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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 17, 1993                   TAG: 9303170399
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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WE CAN'T AFFORD `SMART ROAD' NOW

RECENT REPORTS indicate the federal government has approved $5.7 million for the planning of the "smart road" from Blacksburg to Roanoke.

How can we justify such an expenditure in the face of the colossal deficit and the $4 trillion debt that hang over us? (We are told that every man, woman and child in the country owes more than $16,000 as his/her share of the national debt.) How does this reconcile with President Clinton's program of sacrifice and debt reduction?

No doubt the "smart road" is a laudable project; but when our government is bankrupt, why do our politicians and power brokers pretend we can continue living beyond our means? Let's postpone this until better times. E.P. GREEVER BURKE'S GARDEN

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