The Commonwealth Iconoclast

Reflections on the New Year

2008-01-02T16:17:00.000-05:00

Wow, what happened to the year 2007? As they say… time sure does fly…

I guess that is what happens when one is having fun.

Here we are now looking down the barrel of a brand new year.

So, what is new for us to examine here at the Iconoclast in the new year?

A return of cheap gas? Fogettaboutit!

Presidential primaries… the Party conventions… the November elections? Yep… almost no way to avoid it unless we move into a cave for the next year.

The writers strike? Will they go back to work? Or does it even matter? With few exceptions, can TV programming actually get much worse? Who really knows?

More shameless lack of political principles and backbone in the General Assembly regarding the payday lending issue? Probably.

More lack of real solutions to the Virginia transportation funding crisis? Maybe some bright legislators can think of something better than last year's silly gimick of gouging Virginia divers under the trumped up guise of “highway safety measures”.

Peace in the Middle East? One would hope but I'm not very optimistic.

World peace? Mmmmm… I guess that depends on where you happen to be hanging your hat. We in America will still enjoy relative peace and safety in the coming year and for the foreseeable future. But beware of politicians promising perfect safety. It is a false promise. The world is still a dangerous place.

A meaningful reform of health care system in the United States or at least some progress? Maybe. With all these "boomers" approaching that health critical age, the politics might actually start to respond.

More boneheaded poor judgment by public officials in high offices at every level of government from the White House, through the halls of Congress, the state houses across America and right down to our city halls and county courthouses? Almost certainly.

It is said that there is nothing new under the sun. I tend to believe that this is true. Most of the important issues of the past year or even the past decade are still with us. Maybe we can say that there has been some progress on some fronts. But, too often, it is hard to say if there has been any real progress or just changing details on the same problems. Who knows?

We will be watching and from time to time offer our little two cents worth to the unfolding events.

VIRGINIA VOTE 2007

2007-11-05T18:55:00.000-05:00

IS THERE REALLY ANY GOOD REASON NOT TO VOTE?

NOT IF YOU ARE BREATHING AND CARE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE!

Short of getting mugged on the way to the voting polls it is kind of hard to think of a really good reason why not to vote in the November 6th general election (tomorrow).

Yet, the recent news report in the Richmond Times Dispatch predicts that only 1.5 million of Virginia’s 4.4 million registered voters will show up at the polls to exercise their right to vote.

That is only 34 percent or ONE IN THREE eligible voters.

It seems that the best political minds have figured out that there are a number of “reasons”… none of which are good… why people don’t bother to vote including lack of sufficient knowledge to make a meaningful choice, the sense that one vote won’t make any difference, and the general distaste for the nasty aspects of politics. Other reasons that come to mind might include laziness, indifference, and being “without a clue” as to what is going on in the world.

Perhaps in support of the notion that one vote may not make any difference, the article goes on to explain the power of incumbency that here in Virginia produces a 95 percent success rate for incumbent office holders. This power seems to be the result of favorable voter district configurations (sometimes known in the past as gerrymandering) and the relative ease by which incumbents win the campaign finance battle.

In part this explains why here in Virginia we see large number of incumbents running unopposed for re-election to many different important offices, election after election. The result is that voters really have no choice on election-day for these unopposed seats. The Virginia General Assembly is an embarrassing example of this problem.

One has to wonder if the American democratic way has not indeed degenerated into becoming the "best government that money can buy" but not necessarily the government that we need!

Is this really a good thing? Probably not…

But still, why do Americans take their precious right to vote for granted? People all around the world are fighting and dying to get the tiniest of toe-holds for a free democracy. Yet millions of Americans and Virginians just view election-day as another excuse to take off from work.

Why not vote? If you can’t find a candidate to vote for, vote anyway. Vote for the underdog. Vote for a write-in candidate. But vote.

There is no need for every voter to devote endless hours scouring the news, studying the issues and questioning every candidate for every office. Just take a little interest in the people around you and what is going on in your community.

Ask a few questions. It is not that difficult to see better and worse choices on election-day. Those choices do make a difference…

Please vote on November 6th.

VIRGINIA / RHODE ISLAND BUDGET CRISIS

2007-10-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

Compare and Contrast

Real Sacrifice vs. Real Issue Avoidance

Should Governor revisit the Virginia budget spending plan?

Times are hard, no doubt about it.

Here in Commonwealth of Virginia we are facing a state budget crisis (SEE RECENT POST).

We are not alone. Many other states are also trying to grapple with revenue shortfalls during an era of increasing demands for services… for example the State of Rhode Island the smallest state in America geographically and one of the smaller states in total population.

