Vol_2_No_3

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THE .

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We seek the truth, and will endure the consequences.

Volume 2 ~ Number 3

Ann Arbor, MI

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MARCH, 1984

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

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The Serpent's Tooth Soviet V nion held national elections, and the turnout should make American voters green with envy- 99 .99% For each election the Soviets appoint about 9 million "agitators" to see to it that each Russian citize n does his civic duty.

The turnout is also aided by the ama zing ease with which a Russian votes- all the essential information is already printed on the ballot he receives, so that he need only stuff it into the ballot box . No pencils, levers, or punchcards. Russian elections obviously lack the suspense of their American counterparts since all 180 millin voters are casting their ballots for the "monolithic block of party and people". But Russian elections do share one thing in common with ours here at home: The press has the gall to assume the results before the polls have closed.

What if they had a union and no one came? The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) has a solution. If no one wants to join, you force them to . Hence the "closed shop" policy now in place at the University of Michigan. If a Teaching Assistant refuses to pay his semester dues to the union, he is in danger of losing his job. And by golly, why not?

The Union provides many useful services to working grad students . . Services like ... er ... um ... well, the list goes on and on. And if some T As are to selfish to know what's good for them, then they ought to be set straight on the matter.

Fortunately, however, a small group of teaching assistants has decided that fascism has no place at this university and have begun a petition to create an "open shop". The Review wishes the petitioners good luck.

** We extend our most sincere condolences to the Andropov family. Only in the Soviet Vnion is the 'cold' so fatal.

**

Just to make sure everyone gets it right; yes, George McGovern, speaking about Andropov's death really did say:

** The stock market has been quite erratic in recent weeks, and market analysts are having a great deal of trouble deciding just what the market considers good news. There is no such confusion in Canada, though. When liberal Prime . Minister Pierre Trudeau announced he was giving up his office after 15 years, t he Toronto Stock Excha nge sO~t!~'F,!'~l,t;.,~;{., oints.. .....

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YURI ANOROPOV

"It is a modern tragedy that one of the Soviet V nion 's most intelligent and realistic leaders has served and died during the administration of one of the most ill-informed and dangerous men ever to occupy the White House." Can we expect much more from the man who promised to crawl on his hands and knees to Hanoi?

**

And don't forget, 81% of the American media voted for George McGovern in the 1972 Presidential Election. A bias? Naah.

**

The U.S. has no monopoly on elec.tion year hoopla: On March 4th the

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Remember that nickel-a-gallon gas tax that went into effect last April 1st?

The proceeds were supposed to go to road construction projects which, according to the abundant political rhetoric that accompanied the legislation was supposed to make a dent in the unemployment rate. The realistic projections at the time were that this fairly obvious pork barrel measure would create very few jobs when all the money was spent, but it can be said with some certainty that if none of the money gets spent, exactly zero jobs will be created. Which is what has happened so far. Some $5 billion generated by the tax has sat around unspent for the last five months while various fact ions in Congress fought over whose districts the money should be dumped on. A principal offender in the delay was Tip O'Neill, who was holding out for a new tunnel in his home district in Boston before he would help free up the money . Congress finally voted to' let the big dollars flow early this month, but not without some special plums being dished out to the appropriate legislators. We're fa irly sure that unemployment didn't have a whole lot to do with where the money is ultimately going, Tip O'Neill's tunnel in particular. Meanwhile, the jobless rate continues to fall, no thanks to Congress.

Fact and commentary compiled by the staff of The Michigan Review.

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It 's about time - - the state legi slature has finally recognized that they too are mere mortals and must suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with the rest of us . The "legislative immunity" clause, which protected state legislato rs from such annoyances as parking tickets, was at last repealed.

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Yes, after so me delay The Rev iew is back again. C omputerizat io n and a new format took some time, but we're stro nger than eve r. As always, we encou rage st udents t o submit letters and articles for publica tion. The Michigan Review remains as a forum for news, opinion, and discuss ion at The University of Michigan. ~

Debt and taxes. "The Income Tax. ,. noted humorist Will Rogers, "has made more Liars out of the American people than golf has. " That was 1924. These days. the IRS figures tax cheats are beating Uncle Sam out of nearly $100 billion a year in income taxes. So what's government's response? More audits. penalties. withholding. Com ing soon: a comp~terized phone system to dun delinquents at home. Sure. fair's . fair-but don't forget the underlying problem: Tax laws are too complicated, and tax rates are too high.

Cooked goose? "The art oj taxation ," said 17th Century French statesman Jean Baptiste Colbert, "consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest . . . amount oj feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing ... Mode,r n.day politi. cians pluck subtly-with "higher taxes" passed off as "revenue enhancement" and hidden taxes on companies that you end up paying. Such t"xes are as much a cost of doing business as wages or rent. so companies need to pass them on as higher prices. If your gasoline, for example, reflects the pattern for all oil products sold in the U.S .. the price of a gallon includes less than six cents of profit-but ~ that in InvIsible toxes!

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"Why do you break your back with the long form'"

Profits l, U.S. 7. The "real beneficiary" of profits. California Congressman Bill Dannemeyer explained to his constituents. "has been the US . GOllemmenl (whose) share of these so-called 'obscene' profits totaled more than seven limes what Mobil collected itself and over 23 times what Mobil 's shareholders received" That was even

before oil company earnings weakened and the Windfall profits lax arrived- but once again you' re hearing calls for an import fee or excise tax on crude oil that would boost your prices.

Simple alternative. Instead of looking for new taxes, isn't it time for govern ment to work harder at spending less? Back in 1960, Uncle Sam spent $92 billion and still had a budget surplus of $269 million. Now, the outlook for fiscal 1983 is a bloated. $208 billion deficit . . . unless Congress shrinks the planned $805 billion in spending. That deficit, and especially others planned for flve more years, will rekindle inflation and run up the cost of borrowing - and so derail America's economic recovery. So while you're still scrambling to rebuild your own nest egg after this year's April.I5 tax shock, let your congressional delegation know where you stand. Tell Uncle Sam how much his pinching hurts.

It's free: Our booklet, "Making Your Voice Heard in Washington. " will show you how to get your message across to Congress more effectively-but it won't tell you what to say. For your free copy, drop a postcard to Box V at the address below. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.

Mobir ObseMdions. Box A. Mobil 0.1 Corpofation. 150 EaSl 42

St_. New

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

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SPECIAL FEATUREl

THE

Silence is Golden

MICHIGAN

REVIEW

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at the Michigan Theatre

PUBLISH ER D o uglas A. Math ieSll n FO I rOR-IN-CHIEITheodore H. Rurnetl

A visit o r to the community of Ann Arbor, upon strolling down the busy commercial district on Liberty Street would probably be surprised to find. sa ndwiched between the John Leidy gift shop stores, the imposing Michigan Theatre Building stretching halfway down the block. Even students who pass the Michigan Theatre daily are often unaware of the building's tremendous historic value not to mention the diversity of programs that it hosts . A quick glance at the exterior of the building could be misleading, allowing one to mistake it for a typical film house. This is the fallacy that the Michigan Community Theatre Foundation (MCTF) is striving to dispel!.

The Michigan Theatre, built in 1927, Was but one of the many movie palaces constructed all over the country in the

try- once people re-awaken to the idea of silent film . Works-in-progress include the production of "Robin Hood", again a joint production with the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra, for the summer film festi val. Eventually Collins hopes to mak e this a more regular production, possibly a oi- or tri-annual event.

The historic Michigan Theatre Building certainly provides the perfect environment for silent film performances.

Besides having the necess ities (orchestra pit, full stage, proper equipment, and an organ) its architecture invites one's imagination to drift back to the fabulous va udeville era. Typical styles for that time period were intended to create a very colorful, elegant, rich impression. resembling the fantasy world of movies themselves.

