www.roanoke.com

We can't let the Iraq war bleed the U.S. dry

We need to be careful of measuring "victory" in Iraq with a military yardstick. The Iraqis are proud people who resent outsiders trying to impose their values upon them.

The reason things are better under Gen. David Petraeus is he is smart enough to factor in a delicate balance of cultural, religious and social elements to help the Iraqis get better control of their own country. It isn't just a matter of more troops.

The Iraqis need us now, but if we stay too long it will go sour.

Although the rising price of gas is mainly driven by a supply/demand imbalance, President George Bush's Iraq war has aggravated the problem. By borrowing and spending to finance an unnecessary war, the value of the dollar has plummeted. Since petroleum is pegged to dollars, the lower the value of the dollar the higher the price of gas.

The primary reason we must end the war is to avoid bleeding ourselves dry financially, thus permanently weakening our nation. Osama bin Laden then won't need to attack us; the neocons will have done the job for him.

Salem doesn't welcome editorial views

Re: "Salem should support retail development," July 28 editorial:

Just a note to let you know the citizens of Salem have elected our council members to make the necessary decisions regarding our city. Your input and opinion is not wanted or needed.

Come around on health care

In a July 27 letter, Greg Brizendine, an "ultra-conservative Republican who believes in strong family values," complained about the failure of our medical system to provide needed medications for his mother ("America's medical system puts profits over patients").

Unfortunately, thousands of American families are similarly affected, finding no relief in ultra-conservative policies of the Republican administration. I believe in strong family values that include extending a helping hand to less fortunate Americans struggling to meet basic needs.

However, a common Republican mindset -- "I made it on my own, so can you" -- focuses intently on big business, great wealth and reduced taxes. One need only look to the obscene profits of powerful drug and oil companies to see the consequences.

That mindset also accepts adding nearly a trillion dollars to the national debt for a questionable foreign war and its reconstruction consequences, but opposes spending a fractional amount for basic health care and other critically needed domestic programs.

Rejecting those distortions, every American should willingly endorse national health care, even at the cost of additional taxes. It's time to add "charity begins at home" to Republican values and tone down the mindless anti-tax mantra of ultra-conservatives.

Pay for dental work instead of tattoos

Re: "Health care road show," July 26 front page:

After looking at the arms of the young man waiting for a dental exam in the picture, I cannot help but ask: If he was so worried about his or his wife's dental health, why didn't he spend his money on dental care instead of all those tattoos?

I guarantee you the dental work would have been cheaper than the tattoos and would have hurt a lot less. Kind of like seeing a person using food stamps for a steak and then cash for a lottery ticket or cigarettes.

Cut the politics and work on energy

Re: "Warner has a workable energy strategy," July 25 letter:

Joe Sheffey says experts have said offshore drilling wouldn't reveal results until 2030. What experts? Some experts have said it would bring results much quicker, say, in one or two years.

Any good-thinking person should realize if we produce the oil needed here, it would eliminate millions of dollars going to our so-called good friends in support of terrorists.

I agree we should clamp down on oil speculators and develop renewable sources. If our representatives would eliminate partisan politics and work for the people who put them in office, we would see some real results.

Once neutered, feral cats are no problem

Re: "Don't release feral cats back onto the streets," June 30 letter:

Most feral cats that have been spayed or neutered and given rabies and distemper vaccinations are leading content, healthy and unobtrusive lives in places where neighbors accept their presence and, in many cases, are grateful for them.

The benefit is that the colonies often control rodent populations. Where there has been progeny, these are adopted out at a young age and easily become desirable pets. The solution of TNR (Trap Neuter Return) is praised and increasingly employed in many cities and towns in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Euthanization has its place in the case of extreme animal suffering. But to recommend it in the case of cats that are victims of abandonment but are leading enjoyable, harmless lives certainly seems to be a mistaken and unnecessary solution to what may be seen as a problem.

Why should these animals have to pay with their lives for those who refuse to have their pets "fixed" when responsible organizations, like the Angels of Assisi, will do this at little cost? I hope the time will come when spaying and neutering is a condition of adoption.

Researcher shows vaccine-autism link

Anyone who wants the truth on vaccines and the autism epidemic should familiarize himself with Dr. David Ayoub's research. Ayoub has a lecture titled "Mercury, Autism and the Global Vaccine Agenda." He will leave you speechless as he refers to more than 1,500 published, scientific peer reviews that have established a clear link between vaccines and autism.

This video and other information from Ayoub can be found at tinyurl.com/5vpzlm. Ayoub will clearly demonstrate his research to support a connection between autism and vaccines.

Let's also not forget that the federal government recently conceded that vaccines can cause autism. Also this link will demonstrate that mercury is still found in at least 10 vaccines: www.vaccinesafety.edu/ thi-table.htm.

Obama lost my vote in Berlin

My 10th presidential election is totally unlike any of the past nine. With the embarrassing exception of Jimmy Carter in '76, I have always voted for the conservative who, not coincidentally, has always been Republican. But this year is different.

"Maverick" Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, is often a thorn in the side of true conservatism. This would have been an excellent year to punish the Republican Party for its steady march leftward by casting my vote for a Democrat. There doesn't seem to be much to lose because McCain will probably move even farther to the left to accommodate a likely veto-proof Democratic Congress.

But then came Sen. Obama's Berlin speech, in which he proclaimed himself a "citizen of the world." He wants to tear down the walls between "the countries with the most and those with the least" and between "natives and immigrants."

As much as I would like to punish the Republican Party, it looks like I'll be forced to hold my nose and vote for McCain as the lesser of two evils. As Bob the Dinosaur of the comic strip "Dilbert" might say, "Darn the Republican Party to heck!"