4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 31, 1995
420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
RONNIE GLASSBERG
Editor in Chief
ADRIENNE JANNEY
JOEL F. KNUTSON
Editorial Page Editors
4
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of
the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not
necessarily reflect the opinion of the Daily's editorial board.
ithin academia, the behavioral sciences
and economics have often labored un-
der an inferiority complex. Sans direct links
to defense and industry, research grants, fel-
lowships, and money for new facilities is
frequently hard to come by, and researchers
often scrounge for funds. Over the years, the
National Science Foundation has remained
one of the few reliable sources for important
researchinthe behavioralandsocialsciences.Ifthe
Republicansin Congresshave their way,however,
this one holdout may soon vanish as well.
In a statement last week, House science sub-
committee chairman Robert Walker proposed
cutting NSF funding for the behavioral sci-
ences and economics out of the budget entirely.
NSF had "wandered into" these fields only in
recent years, he claimed, in an attempt to be
"politically correct." As one of the largest
recipients of federal money for social science
research, departments at the University would
be one of the biggest losers under the plan;
fellowships for graduate students would be
lost, as well as research grants for groups such as
the Institute for Social Research.
Walker's misinformed comments are al-
most as appalling as the proposed funding cut
itself. As American Psychological Society
Executive Director Alan Kraut pointed out in
The struggle for funding
Pure sciences vs. behavioral and social research
a letter to Walker, the behavioral sciences and
economics have been seen as "central to
(NSF's) mission ... almost from the begin-
ning." NSF's Deputy Director is a psycholo-
gist, and in 1981 Republican House Rep.
Margaret Heckler strongly supported con-
tinuing funding for the area, arguing that "the
need for continuing the behavioral and social
assessment of human productivity and the
human question related to high technology
has to be one of the major (NSF) priorities."
Political correctness had little to do with
past decisions to fund these areas of research.
And not only is much social science and eco-
nomic research politically neutral, but much of
it falls more on the conservative side of the
political fence. The Chicago School of Eco-
nomics trumpets free enterprise and trickle-
down economics loudly enough to rival any of
Reagan's advisers, and some psychological re-
search has lead to books as un- PC as "The Bell
Curve."
Walker has suggested that the NSF concen-
trate more on basic research in the physical
sciences, supposedly because these areas are
not recent additions or politically correct.
However, it must be remembered that all of the
sciences, no matter how "pure," are affectedby
humanjudgmentandpolitics. Whichquestions
are considered important in science are often
determined by defense concerns. Medical re-
searchoftenlaborsundersimilarrealities: While
money poured into the Centers for Disease
Control when a virus took down several mem-
bers of the American Legion, money for AIDS
research was extremely hard to come by in the
early years because it was considered a "gay
disease."
More importantly, the behavioral sciences
and economics address questions important to
the nations' economic situation and mental
health. It is impossible to list the many accom-
plishments of researchers in these areas
sociologists and economists help governments
make policy, psychologists help people
cover from mental illnesses and become bette
parents and marriage partners, and political
scientists shape the structure of government
and its goals. Research in these areas fosters
understanding of the human species and the
complex social world in which humans live -
and if book sales and enrollment in university
courses are any indication, people are listening.
In addition, cutting funding for the behav-
ioral science and economics is like throwing a
life jacket overboard to lighten the load on 4
cruise ship: it makes up so little of the money
allocated to NSF that it will do virtually
nothing to balance the budget. Behavioral
sciences and economics are inexpensive sci-
ences. For the most part, researchers in these
fields do not require expensive equipment or
large spaces to do their work.
Walker's proposal is not politically incor-
rect in the usual sense, but it is undoubtedly
politically wrong, relying on false informatic4
to cut funding to important areas of research
that desperately need the help and support of
the National Science Foundation.
Hot dogs and jewelry
Sidewalk vendors add to the aura ofAnn Arbor
e Biener's Wieners hot dog carts have guage printed on the sidewalk-variety T-shirt
been a part of the Ann Arbor landscape for they are clearly not quite what you would fin
many years, providing tasty nourishment for inside Ulrich's.
hungry students. The carts have become mov- The competition here is the sign of a health
ing landmarks - one unique element that free market, and it is unfortunate that stor
makes Ann Arbor a special city. Last year, owners want the city of Ann Arbor to crac
competition appeared on the scene in the form down on street vendors. Their concern for prof
ofNot Dogs, avegetarian alternative toBiener's is understandable, but their tactics quell fre
beef franks. dom of enterprise. The growing numbersc
In fact, there have been quite a few indepen- pushcart vendors are anet benefit to the busines
dent entrepreneurs on the streets of the city and cultural atmosphere of our city.
