Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 12, 1994 TAG: 9403140207
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Take Mrs. Rich, whose husband is a retired CEO. She worked not at all during her lifetime and draws no Social Security. Yet she can subtract $12,944 from her investment income. Why? Because she is age 65 and draws little or no Social Security. Although she's not needy, she receives from Virginia a $744 tax gift, which must be made up by the taxes of others.
Consider, also, Mr. Washington, who receives an annual pension of $65,000 from his former federal job. As a federal employee, he paid no Social Security taxes, and so draws no Social Security benefits. But he, too, gets the full $12,944 state-tax deduction.
Next, consider Mr. Smart. He continues his university teaching job past age 65 and delays drawing Social Security. Although not needy, he, too, receives the full $12,944 deduction.
Finally, look at Mr. Little who worked all his life at the plant and draws $13,000 in Social Security. This wipes out his old-age deduction. Thus, he must pay taxes on his supplementary annual income of $6,000.
Where's the social logic to this tax break for seniors? There doesn't appear to be any. The tax break ought to be limited to those elderly who are in need, rather than be determined by the amount of Social Security they receive. As a result of this tax break, three of the above-mentioned people have depleted the Virginia treasury by up to $2,232.
GRETA McCAUGHRIN
LEXINGTON
Ice storms vs. power towers
IN A Jan. 30 news article by Greg Edwards, ``Advertising Apco money couldn't buy,'' concerning the 115-mile, 765-kilovolt power line from Wyoming, W.Va. to Cloverdale, he indicated the recent cold weather and temporary upsurge in electricity use may be helpful to Appalachian Power Co. in getting overhead high-tension lines installed. To the contrary, these ice storms are one more reason to oppose these monstrous lines. Those adversely affected by these proposed lines wouldn't benefit at all, as they'd cut a destructive swath over their homes and land to the East Coast to enhance Apco's money-making machine.
In March 1991, 95 765-kv towers fell in Indiana over a 47-mile stretch due to ice storms. Would you like to live in the vicinity of these twisted towers and downed high-tension lines when they crash to the ground? Apco's proposed narrow corridors should give some idea as to how close these lines could be installed to your home. Where's the guarantee that you'd have electricity fed by these lines after these devastating storms? A tower supporting high-tension lines during this latest ice storm fell on Peters Mountain, which supports these lines from the Glen Lyn plant. That's the second time one has fallen due to ice storms.
If these lines are installed, then put them underground. A better alternative: Build clean, coal-burning generating plants in locations on the East Coast where electricity is supposedly needed and haul coal from Southwest Virginia and West Virginia coal mines by rail, thereby creating more coal-mining and railroad jobs in the area.
E. FLOYD MANN
PETERSTOWN, W.VA.
Abortion isn't family's business
REGARDING Paul Smith's Feb. 4 letter to the editor, ``Mother's decision affects society'':
He was absolutely correct. A mother's decision does affect society; however, not the way he portrayed it. It affects us in our taxes every year, with funding for welfare and Medicaid, because society makes pregnant women feel they have no other choice than to have the baby.
I am strongly pro-choice and believe the decision lies with the pregnant couple when considering abortion. The extended family doesn't need to know the goings-on in a couple's private/personal life. In the event a couple notifies their families of the decision to have an abortion, it's just that - a notification. They're not asking for permission.
Perhaps it never occurred to Smith that if abortion weren't an option, more children would end up in a situation similar to the 19 children who were found in Chicago recently. Or worse yet, more babies would be found in plastic bags by the dumpster because the mother/parents couldn't afford to keep the baby.
For the most part, abortion isn't used as a method of birth control. Most women have abortions because they're not physically, mentally or financially able to support the child, and feel that they should be able to control when they start a family.
We need to treat the problem, not the result. More education is needed in morals and sexual awareness.
JILL HUGHES
ROANOKE
McLelland's life was 'shining star'
THE BEAUTIFUL array of stars on March 4 gave testimony to the sparkling life of Bob ``Guts'' McLelland. Relating his life to Philippians 2:15, `` ... in which you shine like stars in the universe ... ,'' the witness of Bob's selfless life was like a shining star whose bright rays illuminated a greedy world. He and his starlight will be sorely missed.
MICHAEL S. LONG
SALEM
Clinton deserves credit for trying
I'M BEGINNING to believe we live in crybaby land here in Roanoke. It seems like every time I pick up the editorial page, there are all these conservative crybabies bemoaning Bill Clinton's election. No one gives him any credit for the much-improved economy, increased house sales, lower interest rates, etc. Maybe they wish we were still in the ``Bushes'' with ``no recession.'' Things are looking better than in decades.
As for Clinton's health-care reforms, at least he's trying! No one's had the nerve to even try to help us out of this mess. Three cheers for Bill, Hillary and the good ol' United States of America!
BOB GREGORY
ROANOKE
by CNB