Cle
“
The Dallas Post
Dallas, PA Wednesday, February 21, 1996 5
John W. Johnson
2
»
The headline writers were fe-
verish, during the last political
campaign, the week before H. Ross
Perot'was to decide his continua-
tion in the race.
Of course, we all know now
that he weaseled out of his high
sounding rhetoric and simply
dropped out of the game.
And the only reason he ever
entered the race was to buy the
only thing a billionaire with noth-
ing else to buy can purchase: the
public's attention. And while he
was there, Perot enjoyed the lime-
light,” while making self-serving
noises about how the possibility
of his entry into the race had
precipitated dialogue about the
issues, rather than about person-
alities.
Perot supporters represent the
15 percent of citizens who are not
otherwise involved. And, by and
large, those which I've met are of
better than average intelligence.
They are also persons who trea-
sure independence, integrity and
who have a sense of the larger
picture outside partisan politics.
The really sad thing here is that
these well-meaning, and ina larger
sense, believers in America who
came_back to the fold—as op-
posed to Republicans and Demo-
crats who've never left for reasons
of financial or some other sort of
security—hitched their political
wagon (I couldn't resist that Texas
born eliche) to a man who didn't
want, the job, but rather who
wanted the stage from which to
complain but didn't want to be
there when the going got tough—
(sounds like a few—not all— femi-
208 |
LIBRARY
\ BRAS
By NANCY KOZEMCHAK
The Back Mountain Memorial
Library is continuing with its used
book sale year round. There is the
$1.00 abag room in the basement
book room which is open on
Wednesdays and Saturdays from
12 noon until 5 p.m. An added
attraction is ‘Buy one bag; get one
bag free’. There are several areas
of books for sale on the main
library floor. Paperbacks on a
special rack are selling for 50¢
each; there is a smaller shelf with
fiction’and non-fiction in good
condition. These are for sale at
three for $1. Another larger shelf
features practically new fiction
and non-fiction priced from $2.50
up to $5. These sale books were
good sellers during the Christmas
season and now also for people
going on extended trips. The book
sales during 1995 netted the li-
brary a total of $1,405.43. Weare
Iwo contenders with big
bucks and not much else
nists I know—but that's another
column...)
And if the last paragraph was a
little convoluted, it was no more
so than trying to get a handle on
the little man with the big bucks.
First he is not running, then
he's sort of running, then he with-
draws from a race in which he
wasn't running in the first place,
and now it's the clock which is
running on whether or not he will
well—uh—sort of rejoin the
campaign..."but it will be up to
millions of voters.”
What Perot was essentially say-
ing is that if millions of people
could guarantee him that he would
win, he would rejoin the race.
Again, he wanted the campaign
glory, without being willing to put
up the campaign guts.
What Perot did was tap into
several obvious [rustrations with
our political and economic sys-
tem by presenting himself as an
independent savior. However, the
potential for salvation of anything
but Perot's ego was slim right
from the beginning with Perot’s
history of benevolent dictatorship
and, rather than welding consen-
sus, forcing his will upon the cir-
cumstances.
A general frustration with feel-
ing no connection to the political
process, and a growing gap be-
tween the haves and have nots
was at least partially at work in
Perot's success. More's the pity,
and greater is the potential dan-
ger. :
The entire two-party political
process, the nomination system,
and the various state preroga-
tives in electing a president have
been set up to avoid the manipu-
lation of the process by a dema-
gogue whose true stripes would
be revealed through submission
to that process.
What Perot did, in league with
the media, was by-pass much of
that leavening scrutiny, and went
directly over the system to the
crowds who, in fact, want simple
answers to complex questions.
More importantly, isn't anyone
worried about the fact that most
of Perot’s supporters didn’t care
about what his policies would be;
in fact, freely admitting they were
sheep and only too willing to be
led by this self-styled entrepre-
neur. Butled where? And at what
cost, politically and financially?
