Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407270006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Tobacco has been here since America was discovered. Now it's called dangerous.
Maybe government doesn't want us to look too closely at what it allows to be put into the air we breathe. Space programs use dangerous fuel; vegetables and citrus products are sprayed with chemicals; and meat has been fed with things we wouldn't put in our bodies if we had a choice.
California Congressman Henry Waxman's subcommittee has passed legislation to outlaw smoking in public buildings and outdoors. Also, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants a smoking ban imposed in all work places.
Let's present a bill to Congress taxing every piece of citrus fruit shipped to us from California and Florida, since they want to take many Virginians' livelihood. Let's do the same to their crops.
Let's ban alcoholic beverages from being served in stores and restaurants. Children see their elders drink and think there's no harm. Put a high tax on all alcohol products like they're trying to do to tobacco.
Those supporting the smoking ban should see that not only tobacco growers will be affected, but thousands of other jobs, too.
Americans lose their jobs and rights every year. Even if you don't smoke, I bet you have family members who do. You're voting to take away their freedom of choice.
Allergies aren't smoke-related. People need to get the facts before they blame a product. Let's not let government turn America into a dictatorship. My family has stopped eating at restaurants that discriminate against smokers. I hope others will also.
MYRTLE ADAMS INDEPENDENCE
'New' Democrats with 'old' agendas
HARRY WILSON'S June 24 commentary (``Our Gang in the Senate race'') was, to borrow from his own words, a ``laughingstock.''
When it comes to objective journalism (or objective political criticism), this left a lot to be desired.
Wilson began with a description of each of the four candidates running for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. It seemed, at first, to be a balanced summary of each individual.
However, he ended with six paragraphs on the evils of Oliver North. His commentary should have been entitled ``I really hate Ollie.''
Virginians, as well as all Americans, are fed up with liberal rhetoric about morals and honor. It's in vogue for our president to borrow conservative themes (a la Dave Gergen) and use them to mask his true agenda. But it isn't so fashionable for an individual to stand up and fight for what he or she truly believes. If those doing the standing are conservatives, that is.
Come on, Wilson, it's the '90s! Get with the program when writing. Successful liberals have gotten much better at hiding who they really are.
Did you miss the ``How To Be A Good `New' Democrat'' seminar? Bill wouldn't be pleased.
WALT L. KING BEDFORD
That was no 'hero' running from police
I'M SO FED up with the coverage about O.J. Simpson. I saw people cheering him on as he attempted to flee from the police, and I hear society feels sorry for the ``hero.''
Who feels sorry for the two dead victims? If his ex-wife's accusations of abuse while they were married are true, it proves that battered women escape their abusers only after they're dead.
I used to think the justice system was there to protect victims. If something had been done to prevent Simpson from doing further harm to his ex-wife, maybe two lives would have been saved. If he's guilty, he should be tried and convicted as a cold-blooded killer, not as a ``hero.''
I wonder if anyone hears the cries of battered women, even after they're dead. Wake up, society, and feel sympathy for the two dead victims. Stand behind women who leave their abusers, and don't cheer for their alleged abusers.
LISA STRICKLER ROANOKE
Custodial socialism must be prevented
LATE LAST fall, an open letter addressed to Bill Clinton, and signed by 564 American economists, was published in The Wall Street Journal.
This diverse group of women and men, all having studied the Clinton health-care plan, advised that it be scrapped. The letter explained simply and directly why the Clinton plan spelled disaster.
However, media merchants, pandering Clinton-peddlers, barely report such dissenting views. (The flagrantly biased reporting by the three major TV networks deserves only scorn.) These media shills aid and abet the sowing in America of socialism by the corrupt and inept.
If Americans repeat the experience of custodial socialism, we'll suffer the same consequences. Tacit renunciation of individual rights allows central government to further accumulate power, thus increasing control over lives and resources. Such power concentration increases governmental corruption while services decline.
The Clinton health plan was developed, in costly secrecy, under the leadership of the unelected, assisted by hundreds of anonymous helpers about whom we citizens know nothing. And we are imperiously told we need know nothing, that Hillary and Bill Clinton have decided what's good for us children of the state.
By God, we the people must forbid this!
ELINOR D. WRIGHT LEXINGTON
Forests don't need another supervisor
WITH THE proposed merger of the George Washington and Jefferson National forests (June 24 editorial, ``A timely, convenient marriage''), additional money can be saved.
Don't bring in an additional new supervisor. Let Jim Loesel continue to run the forests as he's been doing for years.
ALBERT E. BAILEY III ROANOKE
Clinton is no 'Slick Willie'
AMANDA Cockrell's June 23 letter to the editor, ``Taking pride in Clinton's war record,'' was deeply gratifying to me. I grieve at how our president is maligned at every turn. He's trying to help America in very important ways, and his attackers' viciousness says a lot about their character.
``Slick Willie'' has never been true of Clinton. He's sincere, dedicated, and has proved this over and over to me by legislation he has passed, or tried to pass.
I approve of his foreign policy. He didn't take his threatened military action in Bosnia because the Europeans ground troops and bordering countries didn't want any action taken that could cause the war to spread. Would any American want another country to take an action that could result in war in this country?
Clinton is dealing with other areas of war and unrest in a careful and cautious way, as he should. If we were in a war now, critics would be gleefully tearing our president to bits for that.
Americans, be fair. Clinton is trying very hard to do what's best for America.
MARIONETTE WIGGINS MARTINSVILLE
North doesn't do this 'mother' proud
YOU HAVE published numerous letters by persons supporting Oliver North for Senate. I shudder to think that the same state that's known to the country as the mother of presidents could conceive of electing him to a Senate seat.
This man lied to Congress, shredded government documents, and sold weapons to Iran, a country reputed to support terrorist actions against Americans. He then took a portion of the proceeds from that sale and gave it to the Contras, a group that was believed to sell drugs to fund its actions.
Don't embarrass this great state by electing a man like North.
DOUG MARTIN ROANOKE
by CNB