
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 18, 1990                   TAG: 9007180396
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: T.C. FISHER JR.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WAFFLING MUGWUMPS

WHILE the people of the Roanoke Valley are in the midst of a debate over possible consolidation of the city and the county, we also recently celebrated again the good work done during the late spring and early summer of 1776 in Philadelphia.

In a period of about eight to 10 weeks, representatives from 13 colonies were able to persuade one another to join in a union to support a rebellion against their masters, the British empire. Without equivocating, in support of the effort they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

On the other hand, in more comfortable times and under more secure circumstances, the representatives of two local governments are unable, after two years of debate, to persuade each other that consolidation of the two governments is good for the future of the Roanoke Valley.

City representatives to the consolidation effort appear to have performed with purpose and maturity. But county representatives have waffled, vacillated, mugwumped and generally encouraged confusion and dissent among their people.

It is 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine. I know that is correct because it is the length of the Appalachian Trail. Between Maine and Georgia are the Berkshire, Adirondack, Catskill, Pocono, Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. There are the Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac and James rivers; there was much wilderness and many swamps.

Yet in spite of the great distances and geographic obstacles that separated them - these strangers to one another - planters, merchants, lawyers, doctors, publishers and landowners in a short time came to agreement.

In the Roanoke Valley, there are no physical barriers that are not passed readily via highways and bridges. Where the present county meets the present city can be determined only by reference to a map.

County representatives clearly are not prepared to risk the political support of those who elected them. That was not a problem of those who assembled at Philadelphia in 1776. The risk they took was more significant.

Ben Franklin reminded them of this at the conclusion of the independence convention: "We must all hang together in this to its ultimate success, or we shall all hang separately."

by CNB