Thursday, May 27, 2010
More, not less, regulation is needed in the private sector
Letters to the Editor
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- Pick of the day: Passing the buck won't stop abuse
- Letters: Illegal traditions should not be tolerated
- Pick of the day: Teacher's conviction should scare parents
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From the RoundTable blog
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More, not less, regulation is needed in the private sector
The tea partiers and right-wing Republicans are advocating "less government control, the private sector can do it better." What they are failing to note is that several of our current catastrophes represent the fruits of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush's efforts to dismantle government oversight.
The private sector was allowed control. What regulations existed were watered down or not enforced. Bush made it a practice to appoint foxes to guard the henhouse to see that this policy was enforced.
We actually need more intervention and enforcement. The 9/11 terrorists were attempting to destroy our economy by bringing down the twin towers, but Wall Street and its congressional allies did a much better job.
Democrats aren't blameless. They went along, having been seduced by well-placed campaign contributions. Big contributors routinely place 60 percent of their donations with the expected winner and 40 percent with the loser, thereby making all politicians beholden to them.
The tea party is definitely on target about the need to get our fiscal house in order. Members just need to be careful where they aim unless they want to set us up for 1929 III.
A voice of reason on economic recovery
Thank you, Sen. William B. Hopkins Sr., for your balanced, reasoned article, "Obama needs a united Congress" (May 20 commentary).
With interest payments on the national debt of $500 billion per year, we Americans are all facing serious choices if we are to revive our once vibrant economy and our civic health. Thank goodness we have a president who can see the big picture and address the multiple moving pieces of interrelated social problems.
A one-shot approach is simplistic. "Just say no" is not a slogan for responsible government officials.
Protect mountaintop from future schemes
There are two proposed boundaries for the Mill Mountain Park conservation easement. The red line excludes the mountain's summit, leaving open the possibility for commercial development of this public park. The blue line includes a sloped parcel that defines much of the viewshed, from the ground up and from the top down.
This five-acre slope within the blue line has caught the attention of developers for more than a century. Roanoke City Council can give real meaning to the conservation easement by approving the blue line boundary and including language that disallows any development within the protected area.
The summit of Mill Mountain Park is a place of gentle peace. Visitors marvel at the view, children romp in the playground, hikers and bicyclists pause for a moment, and many find solitude in the midst of wildflowers. It is readily accessible from all areas of our valley. Its paved walking trails are welcomed by those who may not otherwise be able to experience the wonder of a mountaintop.
The blue line gives Roanoke the opportunity to protect this valuable park from commercial development for all future generations. May we be so wise.
Intelligence director is a no-win position
The resignation of Adm. Dennis C. Blair as director of national intelligence comes as no surprise to experienced Beltway watchers because Blair and his two predecessors held a position that is destined to fail.
In the first place, few senior government officials wanted a national intelligence director, but the enormous political pressures on President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11 attacks required his acquiescence despite his better judgment. Secondly, the DNI has no budget authority over the intelligence community, thereby removing the CIA from the DNI's direct control.
Of course, Blair didn't help his cause by wrangling with CIA Director Leon Panetta over issues that he had no chance of winning, such as appointing his own intelligence representatives abroad. Moreover, Blair did not win friends in Capitol Hill's current feisty political climate because of well-publicized intelligence failures for which he took the heat, justifiably or not. In essence, he swam upstream from the get-go and became a convenient fall guy for the Obama administration.
The DNI holds an impossible job no matter how it's franchised, but success has a more fertile breeding ground when the DNI has the full support of the president.
Hurt is strong on family issues
We hear almost daily about the tragic impacts of broken homes and dysfunctional families. Yet our Congress and some members of the judiciary continue to make laws and rules that cause further disintegration of Christian family values.
We need a representative for the 5th District who has a strong record of supporting families and applying common sense to family issues. State Sen. Robert Hurt has a 95 percent rating from the Family Foundation of Virginia, and he approaches the issues facing families today with common sense and practical experience from raising his three sons.
Vote for Hurt on June 8. We must put a halt to the Nancy Pelosi and Tom Perriello nanny-state agenda.
Don't waste money on 'sexting' teens
Re: "5 teens arrested in sexting incidents," May 20 news story:
Excuse me. Am I missing something here? If there are no state or federal laws on sexting, why were five teenagers in Franklin County arrested and threatened with a felony charge? Even Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood says they will get a slap on the wrist.
Why not let the parents blister their butts and take away the cellphones and the social life for a while? With all the budget cuts all the counties are facing, why waste money on stupid kids? Spend it on something like keeping the crackheads off the streets instead of offering deals and turning them loose.
Oh well, that is just me, and I know I am not the sharpest tack in the box, but go figure.
Obama is working for the country
Re: "Obama isn't a straightshooter," May 21 letter:
President Obama is not destroying this country by listening to other world leaders and working with them to fight terrorism. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall? This is a worldwide problem that won't be solved by arrogance.
Obama has improved our reputation all over the world so countries want to work with us and save lives. I do not call that bowing down to the enemy. I call it beating the enemy without violence.
What happened to democracy, anyway? We elect a president and then look for and twist everything he says and does instead of getting behind him and showing respect. This is just what terrorists want to see.
Obama is listening to the people and country he cares about by working hard on health care, banking reform and other urgent matters to protect us. What is a disgrace is people thinking violence is the answer to everything. The world has changed, and we all need each other.
