Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408170011
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
There are still many who proclaim there's no health-care crisis in this country. Maybe they should talk to some of these families whose stories the Roanoke Times & World-News has told.
Of one thing we can all rest assured. Those who ask the question, ``What's all the fuss about?'' have some form of health-care coverage. I wonder if they realize just how quickly that can change for them, too!
There's another question I'm sure we've all heard. It goes: ``Am I my brother's keeper?''
Answer: ``We had better be, because someday he will be ours.'' Let's never forget one undeniable fact of life. At some point, every human being shall experience illness. That's what all this fuss is about!
BARRY A. JONES
NEW CASTLE
Reap the rewards of government
RECENTLY on television, a member of the audience asked a Washington politician how long it would be before government paid her to stay home to care for her children. As I gasped in astonishment at the question, the politician skillfully evaded an answer.
Upon reflection, however, I concluded that the question was not ridiculous because our government now pays some kids to go to school. It also rewards farmers for not planting certain crops, subsidizes illegitimacy, and pays $50,000 a piece for toilet seats.
Paying people to stay home is only slightly more absurd than having ``universal'' health care brought to us by this same government.
JACQUELYN S. ARNOLD
ROANOKE
Give citizens a say on judges' selection
THE ROANOKE Times & World-News and its staff writers are to be commended for addressing Virginia's method of selecting judges, especially because we'll be the last state to revise an antiquated system and give Virginians a voice in selecting and retaining judges.
Judges must make legal decisions in court cases that sometimes have profound effect, directly or indirectly, in individuals' lives.
We've been fortunate to have good judges, but they, like good people in all walks of life, sometimes make mistakes. Those mistakes in judgment wouldn't be so hard to bear if the people had been involved in the process of putting that judge on the bench, and know they'll have a vote in a referendum that determines whether this judge will retain his place on the bench or be replaced. The merit system of selecting judges gives the public these options, and I believe it should be adopted by our legislators.
It's time Virginia acted to rid itself of the good-ol'-boy system that will become more and more a source of embarrassment for our proud state.
JAMES V. NOONKESTER
BLACKSBURG
To get change, get North to Congress
IN ANSWER to Freeman Sleeper's July 31 letter to the editor, ``Puzzling questions about Oliver North,'' someone should take him to a meeting where he'll hear North talk about Christian values, family values, etc. He should also get on North's mailing list, to get the facts about criticism North has had to overcome, and is still battling. I wonder if Sleeper ever complained about the character of Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Dan Rostenkowski, Chuck Robb and others?
North was chosen by his superiors for the covert operations because they wanted a person they could depend on to get the job done. He was nominated by the Virginia Republican Party for the U.S. Senate because they want a person who can do the job and make a difference.
North is off to a good start by running the best campaign; he's a great organizer. His out-of-state contributions, which show he's very popular all over the country, are of about the same ratio as Robb's.
North's contempt for Congress is because Congress has taken away our freedom. He must be among them to make changes. North wants term limits, and wants to cut out the perks. He wants the opportunity to give the country back to the people. If you know anything about his Vietnam record, you know he considered his men first.
ALTON L. WILMER
ROANOKE
No pool without voters' approval
SOME SALEM citizens are pushing to have the city of Salem build a municipal pool. These citizens apparently need to be reminded that building a municipal pool in Salem has already been extensively studied.
A pool consultant cost $19,760 in 1990, and the schematic-design phase cost $29,746 in 1991. These costs do not include several trips made to study other pools in surrounding states by various City Council members, administration employees and citizens.
These study efforts revealed a preliminary 1992 construction cost estimate of $2,290,121. Also, assuming that the ``first-class indoor pool'' would be operated year-round, the annual operating budget would be about $371,540 (not including pool employees, police security, etc.).
These costs are really eye-catching when one considers current Salem obligations. In addition to the well-publicized new $5 million baseball stadium, Carver Elementary School will be renovated at a cost of more than $7.5 million, and Salem's share of the sewage plant improvements will be about $10 million.
Thankfully, at one time or another, four of the five Salem City Council members have gone on record in favor of a referendum for any proposed municipal pool. No municipal pool should be built without the direct approval of Salem's voters, because this expensive project is far outside the realm of the usual and customary for any city.
JESSICA R. SMITH
SALEM
Mother Nature's tips for health reform
IN PARADE'S feature article ``Can Home Remedies Work?'' recently, Mother Nature was shown to be capable of dealing with several infractions of good health, naturally! Simple potions: chicken soup, fresh ginger tea, cabbage juice, honey and vinegar, fennel, willow-bark brew and garlic cloves. They have all proved to be inexpensive, marvelous medicines.
At a time when health reform is news, it's timely to consider natural remedies, in association with lifestyle changes, to help control costs.
Conspicuously absent in the article, junk foods (e.g., cheeseburgers, fries, chips, Cokes, etc.) have no value except for being heavy in fat calories. They actually add to the basic illnesses in our society's corpus, countered in part by the mentioned remedies.
Proper diets, elimination of tobacco, and abstinence from alcohol use could make universal health coverage economically possible and even a bargain. Preventive medicine is better than any medicine, even home remedies. Everyone who practices it gives a gift to himself or herself, and a gift to everyone else, too.
ROBERT F. ROTH, M.D.
Lewis-Gale Clinic, Inc.
SALEM
Bringing down the presidency itself
IN THE past 40 years, I've voted twice for a Democrat and nine times for a Republican for president of the United States. I always believed that a Republican president is more suited to guide this country into prosperity and democracy.
Recently, I noticed a trend toward the extreme. The Republicans are no longer interested in prosperity and democracy. In reality, Republicans, not realizing the extent of the extreme they've reached, are not only trying to destroy President Clinton, but they're destroying the presidency itself. Once the presidency is destroyed, what other than dictatorship will follow?
EDMOND A. DAMUS
ROANOKE
America, stop meddling abroad
WHY CAN'T we take a lesson from the Swiss? They take care of their own, mind their own business and remain neutral.
We can't be the world's policeman, always meddling in another country's business. Nor can we be the world's doctor/Red Cross/humanitarian-aid agency.
We need to close our borders to immigrants. No longer can we take in their tired, sick, hungry, poor. We have tired, sick, hungry and poor people here who need help.
Let's take care of our own problems - we do have more than a few - and mind our own business.
VIC HAM
ELLISTON
by CNB