In the 1930's, when "talkies" started to become popular, the silent film industry , in its peak of artistic development, fa<led . Sound became the prirrtary 'con'- '

success of the silent film industry of that decade . Unfortunately. the Theatre was only operating for the last couple years . of the silent film era, which ended wIth "The Jazz Singer" in the late 1920's.

In order to take advantage of the Theatre's design and original intent the MCTF is currently trying to promote the silent film. in its truest form . Silent film, because it is virtually unknown to our generation , is difficult to promote.

Too often, when silent film is mentioned, a slapstick version of Charlie Chaplin comes to mind. The common misconception about silent films is that they are very stinted and jerky because they were made with 'old fashioned' equipment. The belief persists because silent films are often played on moderrt sound-equipped projectors, which run at a higher speed than the silent originals. Played at the proper speed. silent films have the fluid movements one expects to see in a modern movie ..

Silent film is indeed more than just a movie, however. A proper production includes a full orchestra. organ accompaniment , and li ve actors on stage all perfectly correlated with the film. The overall effect is a truly exhilerating performance. Last fali the MCTF and the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra produced "Don Juan". Michigan Theatre manager Russ Collins says that the audience of just under 600 peo ple wa s even more 'c harged-up ' than the sell-out crowd which attended 'Amadeus'. He believes that Ann Arbor is the type of community which can support this indu s-

tography, which had bee n so vital in silent films, was negle€ted. Regardless, the idea of having noi$e on the screen was enormously popular 'and ~hen it became evident that "talkies" were the profitable business, the Michigan converted to sound films . .

The Theatre prospered iry sound movies until the late 1950's when the invention of television robbed much of the. movie industry's audiences . . The Theatre remained open until it became obvious to the managi ng Butterfield Compan y that continued . operation would no longer be profitable. In 1978, after their 50 year lellse expired, Butterfield only renewed the lease on a monthly basis until a suitable use for the building could be found . It was during this transition period that suggestions of converting it into a furniture showroom or a miniature mall were considered.

The Michigan Theatre underwent extensive renovations in the 1950's to accomodate America's changing architectural tastes . The bright red s. blues and greens of the 1920 era were regarded as gaudy and replaced with a sleek and streem-lined look. Much of the original multi-colored moldings were painted over in gray or ivory. Fake walls were installed to conceal much of the original design and the original Iightingy,ra.s replaced with indirectlight,.. lng .

It was the Motor City Theatre Organ Society of Detroit which brought the tremendous hi storic value of the Michigan Theatre to the attention of Ann

Ellie Seats

EXECIIl Ivr En l roR ~rent lI u~ nc ~

ASSOCII'. II l nl"l OR Will iam A. Smith R US I~ ESS

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~nthia Fctt~. Suc Hoffman. R\)~~­

mary Montgomery. Raj Pa td . Hema nt Pradhan . M arJ.. Vanlanl. J e nnil er \'a\\

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Sp ecia llha nk~ to Jamc' 1 rq!O. former fx\! cut\ e f d itor. fur all h i~ eontribution ~ to The Re\ ie \\ . Be't of luck in your future activitie~. J im!

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\l O"ORARY A \)VI SORY BOARD:

C. Will iam Colburn. Peter Fletc her.

Paul V·/. McCrack en. St e phen J .

Ton,or

St:P I'OR 1ERS: Gerald R. Ford . RU '~l'l Kir !.. . In ing K ri stol. R , Emmet '1 rrrell SPECIAL I HA "K S 10 : Ihe J\mait'an Nc\\ s Sen·ice. 1 cletype~cttlng. 1 he ~' oundatio n fur feonomic Fducatiun.

Thc H erita~c r' uu ndat ion. Thc Lcadcr~ hip In ~ t i tutc . '1 he Rea'oll " o undatilln

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Thc M ic h igan Rc\ ie \\ \\ cleo mes and a pprecia te" letter, from reader,. \.etter" for publication m u't include thc \\ ri ter', nam e. uddre"". and ttl e phone number.

Wc al,o \\e\come the Hl hmi ~~ ion ot article, . All \\or\.. \\ill bc rcyie\\ed by thc cditorial ~ t arr and co n,idered in light (If it ~ Mructurc lind contcnt.

All article .. and lc tter ~ mU\ l he double-spaced . We rl'gret that we are una hie to acJ..nowlcdge or r\!turn an) unpuhl b hed matcrial. n)O ~c inlcre\ted in " uhm itli ng k tte r' or artlcle~ "hould send them to.

T II F MICIIIGt\:-\ RFVIF\\ Su itt.' O ne 1) 1 I ;\ (Irth I nl\cr"it~ i\ nn /\ rour. \114 XIO'.I 1 he \J ic hi g"n Re\ ic\\ " un indcpl'nden t ~t ll dcl1l-run nC\\'p:IPCI a tthc Uni \c", i t ~ tit \1 1I:higan Ann Alh or. I hc I{ c\ ic \\ i~ III llll \\.I~ rc pl c'l· III.11iH' nt the pnlicie, or thl' OP I" 1I11l' tI l the ad l1l ini, tnttitln. alld an:ert, IIIl mtl ll c~ Irom the , ' ni\cr, it) ~

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Arbor city council. The Society's primary interest was in the Barton Organ, which is still in its original position in the Theatre. The organ fell into disrepair during the period from the 1940's through the 1960's and had been virtually abandoned. Recognizing the value of the instrument, th~ Motor City Theatre Organ Society formed an organization in Ann Arbor in the mid 1960's and restored the organ to operating condition. Then, when Butterfield announced its decision to move out , the organization became the non-profit Michigan Community Theatre Foundation (MCTF) who consequently convinced the city council to purchase the Theatre for $540,000. The citizens of Ann Arbor then passed, in April of 1982, two millage proposals : one to repa y the $500,000 debt still owed the city, and another to provide an additional $200,000 for improvements to the buildlng. . The MCTF is responsible for a\l

operating expenses' . Jncurred. Other than free use ·of the building, they receive no other subsidies from the city.

The MCTF finances its operations by renting the fac~lity to various organizations, (most notably the Classic Films Theatre) as well as donations from the ir members l ..and their annual fundraiser .

The Milljonaire's Ball, held each February. In addition to films, the Michigan also hbsts many live productions ranging from .the classical music of the Ann Arbo.r Chamber Orchestra to the rock im.isic of The Fixx, The auditorium , wi'thits excellent acoustics, unobstructed sight lines, good stage , 2000 person seating,capacity, and full orchestra pit also makes the Michigan Theatre a perfect host for plays and operas, The MCTF does sponsor some Broadway productions, the most recent being 'Amadeus' performed in the Theatre last fall. Plans are relatively secure for the rock o pera 'Evita' to be performed there this April.

Today , progress is slowly being made to restore the Michigan to the architect's original intent · a Paris Opera Hou se design . Visitors to the Michigan Theatre are usuall y impressed with its spacious lobby, double staircase, gold leaf trim . mirrored walls. and marble pillars . The Theatre. though. is still lacking that kaleidoscope of colors that recreates the image of our childhood fanta sies. Eventually. as the MCTF generates more funds. the Michigan Theatre will hopefully be restored to the grandeur of its spectacular past.

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MARCH,1984

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

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Laissez Faire!

The Li bertarian Orwell GEORGE

Ted Barnett The question has been asked many times: if George Orwell were alive today, to what political group would he belong? The question is a relevant one, especially in 1984.

Orwell chose to refer to himself as a "democratic socialist." As far as can be discerned, he decided on this specific title some time during the 1930's, after his adventures in the slums of France and England and before he wrote THE ROAD TO WIGAN PIER in 1937. In his essay "Why I Write" (written in 1946), he went so far as to say that: "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it." Despite the fact that he often chose to use the word "socialist" to describe his ideology, the appropriateness of the title has been frequently challenged: In his essay "The Politics of George Orwell: A Reappraisal", S.l. Ingle insists that: George Orwell was never really a socialist at any time in his life.

By that I mean that he was never committed to any generally accepted concept of socialism or any of its derivatives.

