Impressive...

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Took a ride in West Virginia yesterday and ran across this memorial dedicated to those who have served our country...

This memorial also included those things that have made this country great...

Rockingham County Fair ~2007~ Update...

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Senator George Allen with Chaz evans-Haywood at the Rockingham County Republican Party booth at the fair on Friday. Chaz was the Regional Director for Senator Allen as well as the Regional Representative for Congressmen Bob Goodlatte and knows the workings of Harrisonburg well and is now running for the Clerk of the Court position... http://www.chazforclerk.com/

Daily News Record out of Harrisonburg did an article on the Senator's visit in Saturday's issue: http://dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=11749&CHID=1

Representatives from the area U.S. National Guard recruitment team...

Senator Allen spent additional time at the Rockingham County Republican Party booth meeting and speaking with Fair visitors about the campaign for Chaz and other strong Republicans from the area.

Bridges or Bike Trails???...

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With the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota there has been much discussion on how our bridges, utilities, and infrastructure has gotten into such sad shape. After the Katrina disaster many blamed the government and specifically the President for the failure of the levee’s when in fact it was the local state government that had diverted funds allocated to the levee’s.





It did not take long for the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota being blamed on the President at every opportunity. Thomas Sowell had a interesting article on this subject this week and brings up some very good points…
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2007/08/07/a_bridge_too_far_gone

"The real problem is that the political incentives are to spend the taxpayers' money on things that will enhance politicians' chances of getting re-elected.
There may be enough money available to maintain bridges and other infrastructure but that same money can have a bigger political pay-off if spent building something new instead of maintaining and repairing existing structures."


And at last count how many schools, park benches, and rest stops in West Virginia have Senator Robert Byrd’s (D) name on them? Investors Business Daily had a great article on this same subject this week:

Taxation: "Always ready to use a tragedy to raise taxes, the Democrats want to hike the gas tax in the aftermath of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. The country should be pleased that President Bush rejects the idea. The federal government's most recent highway bill, for instance, authorizes $286 billion in spending.
But don't be fooled. Not all of that money ends up improving our roads. Transportation bills, now legendary for their pork, tend to be larded with expenditures for such nontransportation items as snowmobile safety programs, endangered species habitat protection, heritage centers, music centers, museums, pedestrian walkways and miles of pavement that isn't needed yet serves a politician's lust for votes."

So if a bridge falls in a major city and there is a Democrat in the White House will anybody hear it?

The fact is the local and State politicians have made it an art to spend our tax money on projects that get them re-elected instead of spending that money on more urgent and appropriate projects. A multimillion dollar structure to protect our Virginia politicians from getting rained on while in Richmond comes to mind… Millions of dollars to be invested in a Theater in downtown Waynesboro in a project that will never be able to support itself just as it is reported that another $115,000 in taxpayer money will be going to the Shakespeare project in Staunton.

I understand that numerous people have been pushing for bike paths in our area and require them to be added to roadways and proposed bridges. This was a Hot-topic when I lived in the Florida Keys and after many public meetings the local politicians developed and passed a plan to construct and maintain a bike path from Key Largo all of the 106 miles down to Key West…

"Saturday’s event marked the completion of the Grassy Key Bikeway, spanning mile markers 54.5 to 58.5 bayside. The eight-foot wide Grassy Key Bikeway, completed at a cost of $519,000, is among the initial phases of the multi-million dollar project, made possible by federal transportation funds."
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2002/02-038.htm

There are 42 bridges along Route 1 from Key Largo to Key West and they are a combined total of 18.89 miles long.

Next time you are stuck in traffic and sitting on a bridge behind a school bus full of kids and waiting for traffic to move, think of where your local politician is diverting your tax money and if they are putting their names on it…

Who should pay for this?

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This guy look familiar?

It appears companies are starting to look at those who continue poor health habits and hold them responsible for their actions by requiring them to pay more into their health care programs. The Washington Times had a good article about how companies are starting to address the problem of obese workers who need help in correcting their poor health habits. This includes smokers and other preventable disease. One company will start charging those who smoke an additional $5 per paycheck and as much as $30 for obese workers...

"Firms dock pay of obese, smokers"

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/BUSINESS/108130052/1001

Has anybody noticed that those making the most noise downtown about "Healthcare for All" are those who favor the HR bill that looks to increase the payroll tax for healthcare from 1.5% to 4.5% for both the employee and the employer...

The interesting thing is that many of these "Vocal" people downtown are not payroll taxpayers and the cost of this large aspect of their "Healthcare for All" program would not apply to them.

Along with the large increase in payroll tax HR 676 would tax the top 1% "Rich" an additional 10% to make if "Fair" as they see it. How about instead of increasing taxes on the workers of America we go after the wealth of America and not just the income payer or the top 1% ?

Many of those who call for increased healthcare for all with no deductibles have accumulated a good amount of wealth themselves but since they are retired and no longer pay into payroll or incoome taxes this HR bill would cost them nothing or little.

A very vocal downtowner who is retired and no longer pays payroll taxes is also married to a Doctor and has acquired considerable wealth but yet calls for increased healthcare without a cost increase to themselves. Instead they would rather have the American worker foot that bill in increased payroll taxes or that "Evil Rich Guy"...

Increased payroll taxes would hurt the guy in the photo little and would probably not even touch "The Family Wealth" up in "olde Mass"

Multi-use "Race Card"...

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Leave it to the Democratic Party to develop multiple uses for the "Race Card" that they love to pull out at every opportunity...

