ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997 TAG: 9701030059
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Retirees deserve their breaks
I BELIEVE the Dec. 26 Commentary page article, ``Virginia's tax deduction for age should be means-tested,'' by Sue Capers, is perhaps the most obtuse (lacking in astuteness and discernment) piece of writing I have ever had the misfortune to read.
Capers, public-policy coordinator for the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless, states that older citizens who have worked hard, shown some ingenuity and had a bit of luck should forgo their tax breaks. They should give up these excess monies to others who may not work hard, show any ingenuity or initiative, and have less than the allotted amount of luck.
I am a 65-year-old male who has worked hard from the time I was 12 years old. I showed some ingenuity and initiative, and found out early in life that the harder I worked the luckier I got.
Evidently, Capers received her socioeconomic education from one of the bleeding-heart Leninist-Mao institutions that predicates the idea that wealth or affluence should be equally divided among the people. Had this taken place on Jan. 1, 1997, by Jan. 1, 2007, the same people who have most of the wealth or affluence now would have it then. This is simply because they will work harder and therefore be luckier, and they will show more ingenuity and initiative than the rest of the people.
I thoroughly believe that hard work, showing some ingenuity and initiative, and making your own luck is the American dream. What Capers is idealizing is the Leninist nightmare, and it should be considered repulsive.
WILLIAM M. HARRISON
BLACKSBURG
Opening the doors to overcrowding
TO ALL those who have written letters criticizing Ben L. Rossell's Dec. 6 letter, ``Third World refugees aren't welcome here, '' I ask:
How many immigrants do you suggest the United States accept? Every person in the world who wants to come here?
When this country is as crowded and polluted as countries such as China and India, when it is unable to feed itself and the quality of life for everyone is practically nil, would you be happy then?
J.D. DUDLEY
MONETA
Time to get tough with Israel
MY COMPLIMENTS on your unbiased editorial of Dec. 24 (``The perilous path to peace''). Seldom have I seen any newspaper or magazine condemn Israel for its outrageous treatment of its neighbors.
The United States government has alienated most of the Arab nations by its unconscionable support of a small entity that has lied, spied and cheated our own nation's taxpayers. I have worked on both sides of this equation, and can see no peace in the Middle East until the United States stops its never-ending support of that troublesome, suppressive nation.
I disagree with your statement: "The United States cannot, of course, dictate policy to Israel's duly-elected government."
Why not? With the billions we have given Israel over the past 40 years, we actually own the land it occupies. We have every right to demand that the recalcitrant Benjamin Netanyahu return to our democratic principles, and stop his subversive attempt to foul up the peace process.
I wish your staff a happy New Year.
ROBERT A. HAY
RICHMOND
Don't condemn all soldiers
I AM writing this letter on behalf of the majority of male military personnel who have been subjected to false accusations of sexual harassment. Since accusations been exploited by the media, more than 3,000 complaints have been filed.
Now let's get realistic: Out of 3,000 cases, how many do you think are true? Maybe a few. Don't get me wrong, I am strongly against rape, and I am also against crying wolf. After all the investigations, I hope the media will widely publicize how many complaints were valid.
I am a soldier in the 29th Infantry (Light) and went through training at Fort Benning, Ga.
To sum up, the American people should hear the other side, and not condemn us all. Let's convict the guilty, but give respect to the troops who train and fight to defend our rights and freedoms.
RAY A. McGHEE JR.
UNION HALL
Did power losses predict the future?
IN THE Big Walker Creek Valley section of Giles County, we recorded 41 power failures during 1996. That may seem hard to believe, but unfortunately it is true.
The power failures ranged in duration from one second to four hours and 13 minutes.
Is this record for 1996 a deliberate warning by American Electric Power of what the future holds? Is it what we can expect - brownouts and blackouts that AEP has been warning us will occur - if we don't give in and allow construction of the 765 kv power line?
ERNIE MILLER
PEARISBURG
LENGTH: Medium: 98 linesby CNB