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Pernpertive POST OFFICE PETER PRINCIPLE Bv RONALD REAGAN Record Agricultural Export Keeps U.S. Economy Healthy According to the Peter Principle, a theory well-known in the business world, people are promoted continually until they reach a level at which they are incompetent. It may be true of government monopolies, too. Take the U.S. Postal Service. Strange as it may seem, it once had a reputation for delivering the mail on time. Today, however, most people would no more think of asking the Postal Service to deliver a package across the country than they would train a pigeon to do it. Private firms such as the United Parcel Service have long since captured the market with competitive prices and reliable service. Despite the installation of expensive and fancy machinery to handle packages, the USPS just couldn't compete. Was it bad planning, poor management or an indifferent work force? Probably a combination, but efficiency experts will have to analyze the breakdown in order to assign the blame. Meanwhile, private delivery of second class mail (magazines and newspapers) is out-competing the USPS in many cffies, but the Postal Service isn't taking any chances on losing its big monopoly -- first-class mail. A few months ago it let loose its terrible, swift sword in Rochester, N.Y., where it persuaded the courts to ban a young couple from private delivery of mail downtown for 10 cents a letter. In another celebrated case, the scales of justice came down hard on an outlaw teenager who was caught delivering wedding invitations (on his bicycle) to neighbors for a small fee. Having knocked off these desperadoes, the USPS is now after bigger game. Human nature and technology being what they are, as the Postal Service became less efficient, more and more businesses and organizations shifted to elec­ tronic transmission of messages and sales of telecopiers boomed. These little machines, using telephones, transmit exact copies by electronic facsimile from one point to another over long distances. You can get a one-page memo to your branch in Cedar Rapids in four minutes flat on such a machine. Com­ paring even the USPS' fastest service, overnight express mail, to telecopying is like comparing the Queen Elizabeth II to the Concorde for speed. USPS response to this threat has been to propose revisions to the so-called "private express laws" which give it its first- class mail monopoly. Ap­ parently, it reasoned that if you can't beat 'em or join 'em; you can use the bureaucrat's favorite tool - a new regulation -- to drive 'em out of business. Among the proposed new regulations the Postal Service drew up last December was one to narrow the definition of telegrams so as to extend its monopoly to such things as electronically transmitted letters. Another new USPS ride would redefine electronic data processing (computers "talking" to one another over phone lines) by treating as letter "orientations of magnetic particles in a manner having a predetermined significance." But, wonder of wonders, the. Justice department has just filed comments urging the USPS to back off its effort to expand its monopoly. Justice said the purpose of the new rules was "to prevent the erosion of a monopoly which today is clearly threatened with commercial obsolescence." In other words, competition! Since the Justice department has antitrust suits pending against IBM and AT&T, it seems only fair that their in­ terest in competition extend to the nation's biggest example of the Peter Principle at work - the post office. How would you like to have a 60 percent set-aside on wheat every year? A 50 percent set- aside on soybeans? And how long could such costly Federal programs be maintained on a national scale? If we didn't export wheat and soybeans to other countries- along with large amounts of feed grains, rice, cotton and tobacco-we would have the most expensive diversion program ever conceived. OR farmers would be forced by economic pressures into a massive retrenchment-and the worst farm depression in history. Nationwide, farmers depend on foreign markets as an outlet for much of their production- the harvest from almost one- third of our cropland is sold Faster Thawing Fruit packed with dry sugar thaws slightly faster than that packed in syrup. Both sugar and syrup packs thaw faster than un­ sweetened packs. overseas. Some farmers are even more dependent on exports. In the marketing year