Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993 TAG: 9310150387
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This newspaper has now biased the public and made a dedicated man, who has served our community well for more than 20 years, respond to the lies and trash of a convicted criminal.
The people of the 14th District expect this newspaper to provide them with more intelligent and important news items in the future.
CHUCK WILLIAMS
VINTON
Drug industry's profits are a sin
HISTORY does, indeed, repeat itself!
In the '30s, President Franklin Roosevelt, with the support of a great humanitarian first lady, Eleanor, created Social Security. They felt people who had worked all their life did not deserve to live in poverty, many in ``poor houses,'' and face an early death in misery.
Cries of ``socialism,'' ``communism,'' et al, were heard in the land. Corporate America and small business made dire predictions concerning the economy, which was in the midst of the Great Depression.
President Lyndon Johnson had the same trouble when introducing Medicare.
There's real irony here. A drug company recently raised the price of a popular medicine for hypertension almost 10 percent. This, for a medicine that's been around for several years! It's as though the industry is thumbing its nose at people and deliberately causing financial problems. My medicine costs $57.65 monthly, and it's an older drug. I shudder to think of what newer drugs cost! Some are $2 per tablet, and more!
President Clinton is asking for what other western nations already have. The health of a country's people determines the health of its country. If Israel and Palestine can work together, why can't the government and Corporate America do the same? Excessive profits at the cost of people's lives is a mortal sin, in anyone's language!
JACK E. BYRD
HARDY
Two for the road of daily living
I WAS just getting ready to compose a real good ``demand better'' letter, decrying the numbing race for governor to which we are all being subjected. It would have included a passionate but piercing explanation of how George Allen and Mary Sue Terry will have to improve steadily for about a decade if they are to work their way up to mediocrity.
I still hope passionately, if not piercingly, that everyone will stay home on Election Day. Yet, before this valuable contribution to political dialogue could be composed, I was seized with an uncontrollable urge to write something positive instead.
I doubt that I'm the only one to observe a slow, graceful changing of the guard in your newspaper. There are now two columns whose authors write with wit and self-deprecating humor about the ups and downs of their daily lives. There are two writers who entertain us and lift our spirits because they are not afraid to expose their own vulnerabilities - uncertainties and weaknesses common to all of us. May the aging, semi-hysterical, semi-retired reporter, Ben Beagle, write for many more years. May Beth Macy continue to develop her almost limitless potential. I would not be surprised if, even now, the greatest station- wagon driver of them all is observing: ``It is good, is it not viejo, that there is a mujer who also knows what life is about.''
BILL GEIMER
LEXINGTON
the lowest of low blows THE NEWEST and lowest of the low, diabolic diatribe against Mary Sue Terry is not worthy of comment, except to say that what we have long suspected is now a fact - the inmates have taken over the asylum.
RUBY A. ROBERTS
CHRISTIANSBURG
New facility is urgently needed
THIS NOVEMBER, on the Montgomery County ballot, there will be two referenda deserving citizens' support: the library branch for the northern part of the county and the need for a new county Health and Human Services building, which is the reason for this letter.
Feasibility studies completed in 1978, 1988 and 1992 concluded that existing space was inadequate. At the same time, the number of clients served has drastically increased and programs have expanded. Today, additional space must be rented to accommodate the need.
Our current Health Department's space is so limited that interviews must be conducted in a partially enclosed hallway near the waiting area. Confidentiality is compromised!
The waiting area is far to small, forcing people to wait outside in their cars. There are no conference rooms large enough for f+irequiredo group patient education.
The same scenario exists for the Social Services Department. Space is woefully inadequate to handle an average of 2,800 client visits each month.
Providing a new facility for housing these departments, as well as the Human Services Commission, would contribute greatly to the efficacy of the public- service programs in this county.
Please vote yes at the polls on Nov. 2.
NANCY ALEXANDER
BLACKSBURG
by CNB