Monday, September 29, 2008
Virginia needs to wait until the state has money for the rail yard
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Virginia needs to wait until the state has money for the rail yard
In response to a news article in the Sept. 16 paper, "August revenues continue to fall, more state cuts planned," Gov. Tim Kaine has asked agencies to prepare to cut 5 to 15 percent. How is Kaine going to come up with the millions Norfolk Southern wants to build the intermodal rail yard in Elliston?
The railroad is not losing revenue; it is making millions in profits.
Where is VDOT going to get the millions to move Cove Hollow Road, which is a separate cost from the intermodal site? What state agencies are going to have to cut their programs to pay for this site?
Maybe the governor is using the same math as the CEOs on Wall Street (2-2=8). All Virginians, as well as those of us in Elliston, need to keep an eye on this situation. What will be taken away from the taxpayer to pay for the governor's pet project in these times of economic uncertainty?
The project needs to be put on hold until the state has the money or lets the railroad spend its money (fat chance).
Montgomery officials deserve an apology
The editorial on the intermodal terminal goes way too far ("Montgomery County's intermodal secrecy," Aug. 28).
We know The Roanoke Times is campaigning for the intermodal terminal at Elliston. But to insinuate that the Montgomery County supervisors are unscrupulous or cowardly is an outrage. They have made it clear to everyone for some time that they would sue if necessary.
You should apologize. These are fine people.
Speaking of scruples, I wonder how many private meetings VDOT, NS and others had before surprising the county with the proposal to build the intermodal horror within its jurisdiction without its blessings.
Using state taxpayer dollars to help develop a profit center for a private corporation stinks, even if the selected area didn't object. I don't recall getting to vote on that proposal.
Gov. Tim Kaine, who espouses the beauty of our countryside, has said he would not let the terminal be built in a community that didn't want it. He should rethink the awkward situation and avoid litigation that will be an embarrassment to our great state.
Thankfully, the board of supervisors realizes this valley can be much better than to serve as a distribution source for cheap Chinese goods.
This nonprofit pays full real estate taxes
Since Kendal at Lexington was mentioned in your Sept. 7 news story "The Glebe faces a crossroads" and again on your letters page, I thought your readers would appreciate having accurate information about our retirement community.
While we are a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation, Kendal at Lexington has paid full real estate taxes to the city of Lexington and Rockbridge County since we opened in 2000.
We also accept people directly into the Benjamin Borden Health Center, our licensed nursing home, regardless of their ability to pay. In fact, more than a third of Borden Center residents are medically indigent, supported (inadequately) by the state-run Medicaid program.
We have provided an entry fee subsidy so someone of more modest means could live in a Kendal residence, and we operate a Fellowship Fund to provide charitable assistance to residents who may outlive their assets and struggle to pay their monthly fees.
Executive Director
Kendal at Lexington
We can't afford another dumb choice
Someone stated that "people get the government that they deserve." That explains the home foreclosures, lost jobs, two wars, record budget deficits, inability to handle national crisis (Katrina), broken military, lost worldwide respect and influence, record energy prices and banking failures.
This country was stupid enough to elect an incompetent individual to be president not once but twice.
Now we're contemplating electing another individual who has no use for computers, has no understanding of the economy (by his own admission), wants to engage us in yet another war (with either Iran or Russia, it doesn't matter to him), and doesn't even know how many houses he owns.
We get exactly what we deserve for being so stupid. This country can't survive four more years like the last eight.
Boucher should listen to McCain
Rep. Rick Boucher is to be commended for his conference on economic development for Southwest Virginia. He is astute in using Ireland -- the "Celtic Tiger" -- as a model. The government and business leadership of Ireland have performed economic miracles in the last 15 years.
As The Heritage Foundation points out, Ireland's success is attributable to several economic policies, the most significant being a revolutionary reduction in the country's corporate income taxes. Corporations in Ireland pay the lowest tax rate of developed countries -- 12 percent.
In comparison, U.S. businesses pay the second highest rate in the world -- more than 39 percent.
According to the World Bank, lower corporate tax rates not only cause domestic companies to invest in jobs in their country, but encourage foreign investment in that country.
Unfortunately, Southwest Virginia is at the mercy of federal legislators when it comes to this critical job-creation factor.
Sen. John McCain proposes to lower the corporate tax rate and to retain the rate on capital gains, which also stimulates investment and creates jobs. Unfortunately, Sen. Barack Obama, the presidential candidate of Boucher's party, proposes to raise capital gains taxes and opposes lowering corporate tax rates.
Critique of McCain was unfair, demeaning
Barbara Kingsbury boasts that she rose to a high position in the corporate world. With the publication of her puerile flight of fancy, "Fasten your seat belts; more turbulence ahead" (Sept. 14 commentary), she descended to a new low.
It is a disappointment, but not a surprise, that this newspaper would publish such an insulting, misguided critique.
Sen. John McCain has an outstanding record of performance in his many years of military and public service. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has more executive experience than the Democratic candidates for president and vice president.
Sen. Barack Obama's claim to fame is the work he did as a community organizer in Chicago. Sen. Joe Biden spent four years in law practice before becoming a senator from Delaware in 1972.
McCain has a record of bipartisan achievement, and his running mate is a dedicated reformer. Kingsbury's article demeaned the achievements of both of these highly qualified candidates.
Quayle and Agnew have been outdone
The people who should be the happiest about Sarah Palin's nomination are Dan Quayle and the family of Spiro Agnew. She has moved them down the list of the worst possible vice presidential nominations in history.
Make no flip references to God
Re: "The rain god makes a brief appearance," Sept. 3 commentary by Donna Acquaviva:
I'm appalled at her flippant reference to a rain god, who brought the recent downpours. This god happens to be the one and only true God of the universe.
Correction
The letter "Retirement center will survive" was signed by an additional 69 residents of The Glebe. The letter, which ran Thursday, noted only one signature.