So it is of interest to the Iconoclast to compare and contrast the two states relative to how they deal with similar budget crises.

Here in Virginia we have a population of 7.1 million people as of the most recent count in 2000, distributed over a 42,774 square mile geographic area. Perhaps two thirds of Virginia’s population lives in urban areas while the other third is suburban or rural. Recent news reports indicate we have a projected $600 million hole in the upcoming budget.

Rhode Island has a population of a tad bit over 1 million people distributed over a highly urbanized and compact 1,214 square miles. According to recent media reports, Rhode Island is facing a similar budget crisis to the tune of a $200 million shortfall.

Considering that Rhode Island has only one seventh the population of Virginia and only about one thirty-fifth of the land area, the $200 million shortfall in Rhode Island is no-doubt as serious if not perhaps a bit more serious than the budget crisis in Virginia.

So how do the two states deal with their respective budget crises?

Here in Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is proposing $300 million in budget cuts and savings and the use of over $300 million out of the Virginia Rainy-day fund to make up the $641 million shortfall. This will include the sacrifice of 74 state worker positions and a 5 percent cut in the Governor’s own state salary.

In Rhode Island, Governor Don Carcieri unveiled a plan that would eliminate 1,016 state worker positions or approximately 7 percent of the total state work force. The Governor’s plan would also call for union concessions and other cuts of spending on social programs.

Ouch… that’s gotta hurt.

So… this comparison shows a remarkable difference in the approach taken by the two Governors in dealing with the pending budget crisis: Eliminate 74 state jobs in Virginia to help reduce a $641 million budget short fall, and eliminate 1,016 jobs in Rhode Island to eliminate a $200 million budget short fall.

Obviously, there are countless other material differences between the two states Virginia and Rhode Island. But without question, population and geographic size are the two single most significant factors that determine the nature and magnitude of public service demands. The more people you have, the more demand for services. The more geographic area you have, the more costly it is to serve those people. Certainly there are many other factors too numerous to mention let alone assess that would have a bearing on the cost of state government services.

In Virginia we have a Democrat Governor in Tim Kaine working with a Republican controlled General Assembly. In Rhode Island they have a Republican Governor in Don Carcieri who works with a Democratic dominated General Assembly. Does this mean anything? Maybe… maybe not… Perhaps this has nothing to do with Republican / Democrat politics.

Maybe, Rhode Island state government is riddled with fat and waste, and a lot of politically protected jobs with little return for the investment. Or maybe Governor Carcieri is just biting the old bullet and taking steps that he knows to be unpleasant and unpopular but actually quite effective in dealing with the budget crisis.

Lots of maybes… But still… the Rhode Island example raises some obvious questions.

After all, with technology advancements in computers, robotics, automation, telecommunications, etc. business and industry has for decades been dramatically reducing its personnel component of operations costs (except for top management) all the while increasing productivity.

Unfortunately, in the public sector, it is easy to expand but it is hard to reduce. When faced with a choice, government tends to just raise taxes rather than to go through the hard process of reinvention and finding ways to do more with less personnel.

Why doesn’t government follow the lead of business and industry more often?

Perhaps Governor Carcieri of Rhode Island is trying to do just that. Maybe he will succeed, maybe he won’t.

Maybe, here in Virginia, instead of borrowing from the rainy day fund, which sounds an awful lot like trying to borrow our way out of debt, Governor Kaine could take a close look at our little sister state to the north in an effort to find meaningful long term solution to our state budget crisis.

This is a tough one. What do our state government elected officials, top administrators, budget managers, or employees have to say about this very thorny issue?

Call me silly, but maybe we need to take a new look at how we budget for state government.

Regent University Swiftly Silences Dissent....

2007-10-14T20:24:00.000-04:00

Regent University sends a clear message to students: There’s no humor in making fun of Mr. Pat Robertson…second year law student’s mental status questioned, told to take a hike…but Adam Key isn’t going without a fight.

If you attend Regent University in Virginia Beach be warned that school administration has zero tolerance for dissent, or well maybe humor? Poking fun at the "Great Leader", no not Kim Jong Ill, but Pat Robertson will lead to swift punishment and you might find yourself in a straight jacket too! Just ask second year Regent law student Adam Key...

