Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9404010004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
So, members of Congress can run to their doctors for a hangnail, while I have to feel near-dead to even call mine. Which means that when I get sick, I'm terribly sick - and to hell with preventive medicine.
How can Blue Cross afford to insure a whole family for a lot less than me? Where is the fairness in this system?
MARILYN V. BRIGHAM ROANOKE
The Jackson River isn't Westvaco's WESTVACO requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers close a 1.7-mile stretch of the Jackson River in Covington around its paper mill. According to its public-relations manager, it isn't a safe place to boat due to dams and potential hazardous-material leaks.
The river is a public and open river. The idea that a business or individual would request closing public property because its operations present hazards to the public is as ludicrous as me asking the highway department to close part of the four-lane highway I'm on due to structures I have across the road and harmful emissions my business might release accidentally or on purpose. Imagine the outrage if Appalachian Power Co. sought to have Interstate 81 at Troutville closed and rerouted due to its high-voltage lines that cross it.
The Jackson is the headwaters of Virginia's principal river, the James, and its waters' integrity is of vital importance to all citizens. The Jackson is for the use of all, not just for Westvaco.
Illegal use of our state's resources cannot be allowed. Legal uses, such as dams that Westvaco owns, place responsibility for safety on the owner, not the public. It falls on Westvaco to see that safe and easy transport around its legal structures is available at those structures, not at some distance upstream. No one should be allowed exclusive rights to public property.
Granting this request would be a step backward in opening and protecting our country's natural resources. I hope the corps won't let that happen.
GLENN ROSE James River Basin Canoe Livery, Ltd. LEXINGTON
'Handle with care' means just that
MONEY the U.S. Postal Service spent on a new logo should have been spent on improving service. I don't care about a logo. I'm just interested in getting my mail before dark and in good shape.
On three occasions I've had boxes and packages forced into my box, doing damage - the latest being a large, padded envelope marked priority mail and handle with care. The envelope was torn in several places, the box inside was damaged, and individually wrapped items were broken. Some I could glue together.
I called the post office and talked to the lady in charge. She said she was sorry for what had happened and said she'd talk to the driver. I then called the postmaster's office and talked to a lady who referred me to another lady. She also told me she was sorry and that she would check to see if the mailman could deliver such packages to the door. To get any credit for such a package, it would have had to be insured. I don't know of any business that wouldn't replace something broken, being it was their fault.
We not only have to pay outrageous postal rates (another increase coming soon), but we must pay insurance to make sure packages are delivered correctly.
NANCY S. WILLARD ROANOKE
One scruffed-up Senate seat for sale
IN LIGHT of the fact that both major political parties may be on the verge of nominating certified bozos for the U.S. Senate, I have a suggestion that would save Virginia further embarrassment and earn us some much-needed revenue.
Declare the seat for sale to that state that will offer us the largest sum of money. We wouldn't have to claim whatever or whomever the buying state offered up as its senator. We could get rich. But most important, we wouldn't have to hear from Chuck, the original bozo, or Ollie, the bozo wannabe, ever again.
Maybe they could get jobs doing damage control for the Clinton White House.
ANDREW W. McTHENIA JR. LEXINGTON
by CNB