Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 91, Ed. 1 Sunday, November 13, 1988 Page: 4 of 24
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EDITORIAL
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13. 1988
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
PAGE «A-
Letter to the editor
Chili dinner deemed 'success'
To the editor:
We wish to thank everyone who
helped make our chili dinner at
Wilson Lake Community Center
the success it was.
Our special thanks to those who
donated items.
Helping Hands
Extendon Club
Wilson Lake
Maintenance Association
Peggy Moffett
2105 Wilson Lake
Livingston
Legal lesson
Base closures
With the unrelenting federal deficit staring
them in the face, lawmakers in Washington have
finally zeroed in on one of the fattest sacred cows
in tiie budget: the scores of unnecessary military
installations that pad Pentagon spending by
billions of dollars.
For decades. Congress has treated obsolete
bases as one giant pork barrel, resisting all ra-
tional attempts to economize the military's
bloated infrastructure. Successive defense
secretaries have sought to shut down unneeded
facilities only to be blocked by parochial-minded
senators and congressmen who have preserved
them as taxpayer-subsidized props to local
economies.
Recently, though, Congress sent to the White
House a measure that ultimately could save as
much as $5 billion a year by closing 20 to 50 bases
which an independent commission deems to be
nonessential. Such a reduction would hardly
knock a dent in the 817 military installations scat-
tered across the country.
The base-closing bill establishes a mechanism
by which lawmakers will be thwarted from in-
tervening, as they have in the past, to shield in-
dividual facilities. At the same time, it espedites
the process under which bases can be shut down
once a decision has been made to do
Weekly Special
Borrowers may be in for surprise
Through their lawyer, former Philippine Presi-
dent Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda,
have let it be known they are “deeply disap-
pointed at President Reagan’s failure to prevent
this treatment of a long-standing ally.” The treat-
ment to which they so bitterly protest is a six-
count federal indictment accusing them of
racketeering and embezzling $103 million from
the Philippine treasury to purchase artworks and
Manhattan real estate.
Whether the Marcoses have committed the
crimes they are charged with can only be decided
by a judge and jury. Mrs. Marcos has pleaded not
guilty, and her husabnd is expected to do the same
when he is arraigned at a later date. But the no-
tion that the White House had an obligation to pro-
tect “a long-standing ally” from prosecution -
particularly involving alleged crimes of such
enormity - deserves an immediate response. The
assertion is complete nonsense.
To advance democracy in the Philippines after
Mr. Marcos claimed a dubious victory in the
disputed 1986 presidential election, the Reagan
administration arranged for his exile to Hawaii.
During the last two years, the Marcoses have en-
joyed a safe haven in Honolulu, despite
widespread allegations of corruption involving ac-
tions they took while in the Philippines.
The federal indictment handed down in New
York accuses the Marcoses of violating U.S laws a
part of a pattern of greed that began in Manila
and continued after their move to Hawaii. Mr.
Marcos apparently believed that American
hospitality iiicluded the right to conduct his finan-
cial affairs with utter disregard for federal law.
To his credit, President Reagan declined to
block the Justice Department’s decision to pro-
secute, even though the case could complicate
U.S.-Philippine relations, which are already
strained by American military bases on Philip-
pine soil and the country’s huge foreign debt. For
Mr. Reagan to have done otherwise would have
explicitly placed the ousted president above
American law.
What Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos will learn,
If they have not already, is that in U.S courts
criminal laws must be applied equally to
everyone - even long-standing allies.
By JACK ANDERSON
and JOSEPH SPEAR
WASHINGTON - For several
years now, American homeowners
have been in a mad rush to hock
their hearthstones for whatever
gratifications instant cash can buy.
They borrowed about $125 billion in
home equity loans in 1987 alone. And
the potential for continued in-
debtedness is enormous: More than
$4 trillion in home equity nationwide
is waiting to be tapped.
Many of the borrowers could be in
for some ugly surprises. Some banks
use a balloon payment system,
meaning that the full principle
comes due in a lump sum at the end
of the loan period. Almost all the len-
ding institutions use adjustable in-
terest rates, and most of them refuse
to put a cap on the amount the rates
can increase in a given year.