You know college kids, always "pushing the envelope", taking things too far, always trying to prove a point….ahhh, the days of student activism... Mr. Adam Key, a second year law student at Regent University, made the mistake of poking a little “college fun” at THE CREATOR of Regent University, Mr. Pat Robertson...yeaa, that guy...you know the old guy who claims he once leg pressed 2,000 pounds...or who once used his divine connections to redirected a hurricane from hitting Virginia Beach...yes, that guy! Who would ever think to poke a little fun at him?

Well, apparently Mr. Key didn't read his student handbook? Because the second year law student would have known that posting a picture of Pat lobbing "the bird" on his “facebook” page (albeit I assume a slightly photoshoped picture) could get you booted from school...Remember Adam, people are watching…the place is crawling with informants, even in cyberspace! Therefore Mr. Key found himself in “hot water” when his transgression was exposed to Regent’s Administration. The good folks at Regent didn’t find much humor in Adam’s facebook picture and in matter of fact Mr. Key is now banned from the University….Yes, banned! Wow!

In an article appearing today in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Regent's Associate Dean for Student Affairs L.O. Natt Gantt II indicated that several students have come forward expressing concern about Key's behavior this semester and have reported that Key said he brought a gun onto campus.

Please read carefully..."several students have reported that Key said he brought a gun onto campus"...hmmm, sounds a bit circumstantial if you ask me, would that hold up in Court? Could these be "trumped up" allegations as a means to show Mr. Key what happens when you make the slightest bit of fun of Pat Robertson?

After all, anyone insane enough to overtly make fun of Pat Robertson while attending Regent must be dangerous? Right? I mean do you think North Koreans go around making fun of Kim Jong Ill’s hair? Come on Adam!

But Adam Key isn't backing down and he is quick to point out that he feels that Regent is exploiting the Virginia Tech shooting as justification for their recent actions against him. Mr. Key states, "There's a big difference between someone who was incredibly violent, like the Virginia Tech kid, and someone who disagrees with the administration," he said. "At the time we start labeling people who have dissenting voices as dangerous, we start losing the freedom that makes us Americans."

Ahhh, now it appears we are getting to the root of the problem and I'm sure such statements by Mr. Key are indeed why Regent officials are not too thrilled with the second year law student...I mean did you read that quote? "At the time we start labeling people who have dissenting voices....we start losing the freedom that makes us Americans?"

Sounds like some fancy ACLU attorney doesn't it? Using phrases like "dissenting voices" and "losing the freedom"...geez...

We here at the Iconoclast wish Adam the very best, and we hope he continues to "fight the good fight"...but in the end, I think it would be best if Adam considers a school where his dissent will be appreciated and celebrated as a core American value; a school where making fun of a school's "leader" will not get you tossed...sounds like the University of Richmond would be a perfect fit for Adam!

As for Regent University...I mean is this really a surprise? We are talking about Regent University, Adam you chose to go to Regent, you must have had some idea of the climate on campus? Still,I guess in order to attend Regent one must quickly come to the realization that certain Constitutional Rights are null-and-void while on campus…fair enough, it’s their school, do as you wish…but for all current students beware, you are being watched…..reading this post might even get you in trouble…..

Best of luck to Adam, we admire your spirit, for now please take comfort in the words of Clarence Darrow, "lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for..."

Sounds like a lost cause to me...

Freedom of Speech North Korea Style

2007-10-07T16:45:00.001-04:00

No Internet.

No Cell Phones.

No talking on Street Corners.

No thinking.

Especially no criticizing the government.

Last week Kim Jong Il, strongman Big Boss of North Korea revealed to the world another remarkable personal talent that was heretofore unknown. He is an “Internet expert.”

This little tid-bit came to light during last week summit talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, when Rho asked Kim to allow Internet service for South Korean industries operated in the North (I guess this is something like the USA out-sourcing industrial production to Mexico, or wherever).

While acknowledging that South Korean businesses in the North industrial zone could probably have Internet service, Kim declared that such service could occur nowhere else in the North because of the “many problems”.

Kim did not elaborate on what those “many problems” might have been.

Maybe it is the cost involved in wiring the North for Internet service. How many atomic bombs, missiles, tanks, missile frigates, fighter jets, etc. would have to be sacrificed to allow the people of North Korea to sit in a cyber-café in Pyongyang and surf the net?

Noooo... it is probably not a cost issue.

It has more to do with freedom of speech. There is none of that in North Korea!!! And if Kim has anything to say about it, that is the way it is going to remain!

The Internet is a powerful tool of accessing information and interpersonal communication of ideas.

Is it any wonder that in Kim’s eyes, Internet service is not a good thing to be entrusted to the people of North Korea.

With world wide and instant access to information, the Internet presents an undeniable risk that dangerous thoughts might form in the minds of the people. Some of those people might get ideas… might even question their government.

