Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 25, 1993 TAG: 9310280351
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Pupils and teachers need our backing. We want to hold board members accountable and to be able to vote out the inactive ones. We could require the board to prepare zero-based budgets.
My neighbor wrote the five current board members regarding problems. Without exception, they failed to answer her inquiry.
We thank Supervisor Harry Nickens for leading this move to elected school boards. We obtained 6,000 signatures to petition our government for this.
Supervisor Lee Eddy still wants to appoint board members. He has little support for this stand.
Virginia is the only state that appoints boards. Let's do something to update our state's position. Local self government will be the victor.
CHARLES E. THORNTON
ROANOKE
How about Sabato for governor?
REGARDING the gubernatorial election: For the first time in 22 years, I'm considering not exercising my right to vote.
There are a couple of issues with either candidate that interest me, but they just don't see the big picture. If one of them would come forward and tell us what they stand for, what they would do for us as governor and would shun the mudslinging and name-calling, the choice would be much clearer. People want someone to come forward and take charge, address issues and let their opponent's record stand on its own, such as it may be.
Before questions were asked in the first televised debate, moderator Larry Sabato asked Mary Sue Terry and George Allen to pledge to put aside all negative campaigning for the rest of the race and get down to issues. The candidates used the response time to snipe at each other!
I'm thinking of writing in Larry Sabato.
GEORGIA F. CHAPMAN
BEDFORD
Brumitt will serve all the people
EVERYONE needs to know what a hard worker Bud Brumitt is. The Republican candidate for the House of Delegates has been going door to door the entire summer, talking to residents in his area. He's a tireless campaigner who cares about people and will give his best effort to serve the 14th District, if elected.
I've found Brumitt to be a knowledgeable person who serves all the people. He's an honest person with the will and integrity to help citizens of the 14th District.
J. BRANDON BELL
ROANOKE
What's to fear about Mike Farris?
AFTER WATCHING the recent televised debate between Mike Farris and Don Beyer, candidates for lieutenant governor, I wrote another check in support of Mike Farris' campaign. Certainly that's not because my family and I have plenty of money to spend on politics, but because I'm thrilled to see someone so qualified for an elected office who will unashamedly and without apology stand up for what's right.
Beyer has spared no expense in distorting the truth about Farris, and he will continue to do so and with increased fervor in the coming days. I hope Virginians will not be duped into believing the garbage dumped in television ads that portray Farris as a radical extremist. Nothing could be further from the truth! I've met Farris, who is a quiet, humble man, and I was impressed with his wisdom and intelligence. How refreshing to witness someone willing to endure such bigoted abuse from his opponent and yet remain focused on making Virginia a better place to live and raise our children.
Beyer says that he's afraid of Farris and that women in Virginia are afraid of him, too. I don't believe this is true of the vast majority of women. Why should anyone be afraid of someone who is determined to ``do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with his God,'' actions Farris promises to carry with him to Richmond if elected? Our country was founded by men who lived by these principles.
Farris is determined to run a debt-free campaign and, as a result, may be unable to counter attacks on him and distortions of the real Farris before Election Day. My hope and prayer is that Virginians will see through these lies and will vote for the person, not the party, for principles, not politics. Vote for the man who will fight for what's right. That man is Mike Farris!
DONETTA H. DUNBAR
NARROWS
Treasury bills spotlight the debate
LARRY Hincker's Sept. 28 letter to the editor entitled ``Higher-education issues need reasoned discussion'' is right on target. The debate - professors should teach more and research less - is fueled by Treasury bills.
The Treas ury sold $11.2 billion in three-month bills at 2.90 percent," the Roanoke Times & World-News recently reported.
Reasoned discussion would help pin the tail on the proper donkey. Research was unnecessary when this country excelled in gross national product and natural resources.
Uncle Sucker has nurtured too many developing nations, and by cravenly bribing his way to world leadership he has let his liberal doves rebuild Germany, Italy and Japan by the Marshall Plan, and, of late, has begat Israel.
When our gross national product went through our ports like rats from a flaming coal mine, Uncle Sucker paid with borrowed funds. Somewhere along the course, skilled labor and high technology stowed away.
Research must be stepped up, not curtailed. On the global market today, Uncle Sam plays catch-up. The golden goose has been plucked and sends out for feathers - $11.2 billion worth - at 2.90 percent for only 90 days.
These higher-education bashers are not unreasonable; they have every right to know how teachers ration their time.
Let the debate begin! What better forum is there than this newspaper's editorial pages to air reasoned discussion of higher education?
ERNEST F. REYNOLDS ROANOKE
by CNB