Letters To The Editor - Letters to the Editor

Letters To The Editor

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 - 12:09 AM

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Tobacco Bill Aids Philip Morris, Not Health

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I am not surprised that Rep. Eric Cantor would support the tobacco bill. Philip Morris has been a good corporate citizen and has much to do with Richmond's progress in the past.

However, your readers should not assume that this bill is a public-health bill. It is not. It is a support-Philip-Morris bill. Despite the support of the AMA, American Lung Association, and others, this bill has been set up to pull the wool over many people's eyes.

The central theory of the bill, that oversight by the FDA would be beneficial, is malarkey. The FDA has much more to oversee than it has staff to carry out its programs, even when the new positions authorized by Congress are filled.

The FDA approves new medicines for distribution to the public upon physician prescription, it oversees food produced and sold in the U.S., or imported from abroad. It is responsible for ensuring that imported pharmaceuticals meet U.S. standards. It is responsible for approving the effectiveness of both medicines and medical equipment. It has no mandate to oversee production of, and over-the-counter distribution of, poisons, which cigarettes certainly are.

All this bill would do is give a perception that cigarettes and other tobacco products are approved for sale by the FDA, but there are no scientific standards available, and there are no standards possible for the control of the various toxins in cigarettes. There is no research possible under the current experimental ethics standards in the U.S. research system.

For detailed analysis of the dangers of the bill please go to the Web site of the American Association of Public Health Physicians at www.aaphp.org and click on the Tobacco Issues link to review the analyses.

Kim Buttery. Richmond.

Editor's note: The writer is a former state health commissioner.

Lobbyists -- a New Health Threat?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Why are 5,000 purple martins in Richmond a tourist attraction while 100 pigeons at the General Assembly are a health hazard? Maybe our legislators' immune systems are compromised by huge amounts of lobbyist money.

S.L. Hutson. Matoaca.

Cyclists Aren't Only Hazard on Rural Roads

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

As a cyclist and motorist, I'm responding to Angela Duke-Haynes' letter, "Cyclists Don't Belong on Rural Roads," wherein she notes the hazards of cyclists on rural roads. With regard to the comment that drivers must "slam on the brakes to avoid cyclists," I note there are many hazards other than cyclists on rural roads that a driver may suddenly encounter, including slow-moving farm machinery, stalled vehicles, animals, children, and sometimes fallen limbs. If one is driving too fast to avoid these hazards, please slow down.

I also wish to comment on recreational cyclists who ride in rural areas. It is important to note that we are guests in these areas and we need to show consideration for motor vehicle traffic as well as obey traffic laws regarding cycling. We can help by avoiding large packs and riding single file when traffic is present. In the event traffic starts to back up, we need to facilitate driver passage, including pulling over when necessary. Discourteous riding leads to complaints from local citizens and poor opinion of our sport.

I agree with Duke-Haynes that cyclists and motorists alike need to voice their opinions to government officials. We need to work together to come up with solutions that support safe travel for motorists and cyclists alike. To quote the old safety slogan, "We're all out here together."

Charles V. Thomas. Richmond.

Driving 55 Isn't The Way to Save Fuel

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The national 55-mph speed limit was widely despised in the 1970s -- and for good reason. Certainly, many individuals ignored it, and states ignored it as well. It was a bad idea then and it's an even worse idea now.

The most obvious reason is that highway fatalities would increase at significant rates, as they did back then. Further, less than 1 percent of total fuel was saved. Measuring the amount of money spent or fuel burned on a given trip at 55 mph versus 65 mph is measuring the wrong number. People rightfully value their time more than fuel. For a commuter, nine minutes each way is 45 minutes a week and 37 and a half hours a year. Personally, I'd rather not spend that in a car. I'd rather be with the kids, the wife, the dogs, or just relaxing.

What we need to do is reduce the need to drive. We can shorten commute times by doing a better job of zoning communities, encouraging businesses to allow telecommuting, and making walking and bicycling an option. Zoning is a long-term challenge and some counties are starting to take a stab at improving things. We need more mixed-use communities where people can walk to work, the store, and school.

It's time Virginia counties penalize developers who build wide expanses of homes with no thought of transportation issues. Provide tax incentives to those who make our lives better by enabling us to get where we need to go on foot.

Richard C. Brosnahan. Richmond.