“Are you black enough?” asked Malveaux, echoing a question often asked of rival Democratic candidate Barack Obama, who is biracial. “What makes you a better candidate over a black man representing issues confronting African Americans?”

http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2007/08/black-journalis.html

Jeremy Shifflett ~Beverley Manor District~

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I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Jeremy Shifflett for a bit while at the Augusta County Fair this week when he was not actively meeting and talking with County residents and friends. Jeremy is running as the Republican candidate for Augusta County Supervisor of the Beverley Manor district which he has grown up in, developed business, and has been a part of the local community all of his life.

It was interesting to hear how his family has been in the Beverley Manor district for over 60 years and how much of the family has remained in the district and is an integral part of this district community as well as Augusta County. He told me how his Father is a contractor and has focused on building house suited to provide the homeowner opportunity to the first time homeowner. Jeremy’s Father has also been a part of the farm community as well as a Deputy Sheriff for 22 years in Augusta County and the Shifflett family has been vested in the local community in many ways. It is evident that not only Jeremy but his entire family has been a big part of the local community and has seen many changes to the Augusta community from an “Ownership” perspective. This in contrast to the Democrat Candidate who has only moved to the community 3 years ago and has very shallow roots in the community.

Jeremy grew up in the district he is striving to represent and with that many of the people he would represent and has the connections and relationships to know their views on issues. He attended Wilson High School and thus knows many of the local citizens who are the next wave of families and businesses of the Manor district. This is an important factor when representing the people of the district and being able to understand and relate to issues effecting the Beverley Manor district as well as Augusta County as a whole…

Jeremy developed and now operates a Home Inspection business along with being a part of the farm community with his operations in cattle and Hay production. This gives him a personal perspective when it comes to the “Growth” issue in Augusta County and how it effects the citizens of the community. He stated that “Smart Growth” is the key and it would be wise to use and develop the infrastructure we have in the county in the most efficient manner. With Beverley Manor being next to South River he has seen how medium\large manufacturing has come to the area and how it has benefited the community in many ways. Corporations such as Hershey, Mckee Foods, Hollister, and others have moved in and established beneficial operations to the area with little environmental impact by using “Smart Growth” techniques. A perspective that comes from a families lifetime and investment in the community and can’t be understood by a recent transplant with little investment or time spent in the community.

Jeremy has the time and lifelong investment in the local community to understand and relate to changing issues to Augusta County and specifically the Beverley Manor district. I look forward to working with and learning more from him regarding my local community and seeing him elected the next Supervisor for the Beverley Manor district. With that he will become part of a strong Republican team that is also invested in and understands the community that they represent…

Augusta County Fair ~2007~ Friday

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Tractor Pull night at Augusta County Fair and there was a good turnout for this event and general attendance.

Attendance and discussion at the Augusta County Republican booth was also very active with numerous Republican candidates meeting and talking with the citizens of Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro...

Republican Candidate Travis Smithdeal is running for the Supervisor of the Pastures district and met with numerous people who stopped by the Republican booth.

Supervisor Canidates Jeremy Shifflett (Beverley Manor District) and Michael Shull (Riverheads District) worked the booth and were active all night long with numerous discussions with people from their home districts. Many local Republicans have been eager to meet and talk with the Candidates and pledge support in the upcoming election...

It took little time or intensive debate to decide weather to go home and watch the re-runs of the recent Democrat Party debates from last week or go back over to the Tractor-Pull...

Tractor Pull Won !!!

Augusta County Fair 2007...

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The Augusta County Fair is up and running and I took a quick walk around to see the set up and agenda for the next two days. Tractor Pull will be Friday night and weather looks good for that...

Inside the main building I found the Augusta County Republican booth with Delegate Chris Saxman and Supervisor Candidate Jeremy Shifflett who is running for the Beverley Manor seat. Had time to talk with Delegate Saxman about the Transportation "Abuser-fee" issue and told him that I support holding dangerous and reckless drivers responsible for their actions and if hitting them in the pocketbook is what it takes lets do it... Also had sometime to speak with Jeremy and I find him to be a hardworking individual who knows Augusta County well for he has lived her for sometime and is invested in the County and District he wishes to represent...

"MEGA-Mistake" ???

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Remember a year or so back there was a citizen uproar about the "Mega-Site" in Augusta County when there was talk of a foreign carmaker coming to the Valley? Many argued and claimed that this "Mega-site" would destroy the valley and turn the area into a "New Jersey Jr." and life as we know it would cease to exist. In fact I believe one of those arguing this point is now running for County Supervisor in Augusta County...

It seems that foreign carmaker has instead set up shop in another state and is doing very well and took the environmental precautions that they promised... Their local workers, not ours, are happy with the company and the opportunities this manufacturer has brought to "their valley"...

Donald Lambro has some interesting facts and quotes in his commentary that appeared in the Washington Times last week...

"But last week House Democrats announced they were going to pay for a bloated, waste-ridden farm bill by raising taxes on "insourcing" companies operating in the U.S., mostly nonunion businesses that employ Americans who pay the bills in this country and keep the U.S. economy humming."

"Foreign firms doing business in the U.S. employ more than 5.1 million Americans in high-paying jobs (like Toyota, Honda, BMW) that on average pay workers $63,428 annually, 32 percent more than other U.S.-based jobs."

"That's why Mr. Paulson stressed at his briefing last week "how important [direct foreign investment] is to us, to our country. This is key. We have 5 million jobs in this country that are directly related to [foreign] investment. We've got another 5 million that are indirectly related to that."

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070802/COMMENTARY05/108020013/1012

Different reactions to a situation...

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Three different reactions to an incident I observed last week while at Smith Mountain Lake...

I posted my observations and incident description over at the Rescue Dive Team blog site at:

http://ptrescuedive.blogspot.com/