just past, 54 percent of the wheat producers' crops moved into export; 68 percent of the U.S. rice production was exported; about half the soybeans and products, cattle hides and tallow were sold in foreign markets, along with substantial amounts of many other products. The value of U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year 1978, which ended Sept. 30, totaled $27.3 billion. This is $3.3 billion more than last year and the ninth straight year in which farm exports have set a record. During those nine years of unprecedented growth, agricultural exports have become basic to economic health in this country, not only on the farm, but in business and industry as well. For the nation as a whole. U.S. agricultural trade con­ tributes billions of dollars yearly to the balance of trade, which bears directly on the strength of the dollar in in­ ternational currency markets. To buy abroad, the United States-or any nation- must sell <4* abroad. Largely because of increasing costs for imported oil, the United States has been buying more than it has been selling abroad, and this trade deficit has put downward pressure on the dollar. U.S. agriculture has been the brightest spot in the U.S. trade picture. While non-agricultural trade has been in deficit, U.S. exports of agricultural products have exceeded im­ ports of those products by over $10 billion in each of the past five years, producing an agricultural trade surplus to be applied against the deficit in non-agricultural trade. Without those surpluses, which reached $13.9 billion in fiscal year 1978, the total U.S. trade balance would be. in much worse shape than it is. U.S. agricultural exports also generate more than one million jobs in this country-about half of them on the farm in the production of commodities for export and the remainder in export-related businesses off the farm. A high level of export trade helps to hold down costs of domestic farm programs by decreasing the need for production adjustments, and the extra income from exports increases the buying power of farmers in the domestic economy. From the outset, the Ad­ ministration has put a high priority on maintaining and expanding agricultural ex­ ports. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the agency directly responsible for market development has been reorganized to focus more directly on overseas selling. Funding has been increased for its Cooperator Program, in which it works with organizations financed by producers and the trade to share manpower and funds in market develBfament projects in more than 70 countries. Agricultural attaches from FAS are stationed at 65 Lemon Choosing Avoid buying lemons with bruised, bumpy or wrinkled skins. If they're in that condition, they're either old, badly stored or of a lower grade. SPRING SYMPOSIUM Pleasant Valley Outdoor center, 13315 Pleasant Valley road, Woodstock, will hold a Spring Symposium on Natural Environments April 6, 7 and 8 on the theme, "Moving T o w a r d s A B e t t e r H u m a n Environment". Featured will be bread baking, draft horse harnessing, pond and stream studies and solar energy usage, among others. Reservations should be made by calling the center. FREE C0UNTERT0P WITH KITCHEN CABINETS DURING SPRING SALE! i i m y Warehouse-wide sale ends April 14. Re and save! nv„uv,,>x-.-n lookup for one more ̂ chk! reason to remodel your kitchen before Faster, this is it! Now. dur­ ing our annual Spring Sale, you get our Butcher Block design Formica " counter- top-^ a $4 50 per foot value--fnw when you buy any base and wall cabinet set ( hoose from seven cabinet styles--in every size and shape Install them yourself, and save even more It's easy! Kach cabinet comes com­ pletely finished and assembled Wall cabinets can be mounted with just four screws. So bring in your room measure­ ments. and we'll help you plan your kitchen/ree now FREE Faucet with bathroom vanity! Modernize your old bathroom now; and get a free chrome-plated solid brass faucet fixture--regularly $17-with almost any vanit\ base and cultured marble top vou buy Select the size you need, in the cabi­ net finish of your choice, crowned with a cultured marble top in one of our glamorous colors Included are vanities with space-saving draw­ ers Also a selection of mirrored medicine cabinets PLYWOOD MINNESOTA i WAREHOUSE SHOWROOMS " WOODSTOCK (815) 338-1440 1230 DAVIS ROAD (BYPASS RT. 14 ft 47) ACROSS FROM FARM ft FLEET Hours: Monday ft