opinion

HcraM & Lantern 2 November 'S3

58

Other Voices Lie Detectors

To Stop Leaks? Congress has just sunk its tiny, sharp teeth into the issue of the be detector Earlier this year, the Reagan administration issued a directive that greatly increased the number of government employees who could be made to take lie-detector test in the course of investigations of national security leaks A House sub-committee recently heard witnesses on the subject Most testified that the idea is utterly useless and heinous This is, of course, a large exaggera tion But the administration program may not be very well suited to the problem it s meant to attack. National secunty leaks and their dangers are certainly real enough There is honest (^goodness spying going on m this country Moreover, the government s a sieve when it comes to leaks from foreign-policy bureaucrats trying to use the press to fight the political appointees above them THERE IS NO REASON in principle why you shouldn't be able to ask employers to agree to polygraph tests if they are going to have access to sensitive classified information But be detectors are dangerous They are invasive A polygraph expert will tell you that the machines give good results only when mulched with skillful interpreters What employee hauled in for a leak investigation wants to allow that kind of discretion to a polygraph reader who may have an interest in finding him guilty? The more employes you subject to the polygraph rule, the further you get from the sorts of political actors who, in fairness, can be required to run this gauntlet, and the further you stray from the places where most politically significant leaks originate. If you really wanted to stop leaks, you’d have to go first for Cabinet officers, White House staffers and the like. Who really wants top see White House Chief of Staff James Baker, to take one far-fetched example, hooked up to the machine each morning in the hunt for yesterday's leaks*’ The polygraph plan is risky and unwieldy. But the administration's opponents should not be so quick to call the Rea games proto-totaUtarians for worrying about leaks. They are a nations I-security danger But they also eat away at the right of citizens to be ruled by their elected officials rather than by unelected bureaucrats Let s see those who are so quitk on the mark on the liedetector problem devote someattention to this other one as well — Wall Street Journal Appreciate All This Autumn Grandeur By CLARE CAMPBELL This is the magic time of year when we should all avail ourselves of the wealth of beauty around us It is indeed the time "of mellow fruitfulness" and to let these sparkling days go by without appreciating all this Autumn grandeur would be tragic. The sour gums have already clothed themselves in scarlet, the swamp maples are competing with their pinks, y ellows, mauves and reds, and the dogvuMfc tell us that maroon will be popular again this year The wild geese are flying high and fast, headed South, andull the squirrels are stashing hickory nuts. (They’ll forget where they put most of them, but miraculously they always find enough to weather the cold season i CHICKADEES and mockingbirds are back and any day the yellow warblers and purple finches will check in Wasps have hidden their anesthetized grasshoppers in dry places — under loo^p boards on our houses and beneath the bark of old apple trees I'm told the grasshoppers keep fresh that way till needed for snacks throughout the Winter ^ i Page S9 Please)

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LANTERN

Our Readers Write Be Positive Or Else...

All Federal Employes Will Submit to Polygraph or Be Fired — — Big Brother Reagan, 1984

To The Editor: The Mid-Atlantic Shrine Convention in The Wildwoods on Sept. 22, 23, and 24, we feel was a success. Although there were a few problems, which every convention of such magnitude will have, most everyone had a wonderful time. They enjoyed your cities, your beaches, your hospitality and your most excellent food facilities. We wish to thank your business community and all your citizens for hosting us so graciously. Our people were there to enjoy themselves and partake of your hospitality. If in this process someone offended anybody in the Wildwoods and Cape May County, we apologize for this. We have noted a few negative remarks in your press and not many positive remarks. We would like to see some positive things or perhaps we should re-evaluate our returning to The Wildwoods in future years. RAYMOND A. LONG President Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association Altoona, Pa.

Lookin' and Listenin' In V Formation By DOROTHY D. FREAS Looking upward because the blue sky was dotted with small cottony clouds and worth an extra glance or two, we found that one of nature’s miracles was happening. A very large flock of geese, forming the usual "V” was flying across the sky. Geese decide to go south when the weather turns cool and the length of daylight hours shorten. Then the gaggle becomes restless and soon one gander soars upward, while two lines trail behind him, making the V we are thrilled to watch. Ornithologists have been thorough in their observations and determined that the leader of the flock does not always remain in that position. He apparently is not the only one who knows the way to the South. As they continue their flight by night and day, several different birds take a turn in leading the flock. AT TIMES THE LEADER will give up his place as another bird in line flies forward to spearhead the flock, breaking through that wall of “solid” air. As far as experts can theorize, birds who fly in the V formation have learned through the years that, as the leader flies, he causes two streams of air currents that flow past each bird in turn, easing its flight. Canadian geese pair off for life — with one mate. Each V formation is probably a group of the families descending from the pair and from their offspring. Studying aerodynamics — the motion of air — became important to man with the coming of planes and cars, but the geese knew its principle ages ago.

