By RUSS HILL Press Staff Reporter The U. S. Congress Is not really a democratic organization,
decland Republican Congressman James McClure Friday afternoon. He said he wanted to see government become more responsive. " I am not saying that the Congres.s is venal or corrupt," said McClure. "It is just that under the present system a rew gain power and are always straining to retain it." McCLURE WAS SPEAKER at a Popcorn Forum at North Idaho College. He was Introduced by Tony Stewart, a political education instructor at the college. Serving his third term as a Congressman, McClure said that his greatest difficulty is oommunications. He said that when he was arving in the State I.A!gislature that it was easy to communicate with his Payette County constituents because he saw some of them every day. "When you are in Washington, communicating with 400,000 people Crom King HiU to King Port is not so easy," according to McClure, who aaserted he was often misquoted and lllilundentood. MANY OF THE THINGS that go on in Washington, D. C., are simply political ploys, said McClure. He said that too often the Congress promises things for political reasons that cannot be performed. McClure said that as a freshman in Corigress he questioned a new bill that would greatly increase funding for rat control in cities. He said he questioned the people who administer the rat control program and learned that they already had $350 million and that was all they needed. "I voted against the bill, which pas&ed, and I was branded a friend or the rats. The irony or it that none of the additional Cunds were never asked for or used." McCLURE NOTED that a year ago President Nixon asked for a doubling or the $93 million budget for the crusade against cancer. He indicated every congressman wanted to get on that bandwagon. "It was raised first to $200 million, then $400 million and finally went over a billion dollars, most of which will never be uaed," said McClure. "The congressmen were simply showing they care." McClure disclosed that while $5 billion has been authorized for reclamation that probably only $250 million would be spent. He used it as another example where funds are voted for political reasons though the congressman know they cannot fulfill the promisec.
NO'l'ING GREAT INTEREST in President Nixon's trip to China, McClure indicated he favored opening the doors to continental Asia. "I think it is right to bring Red China into the world, though
not necessarily to approve or them or oommunian," declared McClure. He said there are seeds of danger going across the country through people who think the U. S. should return to isolationism. McClure said two opposing reactions In the country are: (1) that the commies can't be trusted, and (2) Thank Goel, we ue making friends. He said he thought the answer wW be somewhere in between. "OUR POLICIES SINCE World War II have (ailed," explained McClure. "Red China has not collapsed and it won'L" McClure warned that Red China now has the ff-bomb and can put it anywheie in the world. He said that Red China m~ht miscalculate our attitude and that the U. S. needs to have open communication with the Chinese leaders. ¡ No great trade relations with China is anticipated by McClure. He reminded that a few years ago, Canada began tnding wheat to China, but soon found out it w~ unable to get the pay ror it. McCLURE SAID HE did not expect any real change In the balance of power in the near future. He concluded that "neither China or Russia want the best for us." President Nixon did not sell out Taiwan while in China, declared McClure. He said while early headlines said that the President was going to remove all troops from Taiwan, that be merely reoognized Chinese people on both sides and agreed that over a period or time as tension lessens that he wUI withdraw troops. ln a question and answer period, McClure agreed it was true that Rus.5ia is increasing its military strength while it Is abating In the United States. "OUR POSTURE IN defense is dangerously low,'' asserted McClure. "The Bay of Pigs embarrased Russia, when they had to back down. They don't want it to happen again." McClure agreed with a questioner that unemployment is a threat to the country and decried the fact that "we have permitted inflation in our country and so placed us at a disadvantage in world trade." He said we must halt inClation or ms it with protectift devices. "TilE AFL-CIO has favored free trade the past 30 yean, but now are beginning to 35.Serl protectionism," said McClure. "Our position in world trade is a severe problem." McClure disclosed that in the first week of August 1971 that $4 billion Llowed out of the country. He compared it to a run on a bank and so required the President to call for wages and prices controls. "We are in for some tough sledding to get our economy in order," said McClure. Now a candidate for the U. S. Senate post being vacated by Len 8. Jordan, McClure said he was sure President Nixon won't be coming to Idaho to take sides in the Republican primary election.