Wednesday, February 27, 2008
There's nothing democratic about superdelegates
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There's nothing democratic about superdelegates
As I hear more and more about the superdelegates that were established back in the '70s, I am wondering if anyone else finds it offensive that 842 unpledged party leaders and figureheads -- people we, as voters, did not choose as delegates -- are at the ready to make the decision for us as to who is best to run for president.
If the Democrats are talking so much about change, this antiquated and undemocratic system, which can undermine the popular vote, needs to be the first thing to be reformed so that the people, not the party establishment, choose the candidate.
A vote for Hillary was a vote for McCain
Not so fast: The front page of the Feb. 14 Roanoke Times published a lead article gleefully proclaiming Virginia is blue-leaning because Democrats received a 2-1 majority of the primary votes cast.
Consider this: Polls show that Sen. McCain would fare better in November against Sen. Clinton, so many of the "blue" votes for Hillary were really votes for John McCain.
Since McCain has all but locked up the GOP nomination, Republicans voted for the Democrat most likely to lose to him in November. I know, because I was one of them.
Concealed guns in bars? Bad idea
As a former hunter and one who served in the military, I am familiar with the responsible use of firearms.
I will support Senate Bill 476 (to allow concealed carry where alcohol is served) only when all weapons come fully equipped with an integrated breath analyzer controlling the firing mechanism that monitors alcohol, drug and saliva (owner identification by tissue type molecules) to determine that the rightful owner is not chemically impaired.
To think that those who carry won't imbibe is both irresponsible and unrealistic. Has anyone seen any adults in the legislature this session?
'Danger' standard denies care to the ill
Regarding the Feb. 11 editorial "Reform with care":
The sick in Virginia are forced to wait until their condition deteriorates to the point of danger before outpatient medical care is accessible for a treatable medical condition. SB 246 rewords the current standard for care to "there exists a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness, the person will, in the near future, cause serious physical harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting or threatening harm, or suffer serious harm due to substantial deterioration of his capacity to protect himself from harm or to provide for his basic human needs."
The standard in SB 246 requires a person suffering from mental illness to become so sick he or she will probably cause harm. This bill requires evidence that harm will be caused based on the suffering person's recent behavior. If this becomes the new standard for care in Virginia, those suffering will be forced to behave in a manner causing, attempting or threatening harm before outpatient commitment treatment can be obtained.
This is cruel and inhumane punishment. Virginia policymakers should be ashamed of themselves. Remove danger criterion from the standard allowing access to care. Adopt Kendra's Law.
Remember who pays corporate income taxes
During recent campaign stops, Hillary Clinton has promised to help the poor and middle classes by increasing taxes on corporations in major industries such as oil, pharmaceuticals and insurance, among others. Clinton has even gone so far as to say, "People have been paying through the roof at the pump, and it's time the companies paid their fair share" when discussing oil company earnings reports.
What many voters do not realize is that these corporations Clinton wants to burden with higher tax liabilities do not actually pay income taxes. You see, before any business determines the price it will sell its product for, it determines how much the tax liability generated from the sale of said product will be. The business will then increase the cost of the product by the amount of the tax, and consequently passes the tax bill on to the consumer.
Remember, corporations do not pay taxes, their customers do.
The only way to level the playing field is through support of The FairTax Act. Please visit fairtax.org to learn more about the abolition of the IRS and withheld income taxes.
Don't make fun of people's disabilities
While checking out at a local grocery store the other day, the clerk was commenting about why she could no longer work at the checkout counter and was transferring to the back of the store. She explained that people made fun of her when she experienced the tics from her Tourette's syndrome, which would send her to the restroom crying.
This young lady is a bright and cheerful employee who is always eager to help and is to be admired for trying to live a normal life and earn a living with a disorder that has no cure and no medications that work for all.
According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, "Tourette's syndrome is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic".
I'm appalled that anyone would make fun of a person with disabilities. Shame on you.
Memorialize April 16 each week
Virginia Tech's Monday night candlelight service at the memorial for last year's shooting victims should be held every Monday night from now on. It should be required. That way, their memory could be kept on everyone's mind each week.
The media are doing a good job of keeping it alive, but more needs to be done.
A candlelight service each and every Monday night would do that.
Come on, Virginia Tech, and show your spirit.
It's up to smokers to quit if they want to
The Feb. 17 letter "How about some help for addicted smokers?" really made me sick. I smoked three packs of cigarettes a day when I quit, so I'm talking from experience. I also feel like this was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.
It's time the American people pull up the bootstraps and take responsibility for what they have brought on themselves. We all can point a finger at other people or the government, but when you point a finger, you have three fingers pointing back at you.
Why do people think that every time they make a personal choice -- smoking, gambling, drinking, drugs -- taxpayers should be responsible for the cost? Please, people, let's pull up our bootstraps and take responsibility for our own actions.
The irresistible pull of self-indulgence
My thanks to Devan Malore for his poignant commentary "Bigger isn't better" (Feb. 17). It is nice to see one's own sentiments so accurately expressed, and by someone who has worked and presumably made a lot of money in the construction industry.
Unfortunately, it seems the "build it and they will come" philosophy works only too well in a hyper-individualist, hyper-consumerist ownership society. The power of capitalism and the irresistible potential for many to make a lot of money building and subsequently selling monumental examples of affluence simply isn't going to go away.
I imagine there will be those who say it isn't fair for Malore to have made so much money in construction and then tell other people they shouldn't do so. It is hoped that a collective common sense can prevail somehow so that people come to agree that it is not in the best interests of everyone to accommodate such a self-indulgent and wasteful "pursuit of happiness."
As implied by Malore, I think it is possible the root of all this is the oil-based economy and an infrastructure shaped for the convenience of the motor vehicle and semi-trailer.
