Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090036
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Recently, one Republican and 33 Democrats united to vote for passing on to our children and grandchildren an expanding national debt. They argued that they didn't want Republicans to raid the Social Security Trust Fund to balance the budget. Obviously, their objective was to scare senior citizens like me.
The truth is that Congress has been raiding the trust fund for years, and the only thing in the fund are IOUs in the form of Treasury bonds. Unless we move to a balanced budget, there will be no money to pay off all those IOUs when the current Social Security surplus disappears. The biggest threat to Social Security and all other government programs is the continuing deficit.
With this vote and the president's budget projecting deficits of $200 billion per year as far as the eye can see, all special-interest groups from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to the American Association of Retired Persons can breathe easier. It's too bad our children can't.
I'd like to thank Sens. Charles Robb and John Warner and Reps. Bob Goodlatte and L.F. Payne for voting for our children and grandchildren's future. It's too bad we don't have more individuals of integrity interested in our country's future as opposed to their political careers.
FRED L. BECKER
UNION HALL
The unenhanced Big Boy is better
I HAVE a problem with the new and disapproved Big Boy. Why does everything have to be bad to be good? Taking something like Big Boy and giving it an earring, a tattoo and a dye job says a lot about today's society. We've replaced the Beaver with Beavis and Butthead.
There's nothing wrong with squeaky clean. In fact, it's a good thing. So, if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it, especially when the fixing up is nothing more than tearing down.
ROBIN ZIMMERMAN
THAXTON
Taxpayers must do more than complain
AS A resident and overtaxed stepchild of Botetourt County (Rainbow Forest) for 32 years, I applaud Dick Lambert's Feb. 8 letter to the editor, ``No ifs, ands or buts - we're overtaxed.''
His letter pertains to the so-called one-year tax, which was $3 and was said by Botetourt supervisors to be only for one year. True, it was put in effect for one year. However, after a lapse of approximately a year, the tax was reimposed.
The supervisors have also seen a great need to impose a meal tax. Then, there's the never-ending personal-property tax. The rate hasn't increased, but it doesn't have to since car prices have risen from about $12,000 to approximately $24,000. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to note that your tax liability could double without an increase in the base rate.
Our county supervisors aren't the only elected officials to so easily slide their greedy hands in the average taxpayer's pockets. Our state has the 3 percent tax when you buy a new car - pay $600 on a $20,000 car when bought. If you buy a car in Roanoke, the city has its cut in the form of a business tax - $35 or so. And don't forget our ``big brothers'' in the federal sector - those who feel that we should continue to dutifully send money to Washington, D.C., so they can mishandle and redistribute it in whatever way they please.
When are we as taxpayers going to rebel against this plunder of our personal finances by voting these inept and inconsiderate people from office? Are we doomed to simply do nothing but complain? I believe some are afraid to do even that.
I'm not naive enough to believe my letter will have any lasting impact. However, there just might be a few who might say that this ought to come to a sudden stop.
WILLIAM E. FISHER
TROUTVILLE
Gay lifestyle is not a choice
ROBERT L. Johnson's Feb. 18 letter to the editor (``Armey's apology wasn't required'') concerning House Majority Leader Dick Armey's reference to Rep. Barney Frank as a ``fag'' contains some misconceptions.
The gay lifestyle isn't ``adopted,'' but something one is born with, just like red hair and left-handedness. Our daughter gave early signs, as do most gay persons, of being different. She's a decent, hard-working, constructive member of society, and deserves all the rights and privileges others enjoy in our country.
Homosexuality is as normal as all other variations in the natural world, and it is found throughout the animal kingdom. It's recognized by psychologists, psychiatrists and the American Medical Association as a condition that isn't an illness, and isn't chosen. There's more evidence coming from current research showing a high probability of a genetic connection.
Irrespective of the above, is it Christian to call someone a name that's intended to be derogatory?
JOHN D. BOENKE
HARDY
by CNB