Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.issues From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: issues Mon, Mar 9 1992 Date: Mon, 9 Mar 92 05:46:24 EST Message-ID: 03-09 0000 DECISIONLINE: Issues & Debate USA TODAY Update March 9, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network Here are some of the issues and topics being debated across the nation Monday morning in USA TODAY: Police; Saddam; `Bubba'. TODAY'S DEBATE - POLICE BRUTALITY: USA TODAY'S OPINION: The USA clearly is off track in combatting police brutality. A nationwide study by Gannett News Service reported in this newspaper today finds that police officers escape punishment even when taxpayers lose suits spawned by abuse. The news service studied 100 brutality lawsuits and found communities paid $92 million to victims from 1986-91. Incredibly, all but five of the 185 officers involved kept their jobs. ... Change can work. In 1979, Miami's Liberty City riots began when four white officers were acquitted of fatally beating a black motorist. A police violence reduction program led to 30-50% decreases in complaints, use of force and police injuries, with no fewer arrests and no increase in crime. Most police officers succeed today without brutality; law enforcement studies say only 5% of officers are responsible for at least half the problems. But that 5% won't change their ways without a concerted community effort. The effort is overdue. Police can't be allowed to flout the laws they enforce. OTHER VIEW: JOHN DINEEN, a Chicago police detective and president of the Chicago lodge, Fraternal Order of Police: Police brutality, or the force necessary to overcome an offender's resistance to arrest? Who is qualified to make the decision? In many municipalities, the cry is for civilian review of police activities. Police officers are trained in the lawful and proper use of force and then set out to do their job. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the police officer goes through the community as protector of the citizens. Physical confrontations are rare but sometimes necessary. The officer must make a split-second decision on what force is necessary to effect an arrest. Who then judges the activity of the officer? ... No police officer endorses brutality. One incident of police brutality is one too many, and if any officer would engage in use of excessive force, there are sufficient checks and balances to judge such activities, even 10 years down the road. The public may hold the police officer to a higher standard. Let's make sure it is a fair standard. VOICES ACROSS THE NATION ON USING FORCE AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN: BERKELEY, Calif., James A. Porter, 23, graduate student: Two wrongs don't make a right. I don't think the United States gave the sanctions against Iraq enough time in the first place. The United States needs to focus on its own injustices before using force to settle a foreign issue. SULLIVAN, Mo., Michael Morgan, 25, factory worker: They should have done it the first time they were over there. They should start air strikes again where they suspect the bombs are being kept or manufactured. They should get the U.N. team together first and, if that doesn't work, use U.S. force as a last resort. SILVER SPRING, Md., Caroline Badinelli, 16, high school student: I don't think we should use force. It would be merely a political move by President Bush in an election year. I think they should continue the sanctions. MEMPHIS, Tenn., Howard E. Bonner, 72, retired executive: It is my belief that we should pursue a military solution to the problem. As of now, the Iraqis have done nothing to keep their word. The only thing they understand is force. I'm definitely in favor of going back in there and solving it with military force. NEWARK, Del., Janet Crouse, 49, historian: I was not a supporter of the war last year. Each time we have intervened in the Middle East, we have created problems that we then have had to turn around and deal with later. TOPIC - THE `BUBBA VOTE': MOLLY IVINS, who has covered Texas politics for more than 20 years, is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Progressive and Mother Jones, was interviewed by USA TODAY's Bob Minzesheimer. THERE HAS BEEN A TALK ABOUT THE "BUBBA VOTE." WHO IS BUBBA? Bubba is the mythical, stereotypic Texan who drives down the highway in his pickup truck, a gun rack slung across the back window, and throws beer cans out the window. Bubba is known to be voraciously right-wing politically and doesn't care a lot for people who are different colors than he is. All of the Bubbas used to be Democrats. The revolution came down here when they moved over to the Republican Party. AND WHO'S BUBBA LIKELY TO VOTE FOR TUESDAY? I think Bubba is voting for Pat Buchanan. There's an interesting symmetry in the protest candidates in both parties. If you're really ticked off and you're a Republican, you're voting for Buchanan. If you're really ticked off and you're a Democrat, you're voting for Jerry Brown. And the college kids at the University of Texas seem excited about Brown. If you really want to change things, he's your man. WHAT'S THE GENERAL TALK ABOUT TUESDAY'S PRIMARY? You don't hear much general talk. I'm sure we all think the election is important, but it's not causing great, frenzied excitement in the Great State. Not a whole lot of people are running around saying, "My gosh, what do you think about Tom Harkin's health proposal?" Bill Clinton is well ahead in terms of organization. All the Democratic establishment is behind him. There are a lot of people who are going to vote for him but still aren't too sure about him. DOES PAUL TSONGAS HAVE ANY CHANCE? Of the whole pack of them who just came into the state, Tsongas is the only guy we all know because his name is the fifth line on the eye chart when you get your driver's license. But he hasn't put much money into it. And this state is so damn expensive to campaign in. He basically has no presence here. Issues & Debate Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM