ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 9, 1996 TAG: 9609090107
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
OUR SEEMING willingness to invest $103 million (what project ever happened at projected cost?) in the ``smart road'' and to change forever the beautiful Ellett Valley suggests some very questionable assumptions about our current and future needs.
It's as if we believe our growing transportation needs will continue to be met by most of us driving our own automobiles.
With current issues of convenience and safety fueling arguments for further investment of resources and sacrifice of more countryside, it's time to examine alternatives that focus on quality of life, realistic assessment of sustainable technologies and the application of creative innovations blended with some time-tested, currently successful technologies.
We pay highly educated people well to provide enlightened leadership in addressing our changing needs. I see capitulation to the private-automobile culture, with its attendant profit-driven industries doing what corporations are expected to do: focus on the bottom line.
That's their job, but our educated leaders have a greater responsibility to society.
We entrust them with the task of seeing beyond the bottom line, questioning proposals with regard to sustainability and overall impact, and protecting society at large from short-term gain by the few at the expense of present and future generations.
It's time to invest in mass transit.
There are numerous successful examples of mass transit in the world today to provide inspiration and data. Let's investigate sustainable alternatives, not invest in more of the same.
DAN CRAWFORD
ROANOKE
A revolt may be in the making
FOR SOME time now, I have been listening to people complain about welfare, and how there are many people in this country who are lazy and won't work.
I am not saying we should make excuses for these people. However, I believe the truth (if we are willing to admit it) is that certain minorities have not had, and still don't have, equal opportunity in this country.
I am of the opinion that there are many companies that won't hire minorities or at least won't hire a representative share of the minority population. Of course, there are minorities who have worked their way into positions of authority and influence. However, they don't properly represent their group's proportion of the population.
If we, the working majority, are going to complain about welfare and the people who are on welfare, and then not provide all people equal access to this country's resources and jobs, we are setting the stage for a terrible revolt.
ART DICKENS
ROANOKE
Teens will still get cigarettes
ABOLISH cigarette machines? What a joke. Teen-agers will still get cigarettes from friends or bootleggers.
Just like drugs. If they want anything that's illegal, it will be gotten. Just like moonshine liquor and prostitution, which have been around in Roanoke for as far back as I can remember. As long as you have the money, what you want is there.
The plan to abolish cigarette machines will only hurt the owners and operators of the machines, the farmers who grow tobacco and the cigarette companies that employ people.
Nobody twists the arms of teens to make them smoke, drink or do drugs. It's the responsibility of the parents to teach their children right from wrong.
Parents, don't blame anyone else if your children do wrong. It's up to you to teach them.
SUTTIE ECONOMY
ROANOKE
Clinton has not earned voters' trust
BOB DOLE does not have Bill Clinton's way with words, and that is only one of Bob Dole's virtues.
The art of politics is not the art of seduction and deception. The directness of Dole's speeches and his answers to questions suggest the depth of his convictions. The extravagant promise is not for him.
``The government,'' Dole said, ``cannot direct the people; the people must direct the government.'' This statement shows that Dole trusts Americans. And Americans can trust Bob Dole.
Bill Clinton entered office promising ``the most ethical administration in the history of the Republic.''
Most dubious situations involving the Clinton administration have been categorized by the president as a ``snafu,'' which is a slang term often used in the military. Had he spent any time in the military (except to employ his commander-in-chief defense against Paula Jones), Clinton would have known the definition of that euphemism, and he would never have applied it to himself, et al. These situations are ``normal'' in his administration.
Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a president whose conduct didn't debase his office?
CAROLYN GREEN
BLACKSBURG
LENGTH: Medium: 96 linesby CNB