ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605240004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THERE IS a great deal to be said for the opinion that Southwest Virginia's share of tax revenue has been shorted. There is more than money to be counted when you consider our worth. The great port of Norfolk, for example, would have been poorer without the wealth of ``King Coal'' coming out of our region.
Over and above this, there has been a bigger problem in the entire state during the twin Wilder and Allen administrations. A dangerous flood of tax revenue has been flowing into welfare for the rich. The most outstanding examples have been the stadium deals proposed by both administrations. However, they're only part of this problem.
It's wonderful to hear of outside corporations coming to give hundreds of jobs to our citizens - but wise workers will save their money while they have these jobs. Private business that don't have to go to the traditional lending organizations with their plans and prove their worth could be building their foundations on the sand. And with so little of their own investment, it will be easy for them to relocate in the future.
Has anyone noticed how these wonderful public-relation opportunities come about suddenly and with a great deal of fanfare, but with little follow-up?
There seems to be so few of us who aren't intimidated by those who would call us foolish or question our Southern hospitality if we want to know about these wonderful gift horses brought down to us from on high in Richmond.
|SUE COLLINS |ROANOKE
A money grab by|
the health industry|
IT SEEMS that every facet of integrity, decency, fairness and probity that used to make America great has been or is in the process of going down the tube. What is happening with insurance, pharmaceuticals and health-care givers? Have they succumbed to the level of other questionable and unsavory entities - our Congress and the judicial system, to name a couple?
Money, money, money. There's a book that warns of the consequences of loving it. Evidently, that's ignored by using mafia-like tactics. Used-car salesmen are looking better daily to the American public.
A word of warning: Should you come face to face with the aforementioned, don't even say hello, lest you receive a bill in the mail the next day.
|JOE H. LOCKHART |ROANOKE
Woodrum's work|
is appreciated|
WILLARD TOMLINSON'S attack on Del. "Chip" Woodrum (April 29 letter, ``Woodrum's consistency is suspect'') is nothing short of spurious guesswork. He implies that Woodrum prefers high taxes. Well, Tomlinson ignores the facts. Here is Virginia's record on taxation, achieved while Woodrum has been a delegate:
nVirginia ranks 45th in America in state tax burden as a percentage of personal income, according to the Tax Foundation.
nThe U.S. Department of Labor notes that Virginia ranks last among 45 states that levy a sales tax. And of the 46 states that have a corporate-income tax, Virginia ranks 44th.
nAs of 1995, Virginia ranked 49th in total state spending - at $186 per year per $1,000 of personal income. Only Missouri, at $184 per year per $1,000 of personal income, spent less (1995 State Policy Reference Book).
Virginia is one of only five states with an AAA bond rating. It has a balanced budget every year, and is one of few states that came through the recent recession without a tax increase.
Woodrum has been for fiscal restraint, but has also supported educational initiatives. Thank goodness that he and other legislators of both parties were able to increase the state's financial efforts in public education and higher education at this year's General Assembly session - doing so without a tax increase.
Even if Tomlinson doesn't appreciate Woodrum's good work, there are many of us who do.
|SHERIE OAKEY |ROANOKE
Writer distorted|
aid for Israel|
IN RESPONSE to Charles F. Roberts' May 6 letter to the editor, "Stop aiding Israel's barbaric tactics:"
Roberts is displeased that a portion of his taxes is being sent to Israel every year. I understand. Israel does receive $3 billion in aid from America each year, with $1.8 billion going toward defense and the remainder to the public.
But for him to say that it goes to killing innocent Arabs is a direct attack on Israel and also on America.
In the past eight months, I studied abroad in Israel and saw firsthand the plight of both people. I know my Palestinian friends would be as incensed by Roberts' naive view of the situation as I am.
Roberts fails to write about innocent Israelis who were killed by Katyusha rockets and rampant bus bombings. And I am not forgetting about innocent Palestinians and Lebanese who were killed. As unfortunate as it may be that innocent people were in the crossfire toward peace, it's inevitable.
Roberts said his view might sound politically incorrect (anti-Semitic). Well, it does. It's misinterpreted information like this that spreads hatred and prejudice. It's time to put aside differences and work toward a solution.
|JARED DUNKIN |ROANOKE
Coalition's role|
was misrepresented|
JEFF JANOSKO'S letter to the editor (April 29, ``AEP tries to buy favor with officials'') makes distorted and erroneous statements about American Electric Power, and about the Coalition for Energy and Economic Revitalization, which is the two-state labor, business, civic and governmental coalition supporting the 765-kilovolt power-line project.
He claims that ``CEER members are AEP employees and private contractors who work for AEP.'' As president of the Southwestern Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council, I can say this isn't true. For starters, Janosko has omitted thousands of labor-union members, including members of at least 12 unions in the Roanoke area alone.
In addition, there are civic groups, towns, cities and boards of supervisors in support of this project. All these groups represent people who are concerned citizens, who promote socially responsible public policy, and who strive to serve the common good.
Currently, CEER is comprised of more than 500 groups representing more than 270,000 people. Janosko claims that opposition groups represent a larger number, yet gives no figure. This is a typical misinformation tactic.
His letter also fails to address the real issues: Is the power line needed? If so, where should it go? Like Virginia's State Corporation Commission, we believe it's clearly needed. And we hope it will be built and routed with the least impact possible to people and our environment.
|ROBERT H. MYERS |President, Southwestern Virginia |Building and Construction Trades Council |ROANOKE
Humans differ from|
other life forms|
MARSHALL TACKETT (May 16 letter to the editor, ``Life comes from the spirit'') connects society's moral decay directly to the theory of evolution. He claims that by considering ourselves animals, we cannot rise above our problems.
In Genesis 1, God calls forth all plant and animal life from the earth. Then, in Genesis 2, God scoops up a handful of the same earth, forms a creature and calls it ``Adam.'' Physically, Adam was of the same substance as the plants and animals.
``Adam'' is the Hebrew word for humankind. The word itself means ``made of dirt (adamah).'' If, as Tackett asserts, it's morally degrading to think of ourselves as animals, then what does it do to us to consider ourselves ``dirt''?
But there's more. After the ``dirt creature'' was formed, God did something remarkable, something not mentioned regarding the creation of other life forms. God breathed his ruach (``breath'' or ``spirit'') into Adam, ``and Adam became a living being''( Genesis 2:7).
Tackett said it well in his letter: ``Life comes from the spirit, not the flesh.'' The good news for humanity is that our physical origins aren't what determines our relationship to God. Whether we're animals or dirt is of no consequence. It's when God breathes his spirit into us that we become the image of God. It's the spirit, and not our primordial ancestry, that enables us to live as sons and daughters of God. This is the great fact that Christians celebrate with the festival of Pentecost.
|REED HOPKINS |Pastor, Hot Springs |Presbyterian Church |HOT SPRINGS
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