Well, thank goodness. We are going to have places where people can
stop on the interstate to go to the bathroom again. Whoever wanted to
close those in the first place must not have realized what an
inconvenience that was to have people get off the interstate and spend
money in localities. Heaven forbid we should encourage people to get
off the interstate and create tax revenue, create jobs, generate new
businesses.
And look, all it cost us was a bunch of teaching positions, a lot of
health services, resources such as battered women's centers, mental
health, all of that stuff that is useful to all those lowly citizens.
We've got our agenda right. We're gonna save all that money and put it
into keeping the flow of tourists and trucks going on routes that
bypass most of the state.
Now the world knows that we put toilet paper up there higher than
educating our children. We put public toilets about the needs of our
elderly and ill.
Thank goodness there were no cuts in the budget affecting all those
big businesses though. Heaven forbid that should happen. We would look
un-American!
Oh, yeah....I think it is time to contact all of those Delegates,
Senators, and the Governor to let them know exactly how proud we are of
making sure that our priorities are in order.
Okay, enough sarcasm. I have never been as disgusted with government
in Virginia as I am right now. What I see is a great big political game
being played at the expense of citizens. The "I will not raise taxes"
statement is coming home to roost. If any resources are going to be
available to help with education and social/health services, it is
going to have to come from localities. That means the lower populated
areas are left hanging out to dry. That means the education of our
children will be compromised. Local Free Clinics will be stripped of
funding. It means that those very services that allowed the seriously
ill to remain in their homes will be stripped away and they will be
forced into nursing homes or hospices to live out their lives at a
higher cost. Those higher costs will shift to increased insurance rates
for everybody because the insurance companies sure aren't going to
donate services or eat the costs.
How about a different way to save money. How about all elected
officials give up one year's salary to start with and see what
difference that makes.
Starving the poor while filling their own plates full is not what I voted for...how about you?
Sorry if this has been a bit disjointed, but I am just too angry to
think straight right now. Something needs to be done and the only thing
that can be done is to contact your representatives and let them know
what you think.
To find out who your legislators are: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
House of Delegates Phone List: http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView
State Senator Phone List: http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/$$Viewtemplate+for+WMembershipHome?OpenForm
If you need other ways to contact them, call me 540-382-6431 and I
will help you find what you need if you can't locate it on the Virginia General Assembly website.
Write the contact information down on 5 sheets of paper and give
them to five other people and ask them to call as well. Please do not
be silent on this. Every one of us knows at least one child or adult
who will be negatively affected by these budget cuts. Do it for them
even if you are not directly affected...today. "There, but for the
grace of God, go I."