Some of his supporters appar-
ently forgot that Perot didn't get
where he is by taking care of oth-
ers; he got where he is by taking
care of himself, and reaping the
rewards of the free enterprise sys-
tem. Could his supporters really
see him trying to deal with Con-
gress, that same Congress trying
to respond to its constituents,
those same constituents who want
simple answers to complex ques-
tions, and who then want some-
one else to pay for it?
We, the citizen /voter are the
problem here; it's not who we
elect, it ‘s our expectations of that
person and or the system within
with our politicians work.
And that's why the candidacy
of Steve Forbes—even though he
is clothed in the robes of a Repub-
lican—is equally as dangerous as
was that of Perot.
Forbes has a single, one-note
message: Elect me, and I'll get
you a {lat-tax system. The facts
are that such a system would
most likely help Steve Forbes than
the average citizen.
But his is a simple message,
filled with the hope of fairness, is
being heard by many Americans
tired of complicated Whitewater
hearings, foreign policy pro-
nouncements, and pink slips at
the workplace.
Simplicity sells.
Doesn't it?
Reasonably priced used
books for sale year round
selling good used maazines at the
take out counter for 10¢ a copy.
This endeavor netted $152.87
during the year of 1995.
New books at the library: “The
Secret of the Bulls” by Jose Raul
Bernardo is a spellbinding novel,
filled with both intense eroticism
and delicate tenderness, which
brings vividly to life the exotic and
fascinating world of Cuba during
the earlier part of this century. At
once deeply moving and filled with
humor, this is the story of love
between two people and their
quest for a better life for them-
selves and their children.
“Will You Always Love Me?" by
Joyce Carol Oates is written with
precision and intensity that once
again surveys the American scene.
It includes twenty-two stories that
take the reader from inner cities
to isolated backwaters. Obses-
sion with loss, fear of betrayal,
and sudden violence plagues the
characters who inhabit the haunt-
ing fiction. The lives of working
poor and follies of the idle and
irresponsible become rich with
searching clarity.
“Trial By Fire” by Nancy Taylor
Rosenberg is a thriller filled with
explosive chemistry that covers
the labyrinth of the law, the dark
secrets of the human heart, and
the forces of lust, greed, ambition
and power. It is a breathless,
page-turning drama of a brave
and beautiful prosecuting attor-
ney forced to defend herself
against deadly odds. Stella is the
star of the Dallas DA's office with
an amazing 100 percent convic-
tion rate.
“The Pumpkin Rollers” by Elmer
Kelton is a masterful story of the
lives and loves of Texans and their
country with power, grace, and
authenticity. This is a wonderful
story of the West when the Civil
War was still a recent memory.
Trey leaves his family’s cotton farm
and sets off on his own to learn
the cattleman'’s trade; but he is as
green as they come. Trey learns
fast. He learns about deceit and
about love with beautiful Sarah
Stark.
LETTERS
Dear Editor and Public;
As'a member of Mr. Olsen's
fifth grade class, the class will be
studying the different cultures of
various communities throughout
thé United States. We would like
some information about your cul-
ture and the way your community
functions. As a class project we
aré getting information and by
publishing this letter in your news-
paper we hope to receive the infor-
mation we desire.
The information we would like
to receive consists of the following
questions:
1. How does your community
work?
2. What kind of city govern-
ment do you have and how does it
run?
3. What kind of food, clothes,
transportation, landscapes, medi-
cal services, entertainment, hous-
ing education, climate, occupa-
tions, animals, power sources,
computer technology, fun things
to do, sports, fad and fashions do
you like or have?
These are just a few of many
questions we have. So if you
would graciously answer our ques-
Fifth graders info on area for project
tions we would be much obliged.
Please send a postcard or sou-
venir that describes your culture.
Your time and effort for helping us
accomplish our classroom goal
will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Terrin Hammerschmith
(A member of Mr. Olsen's
fifth grade class)
Mr. Olsen's Room #2
West Intermediate School
Box Q
Sutherlin, Oregon 97479
Auditions for ‘Shoot for the Moon" Feb.
