THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
I watched the House of Representatives on CSPAN the other evening as it debated the merits of the revised Continuing Resolution. I was especially moved by Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., when she spoke on behalf of furloughed federal workers and described the devastating effects that the recent government shutdown was having in Colorado.
Her report of the critically low levels of blood in the Colorado blood banks was especially disconcerting. I didn't know that federal workers' blood drives accounted for so much of the total blood supply. This may be a problem in other states. Because of the potential for disaster, I am submitting the following suggestions to increase the supply of blood in the various state blood banks:
1. Pass another tax law and make paying in blood an alternative. President Clinton's last tax increase came close to doing that anyway. Make it a tax only on the rich; that's fair, they already have more of everything else. Use the Democrats' definition of rich: ``Anybody that has more than you is rich.''
2. Send our soldiers to be peacekeepers in Bosnia. The ones that don't want to give their blood in Bosnia could have the option of giving it in their home state.
3. Siphon the blood out of aborted babies so it doesn't go to waste. The National Organization of Women or Planned Parenthood could co-sponsor this program.
I hope these ideas are accepted in the same spirit of public service and concern which they are offered.
TOM SHEMA
Virginia Beach, Nov. 19, 1995 by CNB