Letters to the Editor for Thursday, September 10, 2009

Writers: Valentine asset to the state
It would be quite a challenge to overstate how fortunate we are in Central Virginia to have Shannon Valentine representing us in the Virginia House of Delegates.

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Valentine has proven herself to be a woman of substance, accomplishment and vision not only in her service as a delegate, but also in her lifelong record of serving the citizens of our area.

For those who value responsible, effective government in Virginia, casting a ballot for Shannon Valentine on Nov. 3 will be an easy and rewarding decision.
LES FAIRCLOTH
Lynchburg

A true public servant
There’s a lot of talk these days about the need for more civility in politics. Indeed, the Congress and our state legislatures seem to get more polarized and shrill with each passing election. Unfortunately, such bickering and discord is not merely tiresome; it also undermines the kind of bi-partisan cooperation we desperately need if our country is to solve its many difficult problems.

But while complaining comes easy, one person in Virginia is actually working to fix the problem. This year, Del. Shannon Valentine sponsored legislation in the Virginia House of Delegates creating a bipartisan commission to oversee the task of Congressional redistricting. Such a commission would encourage fairness and civility by ensuring that congressional districts are drawn in ways that actually reflect the character of the local population.

In contrast, our current system disregards naturally occurring population centers and gerrymanders districts in ways that cater to entrenched partisan interests. For example, things have gotten so askew that today a member of Congress is more likely to die in office than to lose re-election. This affects civility because it means the real battles for Congress actually occur during party primaries, where voter turnout is low and party activists (both liberal and conservative) have inordinate influence. Thus, because candidates must pander more and more to the partisan extremes to be nominated, fewer and fewer moderate voices make it to Congress. Rather than moderate voices willing to compromise, our Congress is being filled with highly partisan members who value political power more than the common good.

By working to take redistricting away from the politicians (both Republican and Democratic), Del. Valentine is showing the kind of bipartisan leadership Virginia needs if we are to make government once again serve our interests rather than mere partisan interests. We should be thankful to have such a genuine public servant, Shannon Valentine, representing us in Richmond.
DAVID SCHWARTZ
Lynchburg

Charlottesville responds
Instead of ranting about the Charlottesville elitists, why don’t you publish the real facts of the six-mile Charlottesville bypass, which will never be built for many valid reasons, including the destruction of homes, invasion of school property and a cost of about $350 million to accommodate 80-90 percent of local traffic? (Editorial, The News & Advance, “Cracking the Charlottesville bottleneck,” Sept. 8)

How about a true bypass like Lynchburg and Danville that would eventually become part of an interstate through Central Virginia without going through the middle of cities?

No matter what is built through or around Charlottesville, it isn’t going to improve the economy. The intersection of interstates in Southwest Virginia hasn’t improved the economy in that area, where the unemployment percentage is one of the highest in the state.

All your crying about something your never going to get, especially with your nasty editorials, is getting tiring.

Lynchburg’s problems are caused by people like you.
MILTON MOORE
Charlottesville