Va. Gov. Mark Warner (D, but gun totin’) on the
upcoming referendum to raise transportation taxes
in Northern Virginia:
The opposition continues to throw up arguments that I don’t think carry a lot of water, but they constantly try to plant a seed of doubt.”
With support like that, no wonder it’s in trouble.
If Northern Virginia is required to levy its own taxes in order to support needed infrastructure improvements, while the rest of the state receives a net-inflow of revenue from that same region, then perhaps Richmond should start preparing to lose a few more counties in addition to those it lost as a result of deciding to secede from the Union in 1861.
I was criticizing the metaphor, not the merits, but you do mention an interesting possibility. Perhaps based on the model of that North Carolina Congressional district that was created a while ago (subsequently thrown out, I think) where geographically distant areas in the same district were linked by a long strand of highway, perhaps Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, et. al. could in fact join their departed cousins in the renamed state of “West and Northern Virginia.” As Will Rogers once said of the Okie migration to California, it would raise the collective I.Q. of both areas. (I say this as someone who lived happily in Northern Virginia for many years.)
I dunno John, I think Warner might have a point. How’s the seed of doubt supposed to grow if the opponents refuse to carry a lot of water to it? He almost makes (accidental) sense.
Aaron: Warner having a point? Now there’s food for thought (if you’re on a starvation diet?. No, that’s not fair; Warner’s actually a pretty good guy and governor, especially for a Democrat). Of course, the reason the opposition arguments don’t carry much water (if such be the case) may simply be that we’ve been experiencing a very severe drought. I mean really severe, as in no watering the Hartru tennis courts at the sports club etc. And it is hard to plant seeds on stony ground. We’ll see Tuesday whether any sprouted. Glad I don’t have to vote on that one.
I’m having problems displaying your style sheet – maybe because I’m running safari on OSX?