
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994                   TAG: 9404110126
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS NEED NOT APPLY?

I FOUND J. Brandon Bell's March 24 letter to the editor, ``The Virginia Millionaire Assembly,'' to be a finely crafted, sincere and absolutely deceitful piece of political class-envy propaganda. He echoes the current political correctness of deriding anyone in our country who's successful and not dependent in some form upon the political elite (including Bell) for life-sustaining pap from the teat of government. The corollary to his view is that the financially successful shouldn't be represented or a representative, only tapped to pay through the nose to provide capital for the likes of him and Clinton, to recruit new constituencies of government dependence.

His statement, ``the legislature is intended to be made up from the general citizens of the commonwealth,'' was a sham. He must consider lawyers as general citizens, since there are so many in the legislature. Never mind that they benefit greatly from many decisions they supposedly make for the benefit of myself, a non-lawyer/general citizen.

Our own good King Richard from Vinton is a perfect example. Prior to the past election, voices of influence (including this newspaper's) were cautioning general citizens of Southwest Virginia that we couldn't afford to lose the king because we needed his leadership, experience and ability to deliver treasure from Richmond to the general citizen. The Pyrrhic irony of this logic is that the king, as a lawyer/general citizen, has removed indirectly many more dollars than he's delivered in his lawyerly pursuit of bodily injury claims against the railroad, you or me.

As a general citizen of Virginia, I'd rather have a whole legislature of successful business people, even if they're millionaires, than a legislature full of lawyers like King Richard. Draculas in charge of the blood bank (and chasing ambulances in the off-season) are an age-old recipe for an empty blood bank and a general citizen with a sore arm!

JOHN P. KEMP ROANOKE

Next, how about highway reform?

I FIND it strange that everyone agrees that those on welfare should have no additional offspring, yet do not recognize the similarity of planning new highways at a time when we can't provide funds to maintain those we have. Why not transfer all those in planning to the repair department for about 10 years?

If you'll get your head out of the clouds, you'll find your feet in the hog pen.

PHILLIP W. SMITH BOONES MILL

North can serve no further usefulness

IN RESPONSE to Andy Peterson's invitation (March 21 letter to the editor, ``For the record, what's the writers'?'') to send in our service record before bashing Oliver North:

I served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1946. I was awarded numerous ribbons for service: 11 battle stars for the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; two for Philippine Liberation; and the Presidential Unit Citation for long and difficult service, signed by Harry Truman.

I received my doctorate from Columbia University. I taught the United States Constitution, among other subjects.

I believe North was guilty of criminal actions that subverted the Constitution. Even if he was ordered to do so by a commanding officer, the military code under which he served mandates that he not obey an order that's against the law, violation of which is a criminal action. If it weren't for Congress' actions, which granted immunity for testimony, North might be in prison at this time. If he was so patriotic, why did he divert funds (or accept funds diverted by friends who disobeyed the law) for his own use (the security fence)?

It's a very sad situation. He was an authentic American hero with an admirable record who could have served the nation well. But his lack of understanding about the law, or his lack of a moral compass, has dulled his earlier record and ruined any further usefulness he may have had for our country.

RICHARD W. STREB ROANOKE

Looking forward to next year's Express

THANKS to all who made the Roanoke Express hockey team a reality this year.

My family was lucky enough to have season tickets, and we looked forward to each game. We saw old friends and made new friends there. Each of us learned lessons in sportsmanship, team spirit and fair play.

The games gave us an opportunity to spend fun family time together, whether at the Civic Center or gathered around the radio for the games played away.

I'm proud of our team and look forward to next season with great anticipation.

CAROL L. LUNSFORD ROANOKE

by CNB