Letters 09/08/2010

Supports unions

    When did it become evil to be a union member?  When did the word “union” become so hateful, to be spit out as an invective?  My dad, born in 1917, worked for the Singer Manufacturing Company for most of his life.  He was proud to be a card carrying union member.  The wage he earned enabled him to move up to the middle class, to buy a home, to raise a family, and to send his kids to college.  My dad was a high school graduate, but my mom had to quit school at 15 to help out her family.  Their three kids collected six college degrees among them.  My own undergraduate degree was supported with a National Merit Scholarship funded by his company and union.
    For 35 years, I followed in his footsteps as a member of the National and New Jersey Education Associations.  Thanks to my union, my salary went from $5850 per year in 1967-68 to almost $80,000 when I retired in 2002.  Thanks to my union, I was able to retire with a comfortable pension and excellent health care.  My parents were proud that their children were able to have a higher standard of living.
    The rise of the middle class in America is closely tied to the rise of labor unions.  As unions have lost their strength, the middle class has shrunk.  Fewer Americans can aspire to own a home, to put their children through college and to retire with a secure pension.  It would behoove us to remember that unions helped make the American standard of living for “ordinary” people like us the highest in the world.
    So be proud teachers, police officers, firefighters, service providers, and other union members.  Thank your union for helping you pursue your American dream.

Yvette Van Hise
Moneta

Perriello: Hard working

    Tom Perriello, “…one of the hardest-working freshmen, if not the most hard-working,” states the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns.
    Elected in 2009, Perriello promised to work a double-shift and he has, by conducting 22 town-hall meetings in 2009, currently working a 21-county town meeting schedule, and speaking at hundreds of local events—over 70 in Henry County alone.
    Perriello has generated and helped pass legislation that directly benefits the 5th District:  veterans and seniors, education, energy independence, agriculture and manufacturing.
    Knowing this, Perriello’s opponents can only wage their negative campaign by claiming he votes “lockstep with Pelosi,” whom they demonize.  Actually, Representative Perriello has voted independent of Democrats on major issues, including the Wall Street Reform Bill and trade policy.  The National Journal found Perriello 231st most liberal House member and the 200th most conservative in his voting record, placing him in the middle of the 435 House members. Congressional Republicans have voted a virtual 100 per cent NO on all Democratic legislation.  Talk about “lockstep.”
    We in the 5th District must move beyond Republican ideology and vote for Tom Perriello, a Representative who knows his constituency and works to address their voiced needs. 

Susan Coryell
Huddleston

Appreciates care

    My aunt is now a resident of the Bedford Nursing Home on County Home Road. She has had a difficult time adjusting to her new and different lifestyle, but she wants to write a letter of gratitude for all the care and attention she has been afforded at the nursing home.
    She wants to thank the CNAs, the therapists, and the staff at the Bedford County Nursing Home. In particular, she wants to recognize Vickie, April, Trevor and Joan. There are many more – too many to name – who need to be noted as professional, courteous and caring.
    The helpfulness, the positive attitudes, and the careful attention of these professionals make life more worthwhile to people who now need assistance in the latter years.
    Thank you for all you do for those who cannot do for themselves. You make a difference.

Carlene Whorley Jackson
Conover, NC

Supports
opinions

Concerned Women for America of Virginia stands in support of two recent opinions issued by Virginia’s Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli. One issue posed by Delegate Bob Marshall and State Senator Ralph Smith was whether the Commonwealth could regulate abortion clinics which perform first trimester abortions.
    The Attorney General’s response was:

    “It is my opinion that the Commonwealth has the authority to promulgate regulations for facilities in which first trimester abortions are performed as well as for providers of first trimester abortions, so long as the regulations adhere to constitutional limitations.”
    This is a proper judgment on Mr. Cuccinelli’s part because the Code of Virginia, Title 32.1 provides for the regulation of medical and health facilities to promote “the protection, improvement and preservation of the public health.”
    If medical clinics which do in-patient surgery are regulated, so must abortion clinics be regulated.  Abortion clinics perform invasive surgery and as such should be regulated by the state for safety of their patients.
    The need for this type of intervention by the Commonwealth of Virginia is no more apparent than in the government’s own backyard – Richmond.  Denny Green of Life and Liberty Ministries works outside the Richmond Medical Center for Women counseling women who plan to have an abortion.  He related the following on his Facebook page: 

    "The abortionist at Richmond Medical Center for Women botched one of his killings and nearly] caused a woman to bleed to death a couple weeks ago. She had to go to the hospital while hemorrhaging and had her dead child removed. Believers have been following up with her. Pray for her salvation and for legal action to be brought against the abortuary and baby killer."

    This decision by our Attorney General is a giant step forward in our fight against abortion; one that we hope will be taken seriously and will be implemented in a timely manner.  The protection of Virginia’s women is of utmost importance.
    The protection of women and children was also addressed by Maryland and Virginia’s Attorneys General.  They asked that Craigslist remove its adult services section.
We agree that Craigslist is a vehicle for prostitution and trafficking children.  We applaud Virginia’s Attorney General as he applies the law correctly and stands to protect women and children.

Janet Robey
Virginia State Director
Bedford