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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 17, 1993                   TAG: 9306180396
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WELFARE RECIPIENTS SHOULD NOT VOTE

AT TIMES the media and the public accuse politicians of having conflicts of interest. When politicians do, they should not vote on issues related to such interests, or they should resign if the conflict is serious enough.

There is another group of individuals with the most blatant conflicts of interest imaginable - those on welfare. They should not be confused with others receiving government retirement checks. Retirees contributed a good part of these funds while on a payroll.

To remedy the welfarers' conflict of interest, they should lose their right to vote while on welfare. Naturally, they vote for those who promise to maintain or to increase welfare support. Disenfranchising them does not deprive them of welfare support, and it might give some an incentive to go to work. Caring for them, however, could be done more humanely by private organizations, such as churches funded by voluntary contributions.

The work week has been getting shorter for more than a century. Someday engineers may develop a technological system where all work is done by robots, then we can all be on welfare. Can the future be that bright? DAN H. PLETTA BLACKSBURG

by CNB