And... gasp... eventually those people might actually criticize their government!!!

Considering the government we are talking about, this is not such a good thing for the Big Boss in Pyongyang. Corrupt governments need a compliant and ignorant population where nobody ever asks questions or criticizes the government.

Here in America, we have a Constitution that includes a Bill of Rights. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights involves freedom of religion, speech, press, the right to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Such simple thoughts and yet so profound…

Here in America the government is answerable to the people. In North Korea, the people are viewed by the Big Boss as little more than slave labor and cannon fodder.

But before we get too smug about the greatness of America, be cautioned: Just because we have a Constitution, a Bill of Rights, and a First Amendment protecting free speech and association and redress with our government, don’t think for a second that those fundamental protections are automatically safe, always and forever.

Unfortunately here in America, we sometimes take our freedoms for granted. And too, our politicians are too often tempted to grab more power than they are entitled to. An apathetic citizenry combined with the almost unavoidable lust for power, create a creeping threat to our freedoms. Pick up the news any day and see examples of government functionaries over reaching their powers.

As as amazing as Internet technology is in America, it is not nearly as amazing as what our founding fathers envisioned over 200 years ago in the Bill of Rights.

So, thanks Kim for reminding us of how good we have it here America and why a corrupt government needs to maintain ignorance, compliance and total obedience among its people.

Let us hope that we never forget how important citizen vigilance is and why those rights of free speech, assembly and petition are so fragile and why we the people must always guard over them jealously.

VIRGINIA STATE BUDGET CRISIS

2007-10-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

Governor gets tough on out of control spending... maybe.

Drastic times call for big sacrifices.

But seriously...

Sometimes you just got to laugh.

Either that or cry. Sometimes I am not sure.

Yesterday's Richmond Times Dispatch heralded the headlines"Governor's plan includes 74 layoffs" and then goes on to explain that there will be other measures as well, including keeping 386 job positions vacant, and as a show of personal sacrifice a 5 percent cut in the Governor's own personal pay check.

I like Governor Kaine, and that is real big of him to take a personal 5 percent pay cut. But....

We got problems, big problems right here in "River City" ... that being in our beautiful State Capital of Richmond on the James.

The new budget totals $74 BILLION. That is Billion with a big B. There is an estimated $641 million shortfall.

To balance the budget, the Governor's plan calls for $300 million in actual cuts, and possibly another $303 million from the so called State rainy-day fund (that meaning emergency fund).

All I can say is WOW!!!

Considering how fast the Virginia State budget has ballooned in recent years, a mere $300 million cut in the planned $74 BILLION budget is a trifling sum.

Here in Virginia we can barely pay for keeping our roads up. The average cost for tuition and mandatory fees to send one child to a Virginia state university is now almost $15,000 a year. We have a terrible track record on how we treat our mentally ill, and other social ills. We have seen a General Assembly that protects "loan sharking" in the form of Payday Lending. We have seen in recent times creative approaches to raising revenues... that being imposing brutally high fines on bad drivers with Virginia driver's licenses... under the guise of improving highway safety... hog wash.

I can go on and on but then I might cry. So back to the subject that causes me some amusement!

Now the headlines focus on the layoff of 74 state workers as if that is some kind of big deal.

Well, I can certainly feel sorry for the unlucky 74 state workers who will be making the supreme sacrifice in the interest of balancing the state budget.

But consider this... the state workforce is presently over 100,000 workers. In the big picture, what significance is 74 layoffs? That is a cut of 74 one hundredths of one percent in the state laborforce!!!

In my work, I have the privilege of working with many of these fine civil servants and know that most work hard and do an important job for the citizens of Virginia.

But lets be honest. There is abundant fat in State government. Too many state agencies are larded up with arcane job positions of questionable utility. In some of the worst cases there are three or four agency personnel doing the work that can be done by one person in most small businesses. Sometimes it is hard to figure out why those jobs exist at all. There always has been fat in government. In private business, management has no choice but to wield the axe and slash out hundreds or even thousands of jobs when business conditions dictate. In government, there is a all to common instinct to just raise taxes.

Much of the fat in government is politically protected turf and it is hard for a Governor to go in and do what needs to be done, even if he wanted to.

The idea that 74 state worker layoffs will significantly impact the current budget crisis is laughable. It is like spitting in the ocean.

What is really needed, is a 5 percent cut across the board, for all agencies and then surgically targeted cuts of obvious waste. Then the next time, look for more cuts. We need to do more with fewer people. This is what private businesses do or else they perish. Modern technology makes these kinds of efficiencies very achievable. So why not Virginia state government?

