Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 8, 1994 TAG: 9404080197
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Gov. Allen and Roanoke-area politicians reject the I-77 corridor for I-73 for economic reasons, but millions of extra taxpayer dollars will be spent carving out the dog-leg route that will be ignored by through-state travelers. Commerce that would travel the dog leg I-73 is traveling that route today along U.S. 460 and U.S. 220. Why not improve those two highways now with money that would be saved?
We can have both another interstate in Virginia and vastly improved roads through our region for the same amount of money. We don't need to rape nature and small roadside communities to achieve that goal.
It's not too early to be vocal and organized. True, it may be a decade or more before bulldozers wreak their havoc, but political and financial momentum will be set in motion long before then. Waiting to cry out at the last minute will be futile. Only well-organized and coordinated opposition can save our region's beauty and promote maximum economic development at minimum cost to taxpayers.
CLARK M. THOMAS
ROANOKE
As Goldwater said: Stop your nit-pickin'
I FEEL sorry for what's being done to President and Mrs. Clinton, if they've done anything wrong. It hasn't been proved that it happened before coming to the White House.
Does anyone remember the scandals under former Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Bush, who were in the White House at the time of those scandals? I don't think Clinton would have become president had he known what a mess he'd be getting into.
As for him avoiding the draft, I know many Vietnam veterans who say if they had to do it over again, they'd have never gone.
What's Sen. Bob Dole so afraid of? Why doesn't he keep his mouth shut? Is he afraid he and his wife will lose their government perks? Leave the president and his family alone. Sweep around your own back door. As ex-Sen. Barry Goldwater said, ``Stop your nit-pickin' and get off the president's back.''
IRENE GROVES
ROANOKE
Junker-buyout program a waste
REGARDING the March 16 article by Joe Coccaro of Landmark News Service, ``State may pay to get old polluters off road'':
In his opening remarks, he states, ``Sick of breathing thick plumes of exhaust from the rusted tailpipes of junkers? The state wants to clean the air, too.''
Here's another white elephant the state will squander the good taxpayers' money on! It's looking for a way to pay $700 to $800 each for pre-1982 junkers to get them off the road. The General Assembly has directed the Department of Environmental Quality to pursue a junker-buyout program, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars to finance - money that should be put toward education or some other worthwhile endeavor.
If the General Assembly wants to get rid of thick plumes of exhaust, it should include transit buses in many Virginia cities and all city and county school buses, many of which predate 1982. Also include all tractor-trailers traveling our interstate highways.
This is another prime example of how government wastes tax money on a program that won't amount to a hill of beans - money that should be allocated for something that will really benefit taxpayers. When, if ever, will common sense prevail with our government officials?
ROBERT B. OLIVER> BLACKSBURG
It's Robb's record that should count
WHY IS so much adverse attention directed toward Sen. Robb's decision to campaign for re-election?
We weren't outraged when discovering that John F. Kennedy had extramarital affairs and immortalized the mores. We recently elected a president who had an extramarital affair, smoked marijuana, avoided the draft, was active in protesting the Vietnam War in another country, and is now experiencing difficulty executing his duties due to questionable business practices. While examining Robb's questionable behavior, consider the recent scandal and illegal practices uncovered in Congress.
We could elect North, who was instrumental in selling plane loads of weapons to Iran, a terrorist country, for the release of hostages.
Why should we re-elect Robb? He's an experienced politician and understands the problems and needs of Virginians. He's outspoken for fair labor and isn't afraid to exercise his power to influence legislation that's beneficial for Virginia's citizens. Records indicate he speaks out on important issues and visits areas, listening to the people's concerns.
Just as we did with Kennedy, it's crucial to examine a person's record while in office, while having compassion and forgiveness for outside interests. If we apply the same measure of concern for our future, we'll re-elect Robb!
WILLIAM D. STALLARD
ROANOKE
Irish-Americans deserve better
AS A FIRST-generation Irish-American, I was appalled to read your March 18 news story (``Irish - for less than a minute'' by staff writer Mark Morrison) ridiculing the St. Patrick's Day parade that was held on March 17.
``The 45-second parade. In the blink of an eye, another St. Patrick's Day comes - and goes through Roanoke.''
St. Patrick's Day is an occasion for Irish-Americans to celebrate their ethnic and religious heritage.
A photo taken at the head of the parade would have left a better impression than the one you used.
More than 60 million Americans of Irish descent, living in the United States, are proud of their many contributions to this land of many diverse ethnic groups.
Perhaps Laban Johnson, the city special-events coordinator, should reconsider his comment: ``It wouldn't be fun if we had to do a lot of work.''
J. RAYMOND DONNELLY
ROANOKE
Government can't control addictions
THE CONSTANT flap in the media about tobacco being addictive seldom mentions alcohol or other addictions that are dangerous to a person's health. Listed here are a few more addictions to think about before selecting tobacco as the sole taxable product to help support health care:
Men and women are addicted to each other, and both are dangerous to one's health. Also addictive are foods, such as eggs, fatty meats, all types of sweets, heavy use of salt applied to food; driving a vehicle; football; skiing. The list can go on.
Tobacco users shouldn't be singled out to support others' carelessness. Didn't our forefathers state that all people shall be taxed equally?
Remember how wealthy bootleggers became during Prohibition? So help yourself to a hefty tobacco tax. Illegal tobacco profits would fatten many wallets, and cause more prison construction for violations of these acts.
Our government cannot control illicit drugs. How will it control illegal tobacco that would bypass the enormous proposed tax? Socialists are gaining ground, and the public wants government out of our personal lives. Cut the waste in government spending, and there will be enough funds for overall health care.
BARBARA RICHARDS
ROANOKE
Don't give shaft to former GIs
IN RESPONSE to the March 13 letter to the editor by Eugene Hart, ``Giving other retirees the shaft'':
I'm sure he laid his life on the line many times as a policeman, but so did my husband and other military retirees who saw combat duty.
Hart ate three hot meals almost every day and had a warm house with a comfortable bed waiting for him at the end of his eight-hour shift. My husband spent many nights in an open foxhole, with no cover except his poncho and backpack for a pillow. There was always the possibility of these accommodations being invaded by snakes, mosquitoes and leeches. Being out in the field for several days at a time, he dined on the ``ever-delicious C rations.'' After such restful nights and gourmet food, he was once again on the move, dodging bullets and watching for booby traps. He went for days on end without a hot shower or a change of clean clothes.
Does Hart think he's more deserving of a tax break than my husband and other GIs who fought and died so he could have the right to complain? Who really had his ``cake?'' Who's ``disgruntled,'' a ``money grabber'' and being ``shafted''? Fair is fair.
DIXIE HART
MOUTH OF WILSON
What's the news from Galena?
I TRULY enjoyed the Alaskan article on the front of the March 27 Horizon section by Tracy Wimmer entitled ```Oh Lord, honey, you are so far from home'.''
I hope you'll publish more news from Galena.
AUDREY WILEY
ROANOKE
by CNB