The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 4

News item: 'Rolling Stones Coming to Your Views Pension Changes Overdue rHE DAIJLY OKLAHOMAN E. tQQAYLORD (1873-1974) tabUabed every mornlnc by Tbe Oklahoma Publishing 9000 N. iroadway. P.O. Box 38UB.

Oklahoma City 73125. Phone (405) 475-3311 Edward L. Gay lord. Chairman and Publisher E. K.

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Story Secretary-Treasurer Edith Gaylord Harper Secretary Emerlta Ml unsolicited items are sent to the newspaper at the owner's risk. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use of ail news credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news. Entire contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. 1 i amv AAoea ttf 0T moss 4 Thursday, August 21.

1997 62 Candles TO THE EDITOR: The UPS strike points out a situation that began during World War II. The problem is who controls pensions. Teamster officers want control for the same reason they always have. Perhaps some of the strikers are too young to remember Teamsters being charged with looting pension plans. The corporation wants control to keep employees loyal.

The Clinton administration even proposed taking over all pension plans to direct funds to public works. Pension plans are largely underfunded; their size makes them tempting targets for government, unions and corporations. Maybe it's time individuals took control of their pension plans. This would allow one's retirement funds to go anywhere the person went. The multiplicity of owners would largely eliminate pension plans as a target and a bargaining point.

Individual ownership would eliminate wholesale firings to reduce pension costs, such as happened at Xerox, and the various Baby Bells. Point of View David Lanier, City Justice Destroyed in Cherokee Nation Scary Situation TO THE EDITOR: ers retire, they will get less than they paid in. In 15 years, when the program reaches the ripe old age of 77 and maybe sooner Social Security will begin to run a deficit, spending more on benefits than it brings in through taxes. In theory, the system will then begin tapping its trust fund to pay benefits until 2029, when the fund is exhausted. But that theory has a hole in it: There is no money in the trust fund.

There are only IOUs from the federal government. The time to reform Social Security is now, yet it remains an untouchable entitlement that members of both major political parties refuse to go near. Privatization of retirement security plans is working in England, Chile and elsewhere. Workers are getting a higher rate of return. Retirement accounts have money in them, not IOUs.

People have a say in how their accounts are invested. We don't dispute the notion that Social Security was a good thing when Franklin Roosevelt signed off on it in 1935. But as presently constituted, it has outlived its usefulness. Americans want responsible reform. Where are the politicians who are willing to give the program a gold watch, a pat on the back and a ticket to the SOCIAL Security had a birthday last week, reaching the age of early retirement.

But it has no Slans to seek a well-eserved rest. Was there anything to celebrate on Aug. 14, when the Social Security program turned 62? The Cato Institute's Michael Tanner says no. We believe Social Security has had a good run. Since it was signed into law in 1935, the program has been popular.

For more than six decades, it provided a safety net for the elderly. But it may be time to retire Social Security as we know it. Then, perhaps, it can be reborn fiscally sound and conducive to rational retirement planning. Tanner, director of health and welfare studies for Cato, a libertarian think tank, says the destructive impact of long-term failure is already apparent. The system remains a bad deal for most Americans, especially the younger ones.

"Payroll taxes are already so high that even if today's young workers receive the promised benefits from the taxes they pay in," Tanner said, "their Social Security checks will amount to a low, below-market return on those taxes." Today's retirees will generally get back all they paid into Social Security plus a modest return on their investment, but when today's young work Since the raid, the high court has been unable to function, and citizens have been denied any access to an independent judiciary. Clinton's Welfare Deform By Paul B. Thomas THE Cherokee Nation's justice system has been destroyed by Principal Chief Joe Byrd. As a result, Cherokee citizens no longer have an independent judiciary to resolve their grievances. Similar situations have occurred overseas, but this is the first time it has occurred on the North American continent.

The government of the Cherokee Nation is simple. Authority is divided equally between the executive branch (headed by the chief), the legislature (or tribal council), and the judiciary (composed of a district court and the Judicial Appeals Tribunal, the tribe's high court). All branches follow the Cherokee Constitution, which is patterned after the U.S. Constitution. The present crisis developed when questions" arose regarding the spending practices of Byrd from the tribe's treasury, which handles millions of dollars each year, much of it furnished by U.S.

taxpayers. These questions involved the payment of fees paid to Byrd's attorney brother-in-law; the funding, with U.S. taxpayer money, for an employee to assist the Democratic National Committee in 1996; and other expenditures made without approval of the council. When Byrd refused to answer to these questions, a lawsuit was filed with the tribe's high court, seeking the withheld information. The high court is constitutionally obligated to resolve all disputes and controversies within the Cherokee Nation.

