Monday, August 31, 2009
Economy is too poor for shuttle launches
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
Economy is too poor for shuttle launches
It's no mystery America is mired in a deep recession. What is a mystery to me is why the government continues to sink millions of dollars into launching space shuttles. The NASA Web site says it costs an average of $450 million per shuttle mission. With four such missions in 2008 and one less this year, that's a significant chunk of change.
NASA's continued shuttle launches come across as a display of hubris to the rest of the world, essentially saying, "We know the economy is floundering, but we still send folks into orbit." More surprising is how these launches continue to be a bright spot in the news, and how people are still spellbound by them. Is anyone asking how funding NASA is justified? Is the media spellbound too?
If the shuttle returns from this most recent trip to the international space station with a cure for cancer or an answer to the health care crisis, I'll don a NASA cap and beg forgiveness. But to date, the only NASA product I've benefitted from is their strange freeze-dried ice cream -- a discovery that, I think you'll agree, doesn't justify the piles of money NASA drains from tax coffers.
Some advice for the electric company
We should not have to pay extra for our electricity. It is ridiculous now. We should be able to choose our own electric company, or we could always go back to "Little House on the Prairie" days.
The president of the company and higher-ups should take a cut in pay instead of making millions. Let them dip into there own pockets for once.
Big companies like AEP and their employees show no mercy on anyone who is struggling during these tough economic times to try and pay their bills. All they want is more money.
Oppose the value-added tax
Citizens of Southwest Virginia, awaken! As discussed in The Roanoke Times, "Value-added tax on horizon" (Aug. 23 Business story), some politicians may be looking at the VAT to bring in fast money, adding it to the existing income tax.
For years, Roanoke Area FairTax has been spreading the story of the FairTax throughout the area. It would replace income and payroll taxes (and the Internal Revenue Service) with a national retail sales tax featuring prepayment of taxes for life's necessities. While there are many true believers, the overall response of citizens has been underwhelming. Politicians are not much help: Rep. Bob Goodlatte is ambivalent, believer Virgil Goode was defeated, Rep. Tom Perriello ridiculed it and Rep. Rick Boucher doesn't support it.
Perhaps most of you are busy, but we are seeing how issues like health care are causing you to rise up and be heard. Well, you now have another reason to get involved and to do it soon. Unlike the FairTax, the VAT would be in addition to the income tax. Unlike the FairTax, the VAT would tax every stage of production, causing higher prices. Unlike the FairTax, the VAT regressively taxes all incomes at the same rate.
Visit www.RoanokeAreaFairTax.com for information.
Explain how new bus system cuts costs
The Aug. 23 Roanoke Times, "A new route for buses" reported that the Roanoke School Board estimated that outsourcing the school bus system to the Mountain Valley Transportation Co. would save the schools $250,000 per year.
Maybe the board could explain to the public how Mountain Valley could pay its manager and employees, operate the system, buy 15 buses per year, make a profit and save $250,000 per year.
If that is the case, the only explanation I can see is that the school board bus operation was poorly managed, bloated and out of fiscal control. Maybe The Times can check it out and let the taxpayers know the truth of the matter.
Do away with the architectural board
Roanoke City Council recently overruled the Architectural Review Board's decision on replacing a metal porch roof with shingles in the Old Southwest Historic District. Council did the right thing.
The Architectural Review Board members get paid $8,400 collectively per year to serve on a council-appointed board. With the kind of judgment these members are using in requests from taxpaying citizens, would we the taxpayers be better off to do away with this board and put this $8,400 toward better causes? I'm sure our schools could use some extra money.
Even if it hurts, seek out the truth
Some people must have raw bloody throats from eating the fish, the hook, the line and the sinker for so many years. Why are people so gullible? Remember the lies about weapons of mass destruction and Iraq's connection to 9/11? They sure bought that one. President Obama not a U.S. citizen? Puleeze. And just as some throats are starting to recover, they buy the lies about health care.
People, get your news elsewhere. Stop listening to venom-filled talk radio; listen to public radio, read The Roanoke Times. Stop watching equally venomous Fox News and watch CNN or public TV or even network news that is more balanced.
People are buying lies all over again, and they're going to be sorry, as we are now because they believed the ones about WMDs, and we've been in a deadly war in Iraq ever since.
If you have access to a computer, go to the truth tracking sites. There are plenty of them. Or follow my advice and change your news source. As a citizen, you are obligated to seek out the truth, even if it hurts.
Vick only remorseful for getting caught
After recently watching a partial interview of Michael Vick by James Brown on "60 Minutes," I am still disgusted -- perhaps more than ever before.
Vick said he thought the dogfighting was "cool, fun and exciting." How about evil? He agreed he lacked moral character and didn't deserve to make millions of dollars. I agree. He spoke of being concerned about his career and family when caught. I heard no feelings of remorse for the killing and abuse of the innocent animals. Only remorse for being caught. I sensed no contrition in this face or voice.
Vick said he started witnessing dogfighting at 8 years old. That is unfortunate. Call it environmental if you like, but I think that environment would not have stood if he had possessed a heart, conscience and a backbone. But as he said in the interview, he lacked moral character. And has that changed?
It saddens me that more than 40,000 dogfighting rings exist in this country. I believe those were the statistics stated on "60 Minutes." Again, money and greed trump ethics and principles. And yes, I am a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
DELORIS McKINNEY
Don't want to be American? Don't be
Graham H. Brown apparently doesn't understand the rights he has as a citizen. He stated in his commentary, "Selfish bigots masquerading as patriots" (Aug. 23), that he is sorry he became a citizen; he is sorry that he now has to be an American and be compared to the likes of Rush Limbaugh. If Brown had it to do over, he would not have become a citizen.
Brown, one of the best things about America is that you don't have to remain an American. You can renounce your citizenship and return to wherever it is you originated. You'll be happier for it, and America will be better for it. Enjoy your trip.
