The Times

6 TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of December 25/26, 1976

opinion • editorials • commentary • letters Some thoughts for Christmas

Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a Mother laid her Baby In a Manger for His bed: Mary was that Mother mild Jesus Christ her little Child CECIL ALEXANDER, 1848 As Joseph was a-walking He heard an angel sing: "This night shall be born Our heavenly king." OXFORD BOOK OF CAROLS Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, Please to put a penny in the old man's hat, If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do, If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you. BEGGAR'S RHYME The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee, His hair was like a crown, And all the flowers looked up at Him, And all the stars looked down. CHESTERTON, A CHIRISTMAS CAROL In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea. JULIA WARD HOWE High noon behind the tamarisks - the sun is hot above us As at Home, the Christmas Day is breaking wan. They will drink our healths at dinner - those who tell us how they love us, And forget us till another year be gone. KIPLING, CHRISTMAS IN INDIA England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again. 'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale; 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's heart through half the year. SIR WALTER SCOTT At Christmas play and make good cheer For Christmas comes but once a year. THOMAS TUSSER

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reader response Suggestions for the President-elect

EDITOR: If Jimmy Carter is truly serious about government reorganization, I offer these suggestions: Phase-out of the independent regulatory agencies. These merely protect the companies they were meant to regulate, and regulate the consumers they were meant to protect. Closure of foreign bases not essential to the direct security of the United States. Many allies refuse to spend the necessary amounts to defend themselves, why should the American taxpayer foot their bill? Shut-down of the Federal Reserve Board. An engine of inflation and a prompter of recession, the Federal Reserve only centralizes our economy (a proven mistake) and cartelizes banking. Cessation of prosecution of victimless crimes. The Federal Government was not established to protect us from our personal follies. Closure of consulates in totalitarian countries. Some communication is needed to keep the peace, of course, but other than that, what have we to say to tyrants? Gradual phase-out of the printing of paper money. Paper money is nowhere authorized by the Constitution, and a return to gold and silver coinage would bring sanity to the American economy. Sale of government-owned business. These are inefficient, costly, and hinder private development of proper services. Phased abolition of the Departments of Commerce; Labor; Agriculture; Transportation; Health, Education, and Welfare; and Housing and Urban Development. These agencies waste money, foster monopoly, constrain enterprise and competition, and discourage productivity, creating a climate of parasitism and sloth. Department of Interior functions dealing with remaining Federal installations could be assigned to the General Services Administration; the incredible amounts of land now held by the central government (more than 90 per cent of some States) should be sold. These progressive reforms, combined with a balance budget, would end inflation, halt the recession, boost production and the standard of living, bring full employment, reduce class antagonisms, foster a spirit of energy and honest competition, and, above all else, be a giant advance toward a free society. JEFF DAIELL 4330 SW 8th St.

ERA proponents write more letters

EDITOR: It appears that the silent majority will take it on the chin once again on the issue of the Equal Rights Amendment. One thing which must be said for the proponents is that they are far more vocal than the opponents, and the proponents write more letters than the opponents according to Senator Pete Skinner. I admire Senator Skinner because he will vote the way the majority of his constituents wish. If this were true for all members of the Florida legislature, ERA would lose by a wide margin. Senator Jim Glisson said he believes a majority of Floridians and Americans want ERA, and he does not want to be a part of denying them. Florida had ample opportunity to submit the issue to referendum, but the proponents violently opposed this. These do-gooders believe they know what is best for the majority even if it must be rammed down their throats. Where does Senator Glisson get his opinion that the majority of Americans want ERA? The liberal States of New Jersey and New York wanted to add an ERA amendment to their constitutions, but the voters opposed ERA and voted it down in both states. The far more conservative Florida voters would turn down ERA by far greater margins if submitted to referendum. Why not submit ERA to referendum in November so that the majority opinion will prevail? Of course liberals do not believe in majority rule if it is contrary to their opinions. Present laws provide many special benefits for women which would be lost with ERA. Furthermore, ERA would be just as successful in achieving equal rights as the law which prohibits employers from discriminating because of age. Ask an unemployed person over 50 how effective this law is. Opponents better write a few more letters if they wish to stop ERA. We may find a few more legislators like Senator Skinner who believe in majority rule. WILLIAM R. ANGLE 15600 SW 77th Court

Letters bring new friends

EDITOR: Last Sept. 16 I wrote you with a request to place an advertisement with your paper for friends to correspond with. You kindly printed my request and since that time I have gained five new friends. Each have shared their lives with me and made me feel a part of their lives. I cherish my new friends and have you to thank for them. ROBERT CONNER Carson City, Nev.

Shots were handled efficiently, courteously

EDITOR: The South Miami Hospital and all the people that were involved in the Swine Flu innoculation are to be commended on the courteous and efficient manner in which this public service was handled. I witnessed a woman in a walker who could not make the steps and within a few minutes a nurse was summoned and performed the innoculation on the outside of the building. In a world where old fashioned kindness and public concern is missing, this was indeed a restoration of faith in fellow man. BENJAMIN EDELMAN SW 77th Avenue

Amy's school privilege

EDITOR: I am pleased to see that President-elect Carter is sending his child to the neighborhood school. There are millions of other Americans that would like to have that same privilege. ROBERT A. WOOLLEY 8320 SW 119th St.