Orwell's outlook was undeniably leftist but it was the outlook of a moralist, not a pOlitical figure.

A similar argument may be found in the pages of the conservative magazine THE FREEMAN in 1964: Orwell's greatness is that he was so passionately on the side of man- concrete man, 'the man of flesh and bone'--that his heart always corrected his head. He tried hard to be a socialist, but sanity was always breaking in.

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The claim that Orwell was a socialist "against his will" is a popular one among conservative writers, and I believe that it does have some merit. However, references to Orwell's morality are not helpful in understanding what his political beliefs were. If Orwell was a moralist--then by what standard? In some sense, all thinkers are "moralists" to the extent that they are able to make moral decisions and explain them. But

if we are pursuing an understanding of Orwell's political ideology, we can not be satisfied with such ambiguous terms as "moralist".

In contrast to the prec~ding conclusions of THE FREEMAN, we find the highly sympathetic views of Carlyle King in his essay "The Politics of George Orwell." King applauds Orwell's harsh criticism of his leftist brethren and insists that such a hard-line approach is necessary if socialism is to maintain its ideological strength. King is not only willing but happy to grant Orwell the title of "socialist".

In my opinion, however, S.J. Ingle's analysis (discussed earlier) is more accurate. Socialism is an economic system and has a very precise definition. Sympathy with the ideals of equality, brotherhood, and collectivism are incidental.

A socialist must believe that the means of production should be wholly controlled by the State. King's looser application of tl1e teft? is simply inaccurate. Orwell's fundamental differences with this socialist ~hilosophy are not unimportant.

The anarchist writer George W oodcock, at one time a personal friend of Orwell, described Orwell's ideology as follows: Conservatism and socialism form the two poles of Orwell's political thought. What holds them together is the never wholly abandoned strain of anarchism.

Woodcock refers to this bizarre combination of ideas as "libertarian socialism", and I think that this curious, selfcontradictory label is not without some value. It draws together the paradoxical features of George Orwell's philosophy. Unfortunately, it is for the same reason ambiguous. We will return to a consideration of Orwell's self-contradictory nature later.

The least charitable characterizations of Orwell came from the Marxist camp.

His writings prompted the MARXIST QUARTERLY of January, 1956 to proclaim that he had run "shrieking into the arms of the capitalist publishers" with his novels ANIMAL FARM and NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR. Orwell's profound ideological differences with hard-line Marxists and Russian apologists were many. It is not surprising. perhaps, that their criticisms should take on such strong emotional overtones.

ORWELL

The charge that Orwell was a "capitalist puppet" does deserve some consideration. I think that the problem here is that Orwell did not choose to emphasize "capitalist exploitation" of the working class. From his earliest years as a writer, he had considered it important to oppose all forms of coercion-be they corporate or statist. This even-handedness did not win him any Marxist friends.

Leftist Raymond Williams' book GEORGE OR WELL contains many typical "far-leftist" criticisms of Orwell's thought. The primary theme of Williams' book is that Orwell gave in to the capitalists and moderates because of his "radical pessimism" about the possibility of a successfull socialist revolution.

This pessimism also eventually led to Orwell's "loss of identity" in the political realm.

Certainly there is some validity to this contention. George Orwell Was llPessimist, and, ... ..i we have seen, he did not haye a clear political identity. I find it disturbing, however, that Williams is completely unable to sympathize with Orwell's pessimism. Perhaps he was a pessimist for good reason! History has not yet given us reason to believe that the "fable" of ANIMAL FARM is far from reality.

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Why the disagreements about George Orwell's politics? This 4uestion is easily answered by even a cursory review of his wntlOgs. Orwell was his own worst enemy when he turned to the pursuit of ideological consistency. He vacillated, for example, between the revolutionary fervor of THE LION AND THE UNICORN and the "conservative" pessimismofANIMALFARM. Hewasone day a patriot and the next a dissident radical.

Given Orwell's tendency to vacillate, is it possible to attach any label to his ideology') From my own perspective. I am prepared to argue that he was in fact. if not name, a libertarian. By that I mean one who is opposed to all infringements on p~rsonal freedom by the State (or any other monopoly on the use of force) so long as that freedom does not involve the use offorce against another.

Unfortunately, every label carries with it a load of excess philosophical haggage .and ~'libertarian" is no exception. In order to maintain the coherence of this discussion, let us instead focus on a more specific feature of Orwell's thoughthis conflict with the idea of a central, omnipotent State~-and examine the effects of this conflict on his writings and ideology.

As George Orwell's moral code began to crystallize sometime in the late 1920's. he saw the need to classify his beliefs under one heading. Given the political climate of ~he era, his choice is hardly surprising ..

Orwell himself said, "1 n politics one can never do more than decide which of two evils is the less," and he chose socialism. In the 1920's and 1930's, protection of individual liberty was associated almost exclusively with the political left, and the belief that

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Hr. The Death of the Catholic Individual William Smith Since the Second Vatican Council, the general attitude among the members

of the American hierarchy has been that the most important direction the Roman Catholic Church must take in thi s final quarter of the twentieth cenury is toward ecumenism. M os t bishops feel that in a societ y \vith so many varying interpretations of Christianity, the ideal goal is to reconcile those differences and create a single Christian church for all believers. Only in this manner, stat e the ecumenists, can the Christian message be truly practiced. be-cause prejudice will not exist. Christianity can also be a potent socio-political commentator only if theological division is resolved. Consequently, much discussion and re-interpretation of traditionally held doctrines and forms ·of worship . has occurred

communal beatificatIOn rather than singil' extending divine power through himself. Other liturgical changes have been a gradual disappearance in most American churches of such purely Catholic ceremonies as Rosaries, Novenas , and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Liturgical music has also been changed; in stead of the Gregorian Chant . and Moza rt-Haydn-Palestrina of th e old rite , the new rite uses fo lksong and simple hymns which the entire congregation can sing. The reason for such vast change has been a visible effort of Roman Catholic ecumenism. Liturgy is the most direct sign of what a Church believes . If the liturgy of a religion incorporates pract ices outside of its t radition, the subtler and more difficult reconciliations \?f doctrine and philo-

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ches of Amencan Christianity, Cathoh-

T hiS reconciliatIon o f belie f has In-

cism and Protestantism, with the Roman deed been achieved in certain important Catholic Church making clear theologiareas with both Protestant leaders and cal concessions. The Church has also secular intellectual trends. A decision made a definite attempt to incorporate on the nature of Christian salvation was secular philosophies in its drive for reached recently by the American bishops declaring the.ancient Catholic docsocial action and relevance.

These concessions have most visibly trine that the individual achieves divine occurred in the liturgy of the Catholic grace by his good and pious actions an Church. The Mass is not only said now incorrect reading of Scripture. The in vernacular languages, but many prayLutheran teaching that the believer goes to heaven only through stating that he ers pertaining to purely Catholic theology have been removed or rewritten to \ accepts Christ as the Savior was said to include prayers and rites borrowed from be the more valid belief. Other accords Protestant services. Prayers referring to with Protestantism have been encoUfthe altar as the "temple" of the Lord aged by the American bishops in such were withdrawn, as were those restrictareas as the infallibility of the Pope, the ing the sacrament of communion only position of the Virgin , and clerical celito "orthodox and faithful" Catholics. bacy. The bishops have called for The emphasis on individual confession Catholic concessions. Secular attitudes 'and prayer to saints and the Virgin was have also been urged or accepted. Sechanged to prayer of a more communal veral bishops have openly demanded nature . Instead of going to Mass to changes in the Church's teachings against birth control, premarital sex , and homoprivately adore and receive Christ , as was the exhortation of the prayers of the sexuality, in order to concur with the old rite, the new rite encourages CatholChurch's 1972 ru ling permitting diics to introduce each other and pray vorce. American bishops are generally openly anti-militaristic and reject the with each other, with such ceremonies traditional 'just war' doctrine of Saint as "The Rite of Peace" (borrowed from Mennonite practice). The priest, inAugustine. The recent ecclesiastical lettel' condemning President Reagan's destead of individually facing the altar and praying privately, now faces the confense policies is the current example. gregation and prays aloud with them.

