Cela Page 2 Lion’s Eye Featured Columnist: John Miller Today, the legislative branch of the United States government, for various rea- sons, is not quite on track. Why? Most of the people that are directly involved in government are members of Congress. They're the ones who make the laws of the land. Now it’s not just Congress that’s not getting the job done. The President could always do more to help and the Supreme Court could try interpreting the law instead of making it. It’s just my opinion, but the fact remains that our system is a little crooked and it needs to be fixed, starting with term limits for Congress members. Term limits refer to the number of two or six-year terms you can serve as a U.S. Congress member. The first reason for term limits is The Lion's Eye Eye on Campus Too Much Corruption On Capitol Hill Causes ~~ Demand For Term Limits excessive pork barrel spending. We have a budget deficit of nine tril- lion dollars. That means we’ve spent bil- lions upon billions of dollars of our federal budget on things that perhaps might have been practical at the time, but it’s coming back to haunt us. Another reason is that too many Congress members are letting organizations like inter- est groups and their money steer them away from what their con- stituents want. A Congress mem- ber’s first duty is to the people they represent and he or she should be able to tell the difference. I would sure hope so because they're paid over $145,000 dollars a year. It’s By John Mille | almost like a competition between rich people. Who ever bids more money to a candi- date for public office wins a lot of power. The final reason is time. Time is short - as it usually is in politics. The government’s goals take a very long time to accomplish. I know Congress has a committee system set up to make sure a bill gets every bit of con- sideration as any other bill, but for the love of God, please speed it up. President Bush hasn't made things any easier on a Republican majority Congress, plagued by scandal and lack of trust for their commander in-chief. As a result of time, too much power, influence, and bad judgment, if I were ever April 24, 2006 asked, I would support a constitutional amendment to set term limits for members of Congress. The reasons listed above, | believe, are serious problems that exist within our country and they need serious solutions ~ solutions that come from the Congress itself, and not the Texas oil fields. Term limits would allow a person to serve in Congress for “X” amount of years and then retire. This would allow for a better turnover rate which is a whopping 10% per election and it would also welcome some new faces to Capital Hill and decrease the possibility of corruption by a third party. Finally, 1 think term limits for our elected representatives would be better for America. . -Contact John Miller at Jmm883@psu.edu. Verbal Fisticuffs: Round 3 - Smoking Bans Dan Delaney Smoking is an addictive, smelly, deadly and frivolous habit. With that out of the way, 1’d like it to be stated that I have no problem with people smoking — as long as their decision only affects their health and does not bring discomfort to others. Smoking in an enclosed area — especially in rooms without “smoke eaters” — can cre- ate a health hazard for non-smoking per- sons and can affect their allergies. Banning smoking in public places like restaurants and bars has absolutely no neg- ative side effects. Non-smokers can enjoy their meal or drink without inhaling tobac- co fumes, and the smoker merely has to step outside to “grab a smoke.” Unless you live in Siberia or on the face of the sun, it is not too incredibly difficult to smoke out- doors and provide a courtesy to your fellow non-smoking humanoids. The obvious threat of second hand smoke is deterioration of a non-smoker’s lungs, but a recent study published in the April 8 issue of British Medical Journal brings further incentive to remove indoor smoking. The study found that people who live around smokers are more likely to develop glucose intolerance, more com- monly known as diabetes. The National Cancer Institute notes, “Secondhand smoke contains at least 60 carcinogens (substances that cause can- cer).” Among those cancers are nasal and lung. Other established side effects are heart disease and respiratory tract infec- tions. All of these health risks are of con- stant concern for a majority of American citizens. So, why, with all these facts widely ‘known and published would we allow smokers to attack non-smoker’s health? What is the legal statute that allows tobac- co fiends to slowly murder those around them? The raw data of health issues direct- ly assaults any pro indoor smoking argu- ment. No matter what excuse is used for evading the great outdoors, smokers cannot deny that they are a health risk to other cit- zens. I see no reason why this practice can’t be incorporated with the basic social man- ners of western society. Say “thank you,” hold doors open for the ladies, wash your . hands after you use the bathroom and smoke outside away from those who don’t want to smell your tobacco exhaust. Is this debate up in smoke? You Decide! Mike Bruder Non-Smokers have long cited health risks as the reason to stop people from smoking in public. : People eating at McDonalds who are concerned about their health would like to stop smokers from spreading their "infec- tious airborne waste". Banning smoking is just one of many steps people would take to impose their ideology on those of us who still have will. The right to die is perhaps the most impor- tant right a person can have and these evil fiends would see that right taken away. Addiction is a disease, a disease with no known cure. To punish those with a dis- ease is the antithesis of what it means to be an American. There was a time in America much like in Europe where smoking was accepted everywhere. Malls, restrurants, even airplanes aloud smoking but smokers have given in and allowed those who go without to have these spaces. It is not a problem for smokers to give up certain public areas to others who would kick and scream until they get their way. Non-smokers go too far, banning smoking outdoors will just be a segway to banning smoking all together. Let us explore a world without smoking. The economic impact of a national smoking ban would be devastating. The loss of the tobacco industry to America’s already fragile economy would put the U.S. in an economic tailspin that would make the "Great Depression” look like a week long vacation at Disney. Tobacco companies employed approx- imately 2 million Americans in 2000. The collapse of the tobacco industry would put an end to the nearly $500 million con- tributed to American agriculture each year. Cigarette companies do not just affect agriculture they make contributions to manufacturing, construction, transporta- tion, retail, and countless other companies and small businesses nationwide totaling over $39,152.832,535 annually. What are the "anti smokers" trying to do to our country? Next they will be flying planes into automobile factories to "save lives." After all the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported over 48.000 people were killed in car accidents last year. Countless people were seriously injured all by automobiles which might | remind you also dump hundreds of car- cinogens into the air each day. The biggest difference between tobac- co and automobile companies? Tobacco companies donate millions of dollars each year to help find ways to treat and kill cancer.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers