tion for parenthood. The volunteer reached out to our young people, to members of the military, to veterans, and to the elderly and through personal contact eased their loneliness and fears.
For 102 years, the American Red Cross has been an essential ingredient of American life, helping us to learn, to grow, and to prosper. In accordance with this year's theme: "The Red Cross. We'll Help. Will You?" I urge all Americans to donate their time and financial resources in support of Red Cross activities. By giving of ourselves, we give the greatest gift one human being can give another—the gift of love.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American National Red Cross, do hereby designate March 1983 as Red Cross Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of Jan., in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh.
RONALD REAGAN
Proclamation 5016 of January 20, 1983
National Consumers' Week, 1983
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
A major function of our competitive free enterprise economy is to satisfy consumer demand. The effective demand of consumers is what keeps producers in the business of supplying goods and services and is vital to keeping the wheels of industry turning. Therefore, it is most important that we fully recognize the crucial role consumers play in our economy.
Everyone is a consumer, but too often this role is the most neglected in terms of preparation and training. In our complex market economy major decisions have to be made about living within our means; protecting our futures through insurance, pension plans, and investments; choosing goods and services from our global marketplace; and voting on issues directly affecting our public and private consumption. Because consumer and economic education can contribute immeasurably to our competence as consumers and citizens, it should be started in the schools at the earliest possible time.
Consumers should have access to a wide assortment of competitively priced goods and services produced here and abroad; accurate information on product content and care, on contractual agreements, on the cost of credit essentially whatever facts are needed to make an informed choice. But of greatest importance to consumers and private enterprise is protection against the marketing of goods that are hazardous to health or life, a fair hearing of complaints with appropriate remedies where justified, and dutiful consideration of consumer concerns at all levels of government.
It is clear that the greatest fairness for consumers can be achieved through the active cooperation of business, government, and consumers themselves
7
