Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Memo to Daily Press: Just Endorse Potts Now

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

It is obvious that the tax-happy folks at the Newport News Daily Press are behind Russ Potts. They need to end the charade of being open-minded observers of this gubernatorial campaign and formally endorse the Winchester Senator.

The DP‘s latest editorial whines over Potts’ exclusion from tomorrow’s debate. They print Potts’ responses to a few softball questions.

Undoubtably, the Daily Press will comment on the actual debate responses of Kaine and Kilgore. They can redeem themselves if they also compare and contrast the questions asked those two and the questions/responses of their man Potts. I can’t imagine Kaine or Kilgore being any more vacuous and repetitive than this:

Everything has to be on the table including public-private partnerships, land use policies, private toll roads, private ownership of highways, which has proven to be successful in Holland and Belgium, mass transit and rail. Everything has to be on the table. My plan will be presented to the General Assembly early in 2006, and we will call a special session to address the transportation crisis, and I will keep the delegates and senators there until we vote our plan up or down. Everything does have to be on the table ….[italics mine]

Of course, we know that some things aren’t on the table because Potts doesn’t want to use general fund money for transportation and he doesn’t want any regional transportation solutions. But everyting has to be on the table!

Update: Norm at the real Potts Truth Squad is back from vacation and is all over this in much more detail than I provided. Welcome back, Norm, it’s been lonely ….

Share this article

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

Comments

  1. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    I’m fascinated to see that Potts concedes that “land use policies” are one of the things that need to be on the table. Whether he truly understands the interaction between transportation and land use is an open question. But it’s a sign of progress when the strongest proponent of the build-more-roads philosophy acknowledges that land use policies need to be addressed.

  2. Will Vehrs Avatar
    Will Vehrs

    Jim, at least you’re not swooning like you did when Tim Kaine mentioned land use …

  3. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    The reason I’m not swooning over Russ Potts is that he mentioned land use peripherally. By contrast, Kaine made it a centerpiece of his transportation plan, and it’s evident that he’s actually thought about the subject.

  4. Norman Avatar
    Norman

    Ah, but Potts sensed that the idea made at least some people weak in the knees…that’s why he let fly the grappling hooks. He may not grasp what land use means (other than land is never useful unless it’s paved), but it sounds good. And that’s enough for him.

  5. TheModerate Avatar
    TheModerate

    The Daily Press’ love affair with Potts is obvious and it’s likely due to the fact that they are located in Hampton Roads, which is facing a severe transportation crisis.

    Trust me, I don’t like taxes anymore than you folks. That much is certain.

    Here’s a scenario:

    When I commute around NOVA and it takes me an hour and thirty minutes to go 20 miles, that’s a problem.

    It also cuts into my earning potential because I make less sales calls due to traffic and spend less time with my family.

    So the government doesn’t tax my money. They tax my time which costs me money and my quality of life because they won’t fix the roads – what’s the difference between this and a tax?

  6. Will Vehrs Avatar
    Will Vehrs

    I’d ask you, Moderate, what specific project(s) will allow you to cover more ground and spend less time in traffic.

    Will the additional time you will presumably lose while these projects are in progress and backing up traffic be made up down the road when the projects open up? Can you be sure that by the time they open up they will actually live up to their promise to speed your trips?

  7. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    Moderate, There is a big difference between incurring costs in time (as frustrating as I know they must be) and being taxed. When you’re taxed, you have no recourse. You cannot avoid income tax (unless you choose to make no income, not very likely) or avoid paying sales tax (unless you choose to buy nothing), or avoid paying property tax (unless you choose to own no property). By contrast, you do have options for obtaining the access and mobility you need to do your sales job. You can spend more time working the phones. You can teleconference. You can move your residence closer to the center of your sales-call nexus. You can rearrange your sales calls to different hours of the day. When you’re taxed, you are coerced. When you suffer congestion, no one is coercing you. I see a big difference.

  8. TheModerate Avatar
    TheModerate

    Jim, all very good points, many of which I utilize whenever I get a chance. Here is my rub, I pay income tax, sales tax, property tax, a gas tax, etc. and the situation doesn’t get better, it gets worse.

    A tax also refers to, “A burdensome or excessive demand; a strain.” In my opinion, if it takes an hour and thirty minutes to go 20 miles (every day) that is a burdensome and excessive demand, or a strain.

    Will, three major projects, 1) Widen I-66 to all the way to Gainesville. The current widening only addresses half of the problem. 2) Extend Metro to Dulles & Tysons Corner. 3) Build another crossing over the Potomac between VA & MD.

    I don’t know if the time I will presumably lose while these projects are in progress will be made up down the road when the projects open up.

    Similarly, I don’t know if Iraq is ever going to be a fully functioning democracy, free of terrorists, but that’s the chance you take.

Leave a Reply

Read More