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 Fri, Oct 16 1992 Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 08:02:01 EDT Message-ID: 10-16 0000 DECISIONLINE: Issues & Debate USA TODAY Update Oct. 16-18, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network Here are some of the issues and topics being debated across the nation Friday morning in USA TODAY: Voting, Charities, Neuharth. TODAY'S DEBATE - TERM LIMITS: USA TODAY'S OPINION: Before the term-limit train barrels too far down the track, someone ought to figure out where it's headed. Not where the dreamers who have been stoking its engine in state after state might hope. Not to a glorious new kind of Congress, steeped in courage and freed from special interests. And not to a blissful era in which voters wield newfound electoral clout. Fourteen states will have initiatives on the ballot Nov. 3 to limit terms for U.S. senators and representatives, the most states ever to decide on a single issue. Most of the measures are expected to pass, the culmination of growing frustration with an entrenched, sluggish, scandal-ridden Congress. Too bad. The electoral system has been busy proving just how unnecessary term-limit measures are. Retirements, primary defeats and redistricting will remove 90 House members and eight senators without any law telling them their time is up. Voters likely will push that number far higher. During the Reagan years alone, there was a 60% turnover in House membership, and there's been a 75%-80% turnover since the mid-'70s. With that kind of electoral clout, who needs term limits? Not the voters, who now enjoy not only the right to oust members who don't measure up but also the power to keep those they like. ... If term limits were law, Congress would be cheated of the experience and wisdom only lengthy tenure can teach. And where would an always-amateur congressional crew turn to learn the ropes? To those with more savvy - the very lobbyists, special interests and unelected professional staff whose influence term-limit fans hope to diminish. New term-limit laws are unnecessary and could prove dangerous. Far better to use the term-limit tool that's well-tested - the vote. OTHER VIEW: CAL THOMAS, a Manassas, Va., writer and lecturer and columnist for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate: The vision of the Founding Fathers to create a government that would serve the people has been clouded by too many professional politicians who treat public office as a "divine right of kings" - with themselves on the throne. Term-limit ballot measures offer the people a chance to take back their government from careerists and the special interests who subsidize what have become tenured positions. Instead of limiting choices, limiting terms multiplies choices, offering those of modest means ... the chance to run for office without mortgaging their souls. The campaign-spending gap between congressional incumbents and challengers has widened considerably in the last dozen years. In 1978, incumbents averaged $111,247 in campaign spending. Challengers spent an average $75,015. By the 1990 election, incumbent spending averaged nearly $400,000, while spending by challengers averaged only $109,000. ... Forty-two years ago, Harry Truman said, "The 12-year limitation for members of the House and Senate would prevent the fossilization of the key committees ... 12 years of Washington is enough for any man. "We'd help to cure senility and seniority - both terrible legislative diseases - nationally if 12 years were the limit of service for president, senator and congressman." Left too long in one place, trash begins to emit a foul smell. An entrenched congressional elite has been too long in Washington, and the odor is what is making the USA nauseous. VOICES ACROSS THE NATION ON ECONOMY'S EFFECT ON GIVING TO CHARITY: INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Carrie Dixon, 41, psychologist: Yes. If it's not as easy for me to make extra money, then that means there is less to pay my bills, so there's less to pay out to charities. I will usually give to a local black college as well as the United Negro Fund, but now I'm just giving to the local college. SANTA ANA, Calif., Conrad Diaz, 31, business owner: I work very heavily with a charity, and I'm giving more time. On average, most individuals can't because of the economic times. I've been very fortunate. We solicit funds from corporate America. All charities always have problems with money. BAREFOOT BAY, Fla., Arthur Kaye, 68, retired pipe coverer: I'm not giving as much. My fixed income is not keeping up. I came out of World War II with a nervous condition and also suffered a disability in my lungs from asbestos. If I live more than four or five years, I'm going to be without funds. I'm a nervous wreck. CHICAGO, Ill., Sandra Gordon, 48, charity Sr. V.P.: Actually, I find myself giving even more and caring more about people who need help. But I do extensive charity research and give only where my money is spent wisely on programs that really make a difference in people's lives. PARIS, Tenn., Dot Leigh, 55, real estate broker: No. I've just rearranged my priorities. I'm cutting back on the number I give to, but not the dollar amount I'm giving. I need to make my dollars count more. So I give to the Leukemia Society and sports booster clubs to help the young people with uniforms. TOPIC - BASEBALL: Al Neuharth is the founder of USA TODAY. Toronto's snapping the 90-year spell that has had the so-called World Series strictly an all-USA affair signals the start of baseball going global. ... The majority of owners are not eager to expand. ... But it's inevitable, as was the move to the West Coast in 1958 and into Canada in 1969. By or about the year 2000, these are the four most likely new major league cities: Tokyo; Washington, D.C.; Havana; Hong Kong. Japan is almost as hopped up about baseball as we are. Its 12-team Pacific and Central leagues this year drew about 16 million fans with a 130-game schedule. That compares to 55 million for our 162-game, 26-team lineup. The Tokyo Dome seats 56,000. Numerous Japanese business interests are eager to pay big bucks to base an American or National league franchise in Tokyo. Washington, D.C. ... will bring political and economic pressure for one of the next. Cubans are baseball-crazed. Their 1992 Olympic championship showcased an abundance of talent. Cuban business interests in south Florida can finance a franchise in post-Castro Cuba. Hong Kong ... a big-sports Pacific center that passes from British to Chinese control in 1997, is a natural to pair with Tokyo. ... As in diplomatic, financial and other multinational activities, time zones and travel distances are a problem. But less so as we become one huge global village. And a very big television pie for baseball will help overcome. Going global will seem less revolutionary 10 days from now. Because the World Series championship flag will fly outside the USA for the first time after Toronto beats Atlanta, four games to two. 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