In a single stroke we will be accomplishing a realignment that will end cumbersome administration and spiraling costs at the Federal level while we ensure these programs will be more responsive to both the people they’re meant to help and the people who pay for them.

Hand in hand with this program to strengthen the discretion and flexibility of State and local governments, we’re proposing legislation for an experimental effort to improve and develop our depressed urban areas in the 1980’s and ’90’s.  This legislation will permit States and localities to apply to the Federal Government for designation as urban enterprise zones.  A broad range of special economic incentives in the zones will help attract new business, new jobs, new opportunity to America’s inner cities and rural towns.  Some will say our mission is to save free enterprise.  Well, I say we must free enterprise so that together we can save America.

Some will also say our States and local communities are not up to the challenge of a new and creative partnership.  Well, that might have been true 20 years ago before reforms like reapportionment and the Voting Rights Act, the 10-year extension of which I strongly support.  It’s no longer true today.  This administration has faith in State and local governments and the constitutional balance envisioned by the Founding Fathers.  We also believe in the integrity, decency, and sound, good sense of grass roots Americans.

Our faith in the American people is reflected in another major endeavor.  Our private sector initiatives task force is seeking out successful community models of school, church, business, union, foundation, and civic programs that help community needs.  Such groups are almost invariably far more efficient than government in running social programs.

We’re not asking them to replace discarded and often discredited government programs dollar for dollar, service for service.  We just want to help them perform the good works they choose and help others to profit by their example.  Three hundred and eighty-five thousand corporations and private organizations are already working on social programs ranging from drug rehabilitation to job training, and thousands more Americans have written us asking how they can help.  The volunteer spirit is still alive and well in America.

Our nation’s long journey towards civil rights for all our citizens—­once a source of discord, now a source of pride—­must continue with no backsliding or slowing down.  We must and shall see that those basic laws that guarantee equal rights are preserved and, when necessary, strengthened.

Our concern for equal rights for women is firm and unshakable.  We launched a new Task Force on Legal Equity for Women and a Fifty States Project that will examine State laws for discriminatory language.  And for the first time in our history, a woman sits on the highest court in the land.

So, too, the problem of crime—­one as real and deadly serious as any in America today.  It demands that we seek transformation of our legal system, which overly protects the rights of criminals while it leaves society and the innocent victims of crime without justice.