THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504070271
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Now that the right is patting itself on the back for taking care of the nation's problems, let's talk about what the politicians have left uncorrected.
Neither party is apparently going to correct the defects in the Veterans Administration system. Even Norman Sisisky declared in a conversation with me that ``The (VA) system will probably remain'' without any change.
A couple of years ago, an airman enlistee had an accident aboard an aircraft carrier. The Navy saw to his immediate medical needs and then discharged him without ever notifying his family that he had mental problems. He got into drugs and became a derelict on the streets of New York. This kind of unconcern has to stop.
The American people still believe that the military establishment will take care of its own. That is not the case.
Apparently Norman Sisisky is not going to introduce legislation to correct this. Neither are other politicians I have talked to, including Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Jim Oberstar of Minnesota and Larry Pressler of South Dakota.
All of them lack the mettle to represent the needs of the American people with necessary legislation to correct this problem.
Herbert R. Grogan
Kemet Road Blaming TV
Violence on television is not to blame for the problems of children today.
I think the problems start in the home. If a child does not have a family who knows right from wrong, then he will not learn right from wrong.
If something is shown on TV, it must be because it already exists on the street.
A TV show should be judged as a whole, not just the violent scenes.
Deyon E. Mills
St. Clair Drive Track lowers values
Recent letters and editorials about the proposed Suffolk stock car track miss the point: A noisy amusement center will lower property values for everyone within a seven-mile radius.
Northern Suffolk is not a ``remote area.'' There are 45,000 Suffolk citizens within hearing range of the proposed track. This proposed nuisance will make it harder for each of us to sell our homes.
I pay taxes, I vote and my home is an investment in Suffolk. My neighbors and I are not willing to take a loss on our homes so that some out-of-town or out-of-hearing-range people can be entertained at our expense.
No, I don't want the track in my back yard. If offers no substantive employment; strains our emergency services; forces the taxpayers to pay $2.2 million for the track's sewerage, water and access road; exempts Upton-Arnette Associates from $141,000 in rollback taxes; and lowers our property values.
The track is bad for Suffolk!
Martha George
Suffolk Getting protection
On the issue of teenagers getting abortions, I have strong feelings because I am a teenager myself.
My opinion on abortion is not a very positive one, but if they are legal, there is nothing I can do except suggest how we can lessen the numbers of abortions and the emotional stress that is involved with them.
I believe teenagers should have parental consent to have an abortion performed. Having to deal with the emotional pain involved with abortion is too much for a teenager to handle alone.
If teenagers decide to have sex, there is no one that is going to be able to stop them. The only way to keep teenagers from having abortions is to put the protection they need in the hands of both female and male teenagers.
Jamie E. Getz
Princess Anne Crescent by CNB