Many bishops also encourage socialist At the final blessing, he now invokes a economies and a less heavy emphasis on

This column is designed to provide a forum for religious discussion. All \';ewpoints are appreciated.

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private propert y, in contrast with the former attitude of Pope Pius XII. The American bishops feel that such concessions to Protestant and secular philosophy will make the Roman Catholic Church a greater social voice in the modern world.

This dominant empha sis on ecumenism and social relevance is, however, a fallacious and unfortunate priority. To empha size the reconciliation of prejudices is always laudable. but such settlement is wrong if individual ttaditions which have survived for centuries have to be abandoned. Catholic doctrine has inspired and comforted millions longel than almost any other institution in Western civilization. It need not be dis-

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carded by the Church because other people believe differently in today's society. Catholics should not feel embarassed simply because others may not agree with their views. Religious war. for the most part, is ancient history for Catholics and Protestants. The tw o sides should be able to live with each other's doctrinal discrepencies without needing to reassure each other by sacrificing their own traditions. as they were able to do during the early part of this century. For modern Catholics to always wish to be like their neighbors is similar to medieval Catholics torturing theirs to behave like them. Uniformity

See page 12

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

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THE MICHIGAN

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Paranoia at the MSA

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A brochure being distributed b) the "Students for a Responsible University Community" concerning the proposed code of ;\onAcademic Conduct warns u!. that " Bi g Brother has come to our university". This reaction t o rhe administration's plan is only the latest in a string or"conspiracy theories" rormed and promoted by our pseudo-representatives in the M ichigan Student Assembly .

The administration is und e rstandabl y s urpri sed by the adverse reaction to th e proposed code. After all, what's wrong with a policy int end ed to prevent theft , arson. rape. drug dealing, and propert y destruction as long as this policy is administered in a res ponsible fashion?

The MSA-fund ed response to the plan would have us believe that the code is a university administration plot to sq uelch , among other things, student dissent in the form of sit-ins. The MSA , and its ideological overlo rd . the Progressive Student Network, flatt e r themsc\ves by assuming that the adm inistration is so concerned with last semester's sit-in that they have hatched an elaborate plan to control them .

Keep in mind , though. that this is not the first time that our noble student legislators have hurled the accusation "conspiracy" at the University Administration. Remember the Reagan-backed plot to eliminate the School of Education because it is a school with a large fema le and minority enrollment? And don't forget the insidious plan to turn the U of M into a robotic dictatorship by increasing funding for the School of Engineering .

It appears that the leaders of the largely irrelevant Michigan St udent Assembly have nothing better to do with their time (and our money) than uncover plots by the University Admini st ration.

Of course, if the Asse mbly has any purpose, it is to look out for.... student interests. But there is certainly a difference between constuctive concern for our health. safety, and privacy and unproduct ive paranoia . The admistration of our school ha demonstrated a genui ne interest in student affairs and we see no reason to ass ume that this is not the case.

The proposed code of Non-Academic Conduct ma y indeed be nawed and require revision . Per haps the administration would be wise to increase student involve ment in the process so as to avoid claims of bias or punishment without due process. These are legitimate questions. But the idea of a !'Jon-Academic Code is certainly justified. The lo ng arm of the civil justice syste m may not be the best protecti on of ou r safety.

The opinions expressed in this editorial represent the unanimous opinion of the editors. t '*',~'

Letters Dear Sirs: Ordinarily, I'll read most anything. Words fascinate me, and opinions--anybody's opinions-and the possibility of intelligent thought are my )fa~<lrite,f()oqsl,iBut;l'HE.···Ml~Hl6:AN

REVIEW is something else. Your stupid-I use the wdrd carefully-HI n Review" page is unpardonable, in a university or anywhere else.

How can a distinguished intellectual like Stephen Tonsor let his name be associated with such dumb and adolescent twaddle?

Don't take me off your mailing list--just quit publishing this thing. I am embarrassed by your existence, and others must be, too.

Very Sincerely, Bert G. Hornback Professor of English Dear Gentlemen, .. .1 would like to thank you for the package and THE MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GUIDE. I still have THE MICHIGAN REVIEW newspapers ...

Thank you for showing the true support of the Michigan people toward the Marines that are serving over here. It is a very good feeling to get gifts from home. Especially Michigan.

Write again, keep in touch and thank you agaIn. Sincerely. <::,orporal Matt Collins ~Wpns Co., Dragons BLT Beirut

In a recent article by Mark Vanzant on the private voluntary organization Oxfam (M R Dec. 1983). it was put forth that "Americans tend todistrust organiudonsand inuivlduals that make it their business to become involved with poverty in the Third World." In fact, too often the willingess to help the poor of the developing world is twisted to serve American foreign policy interests and receives much support. It should be pointed out that Oxfam is very unique among voluntary aid organizations in that it does not accept government aid.

Most aid organizations do accept U.S. government assistance. and some are quite dependent on the government connection for their resources.

In as much as U.S. foreign aid is a tool of U.S. foreign policy. much of the effort of voluntary aid agencies is cbnstrained by the designs of aid programs. U.S. foreign aid programs follow the general approach to foreign policy in that their purpose is to enhance American strategic interests overseas. Far too often this has fallen short of improving the lives of the neediest. * The real danger is not in the hounding of organizations like Oxfam. who are clearly driven by a committment to the elimination of a need for aid. Their record in development will dispel any doubt as to their intentions in the developing world. A greater risk should he recognized in the luring of private aid organizations into the fray of power politics behind most official aid programs.

Da\id Baughman

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MARCH,1984

Commentary

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Machiavelli

Conyers gives his support to the Palestine Liberation Organization, you tell him "We can do with0ut bombs and guns and terrorists who kill little children and other innocent people with a business-as-usual attitude."

How dare you! lfyou knew anything about my people and our struggle you would understand why the killings continue. You would understand why a man whose mind is on fire because his whole family was wiped out by an Isreali bomb that fell on their home, why a man would put a bomb on a crowded bus in Jerusalem ... You would that there are countless thousands like him all burning inside, screaming at the world to stop the slaughter of his people. TO STOP IT NOW! ... I'm speaking to the person who wrote that MICHIGAN REVIEW article and I'm pleading to anyone who doesn't know what happened to my people and why we still struggle to this very day. Just try to understand and when you do you'll understand why I'm writing this letter. Find out both sides of the story ...

I am a University student, however, I must remain anonymous for fear ofharrassment from the United States Government. Some day you'll know my name.

(To the Editor: Surprise me and print this article.)

After standing for ten minutes in a Post Office line of five people, listening to inept clerks unceasingly babbling to customers about everything from the latest shopping trends to the Detroit Lions, then finally reaching the desk to purchase two stamps and discover that they don't sell manila folders, I too echo Mr. Barnett's complaints in "The Mail Monopoly, You Call This Service?" The inherent inefficiency in our nation's Postal Service is a sound cause for the introduction of competition and breaking the monopoly's protected power.

President Reagan apparently wishes to remain quiet on the matter and our government continues to feed an already fatted calf at the taxpayer's expense.

Keep upthefine work, M.R. You are truly a light shining in darkness.

Sincerely, Jay N. Blazek Ann Arbor

To THE MICHIGAN REVIEW, I'm writing in response to the "In Review" section of your December, 1983 issue. When Michigan Rep. John

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The Proposed Code: Yell if You Can't Think!

