RoundTable: The Roanoke Times Editorial Board blogs on current events, issues - Roanoke.com

Short takes

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:41 +0000

Short takes

Quick views on some of the week's news.

These little piggies stayed home

One more time, folks: People are catching H1N1 -- also known as swine flu -- from people, not pigs, though pigs, a cat and a ferret have caught the virus from people. ...

Sculpting an arts and cultural district

Roanoke City Council is looking to deepen its support of the arts. New state legislation allows localities to create arts and cultural districts and offer them a variety of support, including forgoing certain taxes. ...

Speeders no longer need to look up

Virginians, can you keep a secret? Those signs on the highways that warn, "Speed limit enforced by aircraft"? Well, they aren't true anymore. ...

Holmes: Downtown parking

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Downtown development needn't cause a parking nightmare

Jeremy Holmes

Holmes is the program director of RIDE Solutions in Roanoke.

Recent days have seen two interesting developments for downtown Roanoke. The first was the welcome announcement that Ed Walker, father of the Cotton Mill Lofts and the Hancock Building, has purchased the redoubtable Patrick Henry Hotel. Walker made clear in his morning press conference that, whatever else happens with the building, we could count on at least 100 new apartments being at the core of the project, significantly growing downtown's residential capacity.

Saturday's letters to the editor

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:17:20 +0000

Today's letters to the editor take up Mill Mountain, global warming and more.

Weekend open thread

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:08:50 +0000

- American politics. Governors, senators, congressmen... No wonder nothing ever gets done.

- That's what we're going to fix, Mr. Zartan.

What isn't getting done this weekend?

U.S. won't be leading in Copenhagen

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:05:02 +0000

After Barack Obama was elected last year, there was hope around the world that the U.S. might finally assume a leadership position in the fight against global warming. But when the Climate Congress convenes in Copehagen next month, delegates from the United States will have nothing.

The fault lies not with Obama, but with a Democratic Congress that couldn't pass climate legislation in time to demonstrate that the United States is taking the threat seriously and is ready to be a global leader on this most pressing of issues.

Or so we'll argue in an editorial we're writing for Monday.

'If they can take Glenn Beck's burst appendix to save his life ...

Dan Radmacher — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:16:12 +0000

... who's to say they can't take your healthy appendix tomorrow and eat it in front of you and your children?"

Jon Stewart channels Glenn Beck, and it's hilarious:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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www.thedailyshow.com

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Health Care Crisis

Editorial: Make report public for any chance of vindication

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29:37 +0000

Make SOL report public

A principal accused of cheating says testimony clears her. She should release the transcript.

William Fleming High School Principal Susan Willis told a reporter she feels "vindicated" by a hearing into allegations that she manipulated students' schedules in order to boost state Standards of Learning scores. She expects the public to take her word that she did not cheat, despite what state Department of Education officials found. Willis could easily back up the claim that she did nothing wrong by releasing a report by the panel investigating the charges.
Read more.

Editorial: Overstimulating homebuyers

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:27:38 +0000

Stimulating to excess

At great expense, Congress sweetens the deal for homebuyers.

If a family can afford an $800,000 home, could the lack of a $6,500 tax credit really be a deal breaker? Congress must think so as it prepares to spend $10 billion by April to entice not just first-time homebuyers to purchase a house but also existing homeowners to trade up. Granted, the real estate market is still sluggish and could use a little more stimulating. But is it wise for the government to encourage Americans to buy more expensive homes? Isn't that part of what got the nation into this fix?
Read more.

Shomaker: Health care education should include ethics

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:25:58 +0000

Health care isn't just a product

From the RoundTable blog

Read the latest entries

Darrell K. Shomaker
Shomaker, of Pearisburg, teaches bioethics and critical thinking at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke.

The economic recession in the United States appears to be drawing to a close. Despite that encouraging news, the nation's economy continues to lose jobs in traditionally strong sectors such as manufacturing and construction. The health care sector, on the other hand, is adding jobs. Throughout the course of the recession, the health care industry added an average of 8,800 new jobs every month. Consequently, the industry has become known as the "recession-proof" sector of the U.S. economy where displaced workers and recession-motivated career switchers can find good-paying positions with benefits, and most important, job security.

Friday's letters to the editor

The Roanoke Times Editorial Board — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:24:07 +0000

Read Friday's letters to the editor here.