Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 7, 1993 TAG: 9311110401
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
With all the trade barriers going down and millions of Mexican workers ready to work for $1 per hour, what's going to stop corporations from making the move south? NAFTA won't; it protects U.S. companies that move south of the border.
Those who want this treaty passed say that Mexican workers will get low-paying jobs and the high-paying jobs will stay in America. With the economic state of our country today, it would be safe to say that all jobs are important, no matter how small. The more taxpayers the better. How many good American jobs can a Third World country create?
Why are all of America's labor unions and most Canadian people against NAFTA? In my opinion, it will take years before Mexico's standard of living reaches that of Canada and the United States. Then Mexico may help the United States, but not now.
Sure, maybe it will be easier to sell goods across the border with NAFTA. But who's going to buy them? More Mexican workers will have jobs (our jobs), but they'll still have low pay, which isn't going to increase overnight. How many American products can be bought by the average Mexican family bringing in $40 a week before taxes?
The bottom line is money. Corporate America has always been willing to do anything for a fast buck. This is no different. Instead of training American workers for the long-term development of a company, corporate America runs to Mexico. How is this strategy going to strengthen America? The only winners of NAFTA will be big business and their sponsors. This is an experiment that's doomed from the start.
GARRY L. ASHBURN
ROANOKE
Animal-control laws help animals, too
AFTER READING the Oct. 15 news story by staff writer Nancy Bell in the Roanoke Times & World-News entitled ``Cat lover licks ordinance,'' I must respond. While I'm sure Dawn Hale's intentions are the best, she's not looking at the whole picture when it comes to animal-control ordinances in the valley.
Licensure of cats and dogs is a very valuable way to protect the animal and ensure public safety. First, it's a way for the pet to be identified. According to state law, animals injured, picked up by animal control and not wearing a tag or identification are to be put to death humanely and immediately. If the animal is wearing a tag, every effort is to be made to contact the owner, thereby possibly averting the animal's death.
Second, if a person is bitten by a cat or dog and the animal runs off, that person either has to find the owner and verify that the animal has been inoculated against rabies or begin the rabies-treatment series at a cost of $600 to $800. The only other option is to gamble that the animal is not rabid, which is not advisable. If the animal is wearing the standard color-coded tag, the person will have a better idea if the animal has been inoculated against rabies or not.
Third, in most localities 100 percent of animal-control cost is paid by dog owners only, yet the majority of the overpopulation problem is cats. Most animals put to death by humane societies and pounds throughout the nation are, by a wide margin, cats. This is because they are largely uncontrolled by animal ordinances, which means they move about and breed more freely.
If Ms. Hale wishes to be remembered as a ``champion of animals,'' I suggest she support animal control's efforts in Vinton and other localities whose ordinances are designed to protect the public and the animals.
WALKER NELMS
Vice-President,
Roanoke Valley Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
ROANOKE
The fight is for energy conservation
WE TRY to say it, but the words don't play well: Arcs, Inc. is fighting this 765-kilovolt line, but the war is larger. Arcs' charge is energy conservation, the dull and thankless task of planning for the next 50 years. Energy conservation is Mom's stern voice: ``No. Save some of that for tomorrow.''
The Catholic Church has helped Arcs, Inc., because we're involving people in planning for the future of its members' grandchildren. The church is not against Appalachian Power or energy for Southwest Virginia.
It wishes to level the playing field and lend a megaphone to faint voices. American Electric Power (Apco exists only on paper) is a New York corporation whose stockholders' brochures worry about their excess Midwest power production. Who will speak for Virginians and West Virginians?
The State Corporation Commissions? They're used to giving utilities whatever they want as long as short-term rates don't jump. Planning for the future, requiring utilities to save power, hasn't interested them. Both states are now waking up to what it means to be slaves to power imports. Arcs means to jog the commissions to attention and decision. We're grateful to the national Campaign for Human Development for supporting our efforts.
Arcs has no quarrel with local Apco employees. Many are our friends and neighbors whose diligent attention to local need we daily appreciate. We discriminate between them and their AEP bosses, who hire advertising consultants to scare with ``blackouts'' and push heat pumps that waste energy and don't heat. Those employees and Arcs, Inc., are on the same side.
HARRIET HODGES
Past Chair, Arcs, Inc.
NEW CASTLE
Negative comments on foreign policy
THERE'S a constant and intensive barrage of negative media comments on President Clinton's handling of foreign affairs.
Since taking office, his thorough and successful leadership of the G-7 conference is rarely mentioned. Our economic relationship with Japan has taken a turn for the better, in our favor. He has rejected China's dictatorial and vicious treatment of the people pleading for fair and democratic government, in contrast to Bush's total and apologetic acceptance of this brutal Communist regime. He has given support to Yeltsin and efforts to democratize Russia.
These endeavors and achievements by a man dismissed by some as inept and inexperienced in foreign affairs are proof that the media should face up to their lack of integrity and presumed decision that Clinton was and is ineffectual in presiding over international affairs.
Many in Congress are just as guilty as the press in prejudging and asserting that he's ignorant and unversed in the affairs of state.
There was no refrain about Reagan's lack of background in foreign affairs. His disastrous actions during the Iran-Contra debacle were proof he was a knave in that affair, which was aided and abetted by Bush! How about the ``proud and glorious'' aggression in Grenada? The Reagan reaction to the slaughter of more than 240 Marines in Lebanon? He was asked to pay tribute to those lives sacrificed in the service of their country and their commander in chief. He refused.
There was the invasion of Panama by our great expert in handling military and foreign affairs - George Bush! Imagine the media's reaction had Clinton been guilty of this act!
During Nixon's first term, about 20,000 men were killed in Vietnam. He was re-elected for a second term by a large majority. The media didn't hack away at him the way they are at Clinton for the deaths of 18 Marines.
The president should name as his chief advisors media people - those wise pundits who have all the answers and have deliberately and mischievously presented only the negatives of this administration!
JOE TIPTON
ROANOKE
Dust-up now up to grand jury
REGARDING the Oct. 17 news article by staff writers Sandra Brown Kelly and Greg Edwa rds entitled ``After the dust settles'':
The dust has settled several times on our cars, homes, decks, etc., since the article. We've been fighting for a solution for years with no help from the city (no pollution ordinance) or from the state (no funds to run a monitor seven days a week)! If it was falling in Hunting Hills or South Roanoke, you'd see how fast the state would come up with the funds.
Last spring, Bob Saunders, with the State Air Pollution Control, informed me of a nuisance complaint we could file and sent me the information needed for filing. He told me, and I quote: ``If I lived up there in that community, I would have filed this complaint two years ago.'' Now, he's implying to the grand jury that maybe the dust is not coming from Howard Brothers, and they're going to test further. ``Moon dust'' could be tested quicker. Maybe the federal government will help since the city or state won't.
I got nauseated reading how much money Roanoke Electric Steel is making at our expense. Don Smith told me, and I took him at his word, that ``you will see results.'' So far, no see!
We're not chairmen of boards and presidents of companies, just citizens trying to protect what we've worked for and are working for. I think the grand jury will look at Roanoke Electric Steel's track record, tapes and pictures and make the right decision.
SHIRLEY A. HUDGINS
ROANOKE
by CNB