Cuts-only strategy in Virginia is irresponsible
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Re: “House, Senate plans OK’d, now budget talks heat up,” Feb. 25
We have attracted businesses and avoided some of the more serious effects of this recession in Virginia because we protect what is important. Now is not the time to ignore the common good and turn our backs on what all Virginians need, such as health care. But with the governor’s latest cuts and his much-repeated “no new tax” mantra, I fear that we are sacrificing things that make Virginia great.
The budget is a moral document, and pursuing a cuts-only strategy in health care when Virginia’s families need it the most is wrong. Now is not the time to be frivolous with tax dollars — we should be protecting health care for children and pregnant women. To slash these programs and not invest in our future is shortsighted and irresponsible.
We must think about revenue sources and bringing some more dollars in. We need to balance our budget, not tip the scale so far to one side that we can’t maintain our commonwealth’s most important resource: its people.
James E. Burke
Arlington
Sports have become venues for vice
I am disappointed with the members of the Canadian women’s ice hockey team for bringing alcoholic drinks onto the ice after their gold medal win over the United States.
Olympians have a “play hard, party hard” reputation. The massive condom distribution at the games seems to be evidence of that lifestyle and sends the message that it is permitted and even encouraged at the Olympic Village. However, sports were once considered to be a virtue-making machine with athletic values that correspond with those that go into being a person of integrity and faith. Vince Lombardi, the former Super Bowl-winning coach of the NFL Green Bay Packers, was a good example of someone whose faith was integral to his coaching.
Today sports are increasingly associated with vice instead of a vehicle to develop good character, making participants courageous, generous losers and gracious victors.
Paul Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Satire column was only reason to read Examiner
I was dismayed to learn that The Examiner has decided to discontinue Scott Ott’s “Scrappleface” column. I have found him to be both wickedly funny and insightful — and a joy to read.
After reading his column I took to browsing the rest of your paper for serious news and opinion.
But quite frankly, without Mr. Ott’s column your paper becomes just another news site, and these days there is not much difference between them.
Barbara Rossell
Lancaster, N.H.
