In the Public Interest

Hard Times for the GPO

In the category of things that have been taken for granted for too long, try the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). For years millions of Americans have ordered or used the numerous pamphlets, reports, hearings and other government documents, led by the all-time government bestseller — “Infant Care.” But now, hard times have befallen both…

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Big Oil’s Plans for Bigger Prices

While consumers are worried about today’s high energy prices, the giant oil industry cartel is planning for tomorrow’s price spiral by moving to control all energy sources. Already in control of natural gas, which comprises nearly a third of U.S. energy consumption, the oil companies dominate over half of the uranium reserves and twenty percent…

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Neglecting Job Safety

Almost daily, big indus­try’s top executives are de­manding a moratorium or drastic slowdown in the country’s efforts to advance the health and safety of its citizens. Albert W. Turner was once an executive with Southern California Gas Co. Today, as chairman of the California Occupational Safety and Health Stand­ards Board, he has lashed out at…

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Health and Safety First

Almost daily, big indus­try’s top executives are de­manding a moratorium or drastic slowdown in the country’s efforts to advance the health and safety of its citizens. In the process of excusing their own mismanagement and shortsightedness, these corporate bosses are coor­dinating a powerful drive to make the peoples’ health and safety the first area of…

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Griffin’s Consumer Woes

Can consumers in Michigan change the position of Sen. Robert Griffin (R-Mich.) against the consumer protec­tion bill (S. 707) in time to enact this important inflation-fighter before Con­gress goes home this month? This interesting experiment in de­mocracy is now going on throughout Michigan with our support and en­couragement. Petitioners are asking citizens to sign manifestos…

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The Antifreeze Story: Does the Government Care About Inflation?

The retail price of antifreeze has tripled between 1973 and 1974, soaring from approximately $1.90 a gallon to $5.50 a gallon. Bewildered consumers want to know why. Wouldn’t you think that somewhere in a federal government that is supposedly committed to fighting inflation and anti-competitive practices there would be a coherent report or explanation? Well,…

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Let Citizens Act Directly

Ed and Joyce Koupal, the indefatig­able leaders of the People’s Lobby in California, think Americans should re­discover those mechanisms of self-gov­ernment—the initiative, the recall and the referendum — and they’re taking their skilled signature-gathering expe­rience nationwide to build support for a constitutional amendment establish­ing a national initiative and national recall. Last June the Koupals were…

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A-Power Skeptics Heard

Before it is possible to ex­pect effective anti-inflation­ary policies to come out of Washington, the Ford administration will have to ask itself if it is willing to oppose some old or pro­posed pro-inflationary prac­tices. Here is a handy checklist of pro-inflationary direc­tions which many elected and appointed politicians would rather not talk about with citizens…

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Natural Gas Fight

On a TV talk show at the end of October, Phil Donahue, the earnest host of the syndicated Daily Talkfest, asked former General Motors president Edward Cole whether he thought the oil companies were profiteering by charging too high prices. Cole looked unconvincing when he delivered the customary auto industry line on its fraternal petroleum…

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Safe Drinking Water

The safe drinking water bill is in trouble. Buffeted by the combined efforts of that stolid fraternity — the oil industry and the White House — the bill, H. R. 13002, has moved with glacial slowness through the House Commerce Committee. The Senate has already passed similar legislation. At every opportunity its opponents have hacked…

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