We have raised a red flag on home
equity loans in the past. Now Con-
sumer’s Union has amassed new
evidence that ought to give prospec-
tive borrowers some pause.
Most home equity contracts allow
the lender to change the terms of the
deal at any time, according to the
consumer group. Of 45 institutions
surveyed, not one offered a fixed in-
terest rate. Nearly 60 percent of the
lending institutions offered con-
tracts that would permit interest
rates to rise as much as 6 percentage
points above the original.
Fortunately, most homeowners
have been able to meet their com-
mittments and there has been no
wave of foreclosures. The average
bank has more than 2,500 home equi-
ty loans outstanding and less than
one in foreclosure.
Still, the potential for catastrophe
exists. Consumer’s Union recom-
mended new laws that would forbid
bankers from changing the terms of
home equity contracts once they are
signed. Given the strength of the
banking lobby, such legislation is not
likely in the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the 100th Congress did
pass one law that directly affects
homeowners. Existing bond pro-
grams to help first-time home
buyers were extended. The bonds of-
fer lower interest rates because the
interest lenders eam on them is tax
free. An estimated 1 million first-
time home purchasers have taken
advantage of the bond program
since it was initiated in 1980. It would
have expired this year had Congress
not voted to extend it
A Senate bill that would have
enabled first-time buyers to ac-
cumulate down payments in special
tax-exempt, five-year bank accounts
was defeated. Another bill that fail-
ed would have given first-time
buyers the right to “buy down” their
mortgages at a maximum rate of 6
percent.
UNGRATEFUL ALLIES - Here
are a few statistics to ponder the
next time you read about the Philip-
pines demanding a king's ransom
for permission to keep U.S. bases
by Dec. 31 a comprehensive list
to do so.
will recommend
of installations to
the deficit looms ever
Unless Congress acts by next
will occur a
.
UCUWR. ilUli-OTCHMai uiiJiwu/ a
arrirasrc
there, or the Greeks screaming
about American military personnel
in their country:
For the defense of allied nations in
Europe and the Pacific, the United
States supplies 40 percent of assign-
ed personnel, 63 percent of the naval
weight, 46 percent of the groundbas-
ed Jets, 91 percent of the seabased
Jets and 39 percent of all ground
forces.
One-fourth of all American forces
are deployed overseas, one-third If
you count temporary deployments.
The U.S defense budget is 6.1 per-
cent of the gross domeriic product -
far more than most of our allies
spend. And nearly 60 percent of the
U.S. defense budget Is dedicated to
the support of NATO.
It is not that we- and, we suspect,
most of the American taxpayers who
foot this bill -want or expect
fulsome praise. But a quiet thanks
now and then would boost our
spirits. Even a little less yapping
would help.
WATCH ON THE KREMLIN - In-
telligence sources believe Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev has laun-
ched a major effort to woo the
Japanese. No Soviet leader has bean
to Tokyo since World War O, but
Gorbachev is discussing the
possibility of a visit with Japanese
leaders. The twit he is dangling Is
• the return to Japan of two of four
Kuril Islands that the Soviets have
been occupying since 1945. For its
part, Japan would help the Soviets
with large-scale economic develop-
ment programs.
- Secret intelligence reports com-
ing out of the Soviet Union warn
Washington planners not to put too
much stock in the Kremlin's new,
soft image. Mikhail Gorbachev Is
pulling his forces out of Afghanistan
and has permitted dtoplays of in-
dependence in the satellite nations.
But under Gorbachev, the analysts
say, the Soviets have continued to
boost their combat forces by buying
more tanks, artillery, bombers and
fighter planes.
dr*' MS. Tmt-n *•«<*«. Wt.
Business community responding
By FREDERICK J. KREBS
As the end of this decade ap-
proaches, balancing work and fami-
ly responsibilities has become a ma-
jor concern for many Americans. A
dramatically changing work force
has transformed a traditionally
private concern for parents into a
workpiece snd « political isout.
