Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.issues,americast.usa-today.issues From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: issues Thu, Aug 20 1992 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 04:20:23 EDT Message-ID: 08-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Issues & Debate USA TODAY Update Aug. 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network Here are some of the issues and topics being debated across the nation Thursday morning in USA TODAY: Families, Economy. TODAY'S DEBATE - FAMILY VALUES: USA TODAY'S OPINION: The most popular phrase in the presidential race ought to be purged from the campaign lexicon. "Family values" was Wednesday's theme for the Republican convention. It played big in Bill Clinton's and Al Gore's acceptance speeches last month. What makes the phrase so politically appealing is also what makes it a menace: "Family values" means something different to everyone. While for some, "family values" is an innocent appeal to nostalgia, for too many others it is a code for the narrow-minded, fear-inspired, hate-filled exclusion of anyone not living a "Waltons" lifestyle. ... However successful with some voters, that sort of appeal to low human impulses has no place in a contest for the nation's highest office. ... Most families are nothing like the "Waltons," and no pitch to people's prejudices will make them that way. ... About 58% of mothers of preschool-age children were employed in 1991. And while in 1975, 53% of families were "traditional" ... only 33% were by 1988. ... Instead, both candidates and voters ought to spend more time pushing for policies that can do children and families some good: funding Head Start; reining in gun violence; reforming welfare without punishing children; encouraging educational innovation without destroying the public school system; and building an economy that provides jobs for all who want them. OTHER VIEW: PETER B. GEMMA Jr., is an Arlington, Va., writer and former contributing editor to "Conservative Digest": The fight for traditional family values as part of political party platforms and campaigns helps define the candidates, the issues and the very direction of our nation. Those who would like to wish away key social issues would deny the voters their right to know. ... Do the parties and their leaders think pornography laws adequately protect our children? Do presidential candidates and their organizations believe the more than 170 abortions per hour ... have a positive impact on society? Just how do the Democrats and Republicans feel about giving condoms to kids, contradictory drug enforcement policies or the AIDS epidemic? Traditional family values ... are indeed a political football. But in an age of the anti-hero, situation ethics and slick political imagery, taxpayers and parents are anxiously searching for substance. ... we all care about tax rates, paving over potholes and sound foreign policy. But the point of the political process is to nail down the beliefs of candidates and their parties on the widest array of vital issues. ... Those ... who squirm and squeal because they don't want to define themselves on the thorny social issues of the day encourage cynicism and apathy among the electorate. VOICES ACROSS THE NATION ON THE EFFECT OF THE ECONOMY ON SUMMER: EDISON, N.J., W. Vince Mueller, 28, actor: Absolutely. Vacations that I had hoped to have taken - weren't. Purchases that I had expected to make were modified, either not made or I bought a lesser model. It's caused me to look at my savings a lot harder. LAS VEGAS, Nev., John R. Wasinger, 56, reading teacher: The economy has affected my summer. I've been eating at home more often and doing less traveling. How it will affect the rest of my year will depend on the election. It will be a positive effect on the economy. I'm looking for a Democratic president. DAMASCUS, Md., Etta Nicolet, 66, realtor: It hasn't affected me directly, although it's affected many in the area. It has affected the real estate business. Real estate is not the greatest, but it's starting to pick up since interest rates are going down. After the election, things will pick up regardless of who's elected. COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sharon Romano, 40, consultant: When the economy is on a downturn, consultants tend to do better. The insurance industry doesn't tend to use consultants unless there is a problem or the economy is bad. So our particular industry has not been affected; in fact, it has treated us very well. SALUDA, S.C., Irene Jones, 39, quality assur. spec.: The economy has not affected me because I've done everything this year that I have in the past, such as taking trips to the beach, taking the children to museums - a lot of local things. Next year, I plan to go on a cruise, which will require a bit more money. Issues & Debate Editor: Kate Coughlin. (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