William Smith To prevent the recurrence of such a violent climate is the true purpose of the Code, Those who would argue with a In his letter to the January 30 U nverset of rules preventing harassment of sity Record, Professor Henryk Skoliindividuals; those who would condemn mowski condemned the proposed Student Code for Non-Academic Conduct. the protection of the educational functions of a University from impediment; He believes that the Code which the and those who would denounce a body Regents are currently preparing to instiof regulations providing stronger securtute is a "potentially repressive meaity against rape and theft can only be sure," the iptention of which is "to stifle described as asinine, This term is harsh. dissent and to discourage the unorthono doubt.. but it is unfortunately apt. dox." This position is unfortunate from an academic professional, because ProRational members of an intellectual community like the University of Michfessor Skolimowski only shows that he apparently does not value the indispenigan do not define civil disobedience within the framework of illegal entry sable foundations of personal liberty and verbal assault. Rather, they seek an which the formulators of the Code environment in which opposing ideointend to protect: Protection from viological factions settle disputes through lence, security from harassment, and intelligent, civil debate and co-exisunimpeded education. The Student Code for Non- Academic Conduct is tence. The Code implicitly states these as goals. It is a laudable set of academic not a tyrannical move on the part of the laws which would allow rational, calm Regents to squash disagreement with dissent to operate in the peaceful sphere University policies and "threaten some in which it thrives. of the noblest traditions of human soStudents should unconditionally supciety." On the contrary, the Code would port the plan of the University Regents ensure that most noble of American .i,heri~gei~the.rj,gb.:ll,!m·;3,p.,iIMliMiduaLtQ., "',. ~~·AA()Pt tbep"9pos~dStuden~ c:ode for think and speak as he or she chooses Non-Academic Conduct. It would be without the fear of harassment from unfortunate if the majority of students dissenting groups. did not trust in the University AdminisThe most outspoken criticism of the tration and its ability to provide a Code has generated,quite logically, from vibrant and peaceful intellectual envirsuch groups as the Michigan Student onment. The general student must Assembly. These organizations apparprefer to voice its disagreements through ently have one basic goal. They wish to calm and rational channels, not through rekindle the turbulent, often violent melodramatic, narrow- minded outspirit of the anti-Vietnam era, an epoch bursts. Intelligent scrutiny of the Code for which Professor Skolimowski claimed shows that its rules inten d to promote a in his letter to have great respect. These forum for true civil disobedience-a years were fraught with violent conforum in which arguments are won by the power of articulate, carefully consiflicts, fierce hatred, and finally angry dered discourse and not by rude insult disillusionment on the part of the activists. Classroom vandalism, profane and potential destruction of property. invectives hurled at teachers and adminIf this desire to see personal safety istrators, and riots betwe~n factions and a valuable education protected from were all too frequent on college camviolence makes an individual a "conserpuses during the late \96O's and early vative; faceless, obedient cipher," Pro1970's. No sane student can possibly be fessor Skolimowski, then you must also proud of such a tragic past, but sadly include the Mahatma Gandhi you claim groups like the MSA appear to take to praise in that category. His great such pride. The insulting treatment of contribution was to prove peaceful, General Alexander Haig during his visit intelligent disagreement an infinitely and lecture last fall and the endorsemore successful method than violence. ment of a threatening environment engenThe Student Code for Non-Academic dered by the blockade of Professor Conduct will encourage and protect Thomas Senior's research laboratory those who pursue this spirit. True, the are vivid and unhappy reminders of the Code is not intended for those who unproductive and often destructive actidemand a carte blanche permissiveness vities associated with the Vietnam profor irrational, immature, self-aggrantest era. They are indeed "dark shadows dizing acts of overt or covert violence. It creeping 'back from the recent inglorwill protect the larger body of students ious past,r" Although different from who, like Mahatma Gandhi, seek peacethose to which Professor Skolimowski ful rationality as their method toward alludes, they are certainly just as ugly. voicing dissent.

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page 8

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

MARCH,19S4

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Job Resurgence

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Janet Simons

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had to renege on the offers.

(College Press Service)-After months "Dresser will never come on this of issuing gloomy forecasts, college place- campus again," Shingleton seethes. ment officers around the country have "Those were entry-level jobs in regrown more optimistic in recent weeks mote, rural areas," explains James about students' job prospects this year.

Papalexsis of Dresser's personnel of"I think recruiting is going to be up by fice. "Rather than have people relocate 15 to 20 percent nationally from last and then impose reductions in the work year," says Victor Lindquist, placement force, we decided not to bring them on director at Northwestern University in board."

Evanston, Ill., and author of the EndiDresser, which used to hire about 800 cott Report, a national survey of stu- new graduates annually, still has "a few dent placements. thousand" employees laid off and so "That's still down from what it was \vill keep this year's campus recruiting two years ago, much less three years "very limited," Papalexsis says. ago," he adds. "I don't see any sudden Some energy firms, however, are startturn. This is going to be a gentle turn." ing to show up again at Texas, Payne Lindquist and others have little hard says. data on which to base their optimism, Phillips, Gulf, Conoco and Shell have but they take heart from the trickle of returned after a year's absence. recruiters moving back onto campuses.

Energy recruitment "almost ceased to "The big thing is that we\e been on a exist" last year, Payne says. "Banks and downward curve for some time," says accounting came through the recession Jack Shingleton, Michigan State Uni- almost like there wasn't one." He versity placement director and author observed a minor slowdown in recruitof another annual national student job ing by high technology companies. survey.

"IBM had been sending 25 interview"I think we've bottomed out, and ers," he says. "Last year it was down to we've started back up," he says. about 12 or 15. It's back up to 20 this year. " It would have been hard for student job prospects to sink much lower. "I The market for teachers still appears don't know how it could get any worse to be sluggish, despite the rash of new t~~t wasin" . :~3,:' Lindquis·t~bli·erves.. pl'op~~al!> fQr higher ,..tea,c hcrsalaI;\eS "Hiring of graduates was ofrby 41 per- and more teacher hirings. cent nationally last year."

Yet "the school popUlation is still decShingleton says the number of firms lining, and budgets are still tight," says recruiting at Michigan State is about Northern Iowa's Wood. "I think that the same as last year, but that the com- things will pick up dramatically in a few panies plan to hire more graduates this years, though. They have to. So few time. people are going into education, and "One of the Big Eight accounting more children are coming along. Alfirms was telling me that it was planning ready, enrollment is up for kindergarten to hire 10 percent more people than last and first grade." year," he reports.

Berkeley's Briggs says some recruiters At the University of Texas-Austin, "it are returning with a greater apprecialooks better than last year for sure," tion for liberal arts majors. They show says Dr. Glen Payne, associate place- increased interest in hiring generalists, ment director at Texas' business school. and are softening their formerly-strict "Last year 490 firms came to cam- requirements for technical training. pus," he recalls. "This year we're back He says liberal arts majors are having up to 600, and so far they're not cancel- good luck among management. finanling at nearly the rate they were last year cial services and retailing recruiters. at this time."

But some of the placement officers' One of five firms that signed up to tentative optimism rests on timing. recruit at the University of CaliforniaLindquist, for example, believes that Berkeley last fall cancelled, Berkeley this year's presidential elections will placement head James Briggs says. He inspire "a lot of economic pump primsays the number of scheduled interviews ing in the next few months. If we get a is up slightly this year, and the firms he's sense of euphoria about the economy talked to are more confident. out of that, it will improve Reagan's "People finally believe that we're in a chances, and it will improve campus recovery," he says. "They're more optirecruitment. " mistic, and companies anticipate a re"If you really want a good handle on turn to growth." what's going to happen, talk to (Federal The hard-hit energy Industry's recruitReserve Chairman) Paul Volcker." ing is still off. It hit bottom last aca- Lindquist advises. "It's going to depend demic year when Dallas-based Dresser, on whether the basic industries perk up, Inc., a supplier of oil exploration equip- and if we see construction of new plants. ment that is ranked 83rd on the Fortune It's like dropping a pebble in a pORd. 500, told more than 100 Michigan State One of the ripples of economic recovery students that they had jobs, but then is college recruitment." ~

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" The,1QQ-Huuting,Gall1e Mark Vanzant Higher education-is it worth the cost? Apparently, for some 35,000 here in Ann Arbor, the answer is "yes."

