European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 columns the stars and stripes a a. A. ,. A a a a a a for 3 a a a a James Kilpatrick democrats a actions speak louder than their words Washington a Martin Dooley the fictional Irish Barkeep. Summed up the problems of the democratic party almost a Century ago. A a the dimm cratic party a he said a a ainu to on speaking terms with and so it is today. The a new Orleans declaration Quot in March revealing by pathetically ludicrously made Clear the internal conflicts that have reduced the party As a presidential party to something close to imbecility. The declaration emerged from the democratic leadership Council a body led by such respected figures As Sens. Sam Nunn and Chuck Robb and reps. Mill Gray and Dick Gephardt. These Are Power hitters United by a desire to Field a winning team. They earnestly want the nation to know a where we and where do they profess to stand let us consider the professions and recall the record. A we believe the Promise of America is equal Opportunity not equal but in the Field of civil rights this is not the democratic position at All. It is the democratic party that has fostered the whole concept of Quot disparate Impact Quot by which a discrimination Quot May be statistically proved. A we believe the democratic party s fundamental Mission is to expand Opportunity not yet the social and welfare programs fostered by democrats have enormously expanded not Only the Federal bureaucracy but have slopped Over into state and local governments As Well. Quot we believe in the politics of this profession will be of particular interest to non Union workers who have no rights the democrats deem Worth of respect. By their Lap dog Licking of Union labor the democrats histor Calk have excluded working men and women who resist the tyrannies of a Union shop. Democrats Are now fighting election reforms that would protect nonunion workers from political outlays tops autos they oppose. Quot we believe the right Way to rebuild americans economic Security is to invest in the skills and ingenuity of our people and to expand Trade not restrict a sirs but at the top of the declarations list of sponsors is the gentleman from Missouri or. Gephardt who Speaks at practically interminable length in support of protectionism. He represents a Large segment of the party that believes i tvs Semoc Gunc up re i in restricting Trade a though of course his colleagues do not put it in precisely those words. Quot we believe that All claims on government Are not equal. Our leaders must reject demands that Are less worthy and hold to Clear governing perhaps the signatories meant to say that not All claims on government Are equal but let the syntactical objection go. The demonstrable fact is that Over and Over leading democrats have padded appropriations Bills with special favors parochial largesse and pork barrel projects. The republicans have done the same thing but today a topic is the hypocrisy of democrats a we believe a progressive tax system is the Only fair Way to pay for very Well but the brightest Star in the democratic heavens is the social Security system which relies on a regressive tax that hits with greatest Impact upon Low and Middle income families. A we believe the purpose of social welfare is to bring the poor into the nation s economic mainstream not maintain them in what a Noble theory and what a melancholy reality. Under democratic welfare programs thousands of families Are now in their fourth generation of dependence on the Dole. Democratic policies do pitifully Little to encourage people to get off the welfare Rolls. A we believe in the Protection of civil rights and the Broad movement of minorities into americans economic and cultural mainstream not racial gender or ethnic this is hokum. The democrats greatest Appeal to minorities lies in the party swarm embrace of a affirmative action a which depends absolutely upon racial gender and ethnic separation. So it goes. The declaration affirms a belief in a a Strong and capable defense a but key democrats in Congress Are drooling for a peace dividend to be carved out of the budget for arms. The framers of this document believe in a the moral and cultural values that most americans share a but Many of their colleagues Are whooping it up for supposed a a artists who claim a right to be offensive at Public expense. Nice try ladies and gentlemen but the record of democratic policies Speaks so loudly it is hard to hear what these leaders say. C Universal press Syndicate Flora Lewis Mexico too Many people too Many problems Mexico City a one local paper said 10 million people had come to the capital to see the Pope who arrived May 6. Its conceivable. Some mexicans say the country a population is now 90 million. Nobody can be sure. When i lived Here in the 1950s, the population of the capital was 2.5 million and of the country 25 million. The rate of growth approached the limit but nobody was particularly worried. The country a Only demographer told me that development would soon bring a balance and he cited the United states As proof that rising living standards brought a lowered birth rate. Now at last the rate is dropping but the population is still soaring and standards Are falling. Mexico will enter the 21st Century with 100 million or More. Population is like a supertanker it goes a Long Way before attempts to slow it take effect. There have been huge efforts to expand education health services roads and such but human misery is spreading much faster with the deluge of children Many abandoned. The writer Carlos Fuentes who refuses to live in Mexico City has written a Book called a Christopher about a child whose birth Date will coincide with the 500th anniversary of Columbus discovery in 1492. He will breathe focal dust because Only a third of the City a sewage is treated and have a High level of toxic Lead in his blood which can cause mental retardation. Thirty five years ago you could ride a horse through scattered villages in the Valley or up the empty hillsides with the Majestic volcanoes on the horizon As the guiding landmark. Now the volcanoes have disappeared into the acrid slurry air. These Are the key problems underlying . Relations. There a no place to go but North and no matter How stringent the Border controls the human tide will overwhelm them unless this country becomes liable for More of its people. According to an opposition politician Mexico has to import 10 million tons of Grain a year for survival at $3 billion consuming two thirds of the value of its Oil exports. Jesus Gonzalez Schmal a moderate in the right Wing party pan argues that the country could feed itself again with proper agricultural policies and better cooperation with . Industry. Like everybody else he is indignant at the abduction for trial in the United states of a doctor charged with involvement in the torture murder of an american drug enforcement agent Here. But like Many he is worried about the drug traffic a Impact on the society and says the doctor should have been arrested Here and extradited. Mexico is changing with the rest of the world but painfully perhaps catastrophically slowly. President Carlos Salinas de Gortari is moving to liberalize the government dominated Economy and encourage investment. He is popular. But officials done to have much of an answer to the question Why foreigners should have Confidence to invest when mexicans Send their Money abroad More than enough to cover the whole debt. The Popes visit reflects some of the change. When he last came 11 years ago the government refused a reception and he convoked a Church conclave where he denounced liberation theology. This time Salinas welcomed him formally at the Airport and the Popes message was Solidarity and social Justice. This country is another example of shifting perceptions about creating a society that offers its people a fair Chance and How much harder it is to repair the damage of bad government than to recognize it. The tendency to blame Yanqui imperialists is waning but sensitivities about the weight and arrogance of Gringo neighbors remain acute. The invasion of Panama reopened old wounds. The United states cannot escape the fallout of Mexico a desperation. Neither can it intervene in the Clumsy shortsighted ways it has in Central America. The opposition Leader on the left Cuauhtemoc Cardenas says the country has the resources and capacity to pull itself up if it had Rule of Law and honest government. He is a nationalist who rejects . Hegemony but he does no to want to isolate Mexico or go for Central planning. He Hasni to quite got the message from Eastern Europe but he does oppose authoritarian government and puts democracy first. In this part of the world it seems the United states Hasni to quite got the message from Eastern Europe either. Its Freedom to be sure but also out from under big brother. Mexico is in a bad Way too and needs a sympathetic partner not a neighbourhood Boss. C new York times the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states government
