ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601220088
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THIS WEEK marks the 23rd anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. As a 21-year-old, I've lived my entire life during a time when women have been able to choose when and whether to have a child. Unlike my mother and grandmothers, I live in an age where women are encouraged to attend college and plan a career. The right to contraceptives and abortion allow women to shape their own destinies.
I've never had an abortion, nor have I ever been pregnant. But I'm grateful to Planned Parenthood and other organizations that have made the right to choose a reality.
I hope that in the future my own children will have the same rights and responsibilities that I enjoy today.
SARAH GOODMAN-DALTON
SALEM
Vinton kept its residents mobile
A FEW months back, your newspaper ran articles referring to a study of the Roanoke Valley governments, and the study found that Vinton had no real reason to continue. Well, as a proud citizen of this small town, I take exception to the findings, especially in the aftermath of the recent snowstorms.
During the course of my work, I found it necessary to drive in Vinton, Roanoke city, Botetourt County, Bedford County and Roanoke County. Of all the areas I drove through, only Vinton showed its citizens the courtesy of clearing snow rapidly and thoroughly off the main arteries and neighborhood streets. While main streets in all the other areas were treacherous at best, Vinton's public works' crews were clearing neighborhood side streets and downtown sidewalks so the town's taxpayers could get out and conduct business. Moreover, the main roads of this town were cleared for four-lane traffic while neighboring jurisdictions could barely even clear two lanes of even the most heavily traveled streets.
Of course, there are those who would say that Vinton was able to accomplish this because it has so few streets to clear. I beg to disagree. I don't believe that Vinton has proportionally any more workers or equipment per mile of street than any of the other governments. I credit the clearing of the streets to town management that planned in advance for the results of the weather, and to town employees who were willing to put in the time to get the job done. Dedication and pride were the driving force that made these few people stand out in the performance of their jobs beyond the call of duty.
RAY SANDIFER
VINTON
Reduction in spending ignored
NEITHER the budgets proposed by Congress or the president puts any brake on big government. Democrats charge that Republicans are slashing public spending mainly for the poor to reward the rich. The mass media, in the main, echo this criticism. This is wrong in several regards. Perhaps most notably because when the dust clears, there will be much more spending in any of the plans being considered.
During the next seven years under the GOP proposal, federal spending is due to increase by $339 billion, which is only frugal when compared to the total increase of $448 billion in President Clinton's plan. How can any honest assessment of the Republican budget conclude that it's an assault on spending when it will increase annual outlays (by Congressional Budget Office estimates) from $1.518 trillion in 1995 to $1.857 trillion in 2002?
As for Medicare spending, a large item of contention, Congress wants to spend $791 billion over the next seven years, not far from the $833 billion proposed by Clinton.
According to House Budget Committee figures, the so-called tightwad Congress has budgeted $7,106 per Medicare beneficiary, while the White House claims it will preserve the system by allowing $7,246 for each.
The battle to balance the budget in seven years is about nothing at all. The red ink will supposedly dry up through a process of increasing taxes by a half-trillion dollars to offset the additional spending. Over the next seven years, the allegedly hard-hearted Republican Congress has revenues rising by $503 billion, and Clinton has revenues rising by $544 billion. Charges of gutting Medicare, student loans and environmental protections are wildly overstated.
As a federal employee impacted by the phony budget debate over the past few months, I have what may be an unusual request to Congress: Read the Constitution, stop all unconstitutional spending, bring the deficit under control, and reduce the cost and size of government.
NANCY M. KAMWELL
TROUTVILLE
Readers don't need Safire's tirades
REGARDING William Safire's Jan. 9 column on Hillary Clinton (``From the first lady, one lie after another''):
It would be good to let that vicious, slandering, obnoxious person write himself right out of an audience. He is an example of a big fault in America today. That is: a rather gifted person who uses his talent (because it is saleable) to fiendishly, falsely and cruelly attack those who are trying hard to do what's right for our country, and who are in a position where a response is inappropriate.
His tirade can be compared to the hate-monger Rush Limbaugh and other radical talk-show hosts.
The Roanoke Times is a great newspaper. To any reasonable person, it would be a credit if you would discontinue this contemptible columnist's writing.
LESTER H. HALSEY
MOUTH OF WILSON
LENGTH: Long : 101 linesby CNB