selling everything from African-style clothing It is also important to remember that peop]
to postcards. They help create an open-market like Christopher Lauckner, who can usually b
atmosphere in a city that is still peopled with found selling his postcards on State Street, hav
pedestrians and the merchants are clean, cour- an absolute right to go into business for them
teous and honest. selves. For a civic government to restrict hima
They have also drawn the ire of some local the behest of competing merchants would b
stores, who fear free-marketcompetition. Store wholly unfair. Furthermore, it is dangerous fo
owners criticize the city permit policy that the merchants even to ask. The store merchan
requests, but does not require, that street ven- advocate a trend of favoring one kind of bus:
dors gain the signature of the owner of the store ness over another --the larger over the smaller
behindtheir booth. The vendorshave freerange Lauckner, like the people who operate h
within reasonable limits. dog carts, earring stands and nick-nack booth
Owners claim the city can not investigate on our streets, should be credited for his entei
the pushcart vendors well enough to prevent prise - not maligned. Given the resource
unfair competition. Businessownershave cited available to many people, peddling on the stree
a sidewalk jewelry stand at South and East is more sensible than attempting to capitalize
University as a case of a vendor hurting the storefront business.
business of an established store -in this case, The city and the University are a uniqu
the Earport on South University. Cava Java combination, and there is not even a reasonabl
owner Kent Whitman also pointed to T-shirt facsimile of the Ann Arbor atmosphere any
vendors stationed in front of Uhrich's book- where in Michigan. Pushcarts are a small bu
store, which sells its own T-shirts. valuable part of that atmosphere. The bazaa
But so do many other stores. In fact, a short must remain in open and lively exchange o
walk would lead to dozens of other merchants sights, sounds and flavors.
hawking T-shirts in direct competition with To that end, the merchants need to let th
Ulrich's. However, having seen the daring lan- pushcart vendors go about their business.
s,
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Smoke and mirrors
Supreme Court recognizes fallaCy of term limits
critical point has been reached in the fight Returning incumbents to office yet supportir4
ver term limits. Last week, the Supreme limited terms reveals an obvious contradiction
Court ruled that states could not add qualifica- -however, voters have the constitutionalright
tion requirements beyond constitutional stan- to vote for the representatives of their choice.
dards in electing officials for Congress. Term Eliminating this right is a sorely misguided
limitsencroachonconstitutionalrightsby regu- solution to out-of-touch legislators. Backers
lating the length of time members of Congress claim that elected officials are more responsive
are able to serve in office, thus hindering voters' to their constituents and end political excess.
rights to choose their own representation. This Unfortunately, termlimitsignore the paramount
decision ensures that states no longer can set value of legislative experience. New members
their own laws in direct conflict with federal learn from and are advised by colleagues wh
voting rights. have long experience in the process of national
According to theory, termlimits would limit law-making. Enforcing term limits, in essence
the role of special interests in Congress and put outlawing the system of seniority.and commit-
the power back in the hands of the people. tees, would deprive new members of valuable
However, in reality it would accomplish neither advice from their colleagues.
of these goals. Term limits are a slap in the face Moreover, a newcomer Congress cannot
of the American electorate - they condescend possibly accomplish as much as aveteran. Espe-
to the public as if it consists of ignorant chil- cially in Congress, the hierarchy of the commit-
dren. The idea presumes that voters cannot be tee structure gives benefit to wisdom, experi-
trusted to choose the best candidate for their ence and compromise. Term limits also force
interests. additional weight onlobbyists, as current blamc.
Termlimits are aimed at elections in which the-politician sentiment leaves their broad pow-
greater than 90 percent of incumbents are ers unchecked. Bureaucrats assume more power
elected. Yetthey ignore the lessons of 1992 and while still remaining beyond the reach of the
1994, in which almostentire classes were elected American populace. Special interest groups
to Congress without the aid of term limits. would gain enormous additional influence, as
When elected officials fail to meet expecta- politicians could be using Congress as a step-
tions, they are voted out of office - and that is ping-stone to their nextjob. Accountability with-
the only term limit that this country needs. The out re-election hanging over heads would be
problem lies in the fact that a member of Con- reduced to zero.
gress who serves his or her district or state well In the end, politicians are beholden to thg
may not be perceived as acting on the best same problems as before - and then some if
interests of the country, or more importantly, the term limits were allowed. Admittedly, the sys-
district's interests. As a result of these percep- tem needs reform. But in the end, it is far better
tions legislation has been irrational and reac- to have career politicians than casual politi-
tionary, aimed at influencing other elections. cians.