The business world has been flattening out and cutting back in management and personnel, learning to do more with fewer workers for decades now. Those that don't have gone out of business. Government on the other hand remains stuck in the old ways to assume that a little growth every year is normal and accepted no matter how much the taxpayers might squawk.

Politically protected turf is always a part of any governmental bureaucracy. And of course there will always a little fat in government.

But lets get serious about this issue. Taxpayers don't mind paying taxes, but it sure would be nice to see our politicians do something meaningful to control the bloated expansion of the state budget.

Commander in Chief

2007-07-05T14:51:00.000-04:00

The issues?

Who is in charge of buying the donuts?

Or, the end of the world?

Whatever?

Commander in Chief, Leader of the Free World, the POTUS, the "Big Cheese", the Prez.

What ever you want to call him or her, The President of the United States is somebody to be reckoned with. Perhaps the "Numero Ono" VIP in United States and World politics.

And you get to choose!

In "olden days" we had emperors, pharohs, tzars, khans all individuals who had unlimited powers over vast geographic areas, populations, and economic resources.

And what exactly was the basis of this unlimited authority? How about raw, unaccountable power? You, as a little person, had absolutely no choice. This was not a good thing.

People all over the world pretty much did as they were told even if it meant living in abject poverty, having no economic opportunity, sacrificing ones life in meaningless warfare, and having nothing to show for the sacrifice. There were no elections; there was no campaign season; there was no discussion over campaign finance; there were no debates over the issues. People just did what they were told.

Sure, down through history, there were the occassional (all too infrequent) political assasinations. Big deal... 100,000 or more little people senselessly sacrificed for every single righetgous political assasination.

So... and I am finally getting around to my point... And no... I am NOT suggesting criminal political assasinations.

Quit bitching and try to make the world a better place! Get out there and take an interest in your Presidential options.

Yes, here we are again in the Presidential campaign season. Yes, it is a pain in the ass.

Already, just like you, I am sick to death of the Presidential politics and the election isn't even going to happen until November 2008. But I understand that as much as I am irritated by the process, this is a good thing... compared to what our ancestors had to deal with.

The amount of money we spend on political campaigns is almost unblievable. But so what? We Americans piss away incredible amounts of money for all kinds of meaningless stuff. Perhaps investing a little money on our future is not such a crazy thing.

The list of potential candidates on both the Democratic and Republican side of the contest is long. Yes, I could probably list the names but I really don't think it is necessary or appropriate at this time. I have no favorites and tend to believe that it is way to premature to commit to any one candidate.

There are several "interesting" possibilities and a lot more clear and obvious loosers. Bless their hearts (the loosers) for trying and maybe contributing a little to the debate... Keep in mind, the loosers are not always really loosers. They serve an important purpose.

In America, anybody can be President! Even the "Governator" with a few minor Constitutional adjustments (otherwise known as Constitutional amendments).

My point here is that as painful and inconvienent as it is to live through another Presidential political campaign season, it is a hell of a lot better than the alternative. Americans have choices.

Think of what people down through history have suffered. No say. No opportunity. No choices. Just do what you are told. Die if necessary. And... believe me... lots did.

Yes, the President of the United States can and does send soldiers to war... to die... to carry out missions that may have uncertain results...

We worry about that... but we are Americans and we know we have choices.

As Americans we little people actually have a say and choices as to who is going to be representing our interests. We can criticize our President, our Congressmen, our local politicians, and even our dog catcher. They work for us.

We can question the war in Iraq. We can question our Middle East policy. We can question our energy policy. We can question everything. Americans need to remember just how good it is to be a free society.

In fact, all freedom loving people have an obligation to be highly skeptical and critical of our government. Politicians make mistakes. That is what history is all about. Did you ever read a history book that did not talk about wars, most of which did not work out so well?

Through our efforts as little people who exercise our rights as free people, America is still the greatest nation in history on this earth. So lets keep up the good work.

So... suck it up... take a deep breath and get ready for the Presidential campaign of 2008. It won't be fun but it is a lot better than our ancestors suffered. Take some interest in who these candidates are. None of them is perfect. None of them have all the answers.

This is actually important.

Always remember, somebody has got to be in charge! Do you want to leave that responsibility to somebody who is primairly interested in who is going to buy the donuts?

