Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993 TAG: 9310280349
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Howard's chief complaint appears to be that various interests have representatives in Washington who are paid to speak on their behalf. That is obviously true for our federal government just as it's true in the capitals of each state. Boucher certainly cannot be blamed for that fact.
The other complaint by Howard is that gasoline taxes have increased by 4.3 cents per gallon, as a means of reducing the federal budget deficit. That increase works out to approximately $30 per year per family for a family of four. That's hardly a crushing tax burden when viewed against the fact that the federal budget deficit will be reduced from its current 5 percent of gross domestic product to 2.5 percent by 1997. It's a small price indeed for a 50 percent reduction in the size of the budget deficit when measured against the size of the national economy.
Howard suggests that Southwest Virginia needs a better representative. I strongly disagree. As this paper has frequently reported, Boucher holds more than 100 public town meetings each year in the 9th District. No member of Congress is better informed about local needs or works harder to see that they are met. His record of accomplishment speaks for itself and will not be tarnished by shallow accusations such as those launched by Howard.
MARVIN E. HALL SR.
PULASKI
Beyer, Dolan for the work place
THE ELECTION Nov. 2 represents an opportunity to put Virginia workers first for a change.
Don Beyer and Bill Dolan, candidates backed by the Roanoke United Central Labor Council and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations for lieutenant governor and attorney general respectively, have demonstrated they have the temperament, experience and integrity needed to lead Virginia to a new era of economic growth and job security for all citizens. They prove that candidates for public office in Virginia can be pro-business and pro-worker at the same time.
I'm voting for Beyer and Dolan because they are committed to fighting for work places that are safe, for investing in our children's future and for combating crime and drugs in our neighborhoods. In contrast, their opponents have offered no clear vision for the future and have diminished themselves and the commonwealth with their endless negative attacks.
Virginia deserves the best, and the priorities of working, middle-class families need to be first. That's why I'm taking my family to the polls and voting for Beyer for lieutenant governor and Dolan for attorney general.
GERALD MEADOWS
ROANOKE
Don't give a hoot for Hooters
WHAT'S the deal with Roanoke allowing Hooters of Virginia, Inc., into the city?
The Oct. 6 news story by staff writer Beth Macy in the Roanoke Times & World-News (``Cheap thrills - or bust'') said quite enough for me. These girls parade around half-naked and flaunting their bodies, which are lacking severely, for a cheap thrill. I think they enjoy it more than the men who come to see it. As if being exposed wasn't enough, they also do Hula-Hoop tricks for the customers. Come on girls, do something useful with your lives. A dog can do tricks!
Roanoke is a clean city, and we don't need this trash around. If one sleaze bar is allowed, how many more will come? These places degrade women with cheap acts, and any man who goes there should feel disgraceful for going to see this tramp parade.
So I say, and hope others will, too: Hooters of Virginia, Inc., get in a couple of those Hula-Hoops and roll right on out of town!
TOSHA FLOWERS
GOODVIEW
George Allen is a Bush clone
WELL, the devil himself, Bob Dole, was in Virginia recently, and we really should thank him for his warning. He said that if George Allen is elected Virginia's governor, it will send a message to the president and Congress that Republicans are going to start winning more elections.
In other words, if Virginians are stupid enough to elect a do-nothing, empty-promise-making, issue-skirting George Bush clone, it could lead to another era of the Reagan/Bush-type.
Twelve years of Reagan/Bush nearly bankrupted this country. The Republicans wasted billions of dollars we didn't have, and left Bill Clinton and our current Congress the dirty work of trying to save what they almost destroyed - our great country.
Come on, Virginia. We must elect Mary Sue Terry in November, not necessarily because she's the best choice we could have, but because she's the only choice we do have!
JEFF THOMPSON
DUBLIN
After 200 years, it's Terry's turn
ELECTION time is just around the corner. I remember those lying Republicans we had in Washington; therefore, I'm voting for Mary Sue Terry.
I ask all women who can vote to back Ms. Terry. Men have made a mess for more than 200 years.
It's time we had a lady as governor. Men don't seem to know what's going on.
CHARLES F. BELL
MONETA
by CNB