ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995 TAG: 9512150036
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-18 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IN THE budget proposed by the Republican-led Congress, spending on Medicare will increase by 45 percent over the next seven years - more than twice the projected rate of inflation. The spending on Medicare will actually increase from $926 billion over the past seven years to $1.65 trillion over the next seven years.
However, the Clinton administration is lying to Americans and attempting to scare senior citizens by calling this a ``Draconian'' cut that will put the elderly out in the streets. The Republican plan provides for spending on Medicare to increase by 7 percent each year and controls the growth in the rate of spending in order to keep the program solvent.
In its own report, the Clinton administration concluded that if the present rate of increase in spending on Medicare is allowed to continue unchecked, the system will go bankrupt.
In fact, if allowed to continue at the present rate of growth, by the year 2001, the spending on Medicare will overtake all federal spending on defense. By the year 2005, it will exceed defense by $100 billion. And by the year 2012, if something isn't done, spending on entitlements plus interest on the debt will consume all of the federal revenue, leaving not one nickel for anything else. Faced with this situation, any responsible leader in either party should realize that something must be done to limit the growth in Medicare spending.
Republican leaders in Congress have proposed a budget that addresses this problem by eliminating waste and fraud in the system and cutting wasteful bureaucracy in Washington. Instead of trying to work with Republicans to solve the problem, the Clinton administration has decided to use it for its political advantage by lying about the Republican proposal. Efforts to demonize Republicans and scare old people with lies are an attempt to improve Clinton's standings in the polls. Welcome to the 1996 political campaign!
PAUL VARSON
POUND
Rail service is worth subsidizing
IN RESPONSE to the comments of Thomas C. Fisher Jr. in his Dec. 1 letter to the editor, ``Hoping for train service? Dream on'':
I share his skepticism regarding financial projections used to document the economic viability of the proposed passenger-train service from Bristol to Richmond and Washington. I also share the avid enthusiasm of those who would love to see this service established.
Fisher implies that the rail service shouldn't be considered since it may require a government subsidy. He notes that passenger service was always subsidized by some form of government aid.
Is there any form of transportation in this country that isn't subsidized in some form by federal, state and local government? The interstate highway system was built entirely with federal and state funds. Government funds continue to pay for highway maintenance. Airports are constructed largely with government funds, and the Federal Aviation Administration provides essential air-traffic control service. It's no more inappropriate for government to financially support rail-passenger service than any other form of transportation.
I applaud state Sen. William Wampler for his efforts to implement this service in our state. Those of us who live in the southwest part of Virginia would like to have reasonable access by public transportation to Richmond and Washington. At present, we can fly to Richmond in about the same time that we can drive to it - about six hours!
I'm excited about the potential for rail transport in our region. I hope that our state representatives will support this service, even if some limited financial support should be required.
EDWARD B. MORGAN
ABINGDON
Rezoning threatens property values
ROANOKE County is seeking industrial sites for future development.
Several parcels of privately owned land west of Glenvar are being considered for rezoning by Roanoke County from R-1 Residential to I-1 Industrial. Most of these potential industrial sites are contiguous only with residential property.
We believe that approving spot rezoning of privately owned residential parcels in our community for industrial sites would be a threat to our quality of life and property values, and an affront to the residents, homeowners and taxpayers of West Roanoke County.
CHARLES and LINDA LANDIS
DAVID and EMILY WILLIAMS
ROANOKE COUNTY
LENGTH: Medium: 86 linesby CNB