Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

  • Virginia Police Shooting Incidents Up 43% in 2022

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    James A. Bacon

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    by James A. Bacon

    Along with the surge in homicides and assaults on police officers, the number of police shootings in Virginia jumped 43% last year, according to data from the Virginia State Police 2022 Crime in Virginia report. The shootings resulted in 22 fatalities, up from 18 the previous year.

    The increase since 2019, the year before the George Floyd riots unleashed a wave of anti-police denunciations, anti-racism rhetoric, and criminal-justice “reforms” designed to reduce mass incarceration, amounted to 79%.

    That raises a critical question: how is it possible that, despite all the media attention, all the police cultural sensitivity indoctrination, all the de-escalation training, and all the other criminal-justice “reforms” in Virginia, officer shootings increased so markedly over three years? Have none of the reforms worked? Or could the left-of-center critics of policing, who have driven the policy changes, be overlooking something?

    Police-shooting incidents need to be viewed in a larger context. Although general crime rates have remained stable or even declined since 2019, the number of homicides has spiked by 73% and the number of assaults on officers has jumped 41%. I would suggest that these numbers are related. (more…)

  • State Flags are Going Woke. Is Virginia’s Next?

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    Bob Rayner

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    by Anna Jankowski

    In the midst of America’s ongoing culture war, it is widely recognized that the left comprehends (and exploits) the profound influence that American history, values and tradition exert on its citizens. Cancel culture has rapidly infiltrated public discourse, leaving state flags as its next target.

    From Maine to Utah, left-leaning activists are spearheading efforts to redesign numerous state flags. In 2021, Mississippi removed Confederate imagery from its flag entirely, while Minnesota established an “emblem redesign commission” in May 2023 to eliminate depictions of Native Americans from its seal and flag. Furthermore, Massachusetts is considering a change in its flag to promote gender equality, contemplating replacing one of the two male figures with a female representation.

    What charges could the left level against the Virginia state flag? The Virginia flag and seal were created in 1776 in the aftermath of the War for Independence but was not officially adopted as a flag until Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861. The seal has gone through minor changes in the 150 years since it was adopted, but the basic form of the flag remains constant.

    The seal features an Amazon maiden (representing Virtue) standing triumphant over a fallen king. The motto “sic semper tyrannis” (Thus always to tyrants) and a decorative border complete the seal.

    This imagery was an expression of the revolutionary spirit present during the War for Independence and later the Civil War. Jokingly, it was said that “sic semper tyrannis” could be translated as ‘get your foot off my neck.” (more…)

  • Perspective Needed on the State Crime Report

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    The 2022 increase in the Virginia crime rate in all categories except drugs reported by Jim Bacon in an earlier article on this blog is indeed worrisome.

    In the short term, crime rates can fluctuate. However, Virginia, and the nation, have experienced an overall decrease in crime rates over past two decades or so.  If the increases over the past couple of years continue, at some point in the future, statisticians will be able to say that the overall trend line has significantly changed and will point to this period as the point at which something happened to change the overall trend in the crime rate.

    There are some on this blog who blame the rise in the crime rate on changes in criminal laws and policies, such as early release of offenders from prison, reducing bond requirements for nonviolent defendants, progressive prosecutors pursuing social justice objectives, etc.  They offer no evidence to substantiate the relationship of these changes, to the extent they actually exist, to the increase in the crime rate.  In effect, their claims are based on their personal ideological predisposition.  I could offer a set of proposals for the increase in the crime rate that would differ substantially from that offered by these other commentators.  However, I would have no evidence to back up my claims, either.  Therefore, I will desist. (more…)

  • Jeanine’s Memes

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    James A. Bacon

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    From The Bull Elephant

  • “The Worst Tour of the 14 Colleges We Have Been on This Year”

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    James A. Bacon

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    A UVa college tour, circa 2019. Photo credit: UVA TODAY

    by James A. Bacon

    This past April a University of Virginia alumna took her son for a tour of the university conducted by a student-run organization, the University Guide Service. The woman had been a University Guide herself 25 years previously, an activity that accounted for some of her best memories and most enduring friendships at UVa. “We prided ourselves on the Guide Service being all volunteer, student led, and unaffiliated with the Admissions Office,” she wrote in an evaluation form obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

    The alumna and her son, a high school junior, made the rounds of some 14 universities this spring. As a former Guide, she wrote, “naturally I expected the Virginia admissions tour to be head and shoulders above the tours at other schools. Unfortunately, I was completely wrong and so disappointed.”

