As much a fantasy as Superman

As much a fantasy as Superman

The liberal-progressive agenda (pick your issue) is based solely on feel-good outcomes with no basis in reality.

Climate change, poverty, gun crime and on and on, liberals would have us believe that some program backed by a huge central government will solve all of our ills.

The underlying basis for this is that we can spend money that we don’t have, and the Federal Reserve can compound this fantasy by putting the number $85,000,000,000 into a computer every month to prop up the stock market.

The amount of “digital counterfeit dollars” is so huge, we can’t afford to actually print it.

Superman’s feats are believable if you accept the underlying fantasy that he is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

The liberal progressive agenda is only barely credible if you accept that we can spend dollars that don’t even exist, but are simply numbers in computers.

M.J. SMITH
ROANOKE

Best health systems are single-payer

It was good to see Paul Scott’s letter (“U.S. health care isn’t the best in the world,” Aug. 18) pointing out that the U.S. health care system ranks at No. 35 from the top and is hardly “the best in the world,” as so many folks like to say.

We should note the common factor among the 35 high-ranking nations: They all have single-payer health plans that are government run or government sponsored.

Republicans don’t talk about this.

DAVID W. HOLMES
BLUE RIDGE

Cuccinelli was doing his constitutional duty

When an energy company drills and extracts natural gas, the amount of royalties to be shared among the owners of property atop the deposit is governed by the Virginia Gas and Oil Act.

When some landowners recently sued gas companies over disputed royalties, their lawyers also tried to overturn the Virginia law. Performing his constitutional duty, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s office entered the case to protect Virginia law. His office shared information with both sides.

Thankfully, Cuccinelli was successful because before the gas act was passed, whoever drilled the first well got all of the royalties. If the law had been overturned, most adjacent landowners would have no legal basis to collect anything.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe’s campaign has twisted the truth with his deceitful television ads depicting Republican candidate Cuccinelli as defrauding the poor, good ol’ country folks out of their royalties. McAuliffe’s ads even hint that under-the-table payments have been made. Unless he has evidence that legitimate campaign donations to Cuccinelli were meant to subvert the case, McAuliffe is close to libel and should be held accountable.

McAuliffe’s ads are a perfect example of the deceit that has come to characterize the Democratic Party, from President Obama on down.

TOM TAYLOR
ROANOKE

Weather Journal

2 days ago

1. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

2. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

3. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

4. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

5. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

6. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations

7. Roanoke resource officer's quick action saved young girl

8. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech

10. Blacksburg lawyer Painter’s bond revoked