Executive pardons should not be for sale to highest
bidder
Thumbs down to former President Bill Clinton for selling himself
to felons seeking executive pardons. Of the 140 pardons Clinton
extended the day before leaving office, 47 did not undergo the
Justice Department’s routine review and recommendation
process.
Though not all of Clinton’s pardons were unfounded, some
represented classic examples of how wealth and prestige can buy
political favors. Marc Rich, a man who committed tax fraud and
traded oil illegally with Iran, was among those pardoned. It looks
like his wife bought the pardon by donating $867,000 to the
Democratic Party in the last eight years. Clinton also pardoned
Carlos Vignali, a drug offender, whose father donated more than
$160,000 to many candidates, including California Gov. Gray
Davis.
It’s ironic that while many Democrats support campaign
finance reform and bans on soft money, many don’t voice
opposition to Clinton’s pardoning wealthy criminals so long
as they’re steady contributors to the party. Of course,
presidential pardons are never ethically pristine. But it’s
appalling to see political connections so blatantly buying freedom
from federal penalties.
University needs to address graduate students’
situations
Thumbs down to UCLA for not giving graduate students enough
money to meet their financial needs. UCLA ranks seventh out of nine
UC campuses in terms of the financial aid given to graduate
students, averaging $9,364 after tuition and fees compared to the
$14,011 offered by UC San Francisco which ranks first.
Before the university focuses its efforts on attracting more
graduate students, it should resolve the financial issues facing
current graduate students. They must also correct the huge
financial aid discrepancies between fields. While the average life
science student receives $5,079, humanities students only receive
an average of $359 dollars ““ this is obviously not enough for
students to cover their yearly expenses.
Graduate students generally face tougher financial situations
than undergraduates, since more graduates have to commute and
support families. To get graduate students to focus on academics,
the university needs to ensure their financial needs are met.
Ironically, UCLA is considered one of the top UCs, but ranks nearly
last in the amount of aid granted to graduate students. If UCLA
wants to attract the best of the best, they will have to rectify
that.
We love Valentine’s Day, and you should
too!
Thumbs up to spreading the love! The joy of Valentine’s
Day is truly orgasmic ““ after all, on what other day are you
asked to show your love with furry red teddy bears and
high-cholesterol chocolate cupids? Well, at least you’re
contributing to the expansion of the free market ““ it’s
like killing two lovebirds with one stone. Thank you,
Valentine’s Day! Also, thanks for summarizing our deepest,
most complex emotions into succinct messages on small, rock-like,
heart-shaped candies! Don’t you feel all the more special
when someone gives you candy that says “You’re
Special”?
Thank you, Valentine’s Day, for the type of love that
breeds such tragedies as “Down to You,” “Sweet
November” and let’s not forget “Dawson’s
Creek.” Thank you, Valentine’s Day, for isolating the
unpopular kids in elementary school ““ why would you want to
give them a Barbie or Power Rangers valentine anyway if
they’re not “so cute” or can’t play
tetherball?
Thank you, Valentine’s Day, for making all those poor
dateless people feel depressed! Sorry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people: We guess you’re not as cute as white,
heterosexual couples making out on a Valentine’s Day sale
mattress in pink lingerie and boxers covered with bubbly hearts!
How proud of us would St. Valentine be, for our keeping alive the
tradition of degrading love and putting it up for sale, casting out
the LGBT community and singles, making people feel worthless. If
only there were more days like Valentine’s Day.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents the majority opinion of the
Daily Bruin Editorial Board. Send feedback to: [email protected].