    It’s important for university guides to be candid and honest, she wrote, but one also expects them to represent their institution in a positive light. “A prospective student should come away with the impression that the guide loves the school and is proud of it.” Sadly, her guide was negative and apologetic about the school. She complained about the large class sizes, the terrible advising system, the lousy food, and inadequacies of the mental health services. (more…)

  • Assaults on Virginia Police Up 62% Last Year

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    by James A. Bacon

    Alongside the continued rise in the number of homicides in Virginia, the year 2022 saw a dramatic increase in the number of assaults on police. Two officers were killed and 2,903 assaulted, according to data released by the Virginia State Police in its 2022 Crime in Virginia report.

    The number of injuries spiked as well: 703 officers experiencing minor injuries and 61 suffering major injuries ranging from severe lacerations and broken bones to internal injuries and loss of consciousness.


    (more…)

  • Bacon Meme of the Week

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    James A. Bacon

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  • No Clarity In This Process

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Here is another example of the utter inanity of this country’s medical care system and its financing.

    First, some background.  I am covered by Medicare.  I also have a Medicare supplement insurance policy issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for retirees, administered by Anthem. (Good deal, by the way.)  I chose to include the vision and dental coverage on the Anthem policy.

    Like almost everyone my age, I have developed cataracts.  A couple of years ago, an ophthalmologist told me that I qualified for cataract surgery, but that the cataracts had not progressed to the point that such surgery was highly recommended.  I chose to put it off.

    Today, I went in for my annual eye exam.  As I was checking in, the staff at the Virginia Eye Institute (VEI) went to great lengths to explain that a refraction (the process of determining whether I need the prescription of my glasses changed) was not covered by insurance and that I would be responsible for the $70 if I chose refraction.  I even had to sign a form acknowledging that I had been informed of this. (more…)

  • VRS “Diet COLA” Squeezes Pensions Second Time

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    Steve Haner

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    by Steve Haner

    Virginia’s “Diet COLA” approach to calculating annual inflation increases to Virginia Retirement System pensions has constrained the increases once again.  Beneficiaries will see a benefit increase of 5% effective July 1, up from the 3.85% increase they received a year ago.

    Both are below what they would have been if the increase had simply matched the full annual change in the consumer price index. The CPI-U measure of inflation for the calendar year 2021 was 4.7% and for 2022 was 8.0%.  The compounded rise was 13%.  But instead of rising those amounts, the VRS retirement benefits will have risen less than 10% over two years.  (Those figures have been corrected since the initial posting.)   (more…)

  • Compromise and Subtlety are Becoming Dirty Words

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore

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    Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus

    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    For those on this blog who are still lamenting the actions taken by “progressive” Democrats in the 2020 and 2021 General Assembly sessions, it might turn out that you ain’t seen nothing yet.

    In the Senate, several members of that Democatic caucus are retiring or have moved on to Congress (Jennifer McClellan) and will be replaced with younger members. Furthermore, as described in today’s Washington Post, three incumbent Senate Democrats are being pushed hard by primary opponents. The opponents’ beef is not on policy. Rather, they contend the incumbents were not progressive enough, were not aggressive enough, and were too willing to compromise with Republicans. As Heidi Drauschak, who is challenging Sen. Dave Marsden (Fairfax), put it, “We just haven’t been bold enough.” (more…)

  • What Hath Wokeness Wrought?

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    James A. Bacon

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    by James A. Bacon

    The surge in homicides in Virginia continued unabated for the third straight year in 2022, with number of deaths from homicide and non-negligent manslaughter reaching 621.

    The homicide epidemic in Virginia disproportionately affected Blacks. Blacks accounted for 90% of the increase in the number of murder victims since 2019, the year before the George Floyd protests sparked an outbreak of lawlessness, a crescendo of anti-police rhetoric, and a wave of legislation designed to reduce Black incarceration rates.

    The toll in Black bodies has increased from 253 in 2019 to 436 last year, a three-year increase of 183 victims and a one-year increase of 54. By contrast, the number of White murder victims climbed from 157 in 2019 to 173 the following year and has plateaued at that level since.