NOTE: Yes, the Commonwealth Iconoclast is still here. Over the past few months, I moved and got a new job following the 2006 elections (go get them Jim Webb). Broke my collar bone in a soccer match. Generally, I have been too busy with other things to tend to the blog. To be honest, I am suffering some ribbing for being just too lazy to keep up the blog work. This may be true. But with the politics heating up at the national, state and local level again, I am feeling that it may be helpful to once again weigh in with my humble opinions on issues little and small, great and unfathomable.

BLAST FROM THE PAST IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY!

2007-02-09T12:27:00.000-05:00

Jury award sends cold chills down the spines of Cumberland County taxpayers!

Failure by local officials to plan (or think) ahead costs taxpayers pretty penny (more like $850,000 and counting)!!!

The children pay for bad decisions of County officials… the parents too!

Just in over the wire services, a blast from the past in Cumberland County!

It seems that a jury just decided this week to award a plaintiff in a law suit against Cumberland County a judgment of $850,000. Read all about it in this morning's paper.

This matter was first reviewed in the Iconoclast back in March of 2006, when a story broke in Cumberland County about the local government’s questionable exercise of eminent domain to seize back a former county owned property from private party who had purchased the old Luther P. Jackson Elementary School and 20 acres of land on U.S. Route 60 in Cumberland County.

You can link to the earlier Iconoclast post on this story by clicking here.

At that time, the Iconoclast and a couple hundred million other Americans were absolutely outraged at the most recent legal trends allowing for more liberal exercise of the powers of eminent domain.

Eminent domain is of course a legal power of government and has historically been applied judiciously in cases where the public interests overwhelmingly justified the taking of private property for the greater public good. Eminent domain presumes that the owners, so relieved of their property through the process will be fairly compensated but that they have no option to keep the property.

In our view, eminent domain should not be used to cover up or correct dumb mistakes by public officials.

Be that as it may, and as we understand it, about four years ago County officials decided that the school building and 20 acres weren’t needed any more. So they sold the property to a Farmville area realtor, one Mary Meeks and her husband for $110,000. Twenty acres and buildings for $110,000 sounds like a pretty good deal for the Meeks.

Unfortunately, County officials woke up one day only three years later to realize that they had made a mistake.

The County school system really did urgently need the school buildings its classroom space and the surrounding grounds to meet immediate school enrollment requirements.

Who could have possibly guessed that the Cumberland County school enrollment might actually grow in just three years?! Are we to expect that Cumberland County officials have some kind of super powers to see the future? Or to think about the future? That kind of craziness expectation of foresight by public officials is almost akin to witchcraft!

Any hoo…

So what do you think these brilliant Cumberland County officials decide to do to correct the mistake? They seize back the building that they had just recently sold for $110,000 using the powers of eminent domain.

This is where the problems began.

It seems that there was a little difference in opinion concerning value of the property. Cumberland County officials have taken the position that $200,000 should do nicely for the Meeks’ time, trouble and investments. On the other hand the Meeks asserted that the property was worth more… a lot more.

So, in recent developments this week, a Cumberland County jury awarded the Meeks $850,000 in settlement of the case. This is less than the $2 million the Meeks one time asked but is over four times more than what the County was willing to pay and nearly eight times more than the Meeks paid for it.

This amount, $850,000, is a pretty serious blow to little Cumberland County which is generally known to be an economically disadvantaged community with a whole host of financial challenges and few resources available to address them.

With a reported population of only 9,017 living souls in the last census this jury award may wind up costing the taxpayers dearly… like about $94 for every man, woman and child living in the County.

Another way to look at it is that this mistake will cost every single family in Cumberland County $342!

And keep in mind... this is in a county that is known to be economically strapped and has recently resorted to the recruitment of a commercial "dump" as a center piece of their economic development strategy!

Some Cumberland citizens may have reason to be concerned. But the big loosers appear to be the school aged kids. One wonders what better investments in the Cumberland County Schools could have been made with that $850,000!

Presently, there are obvious questions concerning who was responsible for this disastrously costly and embarrassing lack of planning or even the most rudimentary foresight.

Who was in charge? What were they thinking?

Of course, county officials still have still have the option of appealing the jury’s award.

However, before Cumberland County officials do that they should be mindful than another court might just decide to slap them with a big punitive fine for contempt of good judgment and reckless disregard of the taxpayers interests!

NOTE: Also see "Eminent Domain Virginia Style"

Henry County Sheriff’s Department investigation moves ahead with another guilty plea!

2007-02-01T11:40:00.000-05:00

Far reaching charges of racketeering, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, drug distribution and firearms offenses rain down on Henry County Sheriff’s Department!

Sloppy management or culture of corruption in law enforcement agency?

