Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 21, 1995 TAG: 9503210116
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
He attributes the inability to buy a house to taxes which ``create salaries and retirements for people too lazy to work.'' Although I recognize those individuals who choose not to work and would rather live using government funding, I'm a bit more optimistic than Lamb concerning the human nature of most Americans. While living in a country whose judicial system operates on the premise of ``innocent until proven guilty,'' I believe society is obligated to similarly consider the plight of those individuals who require government assistance for survival.
I'm a 25-year-old chemical engineer. Approximately 40 percent of 18- to 25-year-old Americans working at least 40 hours per week are still living in poverty. This is due (in part) to low-paying minimum wage salaries and escalating higher education costs, which place higher paying jobs out of their grasp. Does our national system facilitate the betterment of these young Americans?
Furthermore, I disagree with Lamb's supposition that the number of us doing ``hard and dirty work'' is declining. Instead, I believe this number is increasing. Salaries being paid for this work is so low that we don't see a significant contribution to national earnings.
LISA BROWN
PULASKI
Bashing welfare solves no problems
IN RESPONSE to Denna S. Bayse's Feb. 25 letter to the editor (``Tooling around on welfare'') about welfare recipients being allowed to own a vehicle worth up to $7,500:
Does she actually believe Social Services writes a check to recipients for $7,500? She's right - she is clueless and needs the facts about welfare before she assumes anything.
Taxpayers want recipients to work, but don't want them to own a decent car for transportation or to pay them a decent wage to support their families. Somehow the public feels the poor aren't worthy of basic necessities. The bulk of available work is part time or temporary with no benefits.
Bayse should go to the Department of Social Services and learn how the system works before making judgments. Better yet, get involved in community service, work with these people, and learn about their lives. If anyone needs a reality check, Bayse and people like her do. Getting involved in ignorant, mouthy, welfare-bashing politics doesn't work. Getting the facts and being involved with people does.
KIMBERLY Q. RATCLIFFE
RADFORD
Thomas provides regional leadership
DEL. VIC Thomas must be complimented for assuming the leadership role in a comprehensive study of educational museums and the appropriate level of public support they are provided. Democrats and Republicans alike signed on in 1993 as patrons of House Joint Resolution No. 453 authorizing this study.
In addition to Thomas, Sens. Brandon Bell and Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, Dels. Richard Cranwell and Clifton Woodrum and former Del. Steve Agee all considered this an excellent idea for our region, even though it has proved to be a very complex mission.
We need legislators with courage to tackle difficult tasks, and Thomas is a perfect example of such a legislator. His concern for our region's health and vitality should please those desiring the very best for the Roanoke Valley.
SANDY LIGHT
ROANOKE
Scheduling change is supported
I'D LIKE to clarify the stand of Christiansburg High School's Parent-Teacher-Student Association on block scheduling.
The executive board of the PTSA voted on Feb. 20 to support the proposed block scheduling with exceptions. Our concerns were presented to the Montgomery County School Board on March 7.
The exceptions are:
Training for teachers before implementating this program. To keep students interested during four 90-minute sessions every day, teachers will have to continually be innovative and imaginative. They must be given, and take the opportuity to receive, training before embarking on this major change.
Guidance counselors are to make sure that student schedules are balanced each semester. This means that counselors must work very closely with each student, and personally review each schedule to ensure the balance occurs.
Modifications are provided for the fine arts program to ensure its current level of high standards that we've grown accustomed to expecting. Diminishing any fine arts program should be avoided.
The PTSA supports the concept and ideas behind the proposed blocking, but believes there are questions yet to be completely answered. With time, they may all be worked out in our students' best interests.
CONNIE LOWE
Parent-Teacher-Student Association President
Christiansburg High School
CHRISTIANSBURG
Museum is area's beacon for visitors
RAY GARLAND is an astute and very articulate observer of Virginia politics, and his Feb. 23 column (``The culture vultures sacked Allen's game plan'') was right on target. Virginia's historical and cultural organizations and attractions do have their active constituencies who will make certain that any available financial support will be cultivated and protected - including state funds.
However, he was outside the boundary of his cerebral habitat to be capable of judging so negatively the value of these institutions as community and educational assets, and their accountability for public funds. Virginia requires and receives detailed financial information from these organizations, including independent audits from most. So long as they're charitable and nonprofit, elaborate reports go each year to the Internal Revenue Service for public inspection.
I guess it was kind of him to mention Historic Crab Orchard Museum, even though we're simply his example of how obscure, or perhaps trivial, some museums seem to be, at least to him.
We're a 13-year-old comprehensive museum and reconstructed historic settlement devoted to the heritage and culture of Southwestern Virginia, two hours drive from Roanoke on U.S. 460. Our intriguing name comes from the nationally registered archaeological site on which we sit. Two-thirds of our modest budget comes from memberships, donations and admissions, all of which are growing. Visitation in 1994 was up 22 percent over 1993, and 64 percent over two years ago. Tazewell County ranks in the upper half of Virginia counties in terms of tourism expenditures and payroll, and we're its only organized tourist attraction.
We have quite a number of members and friends in the Roanoke area. We take interactive living-history programs to public schools from Bristol to Blacksburg as part of our educational mission. I invited Garland to become a museum member, or at least to visit us and see for himself an example of what regular people, not culture vultures, are doing to help off-the-beaten-path communities across Virginia.
ROSS WEEKS JR.
Director, Historic Crab Orchard Museum
TAZEWELL
Abortion's violence breeds violence
I WANT to point out that violence at abortion clinics is caused by the violence of abortion itself. Why do people bomb and shoot at these places? Because they are mentally unbalanced, and the realization of what actually goes on in an abortion clinic - the piece-by-piece dismemberment of a living unborn child - is enough to drive an unbalanced person like John Salvi over the brink.
Pro-abortion advocates should take time to ponder the true source of the violence at clinics.
MANLEY LOMBARD
WILLIAMSVILLE
Toddlers see, toddlers do
I'M WRITING to express my anxiety concerning a graphic in your March 5 newspaper. It shows a child's hand holding a set of keys attempting to insert one into an electrical outlet. The outlet is covered with a safety cap, although a small child viewing this wouldn't notice or be able to read the accompanying text. Since the Heloise column is printed in the Comics section, many kids will see this graphic. I fear some may try to emulate what they ``saw in the funnies.''
I ask that you and your staff choose your illustrations carefully, sensitive to the fact that they'll be seen by many pre-schoolers.
CHRIS LANE
VINTON
by CNB