Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510210012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: G-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Too many people think of a research university such as Tech as offering immediate benefits only to the students. However, professionals such as ourselves can benefit directly from it as well. We use the library at least once a month to assist us in our work projects.
A local municipal library will never be able to maintain the breadth and depth of materials available in a research university's library. For professionals doing highly specialized work, access to journals and information on a wide array of topics is essential. If local professionals can do their job better because of such a library resource, many local people feel the benefits.
When voters are asked to support funding public universities, they shouldn't forget they support a valuable resource that provides immediate economic benefits to their community, and they are not only supporting a more educated future work force.
LINDA J. FERGUSON
ROANOKE
Falkinburg's dubious judgment
REGARDING Newell Falkinburg's slam against utilization reviewers (Oct. 10 Campaign Notes From Across Virginia - ``A `bimbo' by any other name ... ''):
I find it quite interesting that ``Mr.'' Falkinburg doesn't think nurses or physicians are ``well-informed enough in medical issues to pass judgment on whether [his] patients can be admitted to hospitals or not.'' With no more knowledge of who they are and what they do, I have serious doubts as to whether this kidney doc (now self-proclaimed politician) is well-informed enough to pass judgment on what issues are pertinent in government.
If he consulted his dictionary a little farther, he would also note that Merriam-Webster considers a politician to be ``one addicted to, or actively engaged in political offices or the profits from them as a source of private gain.''
Perhaps the utilization reviewers did their job too well.
JO WEIDNER
BENT MOUNTAIN
Seeing the light, and it is red
I HAVE a problem with traffic lights in the Roanoke Valley.
I live in Salem, and driving down Main Street is infuriating. The driver encounters a sequence of traffic lights: Light A, B, C, D and so on. He/she gets to light A, which is usually red. It turns green. Coming upon light B, it is turning red. The same goes at light C, etc.
People in this valley lurch from red light to red light because the lights are programmed poorly (if at all) for traffic flow.
Another scenario: It's rush hour. Cars are moving through an intersection. One car pulls up and runs over the sensor in the road, turning the main street's light red. So three dozen cars stop for 5 minutes to let one car go. It doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar to see this is stupid.
With the advent of computers, a simple $6 logic chip, an infrared sensor and a well-written computer program could end much frustration driving through our valley, and perhaps help economic development. The program would act like a traffic cop. A traffic cop won't stop 50 cars to let one out, but will wait until there's a lull in traffic and then do it. Conversely, he won't sit there, stupidly holding up traffic that could go.
Salem doesn't have a monopoly on poorly designed lights. Try driving in front of Community Hospital during rush hour at 5 p.m. I don't know what an ambulance would do if it had a critically ill patient in the back and had to wade through that quagmire of red lights. It's insane.
Traffic lights, as we know them, were designed a long time ago when traffic was considerably lighter. Let's update them to make them at least as smart as a traffic cop directing traffic. We talk about ``smart highways,'' and I have to laugh. I can't drive two miles without stopping 100 times to let one car onto the main drag. Pretty pathetic in today's world, isn't it?
BEAU HOOKER
SALEM
Allen's goals are right for Virginia
I SUPPORT Gov. George Allen's plan for honest, constructive change. Finally, an elected official has truly heard the call of voters: ``No more big-government, wasteful spending.''
What Virginia needs is a healthy economy and jobs for its citizens. These in turn will produce revenue for the state to run effectively and efficiently. High taxes and throwing more money at social problems isn't the answer to society's ills or financing government. Economic vitality is.
Virginia doesn't need more bloated bureaucracies that merely perpetuate their own existence through taxpayer dollars. Allen is changing all that. Let's give him the chance we deserve. Let's give him a majority in this year's General Assembly elections to finally get our government set right!
JOHN W. MOTICHA JR.
SALEM
Windfall is really a tax-increase gust
STEVE WAMPLER let the other shoe drop at the Cloverdale Community Civic League and the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce candidates' nights in August and September. He announced a one-year tax increase in excess of $3 million by changing tax-due dates. Every Botetourt taxpayer will get socked, and the county gains more than $3 million in Wampler's stated ``windfall'' tax increase.
Wampler was elected to be commissioner of revenue, not commissioner of more revenue. Earlier this year, he juggled his tax-collection apparatus to increase the county take on the personal-property and tool tax by changing the tax-effective date.
He's on his way to becoming the national poster boy for the high-tax lobby. It's generally understood that the county has hoarded more than $15 million of our dollars in surplus accounts, and this latest rip-off adds $3 million more to the surplus.
Wampler continually extols his attendance at schools and classes to enhance his position. If the final exam consisted of connecting dots to spell more taxes, he surely passed.
On the other hand, Jay Etzler has countered with a taxpayer-friendly proposal to prorate taxes so that the earlier tax-collection dates wouldn't be a burden to county taxpayers and wouldn't fund Wampler's windfall.
Taxpayers unite. The truth will set us free, and save us money.
BUD BRUMITT
BOTETOURT COUNTY
Cranwell is well-qualified
PREVIOUSLY this year, I attended General Assembly sessions in Richmond. After viewing many hearings, etc., the delegate who impressed me most was Dick Cranwell. He handled himself with professionalism, and was a credit to himself and the district he represents.
Having a senior delegate from our district is important, especially when we as a population are continually being squeezed out by larger districts from other parts of Virginia. He's also House majority leader, which puts him and us in a position of strength when a bill for our district is to be decided. We may never again have a delegate with these qualifications, and as interested citizens, that should be reason for concern.
Those who continue to call Cranwell a liberal need only see his record as a leader. Virginia is now ranked second in the nation in fiscal responsibility. In '92-'93 while a Democrat was still governor, we were ranked No. 1. We're only one of two states making it through the recession without a tax increase. He has and continues to support a "pay as you go" tradition. While being tough on crime, he believes in placing our children in better schools, not bigger prisons, and as does a good doctor, directs funds to prevention as the cure.
When I vote, I won't cast my vote for Democrat, Republican or independent, but rather for what's best for our district. However, the demagogues aren't really concerned about who is the best candidate but which party will win. Based on this and the necessity of leadership to offer checks and balance to the GOP, Cranwell will get my vote.
RICHARD E. JESKEY
VINTON
by CNB