Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 3, 1994 TAG: 9409080031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
On bright, sunny Aug. 15, another truck careened out of the passing lane of I-81 into the median near the Ironto exit. Only fortunate circumstances prevented it from crossing into oncoming traffic in the northbound lane. Traffic conditions were near-perfect; the truck was apparently traveling too fast.
On Aug. 16, a tow-truck driver from Radford was killed when a tractor-trailer plowed into her truck at the Ironto rest area. Again, the tractor-trailer was said to be traveling too fast.
Three serious accidents, probably more, have occurred on this short stretch of highway in four weeks. We shouldn't stand idle in the face of this carnage on our public highways.
Reduce the truck speed on interstate highways to 55 mph.
BRUCE MAHIN
RADFORD
Police doing their jobs at checkpoints
REGARDING Andrew Akers' Aug. 17 letter to the editor, ``Checkpoints breed disdain for the law'':
Akers says that checkpoints breed contempt for law officers. If everybody felt that way, we'd have a lawless society. That police officer is doing the job he's hired to do. And if you aren't a lawbreaker, you have nothing to fear.
Contrary to Akers' disdain for police officers, when I'm stopped for a checkpoint, I realize that officer is protecting me and others.
BEN RICE
NATURAL BRIDGE
Bumper stickers and blood money
I'M NOT surprised that Chuck Robb took a large campaign contribution from the National Abortion Rights Action League (Aug. 14 news article, ``Robb: The leader of PAC pack''). Why am I not surprised? Because Robb has no conscience.
The NARAL money is funneled from abortion providers to their political-action committee. So, the next time you see one of those bright, red Robb bumper stickers or yard signs, please know that it was purchased with a price. The price? Blood money from the profits of murdering innocent, unborn children.
ANTHONY W. CONRAD
COVINGTON
Strike gets baseball a home run
MY HUSBAND and I and our two children are avid baseball fans. At first, we were very disappointed when the pro players went on strike. However, we now feel their strike was a blessing in disguise.
Instead of watching baseball on television, we've been attending the Buccaneers games quite frequently. These games have made baseball closer to home for our family. The threat of rain, watching the tarp being rolled back, the children's hopes of catching a fly ball, watching the pitchers warm up, and actually being able to obtain autographs are just a few reasons that make us appreciate the strike.
We're thrilled the Buccaneers will be back next year in a new stadium. We only hope the larger facility won't make baseball too commercialized or too far removed from the fans.
We sure will miss the fun times we've had at Municipal Field. We want to say thank you to the Buccaneers for providing us with a special summer filled with baseball memories.
LINDA BROWN
ROANOKE
Even political bias can be forgiven
REGARDING ROSEMARY Hawkins' Aug. 10 letter to the editor, ``Political bias chases away churchgoers'':
As a Christian who loves the Lord and his beloveds, I'm amazed at the excuses people use to avoid the houses of God. For those who truly know Christ as savior, participating in church is not an option that can be thrown away because we don't like someone's politics.
It's important to participate, and where there's disagreement, to take it to our Lord prayfully, with the intent to build up those (i.e., Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson) who may be acting in ways that need forgiveness. Jesus died that the sins of all could be forgiven, not just those we want to forgive. Forgive even political bias.
CINDY YUDOWITCH
ROANOKE
The tax bite will come this year
IN RESPONSE to an Aug. 14 commentary in this newspaper by Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, praising Clinton's budget (``Surprise! Clinton's budget plan is working''):
The senator lies when saying that only those with gross income of $180,000 or more saw an increase in income taxes due to the Clinton plan. That may have been true for 1993 tax returns, but those receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Tier I benefits in 1994 know that's not true. A married couple, filing a joint return with $10,000 Social Security and $43,118 other income, will include $8,500 of Social Security in income for 1994, compared to $5,000 for 1993 - a $3,500 increase. This is a long way from $180,000.
Can we trust the senator to see that revenues from this increase will be transferred to the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund?
HORACE L. McPHERSON
ROANOKE
by CNB