Letters to the Editor

News Virginian
Published: March 2, 2008

Privatization won't work

Never has an administration been so callously irresponsible as your current Bush-led White House in double-dealing the American people. Promise the world, but kill that promise and program with budget cuts and the appointment of deceptively corrupt program directors with undermining, adversarial strategies in opposition to such programs.

After eight years of wasteful spending, corruption and oil war - but with no oil, an almost worthless dollar, trillions more debt and a recessionary economy - your elected Washington "wise man" says PRIVATIZE!

He wants to privatize your national defense, your police and first responders, your roads, your bridges, your hospitals (Virginia included), your schools, your parks, forests and preserves, your Social Security, and Medicare. In other words, he wants to dump these services back on the people to "pay-as-you-use."

Every man, woman and child will need a steel chest with lock and key on a portable dolly to accompany them in this "fee-laden" services economy. Sorry, no checks, no credit, no plastic - CASH please!

In every case where the federal government has privatized its services, the endeavor has failed. One might simply blame that on a failed government. Is there any reason to believe that we will improve government- Probably not as long as our criteria for political office is, well, who would you rather drink a beer with, or who is the blackest, whitest, most or least girlie or most war-monger-like- Change without substance only feeds the media, not the American people. Privatizing government services is not the answer to our services failure. A more open, transparent government will help.

Have you ever wondered what smaller government really means- How will it affect me- It often reduces services and benefits most of us have been relying on for a couple of generations.

Have you ever wondered what lower taxes really mean- How will it affect me- Do you believe anything is free- What are you willing to give up-

Privatization is no replacement for the democratic form of government services available to us when poorly managed. Like any other business you don't want a "knucklehead" in charge.

Bob Parrott

Waynesboro

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Motocross track not well-suited for area

The proposed motocross track at Augusta Expoland is poorly suited for this type of business.

For 20 years, I have lived nine-tenths of a mile from Expoland and have always been a supporter of it. I can tolerate the limited outside events they have there, such as the monster trucks, because I would like to see Expoland be around for all of us to enjoy.

However, these types of activities going on 220 days a year would be just overwhelming. The noise carries differently depending on the backgrounds, conditions and tests from a parking lot on a barely constructed course with six to 10 motocross riders. This doesn't come close to the actual noise from 20 plus riders upon completion, and does not factor in the noise of crowds that will include other riders, families, spectators and a public address system.

Let's talk dust. Do you realize that the main track will be 1.5 miles in length- That's 9.6 acres, which means there will be at least 9.6 acres on a sloped hill, which will be cultivated daily by motorcycles with knobby tires. For one, that's a lot of area to maintain, meaning at times there may not be as many riders so they will not water the track. How much dust from the dry dirt will be raised from 9.6 acres on a windy day like we had the first week of February- And it will be carried to where-

Additionally, the danger of these activities and unforeseen injuries worries me with the three closest rescue squads having to come from Staunton, Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft by way of a very congested Route 608.

I am certainly not against motocross, but I believe it needs to be in a proper area. Would you accept this facility a mile or so from your back yard- Then factor in no hills, or wooded areas that could stop the dust and constant noise of all types. Then would you accept it-

Troy Price

Fishersville