ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611050002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THIS MONTH, 6.6 million Americans got a raise thanks to the increase in the minimum wage. They were earning below $4.75 an hour, working hard every day in our restaurants, day-care centers, offices and other workplaces.
Only one out of eight minimum-wage workers fits the stereotypical image of a suburban teen-ager flipping burgers to buy Nikes. In fact, 40 percent of people earning minimum wage support families on their meager checks. And they still won't be able to pull families above the poverty line.
Bill Clinton and the Democrats in Congress who proposed the minimum-wage hike deserve credit for tackling a big issue and winning for the people. Republicans like Sen. John Warner who voted against it should be held accountable for their decisions.
To build a better future America, however, the minimum wage needs to be linked to inflation or to average hourly wages instead of being left to congressional politics.
Over the past decade, workers have been taking home less and less. A young worker earns 25 percent less than his parents did after you adjust his paycheck for inflation. If we were going to have a minimum wage that met 1979 standards, the minimum would have to be raised to $7 an hour.
Economists argue that we lose jobs by raising the base pay, but the overwhelming majority of minimum-wage jobs would still be filled if we had a $7-an-hour minimum. The only difference would be that minimum-wage workers would finally be able to support their families above the poverty line. Thus, employers - instead of taxpayers - would be paying to support their employees.
The raise in the minimum wage was good. Now it's time to legislate a living wage for all workers.
LILA B. NESTER
MARTINSVILLE
Library may be stacked politically
CHECKING THE Bedford library as to the availability of ``Unlimited Access,'' by Gary Aldrich, I was told that the library didn't have the book and had no plans to get it. I was also told that there was a waiting list for the book, although it was unavailable. (Aldrich is a former FBI agent who was on White House duty.)
I made the same inquiry at the Roanoke library and was told it had four copies and a waiting list of more than 40 names.
Out of curiosity, I checked the Bedford library as to the availability of ``It Takes a Village '' by Hillary Clinton and was told that four copies were readily available.
Why is ``Unlimited Access,'' currently No. 3 on the nonfiction best-seller list determined not suitable for Bedford residents to read, but the Clinton book, with limited demand, is considered suitable?
Is there political censorship of books concerning the negative side of the Clinton White House?
BOB WILHELMS
HUDDLESTON
Former first lady had a lovely idea
HAVE YOU noticed the highway median strips and flower beds at the intersections this year? Do you know we have Lady Bird Johnson to thank for this idea?
So, thank you, Lady Bird, for thinking of this. And thanks to those all over the country for planting and maintaining the flowers that are making America even more beautiful.
EMILY HONTS
FINCASTLE
Encouraging kids to be freeloaders
REGARDING your Oct. 4 news article, "New welfare rules hardship for some":
I am disappointed that your newspaper often makes headlines of self-pitying, co-dependent adults. I was appalled that an article discussing these issues included no information about assistance available to young adults, such as free education (GED, etc.), job training, medical care, room and meals through the Job Corps, civil service or other options available for able-bodied adults. The Job Corps' toll-free number is included in every monthly Medicaid mailing that goes to a majority of food-stamp recipients.
If such ridiculous articles of misrepresentation continue to be written, you may want to include a photograph of 19-year-old adults sitting on their mothers' lap with pacifiers intact. Such a photograph will illustrate the articles' intent, which is to encourage able-bodied adults to continue to rely on government assistance instead of becoming self-reliant citizens.
KARLEE McCORMICK
TROUTVILLE
Assisted suicide is simply murder
ISN'T SUICIDE the act of killing oneself? As defined in Webster's dictionary, it is the act of killing oneself intentionally.
Doctors are licensed to heal and comfort the sick (as a Florida physician stated).
Faye Girsh, representing a right-to-die organization, opposed barring Medicaid funding from aided-suicide services. Why should Medicaid pay doctors to kill people? Let's face morality. Do we not know right from wrong? Isn't murder illegal?
Murder is the act of putting a person to death intentionally and unlawfully. It's wrong.
Girsh said that ``aided suicide should be like any other medical procedure that a patient and doctor decide upon.'' What happened to reality? Suicide is a person taking his or her own life with no assistance. Shouldn't we be leading our children into the proper moral direction?
I had a 1 percent chance of living following a car accident. I fought for my life. I live with chronic pain and other medical problems daily. Was assisted suicide or suicide the answer? Not on your life, and definitely not mine!
I struggled for three weeks in a coma and for two months being rehabilitated. Sometimes I would like to give up, but I know suicide is wrong, and aided suicide is murder.
Are we going to change the definition of reality, morality, suicide and murder? A doctor is defined as a person qualified to treat diseases or physical disorders. The definition does not include aided suicide.
DAVID E. KOHEN
ROANOKE
Unfair punishment for absentee dads
VIRGINIA has conducted a public-relations program to lay guilt on an already downtrodden group of individuals. The public, to be sure, has heard about the skyrocketing divorce rate and the atrocities that precipitated many of these divorces. Cartoons depicting male predators have been seen a thousand times over.
I will not dispute that there are children not being provided for by absentee parents. But there are also children who are being deprived by their custodial mothers of seeing their fathers. This is just as abusive as the noncustodial parent not paying support.
What about visitation and support? Allegedly, support isn't tied to visitation, even though visitation has been denied time after time to parents who may be unemployed for periods of time. Some are even thrown in prison. Social Services is more than ready to enforce support, but there is nothing structurally in place to assure that children can see their missing fathers.
There is an old saying: ``The most oppressed are usually the most silent.'' I will be silent no longer! Men aren't monsters, and most care for their children. A man who loses his job or livelihood doesn't automatically go to jail - if he is fortunate enough to still live in the same house as his children. What a barbaric system we have!
MICHAEL BLEVINS
ROANOKE
Symphony is now truly world-class
REGARDING THE Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's Oct. 21 concert:
Never mind that all the handicapped spots were taken and more are needed; never mind that the restrooms had lines to the door before the concert; never mind that one couldn't get through the lobby to get to one's seat; never mind the excess heat in the auditorium; never mind that the conductor lost his vest in the middle of the concert and didn't miss a beat as he tossed it to the floor.
Do mind the friendliness of the audience; that the concert started on time; the smiles all around; that there was no coughing or noises from the audience, only rapt attention. Do mind the superb horn, clarinet, trumpet, woodwind and trombone sections; a terrific string section headed by the best concertmaster around; that the percussion section is second to none. And do mind that all those on the stage were smiling and enjoying themselves as they put together an unforgettable performance.
And do mind that we now truly have a world-class symphony orchestra led by a world-class conductor. It's about time. Keep up the good work, David Wiley, et al.!
ANNA BENNETT
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 159 linesby CNB