THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506010016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Each day it is more apparent that another political party is needed for the 1996 presidential and congressional elections. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have done anything to eliminate ``Government for Sale'' lobbying and the PAC system.
The line-item veto falls far short of an effective way of eliminating spending on ``pork'' for special interests and horse-trading votes in both Houses of Congress. The so-called balanced budget by 2002 is too little and too late and fails to make adequate cuts in corporate perks, subsidies for agriculture, big business, military contractors and waste in government.
No mention is made by either party of the $5 trillion national debt which consumes more and more tax dollars in interest every year, even if we succeeded in having a balanced budget. The gap in income is becoming wider between the ``corporate elite'' and the vast majority of working men and women. Good jobs are being lost daily. The Wall Street Journal reports a new corporate layoff in almost every issue.
Health care appears destined to become big business for insurance companies and super HMOs putting patients and doctors last and profits first. The ``meat ax'' approach to environmental regulation, aid to education, regulation of unfair business practices and ignoring social justice is shortsighted and will ultimately be very costly.
The dollar continues to plunge, and we fail to develop any consistent economic policy. Free trade is a joke and has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs. Taxpayer money is used to compensate for bad loans by global bankers to corrupt foreign governments.
Neither party seems capable of dealing with these problems. The time has come for another party dedicated to government by and for the people. We may not have another chance.
E. ALFRED PICARDI
Belle Haven, May 30, 1995 by CNB