    The latest data from the Virginia State Police compiled in the 2022 Crime in Virginia Report demolishes the argument proffered by many on the left a year or two ago that the spike in homicides could be attributed to COVID-related lockdowns rather than the wave of leftist rhetoric and public policy changes.

    The COVID hypothesis was never credible to begin with — the lockdowns affected everyone, but the jump in homicides occurred overwhelmingly in the Black community, was muted among Whites, and was invisible among Asians. (The report did not break out Hispanics as a separate racial category.) But the continued increase in homicides among Blacks in 2022 after the lockdowns ended indicates that something besides COVID was responsible. (more…)

  • Countering the VEA… on a Shoestring Budget

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    James A. Bacon

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    The Internet ad displayed above, produced by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, reached 12,000 Virginia teachers. The return on the modest investment has been impressive. Says Co-President Chris Braunlich: “Inquiries about alternative educator associations are pouring in. Some have already cancelled their union membership (taking $700 in annual dues with them).”
    — JAB

  • Light Rail: Idiotic Idea In 2016. Idiotic Idea Now.

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    Robin Beres

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    by Kerry Dougherty

    Virginia Beach voters THOUGHT they drove a stake through the heart of the absurd plan to bring light rail to the city after an overwhelming vote in 2016 against the nutty, developer-driven boondoggle.

    But never underestimate cultists with an agenda. You know, developers who believe taxpayers have a duty to open their wallets to help THEM get rich. Or climate kooks who don’t understand a cost/benefit analysis.

    No surprise, then, they’re back. Some shadowy online group is beginning to push a bad idea that was buried in a landslide 7 years ago.
    (more…)

  • Cash On Hand Determining Outcomes in Virginia Senate Primaries

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    Robin Beres

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    by Shaun Kenney

    On 20 June, Virginians in both political parties will be selecting their nominees for the November elections to the General Assembly.

    Virginia Democrats seem to be caught in a literal death spiral of trying to out-abortion one another, as flyers are going about accusing certain candidates of being “pro-life” while others proudly announce their fanatical desire to stack the dead baby pile higher than their opposition.

    Meanwhile, Virginia Republicans as an electorate seem to be keeping to the Buckley Rule, nominating the most conservative candidates that can win in the November general election. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more contested seats in Virginia (gratuitously stolen numbers from our friends at the Virginia Political Newsletter):

    SD-12:
    • Amanda Chase (R)
    — $100,026 raised
    –$19,199 cash on hand
    • Glen Sturtevant (R)
    — $203,945 raised
    — $112,882 cash on hand
    • Tina Ramirez (R)
    –$218,281 raised
    — $31,991 cash on hand
    (more…)

  • Men Need Not Apply

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    James A. Bacon

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    Mark J. Perry

    by James A. Bacon

    Mark R. Perry, a senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), has filed 841 complaints over the years against universities whose policies and practices discriminate against men. So far, the Office of Civil Rights has opened 28 investigations just based on more than 100 complaints he’s filed for Do No Harm, a Virginia-based organization formed to fight identity politics in medical schools.

    In one of his earlier complaints, filed in 2018 against UVa’s Darden School of Business, Perry argued that the existence of eight scholarships (and an external fellowship) reserved exclusively for women violated the school’s own internal discrimination policies.

    UVa argued that the scholarships were “independently selected, funded, and awarded by the UVA Darden School Foundation, and do not involve federal or state funds.” Because the female-only scholarships were privately funded, the university argued, they didn’t violate UVa’s internal anti-discrimination policy.

    Perry didn’t buy it. “I thought it was a weak defense given the fact that the Darden School Foundation is physically located in the Darden School of Business and uses UVA Darden emails and UVA Darden phones, etc…. It’s probably the case that the Darden School and NOT the Darden School Foundation decides on who gets the scholarships. In that case, UVA is administering the scholarships and that would violate Title IX.” He recently re-filed the complaint, originally lodged with the university’s Title IX office, with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

    In previous posts, I remarked upon the 56/44 ratio of women to men at the University of Virginia and asked why, at a university dedicated to “equity,” such an unbalanced sex ratio would prevail. The reasons are unclear. Any analysis based upon publicly available data leaves many unanswered questions. But two things are indisputable: (1) UVa provides many women-only scholarships, awards and programs; and (2) the administration has evinced no concern about the gender imbalance or discrimination against males. (more…)