Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 17, 1994 TAG: 9410180035
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The following statistics, cited in news articles and editorials appearing in this newspaper, have seemed especially pertinent to me regarding how the funding for Gov. Allen's plan will affect the well-being of Virginia:
Virginia ranks 35th in education spending among all states.
Virginia's colleges and universities have lost $413 million in state funding since 1990. As a consequence, Virginia now ranks 43rd in the nation in state funding per college student.
Virginia's colleges and universities now charge the second-highest tuition in the country.
Virginia ranks 44th in social-services spending.
Virginia already is 15th in the nation in per-capita spending on corrections.
These statistics make it clear what the priorities are in our state. In Virginia, we hardly do anything at all to help families, individuals and children get out of poverty. We won't do much to ensure that our young people receive a quality education, and are financially able to attend a college or university in our state.
But, boy, can we spend money on jails and prisons!
BROOKE STEPHENS ROANOKE
Stovall will work for quality education
I'M ASKING Vinton and Roanoke County voters to elect Mike Stovall to the Roanoke County School Board on Nov. 8. I've known him since 1965, and he's a fine, sincere, honest, Christian gentleman who will work hard to bring high-quality education to Roanoke County schools. His parents are lifelong residents of Vinton, and have always been deeply involved in community affairs.
Stovall stands for teamwork among parents, students, teachers and the school board. He has children in the county school system, so he has a great interest in seeing that it works for the best of everyone.
CURTIS P. GARDNER VINTON
Bible-waving pols are a worry
IF THERE is anyone who doesn't know by now that it's those ``godless'' Democrats who are solely responsible for all the sin in our society, apparently he or she has not been listening to the political propaganda spewing forth from the sacred pulpits of America.
President Clinton has stated, ``Yes, I am a man who has sinned, but I know God through Jesus!''
Commenting on those claiming to have a direct pipeline from heaven instructing them on what legislation and which of our Saintly Republicans to vote for, Vice President Al Gore said: ``I know Jesus Christ; he is the most important part of my life. And he is no Republican nor is he a Democrat.''
Maybe the holier-than-thou who were so shocked by Sen. Charles Robb's public confession might do well to get out the Bible and read Luke 18:9-14.
I'll take my chances any day with those who have the courage and humility to admit to their failings over those who go about waving a Bible in one hand, a gun or a list of dirty tricks in the other, and beating their breasts about their own righteousness.
ANNE STONEMAN ROANOKE
Robb spoke truth, even in jest
I'LL VOTE for Sen. Charles Robb because he spoke truth in jest about the deficit. President Reagan, in his first four years, put our country more in debt than all 39 presidents before him. We're now the world's largest debtor nation.
Robb is for paying our debts, and for buying our country back. He knows his economics. Remember when he was governor? He was also against the dumbing down of America. He's for education.
Robb is loyal to his party, to whoever is president, to his country and to Virginia. I think he's an honest man.
DOROTHY H. POWELL RIDGEWAY
Legalize drugs to reduce crime, costs
IT SEEMS we're faced with what appears to be an unsolvable dilemma. The current illegal drug trade spawns thousands of criminals and billions of dollars in costs. To legalize drugs and walk away is no viable solution. However, to legalize and control, just as alcohol or gambling is controlled, is another matter.
We control alcohol from the distillery to the bartender, arrest those who misuse it publicly, and tolerate private use as an individual right, doing what we can to help those who overuse it. Gambling is also regulated where legal. The drug nicotine, through smoking, is now being restricted, and dealers in tobacco products must be licensed.
There will always be those who abuse addictive products, and the best we can do, and must do, is offer rehabilitation. Those refusing help will, at some point, be arrested for drunken driving or bad behavior of one kind or another. The rest will simply be victims of their own dereliction. All societies have, and always have had, such people. It's part of life.
The point here is that legalizing drugs, and applying similar controls as we do with liquor, gambling and tobacco, will reduce crime and costs of same. Current enforcement isn't working. For a fraction of what illegal drugs now cost, we can greatly expand rehabilitation, counseling and educational efforts, along with treatment centers, and have money for health care, schools and much more.
I believe that family awareness, and attention directed toward children in the matter of alcohol, drugs, smoking and gambling, is the ultimate and best solution.
JACK E. BYRD HARDY
Living in denial of wrongful doing
ASK ANY law enforcement or corrections staff member what is the most frequent statement made by an arrested or convicted person. ``I didn't do it,'' or ``I'm not guilty.'' It's called denial!
As a volunteer, lay chaplain (sometimes paid and sometimes not), and a private-industry manager inside a couple of Washington state prisons for 10 years, I experienced a quick lesson: When a convicted felon comes to terms with his crime, admitting to himself that he ``did it'', there is a good chance he won't re-offend. But as long as he carries on his denial, living in a fantasy world, watch out!
In Virginia, we have two men running for a Senate seat - one who clearly admits he ``did it,'' and one who appears to live in denial or, at least, like many convicted felons I listened to, justifies why he did what he did. That's called living in a fantasy world. I say watch out!
With my background, I join forces with those concerned about repeat and violent offenders, but I cannot support one who denies that he broke laws, for whatever reasons.
JOHN C. COSBY FLOYD
Time is overdue for a `bottle bill'
THE ROANOKE Valley and surrounding countryside are beautiful. If you've ever been to some of this country's larger cities, you've seen what piles of garbage strewn all over the landscape look like.
Still, it seems that some area residents think recycling means just throw it out of your car window, anywhere. This is especially true with beer and soda bottles and cans. I'd like to see Virginia legislate a 5-cent deposit/return law on beverage bottles and cans. I get tired of picking these items up from my yard. If I could at least make some money for having to do it, it would be worth it.
I'd also like to see offenders pay a price, no matter how small, for littering.
Other states have this deposit/return policy in effect, and even if it creates a little more work for the stores, the benefits are a cleaner countryside. We have needy people around here who would benefit by picking up bottles and cans and turning them in for cash.
Recycling isn't just a fashionable, politically correct or yuppie thing to do. Our natural resources aren't going to last forever, and neither are the holes in the ground where we keep throwing our garbage. They do fill up. We may be gone before this catches up with us, but what about our children or their children?
JOHN BLAZIER SALEM
by CNB