ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606030002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTER
THE DEMAGOGUERY accompanying the minimum-wage debate has been nauseating. Once again, Congress has been playing upon the economic illiteracy of the American public.
I'm amazed at how many of our representatives are seriously pretending to believe that government can legislate an increase in the standard of living. If simply passing a law can make us richer, let's increase the minimum wage to $200 per hour. That way, we could all live in Hunting Hills.
Sadly, the only way we can permanently increase our share of goods and services is to increase our own productivity of goods and/or services. If low-income workers (or anyone for that matter) find they're not making enough to satisfy their needs, they must advance their skills so they can become more productive. This may require going back to school, working toward a professional designation, moving to another city or state or changing fields.
Any policy attempting to increase the standard of living for any particular group should focus entirely on ways to increase that group's productivity. Anything else is a scam perpetrated by election-year politics. KENT M. FORD ROANOKE Law student dishonored school
IF THE facts in Mike Hudson's May 13 article (``Real-life affair's end stranger than fiction'') about the Washington and Lee University honor system are correct, the law student expelled is deserving of no sympathy. A lie is like being pregnant - there's no such thing as being a little bit pregnant.
I cannot believe that a law professor would say that the case "raises the issue of whether the honor system is used to get students" who don't adhere to the conservative political beliefs that dominate the student leadership. Does the professor mean that it's perfectly correct for liberals to lie, and conservatives should let them get away with it? That may be perfectly correct in Washington, but it has no place at Washington and Lee.
From the comments in the article by some of Daryl Elfield's fellow law students, it's no wonder so many in the legal profession are held in low regard. The character of applicants for law school should be as important in the evaluation for acceptance as their intellectual capability. WILLIAM B. BAGBEY ROANOKE State will gain by re-electing Warner
AFTER A lifetime of public service (the Navy in World War II, the Marines in Korea, secretary of the Navy and 18 years as a U.S. senator), John Warner knows his state, its people and their needs. His Virginia heritage, Virginia education and dedication uniquely qualify him to represent his state as a U.S. senator.
Citizens from any state would flock to support a senator who laid the groundwork for Interstate 73 and the Transamerica highway, who works tirelessly for the state's farmers and small businesses, and who protected thousands of families from economic devastation by protecting the state's defense facilities from closure. Californians and South Carolinians, rocked by base closures, are bewildered that a senator with all these accomplishments would be challenged by anyone instead of being hailed as a valuable state resource.
While Warner and I disagreed over the Oliver North and Mike Farris nominations, those past events pale when compared to the legacy of achievement he has made for Virginia. More importantly, the promise of what he can accomplish for Virginia in the future is enormous. In the 12 years I served in the House of Delegates, he was always there when constituents or localities needed guidance or advocacy with a federal agency.
Virginia has been well-served by Warner. All Virginians have good reason to vote on June 11, and much to lose if they don't. It's up to all of us to be sure Virginia remains well represented in the Senate by re-electing Warner. G. STEVEN AGEE ROANOKE Audiences should keep their seats
REGARDING Mark Morrison's review (May 18, ``We know you're out there. We can hear you breathing'') of the Vince Gill concert:
We feel his ``lecture'' to the people who attended the concert was way out of line! The Roanoke Civic Center sells reserved seats, not reserved standing space. If people pay for seats at a concert, they certainly have the right to see the show and not have someone standing in front of them, blocking their view.
We were proud that the crowd behaved like polite adults, showing courtesy and respect for the people around them. They gave tremendous applause for both artists after each song. I don't think either performer could have asked for a better reception or greater appreciation of the performance. The show was extended an additional 30 minutes because of the extraordinary audience response. BOB and ESTHER MAE CAUDLE ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 85 linesby CNB