Monday, May 28, 2007
The trickledown hurt of higher gas prices
Letters to the Editor
Recent letters to the editor
- Letters: A home-school mom pays taxes, too
- Pick of the day: Home-schoolers reject public schools
- Pick of the day: Passing the buck won't stop abuse
- Letters archive
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
The trickledown hurt of higher gas prices
I have never had a letter to the editor published before. Unfortunately, even if this letter is published, I will be unable to read it.
Alas, I must discontinue my subscription to The Roanoke Times effective immediately. In the future, I will use the money that I had budgeted for my subscription to purchase one-third (or less) of a tank of gas for my family's minivan.
I guess that our president, the oil companies and all the financial analysts were wrong. Now that the price of gasoline has topped the $3 per gallon mark, I can no longer afford to commute to work and enjoy the luxuries of life.
I imagine that unless the price of gasoline significantly declines (or incomes significantly increase), there will be fewer subscriptions, memberships, restaurant meals, vacations and other luxuries for everyone.
Please use your newspaper's influence to inform our leaders that the excessive price of gasoline will hurt us all. Indeed, as I can no longer afford to subscribe to your fine newspaper, it has already hurt my family -- and yours.
Build a permanent marker with Hokie Stone
For the 32 Hokies who were killed on April 16 at Virginia Tech, a "Hokie Stone" memorial should be built as an everlasting reminder.
According to Tech's description of a Hokie Stone, it is a "Chepultepec and Kingsport Formation dolomite ... a variety of limestone especially rich in calcium and magnesium."
The local quarried stone comes in colored variations such as "pink, red, gray, brown and black."
Tragedy knows no creed, nationality or race. The varied colors of stone represent those who perished -- their creeds, their nationalities and their race.
The campus is now hallowed ground. How appropriate that there is a temporary memorial with individual "Hokie Stones" on the drillfield near Burruss Hall. A permanent memorial should be built on the campus with "Hokie Stone." Perhaps using the VT logo?
Here's an amendment worthy of adoption
During the recent debate among Republican presidential hopefuls, two of three items commonly proposed as constitutional amendments were raised: abortion and same-sex marriage. Flag-burning was overlooked.
I suggest here that few who are consumed by these issues can define life, sex or the object that is not to be burned.
Instead of these, in my estimation ill-defined issues, I propose the following as a potential constitutional amendment:
"Congress shall pass no resolution nor enact any law transferring to the Executive or Judicial branches of government any power or responsibility accorded it within the body of this Constitution."
Constitutional amendments require time, as they should; therefore, I propose the following as an immediate congressional resolution:
"Any Act that transfers Congressional power to the Executive branch shall be entitled: "Enabling Act of [date]."
This simple, declarative title removes the emotional, promotional, Madison Avenue-style now employed.
It is also a reminder of the Enabling Act by which the German Reichstag transferred its authority to Adolf Hitler. That act was to be reviewed in four years. Power once granted can move with incredible speed.
Electric customers deserve money refunds
While I am grateful for the Appalachian Power Co. refund (May 16 news article, "State cuts into power company's rate"), it seems that the customers are still receiving the butt end of the deal.
We aren't allowed to pay our electric bill with a note attached to the check stating that we will pay it in part over a course of several months and still keep our lights on. But the company returns money that we overpaid as a credit to our account. What is up with that?
They received money, and it is my opinion that we should be refunded money.
One isolated stabbing does not signal trouble
In response to J.C. Oneil's May15 letter to the editor "Valley View ignores thuggish behavior":
As a frequent visitor to the Valley View Mall area, I strongly disagree with Oneil's portrayal of the mall as a "gangster/thug paradise." To me, these words would suggest a bloody, drug-filled war zone.
I've shopped at Valley View for most of my 21 year life, and I've never had to dodge gunfire or push away crack dealers.
One isolated stabbing should not scare us away from a great shopping center.
Don't lose that Roanoke feeling
No place like it. I love the vendors on the City Market. There are also intriguing venues downtown -- restaurants, retail, galleries. Many of them, one-of-a-kind gems.
The architecture is breathtaking, incorporating beautiful elements from the past.
I can enjoy activities that I could in a much larger city, but with that decidedly hometown feeling. I can have dinner and drinks with friends and family, dance, then stop to listen to a musician and a vocalist singing on the street.
I love Roanoke, but many of the things that have occurred in the city over the past few years have broken my heart because if I wanted to be in Atlanta, I would go to Atlanta.
I want to feel like I'm in Roanoke. Roanoke is not a Mayberry, but it shouldn't be an Atlanta either.
The people who live and vote in the city need to take control of the city. Democracy doesn't happen behind closed doors.
Keep the things that are Roanoke and be wary of incorporating "draws" that just turn into locations for fifth-grade field trips or making Roanoke someplace else.
If it isn't broke, why break it?
Cartoon shows lack of respect for the dead
I am writing to express my disgust at The Roanoke Times for publishing the cartoon by Cam Cardow that featured the Rev. Jerry Falwell and the Teletubby (May 21 Opinion page).
It was completely tasteless to begin with, but as a part of the western Virginia family, it was without dignity.
As a future Liberty University student, I find this a completely offensive attack on a great and honest man. Show some respect for the dead and their family.
The Times takes the low road
Your May 16 editorial "Falwell's judgment day" concerning the passing of the Rev. Jerry Falwell brings to mind two words -- mean-spirited and low-rent.
It never ceases to amaze me that when given a choice between the high road or the low road, The Roanoke Times always manages to take the low road (especially when dealing with conservative figures).
Your mean-spirited, ill-timed editorial illustrates the bias that your newspaper shows on a daily basis. Talk about judging people, what is it that you think you do everyday in your newspaper?
Stating that his university tended towards indoctrination, what do you think 95 percent of the universities in this country do with their left-leaning, liberal-spouting professors?
Conservative-leaning students are constantly complaining about being treated unfairly and their opinions being ridiculed by those professors.
I was not a follower of Falwell, although living in this area for the past few years has made me aware of him, but common decency should have prevailed.
The Times could have waited a few days to tear into Falwell. By pouncing on him the very next day after his death showed that your rag has no class.
