The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 10

Editorial Board Richard R. Johnston publisher Steven T. Lovejoy opinion editor Randolph D. Brandt editor Gary Metro city editor Barbara Schuetz features editor THE JOURNAL TIMES PAGE 10A WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1999 VIEW 'Free' trade today means problems tomorrow Louis Karraker and an avalanche of cheap foreign products. Ignoring the decimation of our manufacturing sector because times are good is like ignoring the hole in the roof because the sun is shining.

Treating agriculture with the same medicine will not cure low farm prices. Our trade policies must not surrender the interests of American manufacturers or farmers to perpetuate a flood of cheap imports that will eventually inundate our total economy. "Free" trade today means problems tomorrow. Instead, we need to work for fair trade policies under which American producers can again compete on a level playing field. Then, American products will again adorn the shelves of our department stores and supermarkets.

Waterford resident Louis R. Karraker is a retired businessman and former college professor. try from overseas. Meanwhile, President Clinton sent his top economic advisers to Capitol Hill to push the administration's free trade agenda. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Commerce Secretary William Daley and U.S.

Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky told the Senate Commerce Committee that they intend to push the World Trade Organization toward freer trade in information technology, chemicals, medical instruments and farm products. In addition, President Clinton will later make a new pitch to Congress to renew the so-called "fast track" negotiating authority. Under fast track, Congress would give up one of its vital prerogatives under the separation of powers provisions of the Constitution. Fast track would give the president the power to negotiate trade agreements that Congress agrees in advance to accept or reject in their entirety but not to change or amend. Freer trade policies have given us a record-breaking trade imbalance A visit to a major department or discount store in any city in the country can be an enlightening experience.

One general observation is that few retail clerks are available to help the customer. The few that can be found are often unfamiliar with the merchandise they sell. Even in so-called "upscale" stores, customer service is often limited to ringing up the sale. Regretfully, the American shopper has gradually become resigned to this situation. Other things not so apparent are far more troubling.

Few products offered for sale are made in the U.S.A. Most clothing and textiles are produced in the sweat shops of communist China. Other points of origin for such items include India, the Dominican Republic, Egypt and Indonesia. Not one of these countries maintains wage standards and working conditions comparable to our domestic producers. Other products tell the same story.

Consumer electronics such as TVs, radios, CD players and clocks come from China, South Korea, trade deficit went up again in November. Although the December figures will not be available for another two weeks, the deficit of $153.92 billion for the 11 months already reported exceeds all previous deficits for a full year. While exports are dropping, imports of cheap foreign goods continue to rise. In the face of this ominous situation, Al Gore, addressing the World economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland late last month, called for deep cuts in agricultural subsidies and tariffs worldwide. He wants to do to American agriculture what politicians have done to our manufacturing sector.

Unfortunately, like the industrialists, many farm groups fail to see the inevitably-negative impact of the Gore approach for American farmers. Many of them believe that cutting agricultural tariffs worldwide would increase the export opportunity for American farmers. Such exports, however, would be dwarfed by cheaply-produced farm products flowing into the his coun produced numerous outbreaks of disease throughout the land. Products in department-stores and supermarkets have labels indicating their point of origin. Consumer durables like cars and major appliances, however, usually have no such labels.

Even if they did, labels would not tell the full story. So-called "domestic" autos, for example, may contain steel from Japan or Brazil, electronic gear from South Korea and seat fabric from China. No car sold in America is any longer totally made in the U.S.A. The subordinatidn of American business to the interests of global-ism, free trade and the world market puts our future economy in serious jeopardy. However, neither our political leaders nor our captains of industry can hear the sound of the ticking time bomb.

The ominous signs and portents of trade problems that impact our domestic producers are numerous and continuing. The third week in January, the Commerce Department announced that the Taiwan and Japan. None are any longer produced domestically. If we go from the department store to the supermarket, we find a situation that is increasingly similar. Vegetables and fruits are imported with growing frequency from Central and South America.

Frozen orange juice is often from Brazil. Mandarin oranges come from China and anchovies from Morocco. Such products, processed and handled under conditions that don't meet U.S. standards, have REALITY fin, TuEfUM Elmwood Bank OK boosts Imaginarium We want the Imaginarium to open soon. We want it to open because kids would enjoy it a lot.

