps, a national tax limitation amendment, environmental protection, abortion and school prayers. These 10 million individuals care passionately about issues rather than politics per se. "That's how people get involved in politics," says Viguerie. "Very few people get involved in politics because they like the political process. They get involved in issues., "A PERSON'S got to love enough or fear enough to sit down and write a check for the cause," says Morris Dees, the direct mail consultant who handled George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign, itself viewed as a third-force operation. The growing third-force groups are unlikely to coalesce within one or the other of the two major parties, even though the main- stream women's groups feel much more comfortable with the Democrats than with the Republicans. Rather, they are taking pains to play both parties, with New Right organizers seeking conservative Democratic votes and liberals looking to moderate Republicans. Ridgeway wrote this article for the Pacific News Service. 4 4 4 4