Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 14, 1995 TAG: 9504200002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Driving in on a recent weekend, and hoping to see the newly remodeled Hotel Roanoke, I found it annoying that the two stretches of interstate giving the best view of the hotel and market are marred by large cigarette and television-station billboards.
Considering the importance placed on image when it comes to rebuilding the downtown (think of the Star City Diner and the American Chemical Co. scandals), I can't believe these eyesores weren't removed long ago. Since many areas of the country have already outlawed billboards visible from the interstate, it might be time for Roanokers to consider it, too, especially if they're truly serious about making the downtown area more attractive to tourists.
BRYAN LITTLE
ROANOKE
Constitution doesn't mention bullets
I HAVE a few questions to raise and words of law to say about the National Rifle Association.
I neither support nor oppose the organization. I've been neutral, especially so since it's firmly rooted in the words of our Constitution as to the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Those words have been quoted as gospel.
Ah, the gospel! So many people like to quote gospel as it suits their purpose. Well, if it's gospel we seek, where does it say we have the right to have bullets? It doesn't.
Now, you can say that ``arms'' implies ``bullets for said arms.'' But if you start reading between the lines of the Constitution, you surrender your gospel-like arguments, unless you choose to play both sides of the coin.
I believe our government has the total right to confiscate all bullets from all persons whom they determine to be unstable and a threat to our society, our life, and our children. After all, it's not in the Constitution.
MARSHALL RILEY
ROANOKE
Deficit news is not so upbeat
YOUR March 24 editorial (``Welcome signs of deficit hope'') contained some erroneous information that could seriously mislead your readers. I refer to the part that attributes some major benefits in deficit reductions to Clinton's fiscal policies. You seemed to believe those policies have produced and are continuing to produce major reductions in the federal deficit. You suggested the effects had been so significant that the deficit by the end of this fiscal year might be only $170 billion.
I fear your enthusiasm for Clinton's policies leads you to accept without question the White House press releases. The Feb. 28 issue of the U.S. Treasury Department publication, Monthly Statement of the Public Debt of the United States, reports the following:
Debt outstanding on Feb. 28: $4.850521 trillion. Debt outstanding on Feb. 28, 1994: $4.556421 trillion.
These amounts represent the size of the national debt's interest-bearing portion. The difference in these two values measures the national debt's growth, i.e., the deficit over the past 12 months. Therefore, the deficit over this period is $294.729 billion.
There's no logical way you can extrapolate this amount to Sept. 30, 1995 and arrive at the $170 billion that you advertise as the likely possibility for the fiscal 1995 deficit. To realize such a reduction would require a huge operating surplus over the next six months. Are you anticipating those windfalls that your newspaper predicted would result from the ill-advised North American Free Trade Agreement and GATT to occur during this period?
You might be interested in data on the 1994 deficit. On Sept. 30, 1993, the national debt was reported by the Treasury publication to be $4.408567 trillion. Using that figure with the one reported in the Sept. 30,1994 report yields a deficit for fiscal 1994 of $284.183 billion. The deficit over the past 12 months is now larger than that for the last fiscal year.
I expect your response will be that the figures I cite include some off-budget items such as the savings-and-loan and Mexican bailouts, and the Rwandan, Haitian and Somalian operations. That may be the case, but we can't escape the fact that this figure is the amount on which we're now paying interest, and which seems to be growing faster than reported by the White House. This amount also must be paid in full in the future by someone. That's the real problem.
CHARLES F. ROBERTS
BLACKSBURG
Don't impose religion-based guilt
LIBBIE McCutcheon's March 24 commentary, ``Silent no more about abortion regret,'' expresses her longing for the days of old. I, too, long for a return to certain aspects of life in our simpler days - the days when Nat King Cole, Patsy Cline and 5-cent ice-cream cones abounded.
But I hasten to add this warning: We must be careful what we wish for. We cannot forget that Cole had to enter through the back door where he performed, and Cline was abused by her husband without recourse during these good old days. Women were second-class citizens, and diversity scared mainstream America.
Abortion can no longer be looked at as a social problem with a back-to-fundamentals solution. Indeed, many of McCutcheon's assumptions regarding sexuality, abortion and relationships are falsehoods.
McCutcheon seems to believe that, like her, all women who have abortions will eventually have a moral awakening that condemns their decision. Her own religion-based guilt cannot be translated into the personal lives of all women. The fact is that we're a diverse society with different beliefs. Unfortunately, this is quickly forgotten by many right-wing fundamentalists who, in their own spiritual revelation, are quick to impose their views on others. Most women who choose abortion do so because they have decided it's necessary in their circumstances. This is a woman's right as a human being, not a horrible sin that women live to regret.
SARAH GOODMAN-DALTON
SALEM
Dredging up old scandals for news
IS THERE not enough current crime, corruption, sleaze and heartache? Must you dredge up a 10-year-old tragedy, namely the Hayson murders? Not only did you do so, but you felt compelled to give it front-page headlines and a three-day major feature. If this is indeed to sell your newspaper, then it's a sad commentary on your newspaper and on our community. I'm appalled!
As we celebrate this Easter season, why not give us good news, including ``the good news'' that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again. He did this to give us a joyful, abundant life for the here and now, and eternal life for the future.
DOROTHY BUNN
MONETA
Taking charge of reproduction
BETH Macy's March 20 article ``A call to action'' dealt with teen-age pregnancy. The messages expressed were that these women were ``powerless'' and the community needed to help them. I agree with the second statement, but not with the first.
These young women are not powerless. Their responsibility is to take care of their own bodies, and to do it wisely. Every person of both genders is accountable for his or her own reproductive activity, for their own and their children's sake.
One woman had been on birth control, then ``didn't get around to getting the pills,'' became pregnant, and now is contemplating getting on welfare and living in public housing with her friends. Another woman had been through a pregnancy with a man who abandoned her, is now engaged to a second man, and is pregnant again.
To me, these situations are analogous to a pedestrian crossing traffic against the light, getting hit, and then expecting medical and personal care at the public's expense. My heart goes out to both of these women, but my intellect tells me they have had, and will continue to have, a very difficult life unless they take charge of their lives. Public assistance should require personal responsibility and accountability by the recipient.
Also, let's not forget the biological fathers for each baby coming. The mothers deserve a lot more than ``a box of diapers'' from the fathers!
All the women in Macy's article have some family who should also help out before expecting a community bailout. My heroine was the unnamed pregnant 14-year-old girl with dreams of cheerleading, college and owning a woman's store. She hasn't yet bought into the powerless victim of life mentality. Amen to that!
HUGO VEIT
RINER
by CNB