Undoubtedly, an overwhelming majority of any university'S student body attend in order to increase earning power in the job market. .

Many a student assumes that just as his coursework follows a natural progression, so employment and a career will fall into place upon receiving his diploma. At least, this assumption is made until one actually begins to look for ajob; then panic. "Interviewing?" he queries. "Do I have to?" comes the whine. Following this strike pangs of fear laced with indignation at having to suffer through such humilia tion. "Don't these companies know I'm good? I can do the job! Why don't they just take my word for if)" Employers probably wish fillingjobs were as easy as accepting a recruit's promise that he will be capable, trustworthy, and always faithful. Unfortunately, the complexities of life, the universe, and everything prevent such niceties.

After accepting the fact that a job is not about to fall into his lap, this not-50mythical student, after some cursory research, finds that the Engineering Placement Office, if he is an engineering ,~tudent, or the Career Planning and

Placement Office. if he is a student of any type (even Philosophy majors), are at his disposaL On-campus interviewing is orchesrated by these two offices and secms to be the service which !s most utilized by job-hunting students. Those companies wishing to recruit send one or more interviewers to campus to ferret out those wonderful students who will most ably perform in the world of work.

Those students desiring interviews sign up to speak with the interviewers who represent the wonderful companies which are about to employ the wonderful students. . As those who have participated in the aforementioned process can attest, "it ain't necessarily so," With many students desiring interviews with the same corporation and openings for interviews limited to about thirt- een per interviewer per day, competition for even sign-up can be fierce. Tne problem seems to be more1:lcute in the Engineering Placement Office, where students often waited overnight for sign-ups the next morning.

The Career Planning and Placement Office has a computerized process for signing up and the Engineering Office is presently undergoing the transition t 0 one. By this method, students submit requests for interviews. These requests are fed into a computer which vomits

See Page 12

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW '0'

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Myth and Reality

Movies

Mark Weinhardt At first blus h, Bob Fosse's "Star 80" appears to be a movie about Dorothy Stratten, the Playboy playmate who died with her husband in a bizarre murder / s uicide. And he r stor y is a natural for the movies: A simple but very pretty girl from Va nco uver is discovered in an ice-cream st o re by a smalltime hustle r who tak es he r to Lo s Angeles and gets her onto the page s o f Pla y bo y. They marry and she is propelled int o a film career. As she becomes m o re successful and as bigger people move into her life , s he outgrows her husband and he goes wild with en vy, eventuall y killing his bride and himself.

"Star 80" follows this basic idea , but Fosse has made a film much less about Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway. than about the life of her husband Paul Snider (Eric Roberts), and about the ruthless w o rld of show business that devoured the two of them.

Roberts gives an intense, brilliant performanc!! that is the centerpiece of the film. captures ev'ery f~cet ofthe ' nervous two-bit finagler in search of the big score. Everything about this man is

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garish and cheap~his clothes, his smile , much less for her own qualities (she wa s the wa y he practices conversation in a beautiful but at best a marginal actress) than for her ' strange story and the mirror --and his every move is calculated to help make him a success. But behavior of the people who surrounded the succes s he's after is purely parasitic. her. Within these confines HemingOnce he take s Doroth y in tow he lives wa y's performance is d ecent , although she's not quite right fo r the role . She his whole life through her and the career he is tryin g to build for he r. Heretofore comes acro ss as a sophisticated woman he had spent his days promoting auto trying hard to look and act the part of the Pla ybo y ingenue. shows and wet T-shirt contests , but to Dorothy he sa ys "Toge ther we could be The film is composed of numerou s s omebod y. " flashback s and int e r v iews with som e o f The pe o ple at Playbo y had different the characters, and it has a journalistic ideas. Stratten was gre at centerfold feel to it as a result. which is no accident. material and had a little a cting potenThe film is based very close ly on "Death tial , but Snid e r was less than valueless of a Pla ymate," an excellent investigato Play boy once he deleve red Dorothy, tive article which ran in the VILLAGE and H ugh Hefner (Cliff Robertson) and VOICE few month s after Dorothy Co. tried hard to brush him aside.

Straiten died. The only major detail Shunned by the people who were taking that has been fictionali zed is the identity his wife and her career from him, Snider of Peter Bogdanovich , who was in real became increasingly angry and unsta~ life the film director with whom Stratble, and Roberts exquisitely portray s ten fell iN love while working on a movie. his quality of being treacherous and pathetic at tne same time .

This is unmistakably a Bob Fosse Alongside Roberts, Mariel Hemingfilm, As in" All That Jazz," he turns the way is unobtrusive and 'urireniarkable . ·entertainmentind·u stry upside.;(}'()wn so as Dorothy, but in a way that's just the we can see its seamy underside. It is an point. Dorothy Straiten is memorable extremely well-directed and well-photo-

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graphed movie, especially ~hen it focuses on scenes of s leaze: Hugh Hefner 's inane parties , parades of barel y clothed women on skates at the P layboy mansion, Paul Snider's male strip shows, even junk fo od served at a carnival. Th e film steps o n a few toes, and the reaction to it in Holvwood ha s been acc ordingly cool: in th e Oscar nonllnatiollS it has been downright frigid .

In the end Dorothy is s hown as being part the victim of Paul, but more so the y are both victims of the dream factor y.

When Paul Snider shoot s her in the climactic sce ne, he yells " They did this l " Fosse presents her deat h as ana llegory for what happens to women like Dorothy over and over. A s soon as the gun goes off we are looking at Hugh Hefner. He is examining test shots of a potential playmate, a girl from Davenport, Iowa . She has a wholesome look about her, he says, and a very good body . In businesslike tones he notes that she has no scars, nothing they will have to fix.

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BLAME IT ON RIO, by 20th Century Fox. Directed by Stanl ey Dbnen . Starring Michael Caine, Jo se ph Bologna, Valerie Harper, Michelle Joh'nson, and Demi M oore .

Brainless, prurient trash. Two businessmen (Michael Caine , Jo se ph Bologna) with lousy marriages take their teenage daughters with them for a month's vacation in Ri o, and immediately upon arrivalone of the men (Cain e ) is seduced b y the other one's daughter (M ichelle Johnson). Lik e " I 0", this is s upposed to be a sex comedy with a mes sage, but almost nothing is funny , and th e moralizing at the end is so hollow th a t the characters themselves start poking fun at it. The only thing good to be said about thi s film is that the sex object is indeed sexy - Michelle Johnson is gorgeou s, like the best of those sultry mannequins one sees on MTV. But she's a wretched actress , and they've given her miserabl e lines to speak. Aside from cheap thrills for thdl'lale audience during the topless beach s cen~ s, the principal effect of this film is to'embarrass Caine and Bologna, two actors capable of much better performances and deserving of much better roles. Blame it on their a gents.

SILKWOOD, by ABC Motion Pictures. Directed by Mike Nichols. Starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russel, and Cher.

The big story here is the acting. Meryl Slreep 's portrayal of the real-life nuclear employee with a growing awareness of the danger surrounding her was anxiously awaited, and she does not let us down . She gives a brilliant , superhl y detailed performance that very effectively captures her transformation fr o m a wise-cracking working girl to a nu clear safet y activist . If anything, she is almost to o good - her changes go so far and so s moothly that they lose a little credibility . Kurt Ru ssel is excellent as her perplexed but true boyfriend, and he is finally gettinga chance to prove his talent in first-rate films . The same holds true for Cher, who gives a surprisingl y convinc ing performance as Karen's best friend. The film is well-directed, and the camera work inside the shabby hou se that the main players share is especially well done . The scenes in the nuclear plant seem limited, though. We get the impression that there is much more to the place than the director shows us .

The film may play fast and loose with some of the facts ' concerning Karen Silkwood's life, but my advice is to forget that, and just enjoy this compelling, high quality film .