The driving force behind these
changes is the increaring number of
working women. According to a re-
cent Department of Labor report:
• Today, 70 percent of women bet-
ween the ages of 25-34 are employed,
compared with 35 percent in 1960.
• Forty-five percent of the entire
work force are women. In 1950, only
30 percent was female.
•By the year 1000, 61.5 percent of
all women will work outside the
home. And between now and then, it
is estimated that three-fifths of new
entrants to the labor force will be
women.
• Of women with children under
6-years old, 57 percent work now,
compared with 12 percent in 1950.
Given the increasing numbers of
working women, no one disputes the
fact that a need fir child care exists.
Indeed, this issue has become a
political football for liberals and
conservatives alike.
All camps have their own versions
of how to improve child care ser-
vices. Some members of Congress
believe the government should have
an active role in regulating and pro-
viding access to child care. Others
would opt for a less intrusive federal
role, preferring to encourage volun-
tary private-sector options that
would make child care more affor-
dable and available Thus, this
debate centers around the extern of
involvement by the federal govern-
ment.
Meanwhile, the private sector -
without a government mandate —
already is addressing the child care
issue. For many companies, child
care is, or soon will
overall morale. In addition,
employers giving child care benefits
likely will find they have a f
in coming years.
The need to balance work anc
family responsibilities affects
businesses of all sixes as well as all
groups of workers - rich or poor,
two-parent or one-parent. As a
result, no one solution will satisfy
everyone.
Many believe that the only way
businesa can address the need for
child care Is to offer oo-rffi £U%.
However, this is short-aigtded. Such
a program is not always feasible nor
affordable for businesses. Cost, lack
of space and other factors may
discourage small businesses from
opening on-site centers. In addition,
parents may not want to use the ser-
vices of the facility. They may
prefer to leave their children closer
to home in a familiar environment
But there are other options available
to the business community.
An information and referral
system may provide greater
satisfaction for both employer and
employee than on-site care.
Materials or services provided by
local chambers, workplace
seminars, management consulting
services and electronic data base
references often are used by snail
companies to provide child care
assistance to their employers.
In M5, the Delaware Chamber of
Commerce recognised the need for
the business community to become
involved. The result was the Child
Care Connection, a private, non-
profit organisation which is a cen-
tralized information center for child
care services for working parents,
employers, child care profecrionals
and children in Delaware. The Child
Care Comectkn provides parents
with information through an elec-
tronic data base. In addition, it of-
fers workplace seminars and
help employers address their
employees’ child care needs. "
than I.M parents from 615
way far snail
le involved in
tall firms may
facility, they <
liability I
gwithothe
are
for
the work family "let
Polaroid Carp., for <
direct subsidy to cover a |
ofan<
system.
“Flextime,” job sharing, purchas-
ed slots in care centers, voucher
systems and direct payments are
other popular options. Direct
payments can offer tax benefits to
both employer and employee
through section 129 of the tax code.
All these policies have a dual ad-
vantage. They allow business to res-
pond t o their emptoyues child care
needs by helping them “buy into"
existing systems. Yet, they also
enable bu* nesses to respect the
privacy and freedom of choice of the
parents and avoid potential liability
problems.
It is dear that the businem com-
munity, without interference from
the government, is responding to the
needs of workers. On-site child can
is not the only, or necessarily the
best, answer. Businesses must have
flexibility to continue to addraae
work/family needs by using,
creative ideas that are mutually
bewefleial to the employer and
employee.
(Frederick J. Krebs Is it
manager ef the Business-
the UA.
i)
POLK COUNTY
ENTERPRISE
ALVIN HOLLEY. PUBLISHER
Telephone Number 327-4357
USPS 437-340
Entered as Secood-Claas Matter at the Post Office at Livingston,
Texas 77351 under the Act of Congress of March J, 1987.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Beatrice Hail. Special Correspondent
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SUBSCRIPTION RA1
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 91, Ed. 1 Sunday, November 13, 1988, newspaper, November 13, 1988; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth795983/m1/4/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.