Byrd responded to the lawsuit by methods that sought to deny access to the information, although such information is by law a matter of public record. Reacting to these reports of improper and unapproved spending practices and having formed the belief that possible criminal activity had occurred, the tribal prosecutor and the head of the Cherokee Marshal Service requested a search warrant for documents in Byrd's custody in order to conduct an investigation. The district judge refused the request, citing the possibility of a conflict, because she not only acted as a district judge, but also heads a separate agency funded in part by Byrd. The prosecutor then requested the issuance of the warrant from the tribe's chief justice, who by Cherokee law, is authorized to issue such items. The chief justice studied the request deputy chief, another Byrd loyalist who had previously assaulted the tribe's medical director with a bag, contending the victim had "asked for it." Despite the lack of funds, the high court continued to operate until 4 a.m.

June 20. At that time, a "security force" loyal to Byrd seized the Cherokee Nation Courthouse. The files of the court were taken, and the justices, along with other court personnel, were denied access to that facility. The court clerks, along with the prosecutor, were fired. Since the raid, the high court has been unable to function, and citizens have been denied any access to an independent judiciary.

Byrd has placed on "administrative leave" employees he considered disloyal, including the staff of the Cherokee Advocate, the tribe's newspaper. Being placed on administrative leave is the equivalent of being fired, although the Cherokee Constitution prohibits such terminations for those employed for one year or more. The end result has been missed mortgage and car payments, as well as the near destruction of many families who no longer have a source of income. Byrd has publicly stated he is ruling by the "divine will of the Creator" and might reinstate the high court if it agreed, in writing, to his demands. The first is that all criminal charges against him be dismissed, and that he be allowed to fire employees at will, despite constitutional and statutory provisions to the contrary.

Like many before him, Byrd feels the rule of law applies only when it suits his needs. Otherwise, he will govern as he wishes. The conduct of Byrd should enrage everyone, including those who are not of American Indian heritage. This is because his efforts have been paid for in part with U.S. taxpayer dollars, and also because he has developed and executed a blueprint for the destruction of a co-equal branch of government to protect himself and his advisers.

Although it may seem far-fetched, the same plan could be useful by others against the U.S. judicial system. Is one man above the law? Principal Chief Joe Byrd, of the once proud Cherokee Nation, thinks so. Thomas, of Pryor, Is chfel older of the Cherokee Eldere Council, Inc. tools they need to get the job done.

Rector, in a column forthcoming on The Oklahoman's Saturday editorial page, says this year's budget deal will allow an explosion in welfare spending, from $412 billion this year to $532 billion by 2002. Worse, although so many hard-earned taxpayer dollars will be expended, few, if any, welfare recipients will be required to work. Congress better do some fixing of its own before the previous welfare disaster is exchanged for a new one. and, finding that probable cause existed, approved the issuance of the warrant. In executing the warrant, only copies of the documents were obtained, with the originals being left with Byrd.

With the assistance of his loyalists on the council and his lawyers, Byrd immediately began an effort to derail the investigation and to destroy those responsible for bringing it about. Byrd fired the head of the marshal service and his assistant, prohibited the prosecutor from working full time on the case and began an effort to destroy the reputation of the members of the high court. Fearing that a lawful investigation would be stopped, the tribunal ordered the immediate reinstatement of the head marshal and his assistant. Byrd responded by cutting off the funding for the marshals and shortly thereafter fired all the marshals. In the interim, a number of criminal charges were filed against Byrd and his close advisers.

Byrd then developed a scheme to remove the members of the high court, although there is no constitutional authority to do so. With his eight loyalist council members in attendance, and guided by his lawyers, including state Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, Byrd had the members of the court "impeached." In addition to lacking constitutional authority, the so-called impeachment hearing was illegal because it violated the Cherokee Constitution. That document requires the presence of 10 council members before any business can be conducted. Byrd then impounded the budget of the high court and instructed the district judge to set up an illegal court at the tribal complex, which she did.

In addition, he "fired" the associate district judge, although that individual had two years remaining in his term. In his place, Byrd appointed a person who had previously acted as the criminal defense lawyer for the I read where the police union, in support of the Teamsters, would be looking especially hard for any violations on the part of fill-in UPS drivers and would use zero tolerance in citing any violations they find once a vehicle is stopped. The Postal Workers Union said they would support the Teamsters by refusing any U.S. Postal Service requests to hire temporary workers to handle increased volumes. Neither the Houston police nor the postal workers have any direct connection to the UPS situation.

Their only connection is being union members. What business have they in butting into another companyunion conflict? What's, next? It's way past time those clowns in Washington get out of bed with the unions, and out of their pockets, and start reining in their power. The U.S. Department of Labor should be renamed the U.S. Department of Unions, because that's who they seem to represent.

Hank Stearns, Mustang Why the Secrecy? TO THE EDITOR: I don't question the moral sincerity of Cliff and Dorothy Burshek Views," Aug. 13), but I do wonder why they and many others concerned about pornography seem so vague about the issue, if there is so much nasty stuff lurking on the shelves of our libraries, then why not just say what it is? I can't see any reason to keep such information secret, except perhaps to advance a political agenda. Such a selfish motive would be unfair to our children. Groups in our community are watching for incidents of pornography. Oklaho-mans for Children and Families has been doing so for more than 10 years.