Friday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m Ki 14 T Vv. I'l\ vumhI " Muint-ooi. i VVirehouw 1 T £ IhtMv Ril^ Vv. I'l\ vumhI " Muint-ooi. i VVirehouw A m e r i c a n e m b a s s i e s throughout the world from which they report on local agriculture and supervise U.S. market development work in more than 100 countries. Home Obedience Training Class For Dogs Offered Does your dog have good manners? Would you like him to have good manners? Then enroll him in the basic home obedience training class which will be offered by an Obedience Dog Training club starting PAGE 17 - P1AINDEAL.ER - WEDNESDAY, M ARCH 28, lt7» April 18. Training takes place at the Elgin National Guard armory on Wednesday evenings. To enroll, contact Kathy Engel at 426-2060. The club is a not-for-profit c o m m u n i t y , s e r v i c e organization whose primary goal is to promote responsible dog ownership. Early registration is recommended, class size is limited. Editor's Quotj Financial rewards j follow accomplish­ m e n t ; t h e y d o n ' t precede it. Harry F. Banks n Automotive values. Save $72-*120 on sets of 4. Aramid-belted radial whitewalls. • Pound for pound, 5 times stronger than steel • Improved gas mileage over nonradial tires • Modern tread design with deep grooves flush water from tread for excellent wet traction Rain Grappler Radial / / / / / Fast, Free Mounting W e w i l l m o u n t l i t v ^ l i v e and ha\ »• vmi i c.nK to roll in no t line Low ro-t wheel a l a n c i n i * i > a l > o , i \ a i l a H e Tl'BELKSS WHITKWAl.l . SIZK. ALSO KITS KEOIM.AH I'RICK KACH SAI.K PRICK KACH Pl. l 'S K.K.T. KACH BR78-13+ 175R-13 $62 $43 1.96 DR78-14 175R-14 ' $71 $50 2.15 ER78-14 185R-14 $75 $53 2.27 FR78-14 195R-14 $79 $56 2.38 GR78-14 205R-14 $86 $60 2.57 HR78-14 215R-14 $92 $65 2.75 FR78-15 195R-15 $82 $57 2.39 GR78-15 '205R-15 $89 $62 2.66 HR78-15 215R-15 $94 $66 2.84 JR78-15 225R-15 $99 $69 3.01 LR78-15 235R-15 $103 $72 3.13 N O T K A D K I N N K K D K I ) S i n g l e r a d i a l p U Runabout 4-ply Runabout Belted \ Tubclfss KvervHav Plus Kverv«la\ Plus 4 Blackwall I.iiu Price K.K.I l.ow Price K.K. 1 Size Kach Kach Kach Kach tjj A78-13 $18 1.H2 $22 1 74 B78-13 $21 1 73 $26 1.8tt D78-14 $26 1 93 $33 2 05 E78-14 $2H 2 10 $34 2.21 F78-14 $29 2 22 $36 2 34 G78-14 $31 2.38 $37 2 53 H78-14 -- -- $40 2.76 B78-15 $23 1 f>« -- -- 1178-15 $31 2.44 $39 259 H78-15 $33 2KB $42 2.82 L78-15 -- $47* 3 11 N O T K A D K I N N K K D K I ) W h i t e n a l l - a v a i l a b l e m o r e e a c h • A v i i i l a l . l t hi w h i t e w a l l i m l v Sale ends April 17. The affordable Runabouts. Bias 4-ply low as *18 A78-13 tubeless black-wall; + $1.62 f.e.t. ea. Glass-belted low as $22 A78-13 tubeleu black-wall; + $1.74 f.e.t. ea. Good traction and long mileage at low budget-pleasing prices. Wards of fers low-cost professional insta l la t ion Save *30 Fits most cars, vans, trucks. Speakers extra. In-, under-dash AM/FM-stereo/8-track. Unit has LEI) dial pointer for easy selection. Built- in AFC, illuminated dial. 44.95, coaxial speakers, 36.88 Regularly 129.99 99 88 Limit 16. Save 11% Popular nonresistor AC" spark plug. Improves gas Keg.89 ' mileage and _|v starting power 1 .19 res i s to r - type p lue , 89 ' Wards of fers low-cost professional insta l la t ion s most US cars. Save 30% Heavy-duty l:,/i«" shocks for control. ( ) \ e l ' - l / rd |> l - - _ _ t o n w i t h a l l t emp I I I I id to I " each <mooth ndinu Heg.9 .99 Complete brake job for most US cars-- 2 discs, 2 drums. "7 Parts, labor. 9988 Sizes to fit most US cars. Free cable check. Installed free. (JET AWAY 42 Type* Cold Crunk Amps 22 K, 72 3(J0* 71 32f> 24. 24 F, 74 350 27 130 Save807 Our Get Away 42 ianaintenance free! Requires no more water un- 36®® Regularly 44.95 der normal oper. conditions. LL I battery 36.95 ... « a K)w4gj Save 18c 1 qt Wards 10w40: our best motor oil. Improves winter start i ng. pro- /1"| C teds engine in summer- heat Re#. 79' 3.11 off. Save on Wards Supreme muffler for most cars. Ruggedly built !*••«. 19.99 to cut n o i > e -• f op Kust'-reMstant J_0 Installation lov> a* 3.0(1 . / '\ Wheel alignment service for most US cars. Labor only. /\AOIVT(#( )AAEKV 1495 ihVL\ U»J FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE THE AUTO SERVICE IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon. thru Fri. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sat. 8 5. Sun. 11 5 Crystal Lake 105 Northwest Highway Route 14 Phone 815459-6450 FREE PARKING l