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MARCH,1984

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

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Drugs and the Free Market Steve Horwitz The job of the economist is to establish facts, independent of his or her own opinion. The issue of drug legalization is one in which moral feelings and sentiments playa large role. I will show that, independent of any moral judgments, that there are establishable economic benefits from drug legalization as well as non-economic advantages. My framework will be the free market. The definition of the free market is that market where all transactions are voluntary, and that as long as the transactions are voluntary the set of results is accordingly acceptable (for a detailed explanation of this notion see the works of Ludwig von Mises, F. A. Hayek, or, recently, Robert Nozick). The free market is a process, not a set of results.

Accordingly, any voluntary trade of property is consistent with the free market, and any prohibition on volun-

tary trade or any use of force (which is by definition involuntary) is not, regardless of the results. We now have a framework wherein the drug laws can be examined.

The buying and selling (and resulting use) of drugs is not any different from any other transaction on the market.

Someone has a product that someone else wants, and they trade voluntarily.

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Arrest me for bashing someone in the head, but do not arrest me for buying the clock radio I used in the crime. The

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purchase of the clock radio is a voluntary trade from both parties' points of view and is consistent with the free market. Bashing someone in the head is an involuntary action from the victim's point of view (assuming he did not request that you do it), and not consistent with the free market. The bitter irony is that this is how many conservatives view gun control, but they do not see drugs in the same light.

Having established that drug trade and use is consistent with the free market, we can now examine the effects of legalization, whatever they may be, Would crime run rampant and would we have a society full of addicts lying around listening to The Doors all day long? My claim is that we would not, and that we can show at least four beneficial effects from drug legalization.

The most voiced complaint is that drug use and purchase leads to, and brings with it, crime. Virtually all drug related crime is. either committed by users needing money or pushers unhappy with each other's business practices. In the case of the user, certainly the drug throws off his perception of right and wrong, but why does he have to steal? To support his habit. Drugs are expensive and many addicts do not have a steady income. So if drugs are not so expensive crime would fail, given :'路Jhat the demand for drugs is" inelastic (usage will not increase to the extent that price falls) in the relevant range.

How does one lower the price of drugs?

Legalize them.

According to recent studies, the actual cost of the physical drugs is ofte n only about 20% of the street price. What constitues the other 80%? The answer is risk. The business of illegal drugs involves a great deal of risk and the people concerned want to be compensated for that risk, They do so by raising the price until their monetary gain is worth the risk they take. Reduce the amount of risk by removing the portion that arises from it being illegal and the price falls accordingly. Of course it would probably not fall the whole amount because the "free market" conservatives and the paranoid liberals would tax and regulate the industry to death, and in doing so raise the price back up, Since we are dealing here with a free market framework we will drop this issue.

I think that we can agree the demand curve is inelastic in this range. Drug use will not quadruple if the price falls by about the amount suggested, Even if it did, there is still another point to be discussed. There is a constant trade-off between risk and supply in ths: busines~ world" The more risky a business venture is, the smaller the amount of people willing to get involved, As the risk rises, supply falls and as risk falls, supply rises, Because of the substantially reduced risk when drugs are legalized. all of the sub-marginal suppliers will

now enter the ma rket, all thlllgs being equal. There is no longer the added risk from legal impediment; only the general risk of any business venture remains, This increase in supply will also cause the price to fall independent of the first argument.

One side effect to consider is that supply might not increase to the full amount possible because a number of suppliers may be unable to compete in the new market. They may either be forced out by a better product or be unable to compete without the lise of force. Others may leave because profits will fall inevitably. As with de-regulation there is a shake-down period where some firms enter and some leave; how the market will proceed we cannot say.

For a perfect current example see the recently de-regulated airline industry, The gist of our argument to this point is that the buying and selling of drugs are consistent with a free market. When the government outlaws it, it creates a high risk factor that increases the price substantially, Because the demand for the product is inelastic, consumers find it difficult to adjust their demand and are forced to find .ways of being able to pay. Very often this involves stealing or risking an entire business to do so, With legalization we can say as well that even if usage went way up anyone individual's propensity to steal will be lower.

Another effect of a free drug market would be an increase in 4uality all throughout the market. Much of the physical danger from drug use is not from the drug proper. Very often the drugs are tainted or cut with other substances, very often dangerous ones.

Another big risk factor is equipment. such as unsterile needles or other unclean implements, The forces of competition in a free market would ensure quality and purity. People who were harmed by falsely advertised products would have the resources of the Better, Business Bureau or Consumer Report to fight back and prevent further incidents. And, of course, there will be no government spraying paraquat on marijuana crops, To return for a moment to the crime issue, I mentioned that crime is also caused by pusher problems, If one pusher does not like the practices of another, he gets him killed or strongarms him out of business I n a legaliled, free market this will not happen. The president of I BM does not gun down the president of Xerox when Xerox lowers its prices. On the other side we cannot imagine a pusher today calling the police to report another pusher's bad business practices, When drug trade is legalized, there is no fear of using the law, as opposed to force, to settle disputes,

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From Eage 4 capitalism and fascism are somehow related had begun to take shape .

Orwell's devotion to "justice, liberty, and the plight of the unemployed"therefore seemed to coincide best with the aims of the socialist movement. I should hasten to point out, however, that this is not mea nt to serve as an excuse for Orwell's cho ice. A truly great thinker must be able to see beyond the misconceptions of his era . By that standard, Orwell's cho ice of the socialist doctrine was a mistake .

For socialism means much more than justice and liberty. If we are to accept the standard definition, socialism necessitates the institution of a large, central, coercive body--the State_ The fact that "the workers" are presumably in control of this ruling body is not relevant; some such monopoly on the use of force must

Among the major charges being levelled at the Reagan ad ministrillion nowad ays is the alleged "unfairness " of Fed era l budget cutbacks to the poor and underprivileged.

This argument involves a numbe r of ass umptions that are of doubtful validity. It assumes , for instance, that Federal spending for domestic programs has actually been cut; that such dom estic s pending is beneficial to the needy; and that reductions in the realtive size of Federal outlays would therefore be ha rmful to those in lower-income brackets.

All these assumptions are mistaken: I.) In point of fact , the Federal budget generally, and Federal outlays for domestic "human resource" programs, continue to move upward at a rapid clip. The Federal budget has grown from $660 billion in 198 I to $796 billion in fiscal '83. Spending for socalled "human resource" programs d uring this same span grew from $345 billion to $416 billion .

2.) Far from eliminating poverty, the growth of these programs has been . ac~ompanied by an increase in the povert y level.!l~()!fi¢i~ily , d efi ne9' ~~~~:'~', 4 . ".

1966, when the "war on poverty" programs started to take hold, we have increased such Federal spending ten times over (from $42 billion to $416 billion) . But the number ofpoor people in our society, rather than declining , has grown from 28.5 million to 34.4 million .

3.) The cost of all this Federal spending is creating economic hardship , dragging the average citizen down the economic ladder. ~rom 1973 to 1983, the median American family lost $1300 in purchasing power, thanks to the twin burdens of taxes and runaway inflation.

Only in the past two years with lower inflation rates and tax rate reductions has the average famil y experienced a slight improvement in its condition.

Most beneficial of all to low and middle income groups is the Reagan tax indexing plan, scheduled to take hold in 1985. Increased taxes through "bracket creep" push up the tax load 17 per cent for every 10 per cent hike in the inflation rate , a burden that weighs most heavily on those in lower and middle income brackets who get pushed up the nominal income scale. It says a lot that so many proponents of so-called "fair~ ness" want to get rid of indexing and jack up the burden of taxation - even further.

The bottom line is that a true policy of fa irness would seek to get the growth of government spenoing and taxation under control- rather than constantly trying to increase it.

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exist. Free competition is strictl y forbidden on the grounds that it lead s to such wastefulness as adverti sing and redundancy . Socialism is by nature a centra lly-planned system - planned by the agents of the State.

