Saturday, November 14, 2009
Editorial: Short takes
Quick views on some of the week's news.
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
The winter forecast: clear roads
The revenue-starved Virginia Department of Transportation took a lot of heat this summer when it cut costs in part by closing almost a score of rest stops along interstates in the Old Dominion. The uproar would be but trifling, though, compared to the cold fury of a public immobilized by snow and ice this winter.
Uncleared roads would present more than an inconvenience. They'd be a danger to the public safety and a further drag on the state's already fragile economy.
Not to worry, though -- at least on that count. The department assured the public this week that it is well-prepared to handle wintry weather. In a news release, Commissioner David Ekern pledged: "While VDOT is making tough decisions to balance a significant revenue shortfall, our snow- and ice-removal standards will not change."
Virginia doesn't have the transportation dollars for infrastructure to ease the gridlock that routinely hampers travel in the economic beehives of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. At least, though, VDOT has its priorities right, budgeting to keep existing arteries clear of snow and ice -- an emergency service essential to the common good that, unfortunately, does nothing to improve the long-term outlook for Virginia's roads.
New Horizons, indeed
The Rev. Bill Lee's dream of bringing health care access to medically underserved Northwest Roanoke has been a steadily growing reality for more than 10 years.
The Kuumba Community Health & Wellness Center, incorporated in 1999 and run briefly out of the basement of his Loudon Avenue Christian Church, became a full-blown medical facility the next year when it moved into a warren of trailers on Melrose Avenue. In 2007, the federally subsidized community health center, renamed New Horizons Healthcare, moved into the Valley View Medical Center.
The name change proved to be prophetic, most recently with the help of Washington and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The health center, which serves mainly an uninsured and underinsured clientele, got close to half a million dollars in federal stimulus money to renovate and expand.
It was a day-brightener this week to read about founder Lee touring New Horizons' new examination rooms and a lab and waiting rooms that have doubled in size for an operation that now averages 1,200 patients a month.
The Tea Partying GOP loathes compromise
Sen. Lindsey Graham finds himself on the wrong side of the Tea Partyers. In his home state of South Carolina, the Charleston County Republican Party this week approved a stinging rebuke of their senator.
Before we get to his crimes, let's get something else straight: Graham is no liberal. He has a 90 percent conservative voting record and last year ranked 15th most conservative senator.
That is not conservative enough for some South Carolina Republicans. The GOP is not happy that Graham dared to work across the aisle. He actually talks to Democrats, negotiates on climate change legislation and supported bailing out banks. He even backed immigration reform. Can you believe it?
"U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham -- in the name of bipartisanship -- continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law and fiscal conservatism," the damning resolution reads.
What is wrong with this guy? Doesn't he realize individual thought and analysis have no place in the Tea Partyers' GOP?
It's bad enough when party leaders strong-arm elected officials into voting the party line with threats of withholding campaign funds and choice committee assignments. When the people will brook no compromise, America is in trouble.
