ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THE DEMOCRATS and Republicans have abandoned the basic principles of freedom, individual liberty and limited government on which our nation was founded. The evil that exists in socialist countries exists in America today.
Government schools, progressive taxation, welfare, economic and monetary regulations, gun control and government health care, to name a few, make up the socialist welfare state afflicting us today. The Democrats' and Republicans' war on poverty only encourages more people to qualify as poor. Their war on drugs has made drugs more profitable, and has dramatically increased crime.
Republicans have abandoned the moral and philosophical principles that once formed the basis of conservative philosophy. Now, instead of advocating repeal of socialist programs, they only cry ``reform'' or campaign for public office, attempting to run them. The Republican ``revolution'' has been anything but that. After all their promises to abolish socialist programs, not even an attempt has been made.
Vote for a Libertarian revolution. Vote to get us back to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Vote for Libertarians Jay Rutledge for Congress and Harry Browne for president of the United States.
LARRY HUNT
CATAWBA
Clinton violated the public trust
WHEN BILL Clinton entered the White House, he promised ``the most ethical administration in the history of the republic.''
His administration has continually demonstrated an integrity gap and a disregard for ethical behavior that has betrayed the public trust and cheapened the presidency itself.
Consider Whitewater, Filegate, Cattlegate, Travelgate, and now allowing an Indonesian family to buy presidential access and influence our elections in exchange for illegal contributions to the Democratic National Committee. More than 30 Clinton officials have been investigated, fired or forced to resign because of ethical issues.
Most people reading my letter would agree that they want ethical and honest elected officials for our children to admire. If you agree with this, how could you vote for Clinton after four years of continual corruption?
He has violated our trust in public officials. We cannot afford four more years of Bill and Hillary's grip on the White House. With the help of the people, Bob Dole will restore trust and honor to the office of president of the United States.
MICKEY MIXON
ROANOKE
Must all be Christians?
IN RESPONSE to Elaine P. McCauley's Oct. 8 letter to the editor, ``Christian candidates must be elected'':
Her letter has me a bit puzzled on several points. Is she suggesting that a Jewish or Buddhist candidate would have no morals, character, integrity, honor or ethics? I wasn't aware that these attributes were solely Christian ideals, or that it was prerequisite for Christians to be against such things as abortion and gay marriages.
Haven't I heard somewhere the phrase ``separation of church and state''?
RAYMOND WILLIAMS
ROANOKE
Goodlatte claim lacks credibility
AFTER SEEING Rep. Bob Goodlatte's recent TV ad, it's apparent the congressman with more credibility headed back to Palm Springs.
For Goodlatte to claim his votes have been ``good'' for jobs and families exposes either a distorted view of what's good for working families or an outright deception of his voting record.
In the past two years, Goodlatte voted not to exempt child-labor and minimum-wage laws from the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act; voted to slash funding to enforce workplace-safety protections and job-training programs; voted to allow corporations to raid employee pension funds; forced hundreds of Salem Veterans Affairs hospital employees to work without paychecks during the Christmas season of 1995; voted to cut Medicare funding by $270 billion; voted against the increase in minimum wage; voted to eliminate minimum-wage and 40-hour workweek protections for some employees; and voted to allow employers to pay overtime earnings in compensatory time instead of cash. The only jobs and families his votes have been ``good'' for are the CEOs'.
It's time to replace Goodlatte with someone who understands firsthand the issues working families of the 6th District face. Send Jeff Grey to Congress!
VALERIE R. MAY
THAXTON
Goodlatte's proven record
IF EDUCRAT union boss Gary Waldo's letter to the editor (Oct. 20, ``Goodlatte's record is anti-children'') were a term paper, he would get an ``F'' for failure to get his facts straight. The fact is, Bob Goodlatte has a proven voting record when it comes to educating our children.
Our congressman voted to increase student loans by 50 percent while increasing Pell Grant awards to the highest level in history. He protected much-needed funds for Head Start. Goodlatte has supported a focus on key fundamentals like reading, writing, math and science instead of trendy educational fads. He knows a key to improving education is making our schools safer and school discipline stronger.
Union boss Waldo's real reason for launching such a negative, distorted attack on Goodlatte is simple: He wants Washington and Richmond bureaucrats running our children's education and our local schools. Goodlatte trusts local parents and teachers.
DAVID SUBLETT
ROANOKE
Clinton's stands show character
BOB DOLE tells us ``you can trust Bob Dole,'' implying, of course, that you cannot trust President Clinton. Lacking vision, Dole needs to rely on the so-called character issue, plus the candy-store gimmick of a 15 percent tax reduction. Both are on flimsy ground. Frankly, I am a bit skeptical of any politician who is quick to announce that he has ``character'' and ``integrity'' while his opponent lacks these attributes.
And what about the matter of trust? Can I trust Dole?
Yes, I expect that I could trust him to try to roll back environmental regulations to take us back 30 years. We know what happens when control rests with the states. Right now, Virginia is a good example of why we need to continue, enforce and improve federal environmental laws. Rivers and air do not know about state boundaries.
I could probably trust Dole to fight sensible attempts at gun registration like the Brady Bill and bans on assault weapons. I would expect Dole to push for that ill-advised waste of enormous sums of our money on a reactivated ``Star Wars'' program.
Yes, I would also trust him to seriously consider, or not oppose, Republican attempts to degrade our national parks and public lands through increased logging, mining, drilling for oil and privatizing.
In his long service as senator, has Dole made contributions to our society and government? Of course. Is Clinton free of flaws? Of course not. Has Clinton made some decisions with which I disagree? Yes. But in standing up to the tobacco industry, the National Rifle Association and the blackmail attempt by the Republican Congress in shutting down the government, Clinton has clearly demonstrated character and courage.
MICHAEL J. FUREY
BLACKSBURG
More, please, like Goodlatte
THE DIFFERENCE couldn't be clearer between Congressman Bob Goodlatte and his opponent, union organizer Jeff Grey.
Grey offers nothing but personal attacks, nay-saying, resentment, fear and falsehoods. He's simply running a cookie-cutter campaign, with his big-labor bosses in Washington, D.C., pulling the strings.
Goodlatte has a proven record of accomplishment on behalf of our families. On the Judiciary Committee, he's helped lead the crackdown on violent crime. He got through Congress his own anti-counterfeiting bill that protects public safety by increasing penalties for those who produce or sell fake car and plane parts and counterfeit food products. He has worked tirelessly to help families and small businesses caught in government red tape or bureaucracy. He's helped bring thousands of jobs to the Roanoke Valley.
We are proud to have someone like Goodlatte representing us. He's the kind of good, solid person that we need more of in Washington.
MIKE MEADOR
FINCASTLE
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