Th is fact leads to an inevitabl e confr o nt a tion between the need s of the State a nd those of its subjects . The victor in any such conflict, howe ver, mu st be the State in it s capacit y as a defender of the "public good" . Utilitarian , anti-individualistic ethics are the onl y code by which such a system can in practice be ruled.

The conflict between the interests of the individual and the interests of the State was not very important to Orwell in hi s early writings. HOMAGE TO CAT ALONIA, for example, emphasizes the struggle between rival political

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groups. COMING UP FOR AIR is concerned more with the problems of technological change and man than with political considerations. The idea that the great historical conflict is the battle between the individual and the State appeared in Orwell's writing only some time after his e x perience in Spain, and after he had witnessed the spectacle of Stalin's notorious "Purge Trials."

We begin to see Orwell's interest in Leviathan growing in the early 1940's.

At that time, I believe , his "libertarian " tendencies began to shine through . He became more concerned with the gen eral danger of to ta litarianism than with the petty disagreements between various versions of totalitarianism, such as fascism and communism . In fact, the extent of the transition can be roughly measured by the increasing frequency of his use of the term "totalitarian" as opposed to "fascist" or "communist".

Although Orwell did maintain his socialist position , I propose that he did so more out of convenience than conviction. Unable to find a suitable alternative, he was forced to retain the label he had chosen years ago. But his attacks on leftist hypocrisy grew ever more fervent. In 1948 he deClared that "The whole left-wing ideology, scientific and utopian, was evolved by people who had no immediate prospect of attaining power." He went on to say that "class antagonisms are not all-important ."

But Orwell's most precise and power-

··.fll.l$tateinent"{asNlNETEEN EIGHTYFOUR. In this novel, he laid bare what he perceived to be the ultimate motivation of all totalitarian rulers-the "intoxication of power." The novel is, above all else, a statement against the supremacy of the State.

George Orwell came to see the conflict between individual liberty and the omnipotent State. And when he saw that he had to decide which to defend, he chose the individual. To the end of his life he clung to the title of "democratic socialist ", but in his words and actions he was in fact an ethical liber. , tanan.

The natural conflict between justice and State control is a problem all socialists (and statists) have to resolve . George Orwell, however, was not content with "lea ving well enough alone". He struc k out on his own ideological trail, and reached his own conclusions. Perhaps the viciousness of the attacks he received from the Left is evidence of the success of his inquiries . ANIMAL FAR M and , to a greater degree , NINETEEN EIG HTY -FOU R definitely struck a nerve on the far left.

If we must give George Orwell a political label, I think that the curious phrase "libertarian socialist" would suit him best. It contains the two ideas that drove Orwell to write the powerful and frightening NINETEEN EIGHTYFOU R, and is sufficiently ambiguous to leave him unclassified-as he should remain .

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of practice becomes more important than individuality of values.

For the emphasis on ecu~nism weakens the primary purpose of religions: to provide a secure code of values which will give the individual believer a sense of personal dignity. The believing Catholic takes a pride which is not sinful but uplif~ing in the doctrines of the faith, the beauty of its art , and the richness of its philosophical tradition. The Catholic Christian is charitable whenever he or whe is able, and is not concernedwhether the world questions the motives for tb~t:,a~t of .c harity. , The. ~~h0lic~~ndll. firm an traditional moral taboos because they encourage respect for others and a belief that a valuable life is earned, not given. He or'she cares about providing a purpose for experience, not about the social importance of that experience.

Ecumenism weakens the dignity of the continuing traditions because its ultimate goal is not the protection of an individual's desire to worship differently and in a more pe~sonally fruitful code. Ecumenism seeks to combine all believers in a faith which can be easily accepted in common. It suppresses any beliefs which are complicated, demanding, or unique , because ecumenism prefers to emphasize the basic and the easily understood rather than promote individual reflection . The chief drawback of ecumenism is that it is more interested in providing a comfortable social philosophy than concrete values which aid individuals to strive for a purpose, a dignity, and an achievement higher than themselves or other people .

Ecumenism does not cure prejudice.

It only avoids it by making social needs more important than the security and intelligence of individual believers.

True brothers accept each other's differences of opinion without trying to change them. The Catholic and Protestant religions would be far more secure if instead of caring about the other faith's judgements they solidified their own views within their respective artistic, intellectual, and historic traditions. True believers of both faiths care more about their Own values than outward appearances. ~

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A third overall benefit is that drugs will no longer be taboo, and it will be easier for addicts to get the help they need . We can imagine the formation of groups like Alcoholics Anonymous to help out addicts and to attempt to dissuade others from using drugs. Aside from new groups, existent ones will be more effective to users when the stigma of the law is removved. In loday's society many addicts cannot get the help they need because they risk legal and social ramifications if they come forward, and often are not helped at all.

This is yet another way in which the market helps solve problems that government creates: By showing how much good "for your own welfare" laws really do .

interviewing postulates that the dire economic picture in Michigan may inback "unqualified" applicants and then crease the fear of an inability to find a mysteriously assigns priorities to the job, resulting in the frenzied behavior of lucky many remaining. job applicants.

In the actual interview, questions like If on-campus interviewing presents "Suppose you were standing naked besuch a bleak picture, how does anyone fore the Queen of England and she find a job? Although the Engineering offered you a strawberry tart. How Placement Office is geared almost solely would you respond?" lambast the poor to interviewing, one may follow the student. These inquisitions are intenadvice of Horace Greely by traipsing to ded to help the interviewer gain some the west -side of campus. ]n the Student knowledge about the interviewee and Activities Building, Office 3200, sits the how, if hired, he would fit into the comCareer Planning and Placement Office pany's overall scheme. Often , the use(CPPO). . .fulness..oUntervie路wing depenQs upo,n . ,Ann Richter of the CPPO 路pffers a the 's km of the interviewer as well as the glimmer of hope at the end of this tunnel I interviewed. of despair. "There are many resources Studell(S express f rustation with onavailable besides on- campus interviewcampus interviewing. Thy brevity of the mg ," says she , going on to describe interview, cutthroat competition . for interviewing as a passive job hunting spots on the schedules, and the moral strategy and suggesting that most studilemma of whether to present oneself dents are inept in their search for employhonestly or to attempt to construct a ment. facade which will please the interviewer According to Ms . Richter. about 70% consternate most undergoing this pro- of newjobs in the country are offered by cess. One graduate student in the Col- comp'tnies with fewer than twenty emlege of Engineering dismayed by the ployees. With a cost of around $5,000 "lunacy" and sheer numbers of partici- per new recruit, these small businesses pants he has observed in on-campus can hardly afford to come seaoching for

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crime laws (pornography. prostitution, gambling) are removed, the police can stop arresting innocent people and go after the real criminals: rapists. muggers, kidnappers, etc. This, too, is one of the ironies of law-and-order conservatives who seem to do all they can to deter the police from doing their job.

So we can see that, independent of my or anyone else's view, there are clear economic benefits of drug legalization.

Earlier we said that the ma rket is a process and that the results of the process are secondary. In this presentat ion I have demonstrated that the process of drug trading is compatible with a fret:: market , and that the benefits are. however, incidental. Anyone who really supports a free market must support the legalization of drugs. ~ new hires. The responsibility lies with the student to find these jobs, and that means work for the student. However, this road need not be traversed without a guide, as the CPPO offers brochures. workshops , and f.;ounsellors to ass ist the bewildered job seeker.

Once some contacts have occured, through a variety of resources such as local Chambers of Commerce. professors, or alumni, Ms . Richter admonishes that persistence and assert ivenes!> are required. The business world is plagued with many of the insecurities of individuals. and firms like to hear they ar.e.interes\ingand,desiJable.

LSA graduates have a harder time finding a first job than the technically educated because their background s provide them with no specified career path .

However, studies have shown that once hired. liberal arts students tend to rise faster and farther than their technical brethren. A key, for anyone, to finding a first job is to ha\'e some concrete formulation of a career path. Once this hurdle is overcome , a job search can begin in earnest.

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