Friday, June 11, 2010
Mill Mountain doesn't need a new Rockledge
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Mill Mountain doesn't need a new Rockledge
The proposal by some city council members that the forthcoming Mill Mountain conservation easement exclude from its protection the so-called "building site" in the summit area to allow construction of a reincarnated Rockledge amounts to an egregious breach of trust with the family that gave the mountain to the city.
Council has stated that it will not go against the wishes of the donor family. In that case, there is no reason to place the conservation boundary so as purposely to provide a Rockledge building site, considering that the family has already publicly expressed its opposition to such a development.
Background information, an archive of articles and statements, maps and views of the summit area may be seen at www.savemillmountain.com, Web site of Mill Mountain Conservatory.
A previous push to build a restaurant at the summit died in the recent economic downturn. The scheme at that time was that a nonprofit would carry out the project. Thus, individuals would not be at risk and could walk away when they tired of raising funds needed to cover the ongoing shortages of the restaurant.
In any case, the natural parkland such a project appropriates would never be restored.
Spend more money on spill
The U.S. government spent $700 billion to bail out the banks, $85 billion to bail out the auto industry and gave $2.8 billion to Haiti following the earthquake there in January and a similar amount to Chile after their earthquake. However, only $89 million has been spent on the gulf oil spill just for different federal agencies to look at, evaluate and research the situation.
What about the people employed in the seafood and tourist industries who are affected? British Petroleum has forced thousands of people, such as fishermen, along the Gulf Coast out of their jobs for many years to come due to the oil spill. People are canceling hotel reservations and vacation plans for the area. Fish, birds and other wildlife are being killed, too, as a result. Beachfront properties are being turned into toxic wastelands.
President Obama promised on Saturday to use every resource to help those affected by the oil spill. Considering the gross disparity between the amounts spent for Wall Street, the auto industry and overseas and what has been spent for the Gulf Coast, it doesn't seem like it to me.
Liberals good at ramping benefits
The Obama administration: good at criticizing and the blame game, pathetic at solving crises.
They criticize Arizona, but do little to secure our borders. They want to kick a--, but procrastinate and do nothing to help Louisiana solve the oil spill. They seek regulation to stem financial crisis, but exempt major culprits Fannie and Freddie. They bemoan unprecedented deficits, yet push for Stimulus III and its entitlement spending.
But Democrats do one thing well. In the first quarter, government benefits -- including Social Security, unemployment payments and insurance, food stamps and a myriad of stimulus benefits -- rose to record levels, exceeding private business paychecks as a share of total U.S. income for the first time.
Economist David Henderson said that a shift from private wages to government benefits means that people are "paid for being rather than for producing." Today, 63 percent of federal spending goes to entitlements and debt service.
While entitlement spending creates needed Democratic voters for November and 2012, it does little to rebuild our economy or assist the struggling American middle-class that depends on the private sector for jobs and income.
Lower the limit to save lives, gas
Re: "I-81 speed limit could increase in July," June 8 news story:
Instead of raising the speed limit anywhere on Interstate 81, let's lower the speed limit to 60 mph everywhere for everyone, unless circumstances warrant an even lower speed for trucks in certain locations. Set the minimum speed at 45 mph.
Driving no faster than 60 mph saves lives, health, suffering, gasoline and money. It's also the least we can do to show some degree of solidarity with the terribly unfortunate victims of the gulf oil disaster, and those people and other life forms that support our addiction to limited oil resources.
Obama critic took a cheap shot
I would just like to respond to the letter "Obama should have visited tomb" (June 9) from Henry Szczur, who so harshly blasted President Obama for not being at Arlington on Memorial Day to place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
If Szczur thinks this is so terrible, he should have mentioned the other presidents who also missed this ceremony. In 2007, President George W. Bush went to Texas and was not at Arlington. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush went to Maine instead. And in 1983, President Reagan missed the ceremony as well.
If Szczur just wants to sling partisan mud at the president of the United States, he should check his facts and not misuse the honor of this military memorial as his slingshot. That is a disgrace to the men and women who died defending his freedom to voice his opinions.
Doonesbury strip crossed the line
Re: Doonesbury strip, comics section May 30:
How does your staff evaluate the comics you publish? It was appalling to read the Doonesbury strip on May 30. I couldn't believe that you would publish such a blasphemous piece.
Last Sunday, after attending Sunday School and worship service, I headed out to Oakwood Cemetery in Pulaski to attend a ceremony in remembrance of our American patriots who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy. Then I drove through the cemetery, marveling at the vast array of small American flags dotting the hillsides, each carefully placed to mark a veteran's grave. My husband's grave bore a flag also, since he was a World War II POW.
Later that day, while reading The Roanoke Times, I had the chilling experience of seeing the Doonesbury strip. With its setting in a military hospital, it seemed to be a shot at all we hold dear in this country and had prayerfully remembered that day. It's time for Doonesbury to go. It's beyond the pale.
