Thursday, July 31, 2008
Our leaders don't feel our pain from high prices
Our leaders don't feel our pain from high prices
Re: "Powerful prices" July 19 front page:
Our nation's leaders talk about our fuel addiction, as if the average taxpayer scoots around on jet planes. After our last Appalachian Power increase, I asked for competitive prices in the Bedford area. Appalachian indicated it could supply me with a list. Then, surprise! They wrote me stating that there are no competitors.
Can anyone say "monopoly"? I looked into getting solar panels. They would cost more than I paid for my home. Electric, gas and health care are the biggest rackets going -- just follow the money. What's left for food, clothing, taking care of your kids -- you know, the essentials?
The average citizen, the one who doesn't live in an ivory tower (or should I say a White House?) is having a hard time just living day to day. Do our leaders remember how the Boston Tea Party came about, why Marie Antoinette's head got chopped off or why the Roman Empire fell? So much for learning from history.
Do we need to go back to using candles, horse and buggy or maybe a witch doctor in order to survive? Wake up, America.
Food is essential; a cellphone isn't
After reading the article "More college students turn to food banks" (July 27 news story), I just had to respond. The price of gas and food is affecting everybody these days, but priorities need to be in place.
Which is more important, having money to buy food or having money to pay a cellphone bill? Sometimes we have to give up the little extras to pay for the necessities.
Power company isn't keeping trim
One or more of these statements are true:
n Appalachian Power has substandard, outdated equipment servicing the Boxley Hills area.
n Appalachian Power has substandard technicians servicing said equipment.
n Appalachian Power is negligent in keeping trees from encroaching on power lines.
I lived in Tornado Alley for 30 years. Our power would go out in storms maybe once every two or three years. Here, it goes out every time there is a thunderstorm. This is unacceptable.
It is unbelievable that Appalachian Power cannot keep the power on during even a brief and mild thunderstorm. It has squandered money that should have gone to upgrades as the power needs expanded.
It stretches credulity that one grid would be so susceptible without negligence on Appalachian's part. Also, it cannot blame trees, etc., as it is the company's responsibility to keep them away from the easement. Recent wind storms illustrate that Appalachian has been negligent in that capacity.
Appalachian Power may need to increase rates to cover fuel costs; fine, but it should not get one more cent unless and until it corrects the infrastructure it has neglected for so long.
Rein in the powers of the president, now
Congress should impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. If they are not impeached, the illegal powers they have seized will pass on to the next administration.
I want Barack Obama as president, but I don't want any president to have powers not granted him by the Constitution. Both houses of Congress need to stand up and preform the checks and balances required of them by our Constitution.
In this election year, don't call me
Here comes another year for those hopefuls wanting to get elected to political office, and the phone calls will not stop.
The best thing that ever happened is the Do Not Call list, but it does not keep the money-hungry candidates' offices from calling and begging for money. The Do Not Call invitation does not help; I was told they do not have to honor that wish.
I say they can honor the message, unless each candidate wants to give me money to pay my phone bill each month. Better yet, expand the Do Not Call list passed by Congress to include all forms of solicitation -- political and non-profit, as well.
As for this tramping on anyone's right, I have the right also to slam the phone in your ear.
Democratic senators are out of touch
Incredibly enough, with gas prices soaring, Democrats in the Virginia Senate, including our own Phil Puckett and John Edwards, recently voted for increasing the state gas tax every year through 2014. Unbelievable.
Gas is at $4 a gallon or more, and they want the price to go even higher?
After the largest tax increase in the state's history in 2004, Democrats in the Senate are apparently not satisfied. They want us to pay even more, and for gas.
Maybe the senators have lost touch with ordinary people. Maybe they and their elitist cronies have enough money to buy gas at any price, but we don't. Maybe we need some new thinking in Richmond, instead of those seeing a tax increase as the solution to every problem.
Thankfully, Republicans and others in the House of Delegates kept this absurd gas tax increase proposal from passing.
Roanoke needs rail convenient for riders
Passenger rail service in Roanoke would be wonderful. However, the letters regarding this idea forgot one important factor. When people fantasize about the ease of climbing on a train in Roanoke to head north or south, they seem to imagine some whimsical, convenient time they would board this train.
Unfortunately, if Amtrak returns to Roanoke to connect us to Lynchburg, one fact remains: The Crescent Line runs from New Orleans to New York through D.C. Lynchburg is on the Crescent Line. The train stops in Lynchburg at about 6 a.m. heading north and about 10 p.m. heading south. These times will not change.
So if Amtrak returns, a train would have to leave Roanoke at approximately 4:30 a.m. to reach Lynchburg and the Crescent Line and return to Roanoke at approximately 11:30 p.m. from the Crescent Line.
While I fully support the idea and would use the service, I don't think this time schedule is what most people have in mind when they hear about Roanoke regaining passenger rail service. The proposed Trans Dominion Express would solve this problem with more appropriate departure and arrival times.
Goodlatte forgets his constituents
When it happened is uncertain. Maybe it was in 2002, when he broke his promise to step down after six terms. Whenever, Rep. Bob Goodlatte of the 6th District has forgotten whom he works for.
A young man I know faced high bureaucratic hurdles in his attempt to get public records supporting his application for a photo ID. Goodlatte's advice? Try the family Bible. (Sen. Jim Webb, in contrast, helped the man get his ID.)
The Fincastle Herald reported in its Jan. 9 issue that a Botetourt resident, Debbie Williams Arthur, learned her name had somehow wound up on a Department of Homeland Security terrorist list. She appealed to her representative, Goodlatte. Arthur said the congressman told his secretary that this wasn't in his area of governance.
Such airy dismissals of needy constituents are a disgrace. In as much as Goodlatte will not honor his 1992 promise, voters should impose their own term limit. Vote for Sam Rasoul for Congress.