Crooks impersonating law enforcement?

Poor Henry County. They sure have had their share of set backs and embarrassments over the years.

In 2002, their then highly respected County Administrator Sid Clower got caught with his hand in the “cookie jar” and made off with whole truck load of public funds to help defray the costs of… how shall we say it…“lifestyle choices” that he had become accustomed to. Roughly $750,000 of public funds had been frittered away before County officials woke up and took notice that something might be wrong.

Now, just this past week, Ex-Henry County Sheriff Deputy Cornelia Bryant Cox admitted her responsibility in to charges that she lied to investigators about stealing “evidence” from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The evidence was $500 in cold cash! Of course this seems like small potatoes compared to the ex-County Administrator.

So what? Small potatoes indeed.

Retired Deputy Cox’s digression would not seem so bad if she was a lone rogue Deputy in an otherwise pristine law enforcement agency who might be unfairly giving all the other good Deputies a bad rap.

But alas, that isn’t the case. Oh no, that Deputy Cox is not alone. In fact she is far, far from being alone.

Yesterday, four more individuals plead guilty, including two former law enforcement personnel: former Captain James Keaton and former Vice Officer Travis Wilkins. The other two had no employment connection with the Sheriff’s office.

All totaled, retired Deputy Cox is just one of 20 other people, including an incredible 13 current and former deputies who were indicted as a result of an ongoing investigation of official misconduct in the Henry County Sheriff’s Department dating to at least 1998, including racketeering, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, drug distribution and various firearms offenses.

Worst of all, the “top dog” himself, the High Sheriff of Henry County, H. Franklin Cassell is among the list of those indicted and awaiting his day in Court.

The recent FBI press release on this shocking story can be seen at this link.

What makes this story scary and unusual is the fact that it involves a significant law enforcement agency, it involves an on-going criminal enterprise, it involves many specific crimes over many years… at least back to 1998… and most shocking of all… it involves so many law enforcement officials of ranking from ordinary Deputies to the High Sheriff himself.

This case disgraces the uniform that was so proudly warn by Deputy Barney Fife!!!

But seriously folks, this case prompts observers to ask some burning questions.

How is it possible that this on-going criminal enterprise continued for such a long time with no one noticing? Since 1998 at least!

How is it possible that so many law enforcement officials, who are sworn to protect and serve the public safety could be drawn into this on-going criminal enterprise.

Why didn't someone drop the dime?

With so many law enforcement officials involved in the scams directly, who else knew that this was going on?

Who else suspected trouble but chose to turn away and do nothing?

Was this merely an unfortunate coincidence that so many corruptible personalities just happened to converge in the Henry County Sheriff’s Department?

Or is this a case of a festering culture of corruption that sent the wrong message that law enforcement officials were exempt from the laws that the rest of us are expected to follow?

This case is a long way from final resolution. It may take years. In the end, many of these burning questions will likely still lack satisfactory answers.

But the Iconoclast predicts that complete investigation will reveal that there were in the past abundant warning signs that were ignored, perhaps by good people who just didn’t care enough to do the right thing and the right time.

We will continue to watch this interesting case study of the culture of official corruption.

Note: The Iconoclast hastens to add that the Henry County Sheriff's Department is a fairly sizable law enforcement organization. Unquestionably there are innocent parties within that organization who bear no responsibility for this alleged wrong doing and are unfairly suffering the suspicion and distrust that this case has caused. It will be years before the damage is corrected. We extend our sympathies to those innocent parties. Those who may not have clean hands know who they are!

50 Thousand Hits for Iconoclast

2007-01-28T16:46:00.001-05:00

50,000 HITS!

A Year and a half young!

Iconoclast celebrates another little milestone!

For what it is worth, the Iconoclast just passed the 50 thousand hit milestone.

The Iconoclast made its first post about a year and a half ago on June 29, 2005. As of today, the Iconoclast has made over 200 separate posts or articles on issues great and small.

We started off with a pretty casual attitude that: What the heck, we got opinions too!!! Why not express them?

Good clean fun. Just a few friends fooling around in cyberspace. We have had a few disgruntled readers, but these are usually the same clowns we sometimes write about.

There was no thought of blogging to change the world. I don't even think there was ever the first thought that we would continue this blogging thing for any significant length of time. It was more a matter of playing around with a new toy to see how it worked.

But here we are a year and a half later marking off the 50 thousandth hit on the Iconoclast.

