Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501310006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It makes great sense to tie the retirement age for recipients to increases in average longevity. However, it's universally perceived by politicians that to suggest such a thing would be to commit political suicide. This may be incorrect!
If some courageous, prominent statesman would propose advancing the age when people could draw Social Security to 67 years of age and increasing retirement age as longevity goes up, he might be hailed as a great leader and the savior of the Social Security system.
There are actually only two choices if Social Security is to survive: Die sooner or retire later!
Voters will surely choose the latter.
FRED M. WERTH RURAL RETREAT
Allen's plans are full of inconsistencies
GOV. ALLEN'S proposed budget makes me wonder whether he and I live in the same commonwealth of Virginia, or on the same planet.
We fight crime by putting convicted criminals in prison, but by making it harder to catch them? (Cities and counties are going to have a tough time funding their local police and crime-prevention efforts under this budget.)
We make sure our new prisons will fill up, and stay full, by making deeper and deeper cuts in education funding, still bleeding from ex-Gov. Wilder? (One thing we know about violent criminals is that they don't have much education.)
We attract tourists by cutting funds for tourist attractions?
We solicit economic investment by eliminating the local license tax on businesses, professionals and occupations that supports local fire departments, police, garbage collection, etc.? Who wants to relocate to a community with reduced services, higher real-estate or sales taxes, or both?
We insist on cutting taxes when we've already got among the lowest tax rates in the nation, and the economy is growing?
Allen's budget makes no sense at all.
MARIE WATERS RADFORD
Make buses a business
THANKS for your Jan. 11 editorial, ``Give buses a regional ride.'' This editorial shows that you - Democrats, progressives, socialists, or whatever you're calling yourselves today - didn't understand the Nov. 8 election.
You said: ``As the only viable remnant of public transportation in this area, the bus system needs to be expanded'' and ``No, bus transit won't pay for itself."
In a time of cutting government, you say to expand it because it doesn't work, like socialized health care.
I'd like to see the bus system put in private hands, like maybe the Roanoke Gas Co., and run as a business. Thank goodness the city didn't take the gas company over!
I know: Government cares more, and can make it work by making it bigger. But that mentality went out in the '60s.
JEFF BORTHEN ROANOKE
Good impression marred by trash
I VISITED the Star City for the first time this holiday season, and had a wonderful time. My parents moved here a year ago, and I enjoyed seeing this new area.
The only drawback is that there seems to be litter everywhere. I cannot get over the amount of papers and bottles strewn alongside roads and around buildings. The total lack of respect for the Earth and the area in which people deposit their trash is just appalling. Roanoke city should try to incorporate a clean-up day so that all citizens can participate in cleaning up. Also, the placement of more outside trash cans may help.
I wish Roanoke the best of luck, and please remember not to litter.
MICHELE BERES SUNNYVALE, CALIF.
Civil-responsibility movement needed
FOR MANY years, much has been spoken and written about civil rights, but little or nothing about civil responsibilities. With equal emphasis on the responsibility each of us has for ourselves, our families, our neighbors and our communities, we'd all live in a less troubled society.
PRESTON L. FITZBERGER BUENA VISTA
by CNB