THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 24, 1995 TAG: 9507220006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Guy Friddell's column regarding Governor Allen's need for a ``flood of ideas'' (MetroNews, July 10) politely understates a major shortcoming with Allen's minimalist approach to government - it doesn't work in the face of human tragedy and it can't control the weather.
Devoted to the principle of getting the federal government out of the average citizen's life, the governor recently rejected $8 million in federal funds for computers in Virginia schools on the grounds that the federal government would ``attach strings'' to the program. Yet 48 other governors and state legislatures, as well as the business community, educators and the general public in Virginia, have endorsed it. Perhaps the governor believes that the average citizen doesn't need computer literacy.
However, citizens of central Virginia will now be spared the consequences of Allen's disingenious political insights and can breathe a sigh of (federal) relief. For the most part, Allen's usual remedy for the jobless and homeless is to treat them as vagrants. And vagrants, as we all know, belong in jail. By contrast, Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide much-needed funds to assist the unfortunate flood victims in rebuilding their homes and lives.
Allen's recent act of political realism demonstrates his major problem: He is in the grip of a theory he does not - or cannot - fully understand. And it doesn't control the weather, either.
ED NOLTE
Portsmouth, July 10, 1995 by CNB