Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 6, 1994 TAG: 9409080005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
How many more deaths will there be before the legislature takes some drastic action against these truckers? For starters, the speed limit for heavy trucks should be reduced to 55 mph, and strictly enforced. The speed limit was recently raised, possibly after it was determined that trucks were driving 65 mph or faster anyway, and, no doubt, due to the trucking industry's pressure. Now with the higher speed limit, truckers are driving faster than 65 mph, as most anyone could have predicted. I cannot believe members of the legislature and Virginia State Police don't know about these trucks exceeding the speed limit.
I've driven in almost every state. In those states that continued the 55 mph speed limit for trucks and enforced it, traffic flows more smoothly and safely than when all traffic goes at 65 mph or faster. At 55 mph for trucks, autos aren't tailgated going downhill, or passed going uphill near the bottom of a grade when trucks reach whatever speed they can get out of their rigs.
Unless other drivers begin to loudly object to the excessive speed of trucks, the slaughter will continue.
CHARLES C. MANNING JR.
ROANOKE
Drug-trafficking charge unfounded
THE ACCUSATION (Aug. 12 letter to the editor, ``North minimizes the Virginia spirit'' by Sam Cook) about Oliver North's involvement in drug trafficking is a despicable lie. After the longest, most expensive investigation in American history (Iran-Contra), the independent counsel, Lawrence Walsh, made no such allegations. Congress conducted two more investigations into accusations that the Contras and North were involved in drug trafficking. These investigations by Democrat-controlled committees also found nothing to substantiate this charge.
The Democrat-controlled Joint Committee on Iran-Contra reported: ``Despite numerous newspaper accounts to the contrary, no evidence was developed indicating that Contra leadership or Contra organizations were actually involved in drug trafficking. Sources of news stories indicating to the contrary were of doubtful veracity. There was no information developed indicating any government agency or organization condoned drug trafficking by the Contras or anyone else.''
Criticize North, if you insist. It shouldn't be asking too much, however, to request that you publish the truth.
ELMER E. PHILLIPS
CHRISTIANSBURG
There is no health-care crisis
PRESIDENT Clinton's campaign for his and his unelected wife's socialized medicine plan is unconstitutional and preposterous. Those agreeing with their plan insist that the United States is in the grip of a medical crisis, and think that the Clinton plan will improve health coverage and lower costs without adding to the national debt or requiring new taxes.
What a farce! Every claim about the plan is a fraud. The truth is that the people of this nation already enjoy the best medical care on Earth! Let's not allow the president to mess around with what isn't broken.
Even Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a televised interview on Jan. 9: ``We do not have a health-care crisis in America.'' He made a truthful statement. Beyond the fact that there's no need for medical-care overhaul, any claim that this plan wouldn't lower the quality of medical care and increase its cost is an absurdity! Administration officials even want to place its huge costs in the off-budget category so its burden will not be immediately recognized. They're even considering calling taxes to finance it by some other name, so that it won't be seen as another tax increase.
Mrs. Clinton was made aware of the enormous financial burden the plan would add to small- and medium-sized businesses when she testified before Congress. Her response to these legitimate concerns was an arrogant ``I cannot be responsible for saving every undercapitalized entrepreneur in the United States.''
That kind of talk comes only from totalitarian-minded individuals who intend to have everyone do their bidding. It's totally un-American.
GEORGE KELLY
BEDFORD
A new playground for the NRA
FOR SEVERAL years, Congress has considered legislation that would create our 52nd national park - the Mojave National Park in California's fragile desert. The Mojave is to the desert what Yellowstone is to the Northern Rockies, and what the Great Smokies are to the Appalachians. All are natural gems that Americans should protect for posterity.
Sadly, for its selfish interest in wanting to ensure trophy-hunting opportunities in the desert, the National Rifle Association recently attacked the Mojave National Park legislation and successfully advanced a devastating amendment to downgrade the park to a hunting preserve.
Congressmen Rick Boucher, Robert Goodlatte and Lewis F. Payne Jr. joined a majority in the House of Representatives to steal this park from the public and deliver it to the NRA.
Because of the odd designation of the area as a hunting preserve, Americans will bypass the Mojave instead of stopping to see this magnificent desert. Wildlife, such as the rare bighorn sheep, will be too skittish to be seen because they'll be hunted, and tourists will be too wary of year-round hunting to hike in the desert.
At a time when many of our national parks are overcrowded, and the need for protected recreational lands and true wildlife sanctuaries is great, Virginia congressmen voted to deny the public a new national park. Even the fact that it will cost more for the federal government to manage a preserve than a national park - approximately $500,000 a year - did not sway them.
While a minority of trophy hunters won this vote, it's the majority of Americans who lost.
WAYNE PACELLE
Vice President for Government Affairs
The Humane Society of The United States
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Looking for pro-gun representation
ALL I SEE in the newspaper is Steve Fast claiming that Rick Boucher is not pro-gun, and Boucher claiming that he is. To me, it seems like an easy dispute to settle.
The congressional voting record shows that Boucher did vote for a crime package, which included the Brady Bill and the five-day waiting period, on Nov. 26, 1991. Also, he recently supported Chuck Robb who votes against gun rights all the time. Boucher shows his true colors when he supports people like Robb and Bill Clinton.
We need a congressman who votes pro-gun all the time.
ARNOLD PHILLIPS
FRIES
While health care is pending ...
WE WOULD like it very much if our elected congressional officials would put their government-paid health insurance on hold until they decide what they're going to do with our health insurance.
JOSEPH N. CASERTA
ROANOKE
A doctorate degree was not required
NEVER HAS the importance of a higher education been more vividly illustrated than in the Aug. 11 news article, ``Vets killing of turtle protested.'' Now it seems that even to release a turtle, a person may need a degree of some sort. At least that was the impression that Dr. Duvall left.
Inasmuch as the woman mentioned seemed to be capable of caring for a family, I'm amazed that the good doctor didn't deem her intelligent enough to grasp the science of releasing a turtle. Perhaps he could have spared just a few seconds of his valuable time to share his vast knowledge on the subject, since she was likely paying for his time.
Choosing to take the animal to a veterinarian for a checkup indicates some degree of responsibility on the part of this ``novice.'' Should we believe that at this point she would have hastily set the animal in the mdidle of the interstate? Ms. Craft may not have Ph.D. in front of her name, but I have a hunch that even a novice might suspect that an appropriate spot to release the animal would be the one where it was found.
SHARON MULLEN
BOONES MILL
by CNB