ED. NOTE: No negative remarks appeared in the Cape May County Herald or Lower Township Lantern. Letters Welcome The Herald and Lantern welcome letters to the editor on matters of public interest. Originals, not copies, are requested. Writers should sign name, address and phone number.

Shrine Success To The Editor: The Cape May County Shrine Club wishes to thank all members who participated and all the people who gave a donation, the mayors of several cities and townships, and Acme, Super-Fresh, ShopRite, Shop ’n Bag, Lobster House Restaurant and Deauville Inn, for permitting us to distribute our papers at their establishments and helping make our annual Shriners Paper Sales for the 21 Shrine Hospitals for crippled and burned children, a success. All money collected will go directly to our hospitals. The budget for the 21 hospitals for 1983 is $96 million. Most ofthis money comes from the Shrine members, gifts, wills and programs such as our recent paper drive. £ BILL DOUGHERTY Cape May County Chairman Shriners Paper Drive Cape May Court House

Crucial Questions Answered Don’t Worry About Hot Flashes

By JOE ZELNIK Readers, impressed with the intelligence and sensitivity in my previous advice columns, continue to bombard me with crucial questions. I hope the following answers will make their lives more satisfying. R. L. of Nummy: I am so tired of living alone. Can you name one positive thing about such an existence? Answer: Yes. You will never be attacked by a mass murderer L. T. of Scotch Bonnet: I am only 38, but already having hot flashes. What can it be? Answer: Don’t worry. This is not menopause, but merely a sign of the "Greenhouse effect.” M. M. OF REEDS BEACH: I recently withdrew $100 from a George machine and he gave me $110. What should I do? Answer: Tip him 15 percent. Y.R. of Burleigh: My son wants to remain in Cape May County, but says it lacks opportunity. He wants to work four months a year and rest eight. Can you suggest an occupation? Answer: He should become a podiatrist and open an office on either the Wildwood or Ocean City boardwalk. H. S. of Fishing Creek: I find the thought of a winter in Cape May County extremely depressing. What can I do? Answer: You are correct to be concerned. Almost everyone in Cape May County in the winter either goes to Florida or is depressed. You must fight the blues because the last thing a depressed person wants is a depressed friend My advice is to leave your wallet home, go to an Atlantic City casino, and watch people losing at the $100minimum blackjack table. This is bound to make you feel good in comparison. S. A. OF COLD SPRING: My husband walked out on me and our five children Now he is suing for divorce and wants half of everything. Answer: Explain to him that there is no way to divide five children in half.

T. M. of Miami Beach: I would like to be a brilliant writer, like you. Where do you get your ideas? Answer I have a tape recorder at my bedside and drink a couple glasses of red wine (for my health) just before bedtime. I talk in my sleep and, wheal aw’ake, the tape usually has dozens of ideas. Sometimes they are in a foreign language, which the reference desk at the Cape May County Library translates. This leads me to suspect that persons from my earlier lives are contributing to these columns. R. R. OF STONE HARBOR: Where will the winter drinking-’n-dancing crowd be going this year? Answer: This is a serious problem because of several lounge closings and the migration of musical groups. I have conducted a great deal of research and, on the basis of square feet of bar space (for mingling), it’s likely that the new “in” spot will be the Lower Township Moose Club in Erma. F. B. of Mayville: I am new to the county and often forget to have a dime for the toll at the Route 47 southbound entrance to the Garden State Parkway. Is it all right to go through without paying. Answer: No, never. Back up onto Route 47 and head west on 47 to any one of several stores which will be happy to make change. Donkin Donuts, for example, is open 24 hours a day. J. B. of Cape May: As one of the county’s best informed persons, who will you be voting for next Tuesday? Answer: I am still undecided on most races, but have been urging my friends to write in the name of Ellsworth Armacost for the state senate. E. K. OF AVALON: I have a male admirer who wants me to vacation with him in Florida. Should I go, or hold out for marriage? Answer: This depends on how old you are. When I was a child, for example, as I read the Sunday paper, 1 left the comics for last. Now, however, as the days dwindle down, to a previous few, October ... November .... I no longer dare postpone pleasures. When I go to restaurants, for example, I always start with the dessert.