ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I ENDORSE Dr. Robert Smith's April 9 commentary (``Let patients control health reform'') supporting a patient-directed health-care structure. He suggests a viable alternative that contains costs and, unlike other developing options, still leaves patients in control of their health care.
In the plan he espouses, market forces will control costs and enable health-care providers with the highest quality and most competitive pricing to succeed in an environment controlled directly by the patient. Aspects of this system are being tried successfully in other areas of the country, and we must work together to bring this concept to Southwest Virginia.
For persons not intimately acquainted with health-care delivery, you should be aware it's changing rapidly to a system that transfers the power to direct patient care from the patient and physician to the administrator, and skims a portion of the patient's health-care dollar away from patient services. If ongoing reorganization plans continue, physicians and patients will be reduced to numbers in a health-care system over which they have no real control.
We could save our communities from the pain and suffering brought to many areas by the health-maintenance organization and managed-care mentality if our region's business leaders, citizens and physicians would promote Dr. Smith's plan. I challenge the physicians in Southwest Virginia who are considering surrendering the patient and our profession to a subservient position in the health-care delivery system to re-evaluate their decision. Patients should ultimately be in charge of their health care, guided by their trusted physician. I hope that physicians and patients will work together to bring this concept to our community.
ROBERT B. MOUNTCASTLE JR., M.D.
President, Physician Associates of Virginia
ROANOKE
Fossils testify to evolution
IN RESPONSE to Dave Grover's March 21 letter to the editor, ``It comes down to faith versus foolishness'':
Who was the eyewitness to the creation? It certainly wasn't the author of Genesis as the book wasn't even written down until the Babylonian captivity. And why do we need an eyewitness anyway? Isn't faith believing in something that cannot be seen?
As to there not being an eyewitness to the theory of evolution, what about the fossil evidence?
I feel that most parents, if really given the choice, would prefer their children be taught sound scientific principles and not pseudo-science based on religious preferences. I know, because I hold a master's degree in biology.
JONATHAN REID
BLACKSBURG
Jobs available are not as advertised
REGARDING your March 28 news article, ``Western Va. grads not repaying Uncle Sam'':
I believe if you would investigate, you'd find that the reason for many defaults would be the sales pitch of the schools. That being costs associated with the for-profit trade schools that pitch the benefits of good jobs when, in many instances, this isn't fact.
It can be seen from the list of the schools with the highest default rates, such as computer schools, beauty schools, and Alliance Tractor Trailer, which charge better than $4,000 for a short training period. And then the jobs available for the trainees are low-paying. Trainees probably don't make enough to keep up their payments.
BILLY T. PROFFITT
SALEM
Marriage ruling was without basis
IN A March 30 news article, ``Paraplegic can't be wed in the church,'' it says, ``A Roman Catholic bishop has prohibited the marriage of a paraplegic man because he would not be able to have sex with his future wife and father children."
I've got news for the bishop. There are ways for any fertile male to father children! Does the bishop also prohibit marriage of postmenopausal women?
MORTON NADLER
BLACKSBURG
School boards support Goals 2000
I WAS pleased to see the school boards of Roanoke County and Roanoke city vote to support Goals 2000 education funding. The state budget, as approved by the General Assembly, provides that if two-thirds of local school boards request these funds, the commonwealth's superintendent of public instruction shall apply for them from the federal government.
Opposition to Goals 2000, led by Gov. George Allen, is curious. The commonwealth regularly receives millions of dollars in federal aid to education. For example, in fiscal year 1993-94, the commonwealth received some $375 million. Roanoke city and Roanoke County together received more than $13.5 million in federal aid for public schools. Because these funds are targeted to particular needs - such as the school-lunch program, magnet schools, Chapter 1 early-learning programs and the like - there are necessarily ``strings'' attached.
Goals 2000 program has virtually no strings attached, and is available for a wide variety of programs that the states can create. For example, Pennsylvania is using Goals 2000 funding to upgrade its computer system, Kansas to improve its academic standards, and other states are using these funds for programs tailored to their particular needs.
It's extraordinary how opposition to Goals 2000, originally approved by all 50 governors and President Bush in Charlottesville in 1990, has turned it into an ideological football. Apparently, opponents would rather put ideological purity ahead of our children's education.
I applaud the school boards of Roanoke County and Roanoke city for seeing through the smoke and voting to accept Goals 2000 funding!
JOHN S. EDWARDS
Senator, 21st district Commonwealth of Virginia
ROANOKE
Harris, Swain offer vision for city
THIS LETTER is one of endorsement for the Rev. Nelson Harris and Carroll Swain for Roanoke City Council in the forthcoming election.
Both are highly principled individuals who have the interest of our community at heart. They stand for what's right, and will not yield to the pressures of special-interest groups whose agendas benefit only a few.
I feel these two men - one is a retired military officer and school administrator, and the other is the pastor of Ridgewood Baptist Church and chairman of the Roanoke City School Board - will have a long-term vision for a better Roanoke.
WILLIAM R. HACKLEY SR.
ROANOKE
Taxpayers didn't save any money
I AM APPALLED that Roanoke County residents defeated the bond referendum for the education of all students in Roanoke County schools.
It's disheartening that so many residents refused to approve funds for a badly needed new high school that 40 percent of the county's high-school students attend. In doing so, they denied funding for their own sons and daughters in other sections of the county. This decision makes me question if I would ever want to have my children educated in a locality so divided that it cannot provide funding for its schools.
As a recent graduate of Cave Spring High School, I know firsthand how badly a new school is needed. Someday county residents will have no choice but to approve funding for a new school. If people thought the price tag for a new school was expensive now, they should wait a few years and then ask themselves if their no vote really saved them any money.
MICHAEL J. BRENNAN
ROANOKE
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