All Things West Virginian

The leader of Group A told his aides he thought they ought to build a road.  So they assembled the group and handed out talking points for the upcoming rally.  The talking points included (a) the fact that building the road would create jobs, (b) people could ride quickly rather than walk, (c) if a person was ill or injured an ambulance could use the road and (d) people could establish businesses along the road.

The leader of Group B heard about the planned road, talked to his aides, assembled his group and handed out their talking points.  These included (a) people could get injured building the road because of all the blasting and heavy equipment, (b) accidents will happen on the road and people will die or be seriously injuried, (c) building the road will destroy natural habitat for animals and (d) dust and noise will accompany the construction.

At the rally Group A people held signs and chanted "We need jobs", "Help the Ill and Injured" and "Pro Business Pro Road."  Group B had signs too and chanted "Road Building Kills", "Don't Let Our Children Die - Stop the Road" and "Save the Environment - No Road."

Two visitors on a nearby hill were watching all this.  "Can they afford to build the road?"  "No." "Is there a need for the road?"  "Not really.  The traffic would be minimal."  "Why are they doing this?" "It's what political parties do."

 

How can all the nations of the world come together at the Olympics and create a wonderful, friendly and cooperative event when the governments of the world can't seem to agree on anything productive?  I guess the interests of your country are more serious than a gold medal but I still feel that somehow we are not communicating globally.

How could health care reform become such a train wreck?  When I saw Speaker Pelosi calling incremental change something about an "insy weensy spider" I saw part of the answer.  Then she said the existing bill was really bipartisan even if no Republicans voted for it because it had "Republican elements" either in it or omitted from it.  Now that is pure spin.  I have come to the conclusion that Congress is a large part of the problem.  We desperately need leadership not showmanship. 

Here in West Virginia there is an ad to "reform PEIA" sponsored by teachers and unions.  At the end it says something like "an worst of all employees being hired now have no health care benefits at retirement."  I find that offensive.  My employer is not providing me with health care when I retire and I bet that is true of most of the folks out there.   

Tracey Porter (key pick against Colts and against Minnesota) should be the MVP.  Great game.  The loss of a 100% Dwight Freeney hurt the Colts.  Amazing thing about the game was how few penalties there were and how few sacks.  Any game which is still competitive to the end is a great game no matter who wins and who loses. 

 

 

 

 

 

Good grief.  The night after the Pitt game, ESPN covered Kansas, Georgetown and WVU.  All they talked about with WVU was the deplorable behavior of West Virginia "fans."  Talk about bad publicity!

Easy remedy for this.  Put video cameras on the fans (no invasion of privacy there - the TV cameras are always scanning and showing the crowd) and then announce that anyone caught on tape throwing something from the stands will be (a) expelled if they are a student and (b) arrested if they are not.  Morgantown city council may need to pass an ordinance to get (b) in place.

Too harsh?  I don't think so.

P.S.  The University may want to do the same thing at football games.  We gave up season tickets years ago because it was just too depressing to sit around WVU "fans" who are basically obnoxious drunks.

Political gridlock and partisanship run amuck may be slowly dissolving.  What is happening is more and more Americans are registering independent.  The percentage of Democrats and Republicans is eroding.  This should result in more and more politicians realizing that hard line party positions will not longer work if they want to be re-elected.  About time if you ask me.

Former WV Supreme Court Justice "Spike" Maynard has become a Republican and has decided to run against Nick Joe Rahall for Congress.  Now that corporations can promote issues and candidates without limits or restrictions other than disclosure of the source of funds, it should be "interesting" to see how Massey and Don Blankenship choose to become or choose not to become involved in this campaign. 

I am told if one adds up the numbers on a roulette wheel, the total is ..........  666.

The fact health care reform can be derailed with a switch in one vote is a bad sign.  Something as important as this needs more than a razor thin method of passing.  Why would our politicians make such a mess of something this important?  The real tragedy is that I sense there is broad support for some improvements to health care.  But now those good features may be lost to the arrogance of politicians who appear to adopt the creed "my way or the highway."  We as Americans deserve better than this.  Our leaders (this includes the president, the Democratic leaders and the Republican leaders) should be ashamed of themselves. 

 

Why are folks so afraid of speech?  Hollywood can advertise a bad movie all they want - it will still flop at the box office. Remember Ishtar? Candidate A outspends Candidate B and yet Candidate B wins - it happens all the time in every election cycle.  What disturbs me most is this  automatic distinction some folks have between corporations (bad actors) and people (good actors).  Apparently anything that a corporation supports is without further consideration to be opposed as bad and evil.  Where this comes from is beyond me.  I guess the problem lies in the fact that almost everyone has been frustrated to the point of wanting to scream in dealing with a credit card company, a bank, a hospital, a phone company, an airline, etc.  But on the other hand we have all run into people who are dangerous, evil, mean-spirited, ignorant, hateful and abusive.  Corporations and people should be judged on their actions not on whether they are a corporation or the holder of a birth certificate.   The bedrock of our democracy is two-fold.  It consists of common sense and fairness.  Americans don't "buy" doublespeak nonsense whether it comes from corporate American or individual leaders.  Americans also want the underdog to get a chance to succeed whether that is a small corporate business or a talented human being willing to work and strive.   

politics is one of the few areas where telling the truth can be (a) unwise, (b) get you in trouble and (c) cause you to lose a race or be impeached?