The Music Box Players will hold
auditions for the children’s show
Shoot For the Moon, February 26,
7 to 9 p.m.
All roles are open and include
four astronauts, four moonpeople
and one live, on-screen computer
person.
All roles are played by adults
ages 17 and up.
Shoot For The Moon, an original
musical “space-odyssey” for chil-
dren, was first presented in 1992
in association with McDonald's
Restaurants, Nabisco Foods, and
the Pennsylvania Council on the
Arts. The original script is by
Debbie Zehner, and Lee Thomas,
with original “rock and roll and
rap” music by Ted Anderson.
Production dates are March 15,
16,17,22, 283, 24. Show times are
Fridays at 6 p.m. Saturdays at 1
and 5 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
26 at Music Box
Performances will also be held for
schools on Friday, March 15at 10
a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Wednes-
day, March 20 at 10 a.m. and
12:30 p.m.
Auditions will be held at the
Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196
Hughes Street, Swoyersville, PA.
For further information or to make
an audition appointment, call the
Playhouse box office at 283-2195,
POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK
Shipping a ceremonial ribbon at Wendy's pre-grand opening party, lower photo, was Dallas
Mayor Paul LaBar, joined by, from left; Nancy Alexanderian; Dr. Harry Alexanderian; Adele
Alexanderian; Dallas council member Pat Peiffer; franchise holder Steve Kepic; Kathy Lawrence;
Eugene Roth; LaBar; Bob Lawrence; Bill Leandri and Alex Kormas, Luzerne National Bank.
In photo at top left, Danya Zalatimo, Dallas, displayed one of her crew's creations, as Jeff Seeley
looked on proudly. Top right, Nancy Weller, Shavertown, sliced some chicken breasts. She was the
Dallas Wendy's second employee.
Lake-Lehman
(continued from page 1)
sylvania State Assessment Tests
given to grades 5, 8 and 11, “we
need a stronger emphasis in math
and science.” As a result, a dis-
trict-wide K-12 revision of the
math and science curriculum has
been initiated.
The board approved a new cal-
endar for the remainder of the
1995-96 school year “in order to
get school over as close as pos-
sible to the original date,” accord-
ing to Price. As a result, the
following vacation days will now
be fulldays: April8,9,10,11, 12,
March 21, originally an Act 80
day, will now be a full day and
March 22, initially an in-service
day is changed to an Act 80 day.
The last day for students will now
be June 10, with graduation day
set for June 7.
During the visitors’ comments,
Cathy Cebrick, a Lake Township
resident, read a letter which she
wrote to the board requesting per-
mission for her and her husband,
Stephen, to observe classes in the
Lake-Noxen Elementary School
where her daughter attends sixth
grade. She claims that she is
experiencing problems due to
“negligence, time after time; not
always teachers, but people in
administrative positions.”
According to Mrs. Cebrick,
Lake-Noxen principal Robert
Kunkle would not give her per-
mission to observe classes, but
rather told Cebrick to talk to su-
perintendent Price, who eventu-
ally told her “no.”
She claims that other parents
are allowed to observe classes in
the district, but that the Cebricks
are being denied because the ad-
ministration doesn't want them
to see what's going on in the Lake-
Noxen School.
In other business, the board
approved the resignation of Rob-
ert Rogers as assistant boys’ vol-
leyball coach effective January 29, -
1996 and appointed James
Donnelly as assistant boys’ vol-
bo
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leyball coach for the 1995-96
school year at a salary of $756.00
pending Act 34 clearance.
The board also approved the ''
te
EY
Poa.
following as teacher substitutes +=
pending Act 34 clearance: Robin *.©
Smigielski, elementary; Brian «
Hampel, technology education;
William Hatzis, physics/math, -,
and Bonnie Gregory, secondary
guidance.
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