ROANOKE TIMES  
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996               TAG: 9601120070
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-10  EDITION: METRO  
                                             TYPE: LETTERS  

WELFARE SYSTEM IS A FAILURE

PRESIDENT Clinton, in his threatened veto of the House and Senate's proposed seven-year balanced budget, has accused Republicans of being tough on children. Is it tough on children to get them off a system that enslaves them to a life of poverty and total dependence on government? Is it tough to encourage a family to be responsible for providing for its own? Is it tough to ask fathers to live up to their God-given responsibility for supporting the mother of their child?

I question the sincerity of Clinton's concern about the welfare of children in one breath, when in the next breath he is in favor of the daily murdering of children through abortion. Is it good of children to be killed in their mother's womb? Can bitter and sweet both flow from the same fountain?

Has the Democratic welfare system started under President Johnson in the '60s reduced poverty, improved the quality of life, and helped families to stay together and become self-sufficient?

I thank God for freshmen senators and representatives who have been willing to make a stand against the governmental establishment that has produced the debt that has been out of control for the past 35 years.

CHARLES LAWRENCE

RINER

Clinton looks out for `little people'

REGARDING the dilemma of the federal employees:

Having been retired less than a year from the federal system, I want my former co-workers to know that I support them wholeheartedly!

It appears to me these people are being used like pawns in a chess game. Their paychecks were taken away, and they had no money to meet their obligations. Meanwhile, the senators and representatives were still drawing big salaries. Members of Congress make the laws, but why not take away their paychecks?

There are those who blame President Clinton, but he's basically looking out for the little man's interest - namely, Medicare and Social Security. There are so few people who are interested in helping the little people. I applaud him on his stand.

Newt Gingrich and the rest of the bureaucrats need to give us a balanced budget that we all can live with!

ELEANOR H. WATSON

ROANOKE

Republicans mimic terrorists' tactics

``GOVERNMENT jobs held hostage'' should be the headline in every newspaper in the United States. Those involved in hostage situations in other countries are called rebels or terrorists! Are the Republicans in Congress so adamant about proving they can beat the president that they're resorting to tactics used by terrorists?

In the past when we've had a Democrat-controlled Congress, the government may not have been in the best shape. However, differences with Republican presidents were worked out, not at the expense of Americans. Recently, the Senate wanted to put federal employees back to work with pay, but the House wanted to keep its leverage to make a point.

I hope the American public remembers on Election Day what happened when Republicans were placed in charge of the government. What a sad time for the United States.

KAREN ROBERTSON

ROANOKE

Goodlatte's dubious distinction

WHICH Virginia congressman has a ``perfect'' record of voting against family planning and abortion rights, and has voted against these issues 42 percent more often than even Newt Gingrich during the past two years? Congressman Bob Goodlatte, that's who.

Goodlatte has voted to ban fetal-tissue research, deny contraceptive services to poor women and their families, and prohibit the health department from counseling pregnant women on all pregnancy options. He has voted against federal legislation to prevent blockades at reproductive health centers. He voted for measures that deny Medicaid funding for rape and incest victims seeking abortions. He voted to keep women serving overseas in the armed forces from obtaining abortions with their own funds at military hospitals.

Some people believe women should be denied abortions, even if forcibly raped; that poor mothers should be denied access to contraceptive services; and fetal tissue should never be used to treat (and possibly cure) Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, diabetes and other deadly diseases. If you're one of those people, Goodlatte is your man.

JENNI NOLEN

ROANOKE

LENGTH: Medium:   87 lines