Government is Not Villain of the Public
Editor,
At Jim Moran’s health-care meeting in Reston a highly agitated man asked the Congressman, “Since the government messes up everything it tries to do, why do you think it can administer a public health option?”
My perspective is different. Yes, at times I have seen waste, fraud and abuse. Yes, at times I have witnessed ill-conceived programs. Yet, I believe my tax dollars give me as much for my money as I get from my personal expenditures. On a whole I have had good experiences with services and support from government. As examples:
From the first to the twelfth grades, I attended public schools, which gave me a foundation for higher education and life. Government provided me with part of my college education, paid for by the U.S. Navy who sent me there for Officer Training and later the government provided me with three years of graduate school at Yale University on the G.I. Bill.
I have ridden millions of miles on government-provided streets, highways, and bridges. Government has provided garbage pickup, clean streets, police and fire protection, and ambulance service when I needed it. The steak I eat and my prescription drugs are tested and supervised to assure my health.
All of my life our military has been there to defend our country and keep me safe. I was proud of Neil Armstrong, a government employee, standing on the moon.
During my career I worked in four federal agencies, as well as in the private sector. My experience was that government employees work as hard as those in free enterprise.
Government now provides me with monthly social security payments, and for 15 years every check has arrived on time. It is efficient, and well run. Government also provides me with Medicare, excellent medical care with myriad tests, prescription drugs, and hospital services. It has been as efficient as my private health insurance.
At this meeting with Congressman Jim Moran, many folks shouted down a public health option. If it fails, it will be because extremists have convinced us that private is good and public is bad.
Robert L. McCan
Falls Church
Motorist Is Worried About Speeding Cyclists
Editor,
I drove to the East Falls Church metro again today, traveling at a bone-shaking 10 miles an hour over a half-dozen speed strips, speed humps and speed bumps-avoiding the joggers and dog walkers who are forced into the street because of the lack of sidewalks-when I was nearly struck by a bicyclist who sped through a stop sign.
Sadly, this is now a daily event and I am concerned that one of your citizens will soon end up in the hospital…or dead. Is it possible for Falls Church to enforce stop sign laws on bicyclists? Is it possible to enforce the same speed limits on bikers that you do on cars? And, more importantly, is it possible to teach your bicyclists the common courtesy of yielding the right of way? Somehow, in their “greenness”, they have forgotten the rules of the road.
Scot Walker
Via the Internet
How Can It Be Required & ‘Voluntary?’
Editor,
Might an FCNP reporter explain what a “required voluntary proffer” is? (First item in Sept 3 FCNP Falls Church News Briefs, page 7). How can “require” and “voluntary” be used in the same sentence?!
Gabriel Goldberg
Falls Church
(Editor’s reply – That very discrepancy defines what is at issue in the legal dispute.)
Thanks to Supporters of ‘Fall for Fun’
Editor,
Many City residents are better prepared for the new school year thanks to the generous donations of individuals and businesses who helped support the Aug. 19 Fall for Fun event coordinated by the City’s Housing and Human Services Division and the City schools.
Those who attended Fall for Fun received school supplies, back packs, tote bags, food, bottled water, moon bounces, chair massages, giveaways, games, oral health supplies and more. This year’s event attracted the largest crowd ever. We appreciate the support of the following: Laura Arsenault, Aurora House Volunteers, Matthew Bodeschatz, Kathleen Buschow, Kathy Chandler, Steve Clark, Shirley Connuck, Doodlehopper 4 Kids, Dr. William Dougherty, DDS Robert Duffett, Dani Erbe, Falls Church City Police Association, Fields of Falls Church, Debra Gee, George Mason High School Students, Pen Si Highnam, Laura Holms, Cindy Mester, National Massage Therapy Institute, Carmen Nichols, Starbucks, Staples, Wachovia Bank and Lawrence Webb.
Many others donated anonymously. Thanks everyone.
Barbara Gordon, Dir. of Communications
City of Falls Church
Home Town Stores Make F.C. Special
Editor,
I know what makes the City of Falls Church uniquely special!
It is her people and her places and her small businesses– like Kennedy’s Natural Foods which has a wonderfully “small town” deli called Kasha’s Kitchen! It is located in the West Falls Shopping Center just in the shade of the bike bridge landmark known as the Citizens’ Bridge (please note it is “S” apostrophe showing plural possessiveness).
What a treasure to have a nearly two-decade old family-run business which serves healthy, delicious, hand-made meals– both eat-in at the counter or carry-out! I recently had my favorite, a Power Veggie sandwich…with loads of avocado, fresh crisp lettuce, really red tomatoes, carrots AND the special ingredient: love! I am guilty of overlooking this nice local family business as I habitually stop at national fast-food chains. I have vowed to do the right thing from now own– eat healthy and support my local family business! Indeed, how wonderful it is to eat at Kasha’s Kitchen’s counter…it is like being at Cheers where everybody knows your name! That is what makes Falls Church special!
Small-town community with that special Falls Church facet! I hope other Falls Church citizens will recommit to support “our own” once more and intentionally! See you at Kasha’s counter, soon!
Craig Day
Falls Church
