Comments for Virginia Talks

Comment on Warner Illuminates Light Bulb Debate by Peterk

Peterk — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:17:46 +0000

not sure what “broad bipartisan support” Warner is referring to. IIRC the public was not really in favor of this and has more information has come out about CFLs the public realizes that they got screwed. this bill was passed back when the powers that be were heavy into AGW, now they realize it was a bunch of bunk.

this bill is one reason why I no longer call myself a Republican, but only refer to myself as a conservative. This was a self-serving bill for the folks at GE who couldn’t compete against cheaper foreign incandescent bulbs and who had bet the farm on CFLs and they only way that CFLs would work is if incandescents were “banned”. True the law doesn’t technically “ban” them, but considered the requirements placed upon them it effectively does ban them

Comment on Virginia’s Focused on Creating Jobs by Rob Smith, III

Rob Smith, III — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:58:45 +0000

“[F]ree exchange of trade”? Is that why there are new taxes (1% of receipts a year for distributors, another on businesses and restaurants that want to buy directly from distilleries, and a $17.80/gallon excise tax) in the ABC proposal? And what about the starting bid prices of $100k for small businesses? Hardly a “free exchange of trade.”

Comment on Smoother Roads Ahead by Pulliam

Pulliam — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:51:22 +0000

Why has no one yet questioned the VDOT Commissioner Whirley about this ‘found” money? He was in a responsible VDOT position and did not know ? If he did, why did he not get to the Governor ASAP ? If he did, why was an audit needed ? Where is the inquisitive press ? Something seems rotten in VDOTmark ?

Comment on A Way Yet to Win War on Drugs by WOODBUTCHER

WOODBUTCHER — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:44:18 +0000

As much as i agree we need to stop arresting over 800′000 people every year for cannabis and the rest for hard drugs i think we to just let people grow any dgrug they wish or can if it comes form a pharmacy like opiates and stimulants etc. then a doctors supervision and script should be required but never denied. that way the people who are using these substances can be gently streered into treatment at a pace they can handle.I am a recovering heroin/cocaine addict and am well aware that what we are now doing is a total failure and that the only people who continue to support the war on drugs are those who are profitting from it . Cops judges who own private prisons the feds and dealers and lawyers and bankers who launder the ill gotten gains but from my own experiance i know that it would be far safer to have a doctor monitor the use of opiates and stimulants than to just allow their sale . like i said as far as cannabis or mushrooms etc if you can grow it then it should be no ones business but the harder pharma drugs really should be monitored . Canada nad many oter countrys have all ready experimented with this type of program and have had excellent results in getting people the help they need and back to work and rebuilding their lives and relationships with the familys and loved ones. god help us all if we choose to continue on the road we are know on because this war will never be won not even the most draconian mesures have stopped drug use in other countrys it surely wont here

Comment on Can a Referendum Decide Basic Rights? by Rob Sterling

Rob Sterling — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:18:18 +0000

Marriage is a social convention recognized and formalized by the state as a contract between two individuals. The article above conflates society and state, but they are not the same thing.

There is strong support for the idea of civil unions across both political parties and the citizens of most U.S. states. Civil union laws and proposals vary from state to state, but in general they are contracts that strongly resemble marriage and contain all of the financial and legal features of marriage contracts. Gay rights groups, however, often reject civil unions as an insufficient remedy.

The reason for the rejection, in my opinion, is that gays want the state to abolish lingering social stigma against gay sex and force people to view gay relationships as the equal of straight relationships. That’s an authoritarian goal, and besides which it would be fore-doomed to failure. You can’t pass a law to change the way people think.

Comment on So Sue Us by Pulliam

Pulliam — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:41:22 +0000

Does not sound as if Ms. Sherrod’s career is ruined. She got 15 minutes of fame and a promotion offer. However, most folks don’t end up as well. Freedom of speech does not extend to slander or libel but policing it in cyberspace is a major task as no filter can discern between fact and fiction.

Comment on Prove the Profitability of College Sports by pulliam

pulliam — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:28:06 +0000

University Presidents and Boards of Visitors have sold their souls to athletic departments. See the recent breakup of the Big 12 and assumption of their teams by the Pac 10 and Big 10. The Knight Commission has highlighted a student / athlete disparity little known to most folks but, frankly, less cared about by most fans. Who cares whether kids learn anything, just get us to the Bowl on time. The Presidents have little to cheer about in their concessions to prima donna faculty on tenure and “publish or perish”.

Comment on Oil Spill: Obama’s Category 5 Disaster by Pulliam

Pulliam — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:19:25 +0000

Exactly what do we expect the “Government” to do if it “takes command” ? Our Governments at all levels lack the expertise to address a highly technical mess. Who helped San Francisco with its earthequake or Chicago with the fire? Both Atlanta and Richmond were burned in 1864-65.

It can deploy its available resources to supplement whatever else might be available. The Government serves us best when it establishes and enforces appropriate regulations and offers an appropriate response if it can know what that is. Even then, it requires the affected citizens to say what’s needed. Where is private sector ?

Comment on Politics Before Patients by jroop

jroop — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:49:55 +0000

Here’s the latest from the attorney general:

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=003600BFC49A40DC9FCB03799B42CB2F

Comment on Politics Before Patients by pulliam

pulliam — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:42:56 +0000

To be sure – Mr. Cuccinelli seems to think he was elected Attorney General of the United States. He – regrettably – is an idealogue which is substantially different from a person with ideas.