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Today's Opinions

  • Sav A Lab thanks Galax clinic

    Save A Lab thanks the Galax Veterinary Clinic for support of our efforts to rescue Labradors and Labrador‑mix dogs in Carroll and Grayson counties.
    The clinic and staff have gone above and beyond in providing care to these dogs.
    Galax Vet Clinic takes our dogs, boards them, spays or neuters the dogs, treats for parasites, fleas, ticks, and microchips them.
    Yes, we pay for these services. But the clinic goes way beyond routine vet care for these homeless and very often emotionally-needy dogs.

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  • Time to bury the past

    The moribund Hillsville Rescue Squad will soon go to its final reward, but the former non-profit volunteer organization deserved a more dignified death than one that lingered for eight years.
    It brings to mind a shuffling zombie, still somehow ambulatory but just a shell of its former self.
    The first attempt to kill the rescue squad came as far back as 2004.
    That’s when Carroll County officials padlocked the rescue squad station on Main Street in Hillsville after it came to light that a member used an ambulance to move furniture from Smyth County.

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  • Pay attention to debates

    The Gazette’s Sept. 3 “Vote Smart” editorial rightly invokes the important obligation for every voter to be objectively informed before going to the polls.
    Unfortunately, two (not so subtle, but hopefully unintentional) examples of the very bias the editorial would have us avoid are the out of context quotes, widely used in anti‑Obama rhetoric, that were included in the second paragraph of the piece.
    The fact that those quotes came from speeches made in Virginia is incidental to the nominal theme of the editorial.

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  • Clearing up SWVTC misinformation

    I would like to clear up some misinformation regarding the closure of Southwestern Virginia Training Center.
    Contrary to reports by some news sources and the state, the final consent decree issued by Judge John Gibney does not require the closure of any training center!  
    More importantly, Judge Gibney insisted on changes to the original agreement protecting the legal rights of residents.

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  • Medical bills were too expensive

    Not long ago I had a back problem. Probably could have gotten over it on my own, but I was hurting so bad I went to the Galax hospital.
    They did absolutely nothing that helped me. But they did do what hospitals do best.
    They gave me a big fat bill of $3,582.06 for staying about two to three hours and doing a few vastly overpriced services. Plus $989 for some doctor who I guess got paid to authorize their “services.”
    He finally said, “We don’t see anything,” and sent me to Baptist Hospital.

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  • Veterans support memorial

    I want to address the caller’s concern in the Sept 5. Readers’ Hotline regarding the cost of the Veterans’ Memorial.
    I find it exciting and a blessing that a large part of the fundraising success has been from the veterans, and their families themselves who have bought granite pavers to honor and memorialize their beloved veteran.
    It is an ongoing opportunity to support the memorial.
    We invite everyone to celebrate our success on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, when we dedicate the first seven monuments, and honor our World War II veterans.

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  • Vote smart this year

    A recent graphic on a political website showed that, second only to Ohio, Virginia is the state most likely to decide the 2012 presidential election.
    Virginia has already been a key state during the campaign, with President Obama’s “You didn’t build that” speech in Roanoke becoming the source of a Republican rallying cry, and Vice President Biden’s “They goin’ put y’all back in chains” tirade in Danville being another example of Joe being Joe.

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  • Ryan's Medicare plan a proven failure

    Rep. Paul Ryan has proposed to replace Medicare with vouchers for future generations, stating that competition among private sector plans will bring down healthcare costs.
    Why does he think that will work, given that we have had private sector competition for 30-plus years, resulting in ever-escalating costs and millions of our fellow citizens uninsured?
    This has even been tried with the Medicare population. According to the New York Times, “Medicare Advantage is a 15-year failed experiment in privatization.

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