Monday, March 27, 2006
Feingold's principled stance deserves support
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Feingold's principled stance deserves support
Once again, the Democrats have shown why they do so poorly in elections.
The recent resolution for censure of President Bush put forth by Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin illustrates the point, as no other senator has joined him in this effort to expose the crime of illegal wiretapping by this president.
One has to wonder why other senators do not rush out to join a senator speaking out about an actual crime. Isn't it the duty of senators to uphold the law, no matter which party they belong to?
Perhaps this explains why fewer than half of eligible voters go to the polls. They already know the game is rigged.
But every now and again, a patriot like Feingold shows up to do his job, and wouldn't you know it, he's the only one crying in the wilderness of a Congress that will let this administration do anything in the whole wide world its wants to.
As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said recently in a speech, and I paraphrase, we are at the beginning of dictatorship, and it would be better to fix it now rather than later.
Looks like only Feingold is willing to act.
William Johnson
Dublin
Honor past and future by recycling stadium
I was happy to read that Roanoke's library system may be the recipient of $5.5 million (March 17 news article, "Stadium funds may go to libraries"). That will go a long way.
I have a suggestion that will stretch the benefits to the library system and will help improve the sports venues in the city. I've seen this idea work in Miami, Fla.
Sell the bricks from Victory Stadium to the public for around $15. That way, the public will own a piece of nostalgia and contribute to the improvements.
Some of the bricks should be saved to construct a memorial to the stadium.
Nancy P. Valle
Roanoke
The corrupting influence of big campaign donors
When a local official takes cash from a contractor and gives him preferential treatment, it's called bribery, and the official is sent to jail in disgrace.
When my congressman, Virgil Goode, takes more than $90,000 from an admitted crook, it's called a campaign contribution.
The corrupting flow of campaign money to both political parties and individuals is an insidious disease growing on our government, and it is accepted as a constitutional right of free speech by most Republicans and some Democrats.
Money is what it's all about, and the present U.S. Supreme Court would probably back them up. To me, it seems like nothing more than legalized prostitution.
When the Clinton administration tried to put through health care reform, pharmaceutical companies and their kind spent millions on 30-second TV ads to stop it.
They succeeded, and why did they? Because too many people don't vote.
These same representatives could make it a lot easier for voters.
And when it comes time to count the votes, it wouldn't be a repeat of the Florida count, which gave us a president presented by a biased Supreme Court, with unimaginable consequences and a needless lost war.
R. Brooks McGhee
Goodview
Leave Israel to govern itself
Don Gillispie's letter to the editor (March 17, "American Jews might be backing the wrong party") was, at best, naïve and, at worst, offensive.
I think that recent history shows that America has been very generous toward Israel, regardless of which party occupies the White House.
In 1992, President of AIPAC David Steiner remarked, "Clinton is the best guy for us." Does Gillispie presume to be a better judge of Israel's interest than the head of an Israeli lobby?
I'm thinking that his partisanship extends beyond America's borders to Israel itself: Gillispie seems to share the neoconservative view that the Likud Party is best qualified to lead Israel.
I would argue, however, that outside interference compromises both the independence and integrity of Israel's democratic institutions.
The growth of Hamas in the Palestinian territories -- once encouraged by Likud to destabilize Arafat's regime -- is a chilling example of what happens when outsiders presume to "know better."
Scott Barrios
Roanoke
Cure school's illness before it spreads
I was impressed by the outpouring of support and praise from students, parents, coaches and former coaches of Cave Spring Athletic Director Randy Meck at the meeting. I'm sure it is well deserved.
I hope the two school board members and the board of supervisors member for this area heard not only the deserved praise, but the message that the county school administration has a huge and serious issue of trust and fear.
When employees are intimidated, fired and controlled by fear, it will eventually destroy any organization.
Any organization, including a school administration, that operates on a philosophy of fear, top-down, hard-handed control, by not allowing input and respectful disagreement will eventually erode to nothing.
It's like a virus that first gets rid of high-quality achievers like Meck. Then, it will attack the next levels of employees, until eventually all that is left is a skeleton of a team waiting for retirement.
I hope the school board and supervisors take this virus very seriously.
This is not just a "Cave Spring thing," but it impacts the entire county school systems.
The future of our kids is the issue, not just the fate of Meck.
Bill Sledd
Roanoke
Add new lanes but send trucking firms the bill
Within the past several months, the number of grossly oversized trucks pulling railroad "boxcar-size" trailers has increased drastically on Interstate 81.
While traveling I-81 recently, one of these enormous trucks ran my small car off the road, and the truck driver never saw my car.
Many of these boxcar-size tractor-trailers appear to be part of a railroad intermodal freight service, with revenue potential of billions of dollars.
An additional lane is definitely needed on I-81, but construction costs should be paid by truck owners.
I plan to be at one of the Virginia Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration public hearings in April to advocate banning these monster trucks from travel on all highways, until such time as safety issues have been resolved.
S.E. Carter
Blue Ridge
Smoking is similar to 'choking games'
Several recent letters to the editor have addressed cigarette smoking.
In her March 16 letter, "One shot at life polluted by smokers," Judy Henritze states, "Apparently, it is the addictive quality of nicotine that is irresistible. Studies have shown that nicotine is as addictive as heroin."
I'm no expert on nicotine. But for the past several years, I've looked at oxygen and have concluded that cigarette addiction is more than nicotine.
When a person smokes, the incoming chemicals flood the bloodstream. This crowds out nutrients.
Carbon monoxide is more easily taken up by the blood cells as they pass through lung alveoli. They're supposed to pick up oxygen. But carbon monoxide is a smaller molecule, so the oxygen gets bumped.
Smoking a cigarette gives much the same oxygen deprivation as some "choking games." This is addiction No. 2, oxygen replacement by carbon monoxide.
The third addiction comes when the cigarette is finished. As these chemical poisons lose their effect, the sudden rush of oxygen makes the body and brain cells literally jump for joy from the life-giving oxygen rush.
Cigarette smoking is a very complex addiction. Once someone gets hooked on the ride, it isn't likely they'll quit smoking.
Woodrow Riley
Roanoke
