Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 19

Chicago Tribune, Saturday, November 4, 1995 Section 1 19 -this and this aw this Luckovich Atlanta Constitution Do You Kmc How frustrating Cf Ro2ers it To REDUCE THE DEFCIT 1 1 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette FOR "THREE STRAIGHT YEARS FOR "THREE SlKWWi lewv The truly needy LOMBARD The Oct 4 letter by Sen. Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin described efforts in that state to curtail Medicaid costs. The savings are realized by encouraging care for long-term care recipients in community-or home-based programs. That is a good step in the right direction, but even much of that cost is still being borne by Medicaid.

That cost can be further reduced. Over the past few years the practice of "estate planning" has proliferated. Much of the sales pitch is directed to the concerns of seniors on the prospect for long-term health care. In many advertisements and other presentations, the specter of government confiscation of homes and other financial resources is presented as a probability. The pitch is directed toward means of shielding one's estate, so persons can claim to be unable to provide for their own long-term health care needs.

The unspoken, but very blatant implication, is "Save your own money, and let the taxpayers pick up the tab for your care." Many people find this practice grossly offensive to their conscience. An alternative, long-term health care insurance, is available. It provides protection for seniors and others facing long-term health care. The premiums are not inexpensive, but many persons are willing to make the sacrifice to provide protection for themselves, their spouse or children. This alternative could be more widely employed if there was a better incentive to enroll People on fixed incomes may want this protection, but under the present tax structure, they may be unable to afford the premiums.

Since many people, and probably most seniors, do not itemize tax deductions, the incentive should be a tax credit not a deduction. The potential savings to the Medicaid fund, and therefore the taxpaying public, are enormous. The relatively minor investment in the tax credit would be more than offset by the savings and enable the Medicaid program to continue to help the truly needy, not the artificially created "needy." Richard J. Galvin O.J. and Dred Scott DODGEVTLLE, Wise The recent jury verdict in the O.J.

Simpson double-murder trial reminded me of the Dred Scott trial in 1857. The comparison is valuable because decisions in both trials had impacts far beyond the narrow confines of jurisprudence to alter the social psychology of the Ration. Dred Scott (1795-1858) was a slave who lived with his master for several years in Northern free states. When his master returned with Scott to Missouri, then a slave state, Scott went to court to claim his freedom. In 1857, the chief justice of the U.S.

Supreme Court ruled Scott had no right to his freedom; a major step was taken toward Civil War in 1861. Abolitionists saw the Dred Scott decision as promoting slavery; they hardened their attitudes against slavery. The 0 J. Simpson trial echoes the Dred Scott decision in three key ways. First, the Simpson trial points out the growing tribalism in American society.

Just as African-Americans as a group tended to favor Simpson as innocent and white Americans on the whole thought him guilty, in similar fashion, the Dred Scott decision brought to the surface the growing sectionalism in American society before the Civil War. Second, both trials took place against a background of violence. "Bleeding Kansas" was in the air in Dred Scott's day as pro- and anti-slavery forces fought for control of Western territory. Today, violent crime menaces Americans, especially in urban Third, the outcomes of both trials changed the moods of the American people; these mood swings predisposed them to make major social changes. Dred Scott led to the Civil War, O.J.

Simpson could lead to, increased hostility toward affirmative action and a harder line against crime. Tor America, the issue of unity remains urgent Our forefathers paid a price for this unity. We, too, may pay a price for the growing disunity among us. This is the salient warning of the Dred Scott and O.J. Simpson cases.

Paul Rux AND FEEL UNE No owe CARt II AND FEEL UKE NO ONE CARES? The Gallery A collection of political cartoons from across the nation John Overmyer Alaska's dire straits NKISKI. Alaska-As the issues of economic development in Alaska come to Congress, let's not forget who really is affected-Alaska has many areas that would compare with any Third World country for lack of sewage facilities, safe community water supplies, roads and other basic human needs. Native communities are the hardest pressed for basic human sanitation. Medical care is often denied because of the lack of facilities and access to remote sites. We have needless human suffering and death.

Our biggest problem is the amount of federal lands and therefore the amount of federal control over Alaska's social and economic interests. Alaska has vast oil, mineral and timber resources and the proven technology to conscientiously extract those resources, and we have the desire to help fellow Alaskans. Yet we are stopped cold by preservationists. When Alaska became a state in 1959, the government owned most of the land and realized Alaska needed the majority of revenues off of those federal lands to operate as a state and to fund basic human needs. That "wiser" government knew that Alaska's future was in the development of her resources.