Please don't build roads, build the museum. There would be games, a bubblearium, experiments. It will be fun for the kids. Roads won't be fun. The people worked really hard on the museum I really care about the kids who want to have fun.

You should use your brain. You should be kind and you should have faith in yourself. You should also have empathy in yourself. Be kind to the kids on earth. They want to have fun.

Please don't build roads, build the museum, please. Jenny Raduechel Somers Elementary School THE EDITOR support for the proposed children's museum. The million-penny crusade was a cinch. The combined fund-raising efforts of kids and adults have raised more than $500,000 for the hands-on museum. More than 140 schools and day-care centers in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois have endorsed the Imaginarium and pledged their support.

At the same time, however, it seems to us there has been some reluctance by community leaders to make a firm commitment to this vision. Perhaps Levin and the Bank of Elmwood commitment will be the ignition switch that finally launches this project toward completion. Imaginarium board president Tony Gazzana said the board will launch a campaign aimed at major corporations to drum up $1 million. The board is also asking the city to release $250,000 in block grant funds and is seeking endorsement of Downtown Racine Corporation, Sustainable Racine, and Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce which is necessary for the city to release a second batch of block grant funds. That should all come to a head fairly quickly.

If there are significant reservations about the financial feasibility of the museum or its place in the overall scheme for downtown renovation, now is the time to address those questions, resolve them and move ahead. The vision is there, the kids' support has always been there and the bank loan commitment is now there. With one more step, it looks like the Imaginarium may finally take wing. His job is to follow Christ's word through the Holy Spirit and lead his church in not changing just to go along with our times rather he wants to have us be Christ's light to the world. I appeal to all Catholics to love, appreciate and learn about this faith that is a true treasure.

As the Pope says, "Do not be afraid." Sarah Ryan 3122 Rosalind Ave. Crandall position appalling I am appalled that George Crandall considers the Imaginarium an afterthought to the downtown redevelopment plan and that his comments get headline status in The Journal Times. Museums, especially hands-on children's museums, are very important to my family. We have been to children's museums in Chicago, Phoenix, Green Bay and Milwaukee. My children gain so much from these visits; they get a chance to learn about the world around them how pulleys work, what happens to things we throw away, what was it like to go to school in 1886 to name just a few.

We began collecting pennies for the Imaginarium in 1996, hoping it would be built in 1997. My son has been a member of YouthAlive! at the Imaginarium since its inception one year ago. We have waited and waited for this museum to be built. Please, please, can we get past all the meetings, discussions and studies and just go ahead and build our children's museum? Debl Rexhausen 3601 Haven Ave. Welcome the tattoo shop Here is another letter for the Mayor and Alderman Kaprelian.

I agreed with Mr. Berdell that Mr. Plewa and Mr. Gorelik have the same rights as other business people. We have a great big eye sore in downtown Racine.

A huge parking lot for mail trucks. As long as the shop is clean and they abide by the rules, at least it is not a drug house or a gang hangout. Give them a chance. Not everyone cares for tattoo. But those who do have the right to it.

Also, why go out of town. Welcome the new small business. Make our downtown special. Shirley Dunham Racine Papacy's great tradition I was very happy to read John Sardino's letter concerning the Holy Father's visit to America. It was so good to read something positive about the man who is St.

Peter's successor. Like Mr. Sardino, I appreciate and understand what the papacy means. It goes way beyond the man. Yes, he's very unique and special, and is the Vicar of Christ.

But it takes some effort to realize the office for what it is. Too many people, Catholics included, don't have any idea of the tradition of the papacy. Therefore, Pope John Paul II is painted as an old man way beyond the times. In a sense that's true. He does go back, but way back to Christ.

Perhaps someone was listening to Jenny when she wrote that letter to the editor a couple of weeks ago. It arrived in a large envelope, along with 25 others, from teacher Marybeth Zuhlke's third grade class at Somers Elementary School. Jenny's wish and those of her classmates you guessed it, they were all in favor of the Irnaginarium came a step closer to reality Monday when the Bank of Elmwood agreed to grant the project a $2 million loan that should allow construction work and remodeling of the old Zahn's department building to begin as soon as March. Bank of Elmwood President Jess Levin, who has been at the forefront of efforts to help people with low incomes make the jump to home ownership, announced the Imaginarium commitment by saying, "I can't think of a better use for despositors' money than to build a museum that will help children learn and grow. They are the future leaders of our community." It's a good philosophy and it's good to see a community leader like Levin put it into practice.

