Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020040
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Amendment No. 1 would allow a person who, under the prodding of some psychologist, has ``remembered'' a childhood episode of abuse that may or may not have occurred 20 or 30 years ago, to bring a lawsuit against the alleged perpetrator when it's no longer possible for the defendant adequately to defend himself. To avoid grave miscarriages of justice, it's imperative that we all vote no to this amendment.
Amendment No. 2 would bring registration requirements for elections to Virginia offices in line with the ``Motor Voter'' bill, which a Congress utterly contemptuous of the U.S. Constitution recently enacted, and which will be forced upon us in elections for president, senator and member of the House of Representatives. If this absurd amendment passes, it will open the door to graveyard voting and other abuses in elections for governor and other Virginia officials. The fact that the failure of this amendment will require our registrars to keep two sets of books is utterly unimportant. Virginia has a long tradition of clean elections. Let's all vote no to this amendment, and keep our elections clean.
Amendment No. 3 would make minor changes in the way our governor exercises his veto power. On the principle that says ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it,'' I recommend a vote of no on this one as well.
THOMAS OZRO MacADOO
BLACKSBURG
Sending jobs down Mexico's way
WITH COMPLETE and open knowledge, our government continues policies that devastate people of color and low skills in the United States. Add to that the current concept of welfare that converts a single mother into a long-term "client" (to be maintained in a system that promotes future illegitimate childbirths), and you have the blueprint of the future.
An ever-dwindling supply of taxpayers with good jobs will see their wages confiscated through a web of high taxes, user fees and excise-tax charges. After digesting that, we have tax relief, which provided incentive for deducting interest from educational, consumer and auto loans, that has evaporated. Only the superrich get the deals.
Bill Clinton promised to change all this. Remember him waving to campaign crowds with the newspaper saying, "America, what went wrong?'' He promised good jobs and restoring hope.
Well, what went wrong, America? Clinton and his buddies, such as Sen. Charles Robb, helped him pass the North American Free Trade Agreement that has sent thousands of factories to Mexico, or they have expanded in Mexico. They now want to pass GATT and the World Trade Organization, which will make it possible for a factory to leave for Pakistan or soon for the Soviet Union as easily as for Ohio or California.
Robb is working hard for all of this to happen. That's why he and Clinton stroll across Northern Virginia, shoulder to shoulder, and hug each other in such a brotherly fashion. They're brothers.
We need to change government as soon as possible. We'll remember on Nov. 8.
CAROLYN LAWRENCE
VINTON
Robb can't be tarred as a liberal
WHY DO we continue to resist giving President Clinton the credit he deserves? Despite two years of obstructive filibustering by Senate Republicans, our economy is healthy, 98 percent of us have lower taxes, and for the first time in more than 12 years the budget deficit is coming down. We've removed a murdering despot from Haiti, restored democracy, and forced Saddam Hussein to back down through quick, decisive action - all without a drop of American bloodshed.
Yet, in Virginia, anti-Clinton sentiment is fueling support for the Senate campaign of an admitted liar, convicted felon and extreme-right demagogue named Oliver North. At the same time, Sen. Charles Robb's almost 20 years of pragmatic, pro-defense, anti-tax centrism is being called ``liberal.'' Honestly, am I missing something here?
JOSEPH J. STEFFEN JR.
BLACKSBURG
Confederate flag's foe got it wrong
I FEEL so sorry for Carol Davis (Oct. 19 letter to the editor, ``Confederate flag mocks democracy''), because her hatred and praise are misdirected. She reviled the Confederate flag for slavery, and then praised the United States flag.
Of course, the last nation in North America that had legalized slavery wasn't the Confederate States of America, but the United States of America.
This causes me to wonder: How many attacks are made on the Confederate flag by well-meaning but totally uninformed people?
GARY WALKER
ROANOKE
What was offered Doug Wilder?
WE SHOULD be very suspicious. Former Gov. Doug Wilder and Sen. Charles Robb have thrown brickbats at each other for years. Now, Wilder endorses Robb, two days after Wilder meets with President Clinton.
The Robb-Wilder feud is long-standing. In 1986, Robb informed Wilder in a letter made public: ``I am very much concerned about your lack of veracity in many of the things you have persisted in saying .... Your credibility with most key participants in the political process is disappearing rapidly, and many who have supported you in the past are no longer sure that you can be trusted .... What I am talking about are deliberate distortions and untruths.''
And Wilder took his shots at Robb. He accused Robb of trying to undermine his governorship and presidential campaign. And after three Robb aides were convicted of crimes associated with wiretapping Wilder's phone, Wilder denounced Robb as an ``unindicted co-conspirator.''
Wilder made another serious accusation in the debate at Hampden-Sydney College. He reminded us that Robb had said that if the people of Virginia felt he was not leveling with them, he was unfit to serve as their senator. Wilder declared, ``I don't think he has leveled with the people of Virginia.''
Robb hasn't earned Wilder's friendship, respect or trust. We should be told, then, what Clinton and Robb offered Wilder in return for his new-found support of Robb.
LEWIS R. SHECKLER
RADFORD
Robb's support for Clinton is a plus
I SUPPORT Sen. Charles Robb for re-election. He served well as Virginia's governor, and conscientiously serves our state in Washington.
For thinking people, Robb's support of President Clinton is a plus. I've long felt that Clinton is intelligent enough to know what the issues are, and he has the nerve to raise them. For instance, health-care reform, and protecting the legislative process from special-interest groups. This compensates for a lot of admittedly grievous flaws.
The present era of electing leaders by public-opinion polls, and debates by sound bite, worries me, not to mention imperialistic pietists who are downright frightening.
JO ANN S. THRELKELD
SALEM
Wilder had it right the first time
DOUG Wilder said that Sen. Charles Robb isn't fit to serve in the U.S. Senate during Wilder's run for the seat. Now he endorses Robb, and says that he won't stand in the way of what's best for Virginia.
Does this mean that someone ``not fit'' is the best person for Virginia?
Another left-handed and shallow endorsement that Virginia voters will see through, driven by pressure from President Clinton, and rewarded by who knows what. Wilder was correct with his first statement.
JACK WATTS
BOONES MILL
Give the decent Coleman a chance
ON NOV. 8, we're asked to elect one of the biggest liars in history to the U.S. Senate, be it Sen. Charles Robb or Oliver North. Doesn't that warm the innermost parts of your being? Now don't you think we have enough liars in Washington who think only of greed, prestige and thievery?
But be ye not dismayed. We have another choice in a Virginian by the name of Marshall Coleman, a decent man who will serve all Virginians well. Think it over. Seems decency has no place in government.
JOE LOCKHART
ROANOKE
by CNB