Sure, we’re smart and prosperous, but some things still turn my crank.
There’s a New Old Dominion afoot. As evidence, Barack Obama is using the state as an economic model for the rest of the country. Virginians, thanks partly to federal money and nudges, are smarter, more prosperous and more productive than ever before. And, they are becoming politically bluer and more moderate than ever before.
Wonderful, but there are still some things that really bug me. For your amusement and just to keep us modest, here’s a list:
Barbecue sandwiches. In Virginia , BBQ isn’t on the level of, say, Eastern North Carolina , but it is perfectly OK. The problem is the buns. They always use these cheap, white hamburger buns that disintegrate when you pick them up. BBQ slops all over your lap. If you have an important meeting after lunch, you end up looking like an incontinent derelict.
Court costs. Have you ever given in to temptation while driving alone in Northern Virginia and gone onto the HOV-3 lanes when it isn’t the legal time yet? At the roadblock, the State Policeman cheerfully hands you the ticket as if you have just won the State Lottery. Of the $120 penalty, most goes to “court costs.” What are those, exactly?
The new state capitol building. After all those millions, the new underground part of Thomas Jefferson’s masterpiece has all the style of an airport terminal. The old amenities are gone, such as Chickens snack bar where you could get hand-squeezed limeades and good Brunswick stew. Gone is the Old South ambience where you could almost hear those seersucker-clad ghosts proclaim that God has a special place for Negroes and that Massive Resistance is a great idea.
For the rest of the list, click on https://www.baconsrebellion.com/Issues08/08-25/Galuszka.php
Peter Galuszka