ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Spending funds not yet in hand
JOHN EDWARDS' call for four consecutive 10 percent reductions in Virginia college tuition costs spotlights his insatiable appetite for the fruits of the people's labor (Jan. 4 commentary, ``It's time to roll back tuition costs at Virginia's colleges'').
Edwards proposes to pay for his plan with a projected but unproved growth in tax revenues. It apparently never occurs to him to let you keep what you have earned - or, as we in the trenches call it, a tax cut.
If he's sincere in his desire to reduce college costs, he might fund his scheme by cutting the bloated educational bureaucracy. Since Edwards is a mouthpiece for the unions, don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen. Just shut up, pay your taxes and don't ask any questions.
ROBERT J. HUMMEL
ROANOKE
Be thankful for any salary raise
I THINK Roanoke city's schoolteachers should take a look at what has happened to the labor market in the Roanoke Valley during the past couple of years (Dec. 13 news article, ``Teachers seek ally in council'').
They should be thankful they work for an employer that can afford to give them a raise, and that it's a raise equal for all and not based on individual ability.
I would like for taxpayers to drive past all the schools and look at the cars in the parking lots. I don't think the teachers are worried about not having reliable transportation. I have friends who used to work for ITT, Singer and Yokohoma who have had to sell their cars, and their children have had to join the military (how demeaning) in order to have college funds.
Teachers: When you're drinking your coffee in the lounge before your six-hour workday begins, smell it.
JEFFREY T. MORRIS
ROANOKE
Liberate Oliver North
DON'T YOU think it's time the expert on Latin American affairs, Oliver North, was sent to Lima, Peru, to help the Tupac Amaru do their thing?
I've heard that Gov. George Allen, Attorney General Jim Gilmore and other far-right zealots had North hidden in a root cellar near Liberty University until most of the elections were over in the state. Now's the time to get him out of the cellar and on the road to stick his nose in other people's business again.
JOHN S. BENTLEY
ROANOKE
Unity doesn't exist in the United States
ARE WE really the United States of America? What is so united about us?
The states do not charge equal taxes, do not share the same penalties for crime, and they certainly do not have the same laws - not even traffic laws.
I continue to see on the evening news stories about California's propositions. What is going on? Do they amend a law at their free will? Here is an idea: How about enforcing the laws they already have?
Is any law or fee of any kind the same in all 50 states and, of course, Washington, D.C.? How can we forget the people on the hill? After all, they have their laws. They don't follow them, but they are there. I'm not sure about you, but if I ever get charged for breaking a Washington, D.C., law, which isn't a Virginia law, there will be an argument.
The lack of unity trickles down to the localities. How can one county charge $40 for a gun permit and another charge $30? If a gun permit is good all across the state of Virginia, why must you apply for it within the city or county where you live?
The individual states can hardly agree on any issue, including taxes, abortion, religion and politics. So what makes the United States of America so united? The states aren't even geographically united.
JEFF S. FRYDRYCH
ROANOKE
A man famous for his generosity
YOUR DEC. 25 article, ``Christmas far from home was still sweet,'' featured Bill Simmons of Eagle Rock. He recalls how an old German couple made Christmas sweet for him and his Army buddies. I'd like to reverse that and tell how Simmons made Christmas far from home sweet for our family.
For five years, my husband was pastor of Eagle Rock Baptist Church. During that time, Bill and Myrtie Simmons were like a dad and mom to our family. They made Christmas sweet for us with the antique clock he had repaired. This clock is probably 75 years old, but it still runs in our living room today.
Another time they made Christmas sweet was the year they gave me my very first set of china, which I cherish to this day. And in his nice, quiet way, Simmons would often chuckle and say, ``Dottie, let me tell you a little story,'' and I knew something of great interest was coming my way.
Since leaving Eagle Rock, I've lost most of my eyesight. Our church is sponsoring me to get a low-vision enhancement system. Simmons is fighting every day for his own life. And still, he took the time this Christmas to remember me with a generous donation for the system. People who know him realize just how generous this man is to others, forgetting to take time for himself to have his own pity party. I can see him now rolling around in his wheelchair, keeping up with the needs of the community.
Christmas is sweet far from home, especially when shared with the Simmonses and all the fine people of Eagle Rock. Even to this day, they make sugar cookies for our family.
DOTTIE T. STEVENS
VIRGINIA BEACH
LENGTH: Long : 103 linesby CNB