During that period they have found very little, if any, pornography lurking in our libraries. So forgive me if I cannot understand why the Bursheks are so distressed with the way our library regards the welfare of our children. It seems pretty high to me. Richard Czarski, Jones A Trojan Horse TO THE EDITOR: The budget compromise is a Trojan horse that delivers Hillary's "Kiddie-Care," another step into socialized medicine, to be paid for with cigarette and airline taxes. I don't smoke and rarely fly, but I have enough sense to know these taxes are unfair.

Also, people who pay no taxes qualify for a $500-a-year child credit, another freebie added to the Earned Income Tax Credit. CPAs and tax attorneys will soon receive hundreds of pages of IRS gobbledygook; the 1997 Form 1040 instruction book will add nine pages just to untangle provisions of our "tax cut." Spending is increased for failed social programs but decreased for defense. Part of the previously passed welfare reforms have been eliminated, at President Clinton's command. And with all the talk about a balanced budget, no one mentions the national debt, which increases every minute! Peggy Carter, City Letters to "Your Views" sre written by our feeders end do not necesserlly reflect the edltoriel policies or beliefs of The Oklehomen. Letters to the editor must cerry the author', slgneture end eddress.

All letters re subject to editing, with every effort mode to preserve letter's essentlsl mesnlng. Pleeee eddress ell letters to the editor to Your Views, The Oklehomen. P.O. Box 25125, Oklehome City, OK 73125. ROBERT Rector of the Heritage Foundation argues the budget and tax deal between President Bill Clinton and congressional leaders has wrecked requirements that states reduce welfare caseloads or if they can't, at least make a percentage of recipients work by redefining "work" to include going to school or receiving vocational training.

Further, the budget deal let the administration create a new $3 billion program to fund public-sector jobs for welfare recipients. Remember Jimmy Carter's Comprehensive Employment and Training Act? This is CETA's grandchild. "With lavish funding that would equal 7 percent of total AFDC costs, this new liberal program would dominate and direct state welfare reform activities for the next five years, shouldering aside most of the conservative reforms," Rector writes. No wonder many governors are ticked off. The battleground has shifted to their backyards, and Clinton has taken away Potomac Junction Pat on the Back TO Josh Steele (Ed-mond North High School) and Amanda Re Tullos (Piedmont High School), scholarship winners who attended last month's Gallup Junior Achievement Youth Leadership Conference in Lincoln, Neb.

Off-the-Wall Humor or Scandalous Rumor, It's All on the Internet flight attendant noticed they each had a dead armadillo tucked under one wing. "The attendant asked, 'Would you like to check those through as 'No, the buzzards answered. 'They're That was forwarded by fellow retiree Al Cromley from another retired newspaperman, George Em-brey, who also had one about President Clinton and a new parrot but it's probably already made the rounds in Oklahoma. Both of these fellows obviously are more experienced than this Net novice, who is still working his way through "Internet for Dummies." They know how to send By Robert Haught Washington Bureau AL Gore would be proud. The cyberspace czar of the Clinton administration has won another convert.

Guess who's cruising the information superhighway? The Internet is aptly named. It's in the same family as hairnet, fishnet and dragnet. You never know what you're going to catch next. Without a bad joke blocker on the system, you might find something like this in your e-mail in-box: "One year as spring migration began, two elderly vultures doubted they could fly north on then-own and decided to take an airplane. At the boarding gate, the messages with copies to friends.

One of the more intriguing features of the Internet is the World Wide Web. There are some interesting Web sites, including The Oklahoman's prizewinning "Connect Oklahoma." There's also "The Drudge Report," which more appropriately might be called "The Sludge Report." It's a one-man operation conducted by an unscrupulous gos-sipmonger, Matt Drudge, whose stock in trade is rumors. Drudge's Web page is a scandal sheet that defies the basic rules of journalism. The former T-shirt salesman never lets facts get in the way of a sensational story. Conservatives might enjoy the stuff he puts out about the Clinton White House he predicted first lady H.R.

Clinton would be indicted last summer but any right-thinking person should cringe at his reckless tactics of self-promotion. Drudge might have overstepped his bounds. After accusing a presidential assistant of covering up a history of spousal abuse, a charge he later retracted, Drudge now faces a multimillion-dollar libel suit which could put him out of business. One could make the case, of course, that Drudge simply is a free enterpriser who saw and seized the opportunity offered by the Internet to become a global publisher. Fortunately, he's an exception among the many respectable electronic entrepreneurs who are tapping this potent source.

The Internet is indeed a big and powerful force. A recent survey foresees an "Internet creating at least 3 million new jobs by 2005. But like the stock market, it can crash unexpectedly. That happened last month when a back-hoe operator sliced a fiber optic cable belonging to a telecommunications carrier near Laurel, Md. Internet junkies had to wait hours before retrieving more rumors and off-the-wall humor from their computer screens.

Where was Vice President Gore when we needed him?.