Letters: Transportation plan lacks coherence

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Virginia has a strong tradition of fiscally conservative government, which enabled the state budget to weather the recent recession better than others.  So, why now, as we are emerging from the recession, should Virginia go on a multibillion-dollar borrowing binge for transportation? 

 Gov. Bob McDonnell argues interest rates are at record lows, but our nation and our households certainly got into trouble by overborrowing in a similar low-interest-rate environment.  Virginia runs the risk of wasting its borrowed money. That's particularly true because the governor's "illustrative" project list lacks a coherent approach to our transportation challenges, doesn't address our poor land-use planning and doesn't invest in needed projects for a high energy cost future.

 Instead of tackling the $3.5 billion in structurally deficient bridges, potholed roads and aging transit systems, the plan proposes a laundry list of new projects.  Its top priority is U.S. 460, a $2 billion highway that cannot possibly be justified given our tight finances.  Nor can the Coalfields Expressway in Southwest Virginia.

 Should we really be borrowing to subsidize multinational private toll road builders with $1.5 billion in tax dollars; billions more in low-interest, taxpayer-provided loans; and grants of 75 years' worth of toll revenues for poorly conceived highway projects? 

 If this is really about jobs as the construction industry says, we should be focusing on road maintenance, which generates 16 percent more jobs than new road construction, and transit, which generates 31 percent more jobs, according to professor Arthur C. Nelson, formerly of Virginia Tech.

 The governor's transportation plan takes us away from our traditions of prudent governance at the very time we need to use every last dollar more wisely.

Stewart Schwartz,

executive director,

Coalition for Smarter Growth.

Washington.

Make sure the elderly

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The articles published in Sunday's Moneywise section on preparations for elder care that includes nursing home or assisted living omitted one essential step: As important as it is to have legal and financial plans in place, arrangements should also include personal hands-on advocates. Speaking from the experiences we have had with our aging parents, advocates are beyond essential.

Examples: Had we not arrived when my wife's mother was in a nursing home, she probably would have died, strangling on her own regurgitation, with no one from the staff checking on her, although she had used her call button repeatedly. We called an ambulance ourselves. It happened to be staffed by a crew that told us their firm had picked up other patients the same night. Foodborne illness was said to be the cause (which the nursing home denied).

In the case of my own mother, I happened to make one of my random visits at 9 p.m. on Labor Day eve, to find her abandoned in the dining room. She had been sitting in her wheelchair since the dinner hour and fallen asleep. This event happened at one of the best facilities in the area. An intense discussion with the nursing home staff ensued.

In short, preparations for long-term care must include a family member or trusted friend who is willing to assume the role of advocate. The advocate must be willing to make random visits frequently, as well as the courage and fortitude to confront the nursing home management and shift leaders vigorously, continuously and contentiously if necessary.

Oh, and one more thing: Don't look for Obamacare to fix any of this.

Victor R. Parker.

Ashland.

Who really believes

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Does anyone really believe that blizzards and record freezing temperatures are a result of global warming or that we can get out of debt by increasing spending? Does anyone really believe that health insurance will be more affordable with a few million additional people added to it — and that the federal government will handle it more efficiently?

Does anyone believe that banning private ownership of guns will work better than banning drugs, prostitution and illegal aliens have? And finally, does anyone really believe that choking the working class and businesses to death with higher taxes will stimulate the economy and solve unemployment?

Please, the next time we have a presidential election — think before you vote.

Doug Brown.

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