European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday May 7, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 13 commentary Ellen Goodma Tsongas must beat voters fear of cancer a generation1 ago it was still a word to to Whis pc Rcd. Grandparents in scenes that resemble a Neil Simon play would say it under their breath afraid that if the word escaped into the air it would tempt the evil spirits. A a a a a a a a a. A a newspapers would rarely print it on the obituary pages people died a after a Long  even doctors would often keep the diagnosis from their patients and patients would often keep the word from their families. If they looked it up the dictionary the very definition was shrouded in secrecy and even shame. A a. A a v a a a a  a cancer it still states a is a malignant growth anywhere in the body of a person or  then websters adds for metaphorical measure a anything bad or harmful that spreads and  but now the word cancer has been placed prominently and publicly in an entirely new context presidential politics. No whispering allowed. Paul Tsongas who was diagnosed with cancer in 1983, has announced his candidacy for president. Paul Tsongas who fought a difficult Battle with Lymphoma is the first Democrat to throw his hat in the ring. Paul Tsongas whose cancer is said to be in Complete Rumis Sion. Is making a bid for the White House. Every National news Story about the former senator from Massachusetts pointed out that he was 1 a Long shot 2 a greek american and 3 a cancer survivor. Of course they also said that he is a pro business Liberal and a pro Choice environmentalist who believes in the death penalty and nuclear Power. And a Bright engaging Man with a Subtle sense of humor a Strong sense of family an 85-Page pamphlet of ideas and a speaking style that makes Michael Dukakis look charismatic. A a a a. A a a a a a a a a a a a a a Blit it is the cancer that initially left off the Page. We May have gotten immune to firsts in politics. The first Catholic first Black first female. But the first cancer survivor to run for president must face Down a lingering prejudice a different heart of darkness. Today in the United states there Are some six million people who have been treated and survived. Cancer is no longer one disease but Many each with a separate treatment and prognosis. Some carry a Swift death sentence but others have survival rates As High As 90 percent. A a a a a a. About half of All those diagnosed with cancer in 1981 survived at least five years and 44 percent Are still living we Are permitted now to even use the word  a a a a. A a. A. A a a 1 a a a a a a a a Quot a a times have changed since 1983 when Tsongas noticed a Lump in his Groin while taking a Shower. The then experimental Bone marrow transplant that he underwent in 1986 has now become almost common. The candidates oncologist a interviewed More closely tha Nandrew j. Glass his wife a has pronounced the likelihood of a recurrence so Remote As to be negligible. But Public attitudes Are often sluggish when dealing with disease and its sidekick fear. It is still harder for a survivor even of a a Good a cancer to get life insurance or a Job or a promotion. A consciously or unconsciously a says or. Samuel Broder the head of the National cancer Institute a some Arentt Given the Opportunity to return to the work Force. People Are passed Over for promotion or forced out of a Small business because of insurance  nobody has to hire you to run Lor president. Its an equal Opportunity race which for Tsongas is actually and mystically connected to his experience. It was cancer he said Somei Ajjie ago that led hint out of Public life. Now he Calls his candidacy a the obligation of my  the question is How it will be seen by voters. Can people listen to ideas without looking for symptoms an a survivor be accepted As a Leader for the future if the Long Odds Ever grow Shorter will those Odds hinge on believing in Tsongas oncologist As Well As his Quot Agenda a.  a a a a. A a a a a. A a a. A a a. A i suspect lie does no to want to be known As a the cancer candidate a a says his doctor Tak Takvorian. But this 50-year-old. Father who has been through the tortures of cancer therapy a seen his hair tall out and grow Back his weight drop of and come Back Ivis and bit Ion recede and return in a changed form a will inevitably come to represent More than his ideas. He will stand for run for speak Tor a changed reality about cancer. And he will find out whether consciousness has kept up with oncology. A c Tho Boston Globo it la take a crisis to Force a banking change How to revive the demand for credit in a poor business climate push Down interest rates of course. That a just what the government has been doing. So Why wont the fix work for the answer take a hard look at the nations big Banks. They Are in trouble. It will take drastic action by Congress to mend their problems. A Quot a Quot and until that happens the Economy is Apt to stay sour. Banks have Cut their key lending rate responding to moves by the Federal Reserve a a a a a _ a but read the Fine print before deciding whether its a True bargain _ the prime rate having fallen for two years is pegged at 8.5 percent. Yet anyone who tries to make a personal or a car loan at these Low affordable rates is Apt to get the cold shoulder. Typically Bank Loans on most credit card balances run More than twice the latest prime rate. They Are up there in the same zone As loan Sharks charged for Quick Cash Back in my old new York City neighbourhood. At the same time depositors Are get Ting the Shaft. Banks Are setting new records Between what it costs them to borrow Money and what it costs you to borrow from them. Many reasons account for this huge spread beyond pure greed. Banks seek to make up for the bad real estate Loans that they made in the 1980s, Banks need to Coyer the losses of cred it card deadbeats a growing group. A Federal Bank insurance rates Are going ,. Up. A i a borrowers will subsidize the added premiums. But the Industry a problems run deeper a a a they cannot be solved by arcane fights in Congress Over interstate banking or branching. In the 1990s, Banks no longer want to be Banks. The Job of a cow is to give milk. The Job of a Bank is to lend Money to businesses and individuals who need it. But Banks have become As the economists say risk averse. In the main they want to lend Only to. Those who do not need to borrow. Big borrowers increasingly look to the so called secondary markets to float their Loans. It is easier and usually cheaper for them to Deal with insurance firms pension groups mortgage pools and Mutual and Money Market funds. Small Start up ventures still need Banks for their initial capital. But Banks no longer want to take chances on them. When the Story of the . Banking fiasco is written Donald Regan deserves much of the blame. He once served As Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff. But the damage came earlier when he headed Merrill Lynch the nations no. 1 Stock broker. In the 1970s, Regan dreamed up the Cash management account. That made it possible for upper income people to put most of their investments a including their Idle Cash a into one Handy nest egg. _. Since Congress had barred Banks from Selling securities they could not compete. In 1973, Banks held More than 60 percent of the nations financial assets. By last year that ratio had plunged below 40 percent. Pending legislation would allow Banks to Deal in stocks and Bonds. That might help level the playing yield. But it is hardly a Panacea. The administration wants to set up an elite system of rough and Tough National Banks. Foreign Banks serve As the White House Model. Japanese Banks practically run that Economy. And by. Next year a London or Paris Bank will be Able to open branches in say Rome or Madrid. But America still holds to a populist past that scorns big town Bankers. And Small town Bankers contribute to congressional campaigns. So change will come Only after a financial crisis forces Washington to make a major move. A a c co nows service. 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. It