Tax Revolt
To the Editors:
The passage of Proposition 13 in California is beyond any doubt the political event of the century, and Howard Jarvis [June 19] has proved himself a leader to be reckoned with. I nominate him to lead a crusade for constitutional fiscal restraints on our spendthrift, irresponsible, inept Congress.
William C. Morrison Jr.
Oklahoma City, Okla.
The voters of California have spoken all right, but "tax revolt" is a little too noble-sounding for this irresponsible initiative. Given the opportunity, "the will of the people" would probably be to eliminate all taxes. Let's not make heroes out of selfish, ignorant voters.
Paul Bollwinkel Fair Oaks, Calif.
The tax revolt is just what the doctor ordered for a chronic case of national fiscal obesity. We've finally realized that the way to control the Government monster is to cut back on its diet of our money.
Dick Scar Buena Vista, Colo.
The voters of California would not have had to use a meat ax on the tax structure if the politicians and bureaucrats had not been using a scoop shovel to distribute tax money.
Clem Stretchett Joseph, Ore.
By all means, let's return to those thrilling days of yesteryear ... 1932-37 ... few taxes and low assessments. Ahhh, the good old days! Horse biscuits!
Frank Horcajo Glendale, Calif.
California's tax-relief measure will ultimately fail--not because of the quality of the idea itself, but because the original opponents of the measure are now the ones asked to implement it. Essential, rather than nonessential services will be the first to be cut and the I-told-you-soers will soon begin their chorus.
Lawrence A. Brown Chester, N.H.
Unless rents are cut proportionally to reflect the landlords' lower tax bills, it is possible that you will see the first statewide renters' strike in the nation's history.
Peter Rodman Davis, Calif.
An M.D. for Solzhenitsyn?
Alexander Solzhenitsyn's honorary degree from Harvard [June 19] should have been a Doctor of Medicine rather than a Doctor of Letters. He has diagnosed America's illness and prescribed the proper treatment.
Bill Marden Madison, Wis.
Perhaps the younger generation in the Soviet Union has not suffered enough to develop that intense spiritual development of which Solzhenitsyn speaks. Otherwise why are so many of them willing to risk arrest for their materialism by exchanging icons or other family heirlooms for blue jeans, pantyhose or albums of "intolerable music" by the Rolling Stones?
Thalice Goodridge Rockport, Me.
West Bank Conflict It's so "nice" to see in your story "West Bank: The Cruelest Conflict" [June 19] how much you care about the "poor, dispossessed and abused" Palestinians. What about the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were forced to leave their homes in the Arab states? Have Jews become blind and insensitive to the suffering of others?
No, they are only insensitive to murderers who want to destroy them. Let the Arabs, with their billions of petrodollars, resettle the "poor" Palestinians where they belong--in the Arab states.
Lee Walzer Glencoe, Ill.
Though the occupation may be, as Israel argues, "as benign as such a military operation can be," it was encouraging to have the article present the other side of the coin--the implications and ramifications of the emotionally debilitating presence of the Israeli occupation troops.
It is about time the Palestinian people are seen as feeling human beings whose homeland and basic rights have been blatantly denied.
Catherine G. Kelly Barium Springs, N. C.
Yes, we Jews are tormented by the past, troubled by the present and fearful of the future. After 2,000 years of persecution, we have every right to these feelings. They were instilled in us by the so-called Western civilization. After reading your biased account, my fears for Jewry and Israel are greater than before.
Al Lewis Sharon, Mass.
My husband, a Palestinian Arab and naturalized American citizen, visited his homeland in 1976, and was subjected to indignities at the hands of the "democratic" state of Israel. Surely there will be no end to the Palestinian resistance without an end to the occupation.
Mrs. Abdulateef Habayeb Wabash, Ind.
Storytelling
Jay O'Callahan has told several of his stories to my students, and to your excellent article on how he has revived the art of storytelling [June 19] I can add only one detail. Jay is the master of his craft. He not only makes storytelling look easy, but he puts his listeners in touch with their own stories within themselves.
Bradford L. Harding
Peirce School
West Newton, Mass.
God's Little Oversight?
Do the Mormons [June 19] really, seriously and conscientiously believe that God, after all these years, finally decided to inform their leader, "Hey, I forgot to tell you something. It's O.K. to have black ministers now."
It's inconceivable, even with the most naive faith, to accept the fact that God sold out the black race until the year 1978. It's far easier to believe that the Mormon creed did just that.
Michael T. Quigley Denver
The Mormon Church never found it easy to deny the priesthood to blacks. The revelation extending this privilege brought joy to the entire church. Such a reaction is hardly that of a group of racists "abandoning racism."
Michael A. Price Rio Dell, Calif.
Insurance
Until a man ran through a yield sign and severely damaged my car, I also held the attitude that insurance companies are apt to penalize the claimants [June 19].
I was amazed, however, at the number of people who advised me to make claims for items beyond restoring my car. Even though I borrowed a car from a relative, I was told I should be paid for the use of another car. I was also told I should put in a claim for my suffering (I was paid for my doctor bills).
The question can legitimately be asked, as with the chicken and the egg:
What caused the problem? Was it the companies' reluctance to pay off or was it the dishonesty of some claimants?
John Genung Claremont, Calif.
Pan, Satan or Satyr
In your review of Cartoonist Edward Sorel's Super pen [June 19], you state that Woody Allen is depicted as Satan.
Surely, Mr. Sorel intended Woody Alen to represent a creature known in Greek mythology as a satyr. Or maybe Pan, the great god of nature. Either would have been more applicable than comparing him to the devil. Come on now --Woody Allen the incarnation of evil?
Michelle A. Ott Buffalo
The devil is usually depicted standing, long tail in evidence (spear on end) and pitchfork in hand. His horns are curved, and while he has hoofs, he does not have hairy legs. When a horned god sits on a rock, reed pipe in hand, and displays hirsute lower extremities and straight horns, he is the shy god Pan.
Eleanor Crook New York City
The Cost of Sweetness
I don't get it! Price fixing in the uranium market is illegal. But with the blessings of Frank Church and one-third of his Senate colleagues, 13,000 sugar farmers [June 12] are going to do essentially the same thing. I imagine that if Senator Church were queried about the interests of the average American, he would appropriately reply: "Let them eat cake!"
Michael Roane Temple Hills, Md.
The 13,000-plus U.S. sugar farmers whom President Carter's advisers (and, apparently, TIME) are willing to assign to bankruptcy, produce 55% of this country's annual demand for sugar. They provide important protection for U.S. consumers against the instability of supply and wild price gyrations that characterize the world sugar market.
The price objective included in the bill that 33 of my Senate colleagues joined me in sponsoring is 2.4-c- per lb. above the price in the present program, which expires with this crop. Not by anyone's reckoning does the present support price cover the average cost of production in the U.S Nor do today's world sugar prices meet production costs anywhere around the globe. Those factors, left unresolved, bode future shortages of a basic commodity vital to the U.S. food chain. We must maintain a domestic production capability.
Frank Church
U.S. Senator, Idaho
Washington, D.C
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