In fact, only after oil was discovered and there was enough revenue for the state government to operate was Alaska allowed to become a state. We need the American public to help us. Please contact your congressional delegation and urge that either responsible resource development be allowed in Alaska or that Congress immediately funds the basic human needs of rural Alaska. Mark Hodglns What other newspapers are saying Honey, why 'hM i A sobering message to U.S. companies The Financial Times, London The award of $3.95 million in damages against Dow Chemical for a single case of illness allegedly caused by silicone breast implants contains an important lesson for companies concerned about the risks of U.S.

product-liability lawsuits: In such cases, the search for deep pockets takes on a life of its own. With its subsidiary, implant maker Dow Corning bankrupt Dow Chemical became the focus of the search for deep pockets. And in this verdict by a Nevada jury, the search appears to have found its mark. The jury's decision will doubtless go on appeal. It is, in any case, just one round of an epic struggle over breast implants, where the scientific evidence is far from clear cut Still, the fact that Dow Chemical has now been dragged fully into the web of claims and verdicts must be a sobering thought for all companies involved in potentially litigious areas of business in the U.S.

Italians are their own worst enemies Cqrriere della Sera, Milan: After all that has happened in Parliament in these last few weeks, perhaps it's time once again to ask ourselves without any false "patriotic" shame: Is it possible that what's wrong is simply us Italians, our "genetic," historical, cultural, political and moral code? We are in favor of a free market yet we avoid the creation of a financial system that allows it to work correctly. We plan privatizations that leave the control of companies in public hands. We complain about bribery, yet we don't confront its causes. We vqted unanimously for a majority-government system, yet we hide behind "technical governments" while our institutions still work according to a proportional system. We call ourselves liberal, yet we polarize our political system as during Cold War times.

Therefore, we are a civilized country, but we do everything so as not to seem like one, to the point that some ask whether we really are. Could it be that Italians are their own worst enemy? i Republicans push a cruel budget the brakes on profligate federal spending is unassailable. But this budget goes much too far, too fast It's unintended consequence is likely to be a societal disaster, with deeper poverty for those at the low end of the economic scale and all that poverty spawns crime, malnutrition, learning disability, child neglect and abuse and, for the elderly poor, greater hardship and despair. Democrats push a nasty dialogue The Augusta (Go.) Chronicle: It is one thing to accuse your political opponents of being wrong or ideologically blind in promoting policies that you believe will hurt people. That's legitimate political discourse.

But ever since voters gave control of Congress to Republicans to balance the budget and shrink government liberal Democrats' attacks have taken on a harder edge. Faced with reforms of their favorite Big Government programs, they accuse their foes' policies of being mean-spirited and cruel Words like "fascists" and "Nazis" are hurled about carelessly. The other day, though, White House press chief Mike McCurry went over the edge. Not content with the lie that Congress "would like to see the (Medicare) program die and go away," he added, "that is also what they (Republicans) would want to see happen to seniors too." Suggesting that Republicans want to hasten their parents and grandparents to early graves impugns motives and personalizes policy differences. This goes way beyond acceptable political discourse.

No one has a monopoly on compassion, especially defenders of the destructive status quo. A testimony to Hollywood's values Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail In 1987 Victor Salva sexually assaulted 12-year-old Nathan Winters, an actor he was directing in the film "Clownhouse." Salva pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct oral copulation with a person under 14 and three counts of procuring a child for pornography. (Salva had videotaped his offense.) Sentenced to three years in prison, he served only 15 months. Now Salva is back as the director of "Powder," a Walt Disney film about a troubled teenager! Salva thinks this is OK. "I paid for my mistakes dearly," he said.

"Now, nearly 10 years later, I am excited about my work as a filmmaker and look forward to continuing to make a positive contribution to our industry." Salva is a sex offender and child pornographer and such offenders tend to repeat their crimes. People wondering whether Hollywood's values are at odds with the values of American parents need look no further than this case. Hollywood may be willing to admit sexual offenders to polite society. The rest of us aren't From Chicago Tribune Kim Seattle Post-Intelligencer i The Republican revolution in Congress as manifoctoH hv ite hi if) apt nnrltnpp is loss 9 revolution than a retrogression, moving the country backward and away from federal 1 nurture 01 its most vuineraDie cuizens, including children and the elderly. Under the GOP's budgetary framework, the poor are assured more pain while individuals jof the economic middle and upper classes and business are presented balm, in the form of $245 Million in tax cuts over the next seven years.

Seldom in modern history have the 'philosophical divisions of the two major political parties been in such sharp focus. I The Republican goal to balance the budget and eliminate the deficit by 2002 and to apply Borgman Cincinnati Enquirer.