Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9407150009
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The real issue at hand is not products' liability but products' safety. Were it not for citizens who bring product-liability claims in our justice system each year, America would be a much more hazardous place. Imagine an America in which an automobile manufacturer never had to give the slightest consideration to a recall or redesign of its defective product; in which a manufacturer or retailer could market flammable children's clothing with impunity; in which cancer-causing asbestos was still used to insulate schools, offices and factories.
Manufacturers must be held responsible for the harms their products cause. If they're shielded through legislation like S.B. 687, the result will be more dangerous products and more injured victims. The Senate should emphatically reject legislation that serves profit motives over public safety.
ANITA B. LAWRENCE COLLINSVILLE
Standing tough against women
REGARDING the June 2 letter to the editor by Barbara J. Kolb, ``The VMI issue isn't states' rights:''
I agree with her, and surprises never cease where Gov. George Allen is concerned.
All taxpayers pay for this institution and its maintenance, and that includes women. I've paid taxes since my first job in 1938. I wasn't even exempt during my career with the U.S. Army.
My father died in World War I. When I finished high school, Virginia Military Institute contacted me to enter the school, but found out my name was female rather than male. I did attend a state school in nursing and paid good money for the privilege. Any college education I got was paid for by me. This society is tough on women earning a living. Second-class citizenship stands in Virginia.
Could someone give us a clue as to why foreign students can be welcomed in a school we maintain with taxpayer money and female taxpayers are barred? Gov. Allen needs to explain this to female citizens, since these human beings pay his salary too.
ALVA L. NUTTER ROANOKE
Neglecting a river's continued pollution
THE ROANOKE River is a sad river whose cleaning and pollution-prevention methods have been run through a political colander too many times. It's amazing how many people can see a worsening problem and do nothing about it.
``Farms, boaters, industries, municipalities, residents all use the Roanoke River and often contribute to polluting it,'' stated an April 25 news article by staff writer Jan Vertefeuille (``Shared rules urged to save river''). Chemicals from businesses, cow feces and erosion contribute to its pollution as well. Until recently, there hasn't been significant work on the river's cleanup.
The organization for cleaning it has taken too long. Municipalities have, only this year, tried to organize themselves cooperatively in the cleanup. The Roanoke River Corridor Society has been around seven years. What has it done? How long does it take to see the obvious? I'm familiar with preschoolers who can identify overly polluted water if they actually see large pieces of cow feces floating on the water's surface. How senile are adults not to notice the same pollution?
The significance of pollution in the Roanoke River is great, and should need no explanation. If one is needed, is there any hope?
TAYLOR L. JONES ROANOKE
Boucher's priority isn't his district
RICK Boucher is a living, breathing professional politician.
Over a month ago, he told his friends in liberal Washington media circles that he'd be willing to sell out his 14,000 tobacco-growing constituents to get government-run health-care plans President and Mrs. Clinton want so badly, while he refused to attend an anti-tax rally organized by local farmers back in his home district.
Now, only because Steve Fast and hundreds of outraged farmers have stood up to Boucher, he's suddenly a ``friend of the farmer'' and opposes a tobacco-tax increase.
Obviously, he's a typical professional politician who only represents his constituents when they're paying attention (in an election year). The rest of the time (unfortunately, most of the time), Boucher's priority is promoting himself among Washington insiders such as the Clintons, Democrat Party leaders and liberal media elites.
Who needs a congressman who has to be forced and threatened before he'll break with his inside-the-Beltway buddies? Let's elect Steve Fast, who we can count on to always represent the people of the Fighting 9th District of Southwest Virginia.
KEVIN CORBETT First Vice-Chairman Bristol Republican Party BRISTOL
City didn't provide the needed safety
CERTAINLY one would think it is safe to run in an event such as the recent First Union Bank races. These events are run with parade permits, which should give runners the feeling of freedom from traffic nuisances. Alas, it didn't prove to be true.
For the first time since the event's founding, an injury placed me in the role of spectator rather than runner. I couldn't believe the laxity of control of cars on Franklin Road crossing Jefferson Street, in the path of runners approaching on Jefferson.
Besides breaking runners' concentration as they approach the finish line, several runners narrowly escaped being hit. One had to run to her left to avoid a driver determined to get through the intersection. He only stopped when she wouldn't.
These two races consume only a few minutes. For bikers, the week before, half of downtown was sealed off with yellow tape and barriers for a much longer time. A regular parade takes place without cars having to break through. Why can't runners have the same freedom for a prestigious event such as these races? Streets to the north of the finish line could have been routed for traffic.
Let's not drive runners and their supporters to a race in another city just because Roanoke doesn't host them in a safe manner.
ALVIN H. SMITH ROANOKE
Schools still feeling ice storms' effects
THE WINTER ice storms' effect on the school system is an important issue. I don't see why schools had to lose early-dismissal days and some of our holidays, like Memorial Day, because of the weather. Nobody can control the weather, and what does it hurt to be out of school for a few days?
The Virginia Board of Education perhaps should extend the school day by an hour or two until we've made up missed days.
I also think the school year should start before Labor Day. Most other school systems throughout the country begin before September. Starting after Labor Day causes the school year to end in mid-June.
Another idea would be to get rid of spring break altogether. This year, Roanoke County schools used their spring-break vacation days to make up for lost snow days. Why couldn't Roanoke city schools do the same? Using up spring-break vacation days makes more sense than going to school on holidays.
JUSTIN WALKER ROANOKE
Exported dollars better spent here
THE PRESIDENT and media would have us believe that this nation's homeless problem is of staggering proportions, and that millions of children in this country go to bed hungry each night. They also would have us believe they care about these people and their circumstances.
Why has Clinton sent $75 million of our tax dollars to the International Planned Parenthood Federation in London to ``promote (i.e., force) reproductive choice ... including abortion'' in Third World countries? Couldn't this money have been better spent on homeless shelters, jobs programs or food for hungry children?
Our tax dollars should be spent on humanitarian pursuits in this country, not on worldwide carnage of innocent lives.
GLENNA W. RICHARDSON SALEM
by CNB