Certainly there has been good grassroots Downtown plan brings cultural groups together us into a closer working relationship which can only benefit the whole community. It is likely with this effort, as a normal sorting out process, that some of their recommendations will be redirected or ignored. However, that does not negate the positive and useful contributions they have brought to the tape for revitalizing downtown Racine and, therefore, all of the community. Remember, John Lehman, "it takes money to get money." If we do not find new and viable ways to invest money into our downtown, we won't be making money. And, you have colleagues you can garner information from.

You are invited, you have been informed and you have been asked to, participate. Call me and I'll bring you up-to-date on Racine Heritage Museum, 636-3926. Second, the generic criticism of "out-of-town consultants" is ill-placed. Nonresidents with specific expertise frequently bring eye-opening ideas, new methods of operating and all together fresh perspectives. I have been a consultant paid by the American Association of Museums to several museums in the Midwest and still see the tremendous, positive results of my contributions to these specific museums and communities.

I know first hand that consultants do not work in a vacuum but pull in loads of information from the people who hired them. The Crandall group sought from us a great deal of data including the history of our efforts. They brought the cultural and arts people together and a very challenging, fresh perspective on what can be done over the long run to keep their programs vibrant and healthy and also make a significant impact on the health of Downtown Racine. We in the cultural community have been working with only a littler interaction and interdependence This downtown project has brought and the cultural and arts agency representatives Jan. 21 and 23.

Elected officials, including John Lehman, have heard the Racine Heritage Museum presentation on its mission and need for a new site. The citizenry is intimately involved with all the cultural and arts groups as evidenced by the tremendous number of volunteer hours for every one of them, by the high percentage of their budgets that is not tax-money, by the many and successful fund raisers in the community and, of great importance, by the two-year long planning, discussion and program meetings of Sustainable Racine. At the Sustainable Racine sessions I attended and received reports from, the needs and plans of the cultural and arts groups were in the forefront. These were reported in The Journal Times, Aldermen, the mayor, county supervisors and the county executive serve on DRC, RAMAC, Sustainable Racine and other boards and committees. Aldermen should request reports from them if they feel they are not being kept informed.

informed of the great needs in our community regarding cultural and arts groups. The symphony and other performing groups have been seeking a permanent space for over 10 years. Memorial Hall has been a focus of their efforts for some time and, of course, such a focus has been part of the discussions at City Hall since it is city property. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts has been seeking a solution to their space and storage problems for more than 10 years with several in-depth studies, planning and a lot of discussion, which has to include City Hall since it is partly city supported. Racine Heritage Museum has been actively seeking a different site for over five years, one that is handicapped accessible, has surrounding parking, a loading dock, appropriate floor loading and more.

Imaginarium is actively supported by two aldermen at least. These are the colleagues of Aid. Lehman. Are the aldermen not asked to report to their colleagues? Are colleagues not listening? Elected officials were at the meetings with consultants BY MARY ELLEN CON AWAY It is incorrect to give the impression that the current work on the downtown plan, especially as it concerns the cultural and arts agencies, has been accomplished "in a vacuum" as the letter to The Journal Times by Alderman John Lehman states. First, The Journal Times' article of Jan.

23 on plans for cultural and arts agencies reflected years of work by dozens of Racine people including politicians, not the quick interpretation of our-of-town consultants. Our friend, John Lehman, knows that the cultural agencies in our community have appointed aldermen and county supervisors on their boards and we appreciated his past service on the Board of Racine Heritage Museum. Each of the cultural and arts groups has met with the current and previous County Executive, with county supervisors, the mayor and aldermen as well as other significant quasi-political leaders such as those at RAMAC, RCEDC, DRC, Sustainable Racine and corporation leaders. They have all been kept "This downtown project has brought us Into a closer working relationship which can only benefit the whole community." MARY ELLEN CONAWAY Mary Ellen Conaway Is director of the Racine Heritage Museum..