From: Student Pugwash USA <uspugwash@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: alt.org.pugwash
Date: 23 Dec 92 13:51 PST
Subject: Re: *Tough Questions-Winter 93 News
Nf-ID: #R:cdp:1758700047:cdp:1758700049:000:7185
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!uspugwash    Dec 23 13:51:00 1992


TOUGH QUESTIONS - WINTER 1993
****************************************************************

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT CLINTON!
BY BETSY FADER

`This is the first time in my voting history that I voted for a 
presidential candidate that won!`   `Finally I`m voting for a 
candidate rather than against an opponent!`  `This is the first 
time in a long time I actually feel excited about an election!`

     These were not uncommon phrases overheard on November 3, 
election day, 1992.  Well, at least not where I cast my ballot.  
(I vote in Baltimore, Maryland - 70% Democrat.)  As I stood in 
line at the polls for over 1-1/2 hours that Tuesday morning, and 
listened to the men and women around me commenting on the voter 
turnout (`Harry, can you believe this?  I haven`t seen a 
voter turnout like this in forty years!`), I was caught up in 
the collective feeling of enthusiasm of those around me, and 
overwhelmed by the potential for change.

     In these post-election months, many of us are now asking 
what the next four years will hold under a Clinton 
administration, and what changes are soon to be in store.  With 
transition teams in place and economic and science advisors in 
consultation, I wonder just how President-elect Clinton will go 
about solving the problems and challenges he has rather 
unluckily inherited.

     And yet, while the future is uncertain, I can still say I 
have never felt so inspired by a presidential election.  Beyond 
the possibilities afforded through a change in administration, I 
know that I, along with many in my peer group of students and 
young professionals, for the first time feel we have the ability 
to do something positive about the future, our  future.  Was 
this created by Clinton`s ethos of consensus-based decision 
making, or merely by the fact that a sense was instilled that 
positive change is in fact possible through both collaborative 
efforts and individual actions?  Perhaps it is a result of the 
collective perception that social problems will be addressed 
with renewed vigor and fresh ideas, if not increased budgets.

     From the perspective of a progressive, non-profit 
organization, the premise for optimism is equally great.  
Perhaps never before has the potential been so promising for 
collaboration between government and the not-for-profit sector.  
Given Mr. Clinton`s commitment to solving the country`s social 
ills, and Mrs. Clinton`s close association with the 
philanthropic world, opportunities for non-profit organizations 
to provide feedback to government leaders may present themselves 
more frequently and pervasively than ever.  It has been said 
that Mr. Clinton will look to the ideas and ideals of non-profit 
leaders and activists in addressing many of the country`s social 
problems left unattended in the previous administration (such as 
educational improvement, homelessness, health care reform, and 
urban renewal, among others).  That Mr. Clinton is likely to 
look outside of the traditional policy and decision-making 
circles for his answers to these problems, many of us would say, 
is a positive sign.  (I can certainly vouch for the excitement 
of this organization when we learned that a team of science 
advisors assembled for President-elect Clinton included several 
Student Pugwash USA and Pugwash Conference  leaders, including 
John Holdren, Jerome Wiesner, Herbert York, and Shirley Malcom.)

     Non-profit organizations, by their very nature, seek to 
illuminate and respond to social needs not adequately addressed 
by government, employing innovative, effective strategies to do 
so.  Government would be well-served to learn better how to do 
what we doQbe flexible, adaptive, creative and produce valuable 
services on a limited budget!  And, as government`s openness to 
philanthropic/non-profit perspectives is perceived by the 
public, it would not be unrealistic to look for an increase in 
citizen participation and activism in social causes.  Among 
other things, partnerships between the government and non-
profits will enable policy makers to better understand and more 
effectively serve the needs of the public.  

     A November 17, 1992 article in the Chronicle of 
Philanthropy noted, `People who have worked closely with Mr. 
Clinton say he will be most interested in non-profits that 
emphasize self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.` This 
interest, and President Clinton`s commitment to non-profit 
organizations,  may be realized through a variety of legislative 
and regulatory changes.  These include: tax-law changes aimed at 
helping charitable organizations, and a permanent tax break for 
individuals who donate appreciated property to such 
organizations; the creation of a trust fund from which students 
could borrow money for college that could be paid back through 
community service, including work at non-profits; and the 
creation of a White House office on social service organizations 
and volunteerism to coordinate the Administration`s efforts to 
work with the not-for-profit sector.  Such an office could 
address federal regulations governing non-profits and recommend 
tax policy revisions.  

     Many people have asked me what impact the Clinton 
administration will have on Student Pugwash USA.  Well, it 
probably won`t mean increased funding for SPUSA, given that a 
federal deficit of some $4 trillion confronts the new president.  
What I feel the Clinton administration does mean, however, is 
that young people will increasingly be called upon to address 
and help find solutions to social problems, and to set the 
course for the future.  As this transpires, organizations like 
Student Pugwash will benefit from the sense of empowerment and 
responsibility instilled by the Clinton ethosQthat positive 
change is possible, that we can work together to achieve it, and 
that personal commitment will make it happen.   Such an ideology 
is invaluable, and one this country can ill afford to do 
without.  Speaking only for myself, but from the viewpoint of 
director of this non-profit, I`d like to say, `Mr. Clinton, 
welcome to the White House!`

****************************************************************

     Betsy Fader is a 1985 graduate of Vanderbilt University 
where she studied political science and communications.  While 
at Vanderbilt, she served two years in the Student Senate and 
was later elected to the University`s Board of Trustees upon her 
graduation from the University.  Prior to her arrival at SPUSA, 
Betsy served as Parliamentary Assistant to a member of the House 
of Commons in London, England, and then as Legislative Assistant 
in a D.C. law firm.  In both positions, Betsy tracked 
legislation and developments in alternative energy and clean 
energy technology policy.  Betsy then served as legislative 
assistant at the Association of American Universities where she 
followed a variety of science and research issues, with specific 
concentration in biomedical research policy and policies 
regarding ethical conduct in research.  She has served as 
Executive Director of Student Pugwash USA since 1989.