Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408120057
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It's a sad commentary that when a person does a really good job that makes life measurably better for all of us, he tends to offend those wishing to keep political power, or attain it, and those who seem more interested in short-term, self-serving goals than in long-term air quality.
The manner of the firing of Shepherd, a 15-year employee and a division head, leaves much to be desired. If disagreement brings such action, speculate as to what the attitude of our next division head will be when it comes to fighting for better air quality for this area.
My view: Agency Director Peter W. Schmidt showed poor judgment, all the way around.
I wish Shepherd well. He'll be missed. I hope he'll soon be working for an employer who will appreciate a man of his caliber.
BETTY ANN MENGEL FINCASTLE
Government programs can work
CONGRESS is politically involved in trying to pass a health bill. This shouldn't be a political debate when all Americans want an honest, affordable health bill.
Back in the '30s, when President Franklin Roosevelt and the Democrats wanted a Social Security Act, the Republicans attacked it as socialism. Social Security has proved to be a valuable asset for those who retire and find working impossible, due to age or health. When there was no Social Security, many people retired to poverty or below.
Human dignity was, and is, an important factor in living in the United States. What would Americans be doing without Social Security now? I remember when fellow Americans came to our back door pleading for food, housing or clothing. Social Security has more or less cured that problem, thank goodness.
Roosevelt likewise ran into trouble when unemployment insurance was suggested. Republicans argued that this would lead to socialism. Where would American workers who are suddenly unemployed be today if not for ``socialized'' unemployment insurance? We'd look more like Haiti than Haiti does. Horrendous!
If nothing else, Americans deserve what Congress and other federal workers get in the way of health insurance. Why can't Congress members give their fellow Americans what they are getting?
Government can work. Proof: The Department of Veteran Affairs gave American veterans of World War II an opportunity to get life insurance for a small fee. This insurance has paid dividends and interest of about of 9 1/2 percent, tax free. Can private insurance companies offer such a policy? Enough said. Government can run affairs as well as private companies, and sometimes better.
ROBERT H. LADD VINTON
Editorial cartoon offends veterans
THE PRINT media have sunk to a low level of irresponsibility with the Benson cartoon on the Aug. 1 Opinion page.
I'm appalled, after the coverage your newspaper offered on the anniversary of D-Day and its heroes, that you would print a vile and offensive cartoon depicting the flag-raising at Iwo Jima being reduced to a mere political statement.
Your newspaper and those who produced the cartoon owe every veteran an apology.
BOB M. KREAMALMEYER BLACKSBURG
You can't fight sin with sin
YOU CAN'T fight fire with fire, sin with sin or murder with murder. Paul Hill's actions should be condemned by every Christian who is pro-life.
The Bible says in Romans 13:1-2: ``Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.''
We need to pray against abortion, not physically fight. The Bible also says, ``The goodness of God leads to repentance,'' not abusive language or condemnation.
DOUGLAS B. LEVY RADFORD
Prevent traffic pileup with better warnings
THE VIRGINIA Department of Transportation, Roanoke city or whoever is responsible should do something before someone gets killed!
I had an accident recently on the southbound on-ramp at Hershberger West and Interstate 581 South. I'm sure I was merely another in a long line of statistics at this heavy-traffic location. Many drivers coming on to I-581 either don't see or choose to ignore the yield sign at the end of the on-ramp, frequently stopping under the overpass, blocking both on-ramp and off-ramp traffic. Meanwhile, through traffic on I-581 whips by the ramp in the right-hand lane at speeds exceeding 60 mph. If it's not already happened, a major pileup will occur at this location.
Since the city can't find a way to allow an additional access road from I-581 to the Valley View area, thereby reducing traffic at the Hershberger interchange, additional signs should be erected in this area, warning drivers of the dangers. Signs on I-581 South should direct through traffic to move to the left-hand lanes, and signs on the ramp should stress that on-ramp traffic must yield to traffic coming off I-581. I hope and pray no one gets killed before something is done.
STEPHANIE ROWE ROANOKE
Little sympathy for Trigon's blues
LET ME see if I understand this right: Trigon, for years, has basically been double-dipping from its policyholders. It gets caught, and now must raise rates to recover its loss (Aug. 1 Associated Press article, ``Trigon to raise rates'').
And people wonder why health-care costs are high. Maybe Trigon should reach down and take money out of its reported $600-plus million reserve fund. After all, it got that from us, too.
Come on, fellow Virginians, now is the time for an old-fashioned uprising.
RANDY TURNER ROANOKE
Hideous crime merits stiff penalty
I'M OUTRAGED and appalled at the Aug. 2 news article, ``Pit bulls vs. kittens brings cruelty charge.'' I was told kittens were being used to get dogs to kill, their ``first blood.'' This was during an orientation for volunteers of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but I believed it must be happening elsewhere. But here in Roanoke?
Well, nothing was done to prevent this cruelty to these defenseless animals, but something can be done to show others this practice won't be tolerated here.
The maximum sentence, according to the news article, is up to one year each for 12 counts of cruelty to animals, and up to five years for each of five counts of felony charges. This is 37 years maximum, but with good behavior the perpetrator of the crime may serve nine years. That's a small amount of punishment for such a hideous crime. Someone who abuses and murders innocent animals for monetary gain and entertainment pleasures would have no problem with injuring humans.
The maximum sentence isn't enough for these repulsive crimes. Get busy, citizens. Let's keep our community a decent, law-abiding place for all to live, animals included.
SUE NEIGHBORS SALEM
North minimizes the Virginia spirit
MANY Virginians are aware that the military and police who are in the forefront of the movement to crush democracy in Haiti fund their operations partly through shipment of illegal drugs. But perhaps many of us are unaware that Oliver North used similar tactics to crush democracy in Nicaragua. In July 1989, he was barred from Costa Rica by President Arias because of his participation in illegal drug traffic.
It may be that individuals such as Mr. North believe that the atrocities they commit are, if not publicly, at least privately respected by American citizens as a dirty job that someone must do. Come Election Day, it is our responsibility as Americans and as Virginians to show North that he has rabidly underestimated the spirit of the people of Virginia.
SAM COOK ROANOKE
by CNB