
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990                   TAG: 9007100454
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NEED MORE TO SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD ALL

YOUR EDITORIAL June 27 concerning the Roanoke River Parkway criticized Sen. Macfarlane for suggesting a committee be appointed to set priorities for spending over tax dollars. At a time of deficit spending and rising taxes, we need more people like Sen. Macfarlane with the fortitude to say we simply can't afford everything.

As individuals, we must purchase within our budget. If we find the cost of an item has increased 500 to 600 percent, such as the parkway estimate did, do we not ask: Do I still want it? Can I afford it?

There was never a public demand for the parkway, even at the original estimated cost. So why not ask: Do we still want it? Can we afford it? Are there other needs more urgent?

President Bush could still say "no new taxes" if localities would choose priorities. Really, with all our needs, where does a parkway rank?

\ W.A. HURT\ HARDY

by CNB