Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Saturday, May 21, 1983
ISR study shows
buyer optimism high
By LOU FINTOR
Lower prices and interest rates are
giving American consumers increased
optimism in a strong national economic
recovery according to a University
study released yesterday.
The study, conducted by the Institute
for Social Research scientists, focused
on the purchasing habits and attitudes
of consumers representing all age and
socio-economic groups. Results of the
nationwide survey showed levels of op-
timism to be the highest in six years.
"THE LAST few months, we recor-
ded a significant increase in optimistic
consumer attitudes," said survey
director Richard Curtin. "I think this is
part of a growing recovery in the ec-
nomy showing up in these data," he ad-
ded.
Utilizing telephone facilities at ISR's
Survey Research Center, 50 inter-
viewers questioned more than 2100
families about past purchasing habits,
present buying trends, and future
economic projections for consumer
issues, Curtin said.
Conducted every three months since
1946, April's survey showed 42 percent
of American families expecting a drop
in unemployment during the coming
year with 51 percent saying they have
seen an improvement in the overall
national economic situation.
Survey results reflect and further
project increased consumer purchases
of homes, automobiles, and large
household appliances such as
refrigerators, washers, and stoves.
Blacks have more trouble
blending in
(Continued from Page 3)
"We black Americans need to re-
think how we advocate our interests,"
he said.
Currently, the political structure is
less threatening than before, Loury
said, and black Americans need to con-
sider their political situation.
"WE ARE NOT effectively iden-
tifying our strengths and weaknesses,"
a problem which hinders the black
community, Loury said.
New York State Assemblyman Albert
Vann spoke at the conference yester-
day about his experiences within the
state's legislature.
"One of the major reasons for the
formation of a Black and Puerto Rican
Caucus (of state legislators) was the
mutual recognition among minority
legislators that they represented
separate ethnic groups, but they were
both confronted with racial
discrimination, political disenfran-
chisement, economic oppression, and
N
says prof.
social injustiice," said Vann, former
chairman of the caucus and head of the
Coalition for Community Empower-
ment in Brooklyn, N.Y.
VANN reiterated other speaker's
views at the four-day conference,
saying that black Americans of all
nationalities can gain more as a collec-
tive body than as separate units.
"Over time, blacks 'in the New York
legislature have developed seniority in
key positions defending the structure
and initiative of the black community.
He said that since blacks in the New
York legislature have gained more
power, there has been less racial con-
flict, but more conflict within the black
community - blacks from different
backgrounds may fight for different
ideas.
The future of black and Puerto Rican
political activism depends upon black
Americans' "ability to organize and to
be able to direct the people to do things
in concert," Vann said.
IN BRIEF
Compiled from Associated Press and
United Press International reports
Four top EPA officials resign
WASHINGTON - Four top officials of the Environmental Protection
Agency submitted their resignations yesterday as new Administrator
William Ruckelshaus moved quickly to establish his mark on the agency.
Those resigning include the directors of the agency's air and water
programs and the regional administrators in Boston and Philadelphia.
Their resignation letters were turned in to Ruckelshaus yesterday and
agency sources, who asked not to be named, said the resignations had been
requested by him.
Those resigning included Kathleen Bennett, assistant administrator for
air, and Frederick Eidness, assistant administrator for water. Their depar-
ture means that all six assistant administrators at the agency have left in
recent months.
Also resigning were Peter Bibko, regional administrator in Philadelphia,
and Lester Sutton, regional administrator in Boston.
Ragan lifts F-16 embargo
WASHINGTON - The Reagan administration yesterday rewarded Israel
for agreeing to withdraw its troops from Lebanon by lifting an embargo on
sale of advanced F-16 jet fighters and opening the way for possible produc-
tion of some F-16parts there.
The action, ending a nearly year-long halt in the sale process, was
disclosed in a brief memorandum in which the Pentagon announced it had
formally notified Congress that it proposed sale of the 75 F-16s, along with
spare parts and related equipment, for about $2.7 billion.
President Reagan had told a news conference Tuesday that consultation
between the State Department and Congress on the F-16 issue was "about to
begin." On Thusday, White House officials said the sale would be unfrozen
within a day or two.
Given the advance consultations with Congress, it appeared virtually cer-
tain the proposed sale would go through without a hitch. Congress has 30
days in which it may veto the sale.
S. African explosion kills 16
PRETORIA, South Africa - A car-bomb exploded outside air force
headquarters in this South African capital at the rush hour vesterday. Of-
ficials said 16 people were killed and 197 wounded.
The white-minority regime blamed black guerrillas for the blast, which it
called the "biggest and ugliest" terrorist attack yet against the government.
Police said the blast in the heart of South Africa's capital was so powerful
that the engine of the car believed to have held the bomb was blown 165 feet
through the air.
"The people were screaming everywhere,"said army photographer
Gerhardt Barnard, 18, who was leaving his nearby offices when the ex-
plosion shook the street off Church Square.
"We heard this blast and we ran," Barnard said.
Law and Order Minister Louis LeGrange, standing in the shattered glass at
the scene, blamed the attack on the African National Congress, the main
black nationalist movement seeking to overthrow the government.
Reagan opposes Senate budget
WASHINGTON - President Reagan, stung by Senate passage of a 1984
budget he opposes, said yesterday that he would veto both tax increase
legislation and spending bills that could "rekindle the fires of inflation and
high interest rates."
"I will not support a budget resolution that raises taxes as we are coming
out of a recession," the president said.
The GOP-controlled Senate defied Reagan and its own GOP leadership in
approving an $849.7 billion budget. The blueprint provides for tax increases
of $9 billion next year and $73 billion over three years to reduce soaring
federal deficits.
By one vote, they adopted a budget that would slow Reagan's military
buildup and spend $11 billion more than he wants on non-defense domestic
programs. It projects a $178.6 billion deficit.
A Senate-House conference committee must now split the differences bet-
ween approved budget and the budget Reagan supported and draft a single
compromise to be approved by the full House and Senate.
Tax cheaters may get amnesty
WASHINGTON - A Senate panel began exploring the possibility yester-
day of granting amnesty from criminal prosecution to tax cheats who square
their old accounts with the Internal Revenue Service.
But IRS commissioner Roscoe Egger was skeptical of the plan, which ad-
vocates say could bring the government $20 billion a year from people who
otherwise would be afraid to admit past mistakes.
Egger expressed fear that honest taxpayers would view amnesty as
special treatment for cheats, and some would see it as a license to start
cheating, with the expectation of another amnesty in the future.
Egger emphasized, however, that any amnesty plan should prevent only
criminal prosecution, not collection of civil penalties and interest on past-
due taxes.
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