By blogging standards, 50 thousand hits is not a large number of hits. Some of the big name blogs can generate that many hits in the blink of an eye. But, 50 thousand hits is not entirely trivial either considering our rather narrow focus on issues and local geographic coverage (mostly Virginia).

We now know that the blogosphere has played a significant role in the recent political changes here in Virginia and across the nation. The Iconoclast is just one of thousands of individual blogs that participated in this evolving phenomenon.

Now and again, there has been some real interesting discussion. Maybe we have contributed in some small way to help change the world. Hopefully in a positive way.

Thanks for reading and especially thanks for your comments and tips on interesting stories.

NOTE: No, the accompanying photograph is not of the Iconoclast staff. We wish we had such formidable human resources to support our efforts!

Happy Sharks in Virginia!!!

2007-01-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Sharks in Virginia!!!

Shark-Endorsed Bill Sliding Through Murky Waters!

Payday Lenders See Clear Sailing while Consumers Seen as Shark-bait!!!

Just a few words here before going into a well deserved long week-end.

According to this morning’s news, a Virginia Senate panel yesterday rejected efforts by some lonely members for tougher regulations on the so called payday lenders “industry”.

Pay day lenders “industry”. An interesting word choice… like they produce something worth while… like an endless cycle of hopeless debt… getting deeper and deeper.

Oh well. You can read all about it in the Richmond Times Dispatch under the byline of Jeff E. Schapiro titled “Tougher payday loan bill rejected.”

Schapiro points out that the “industry” along with the related car-title lenders have enriched the coffers of 110 Virginia legislators to the tune of $180,000 for this session.

Considering that these Virginia legislators seem solidly on track to preserve the lending fees equivalent to 391 percent annualized interest, it would seem that $180,000 is a small price to pay for a little bit of friendly influence in high places.

The sharks have good reason to smile here in Virginia.

If $180,000 can facilitate these kinds of legislative results for such a reprehensible “industry” one wonders what kind of friendly consideration is possible with some serious money!!!

I am thinking highways and transportation, education, health care, etc. On these important issues, are lawmakers looking out for the little people kind of like they are with payday lending issue, or are they looking out after a different breed of sharks.

Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

But for now, isn’t it comforting to know that so many members of the Virginia General Assembly are so comfortable with treating some of society’s least financially capable citizens as if they are nothing more than shark-bait?

Legalized Loan Sharking in Virginia

2007-01-25T13:48:00.000-05:00

Virginia General Assembly Panel Facilitates Sharking!

Legal Charges equal to 391 Percent Interest Annually!!!

A story of personal financial tragedy.

In the past, we here at the Iconoclast have pretty much stayed away from the affairs down in Richmond at the General Assembly.

To be perfectly honest, there are a lot of great bloggers and mainstream media types out there who have the resources and who are very capable of dissecting the important issues and keeping those of you who are interested in such stuff well informed.

But now and again, something just jumps up to demand some comment.

Payday Lending! Wow!!!

I never personally had a pay-day loan; hope to God to never be in a situation where I might be tempted to get one; and pity the poor soul who lets the payday lenders get their razor sharp teeth into them to drag them down into the murky darkness of endless payday loans and staggering fees.

Notwithstanding the fine rhetoric from industry spokespersons and paid lobbyists claiming that payday loans are a legitimate “service” to society, these payday loans are little more than legalized loan sharking taking shameless advantage of pathetic people who are typically too ignorant to realize the danger and hopelessness of the practice until it is too late.

Loan sharking has been around since ancient times. In early times it was called ursury. Their are many religious texts condemning

Payday Lending lobbyist Reginald Jones suggests that the typical payday borrower does so to “avoid a bounced check, late charges or to pay an unexpected bill.”

Think about this for a second folks!

Does anyone really think loan charges equal to 391 percent annualized interest is a better choice than “late charges”? Maybe if your other line of credit is with the Mafia and the "late charges" involve cement overshoes! But otherwise, it is hard to imagine how a 391 percent interest rate could help anyone.

Mr. Jones also suggests that payday loans are justified as some kind of viable option for people who have no other choices like bank loans, credit cards, relatives, churches or pawn shops. He suggests that payday loans serve a legitimate consumer need.

Maybe there is some truth to this… like a drug-addict “needs” drugs; like an alcoholic “needs” the booze; and like I sometimes “need” that extra cheeseburger.

Please give us a break here. Payday loans is more like throwing a boat anchor to a drowning man and yelling “catch!” One could argue that it lessens the anguish of the drowning victim by taking him down faster and deeper.

Right...

Of course, people who get them selves into financial problems and find them selves doing business with these cold blooded predators are not always blameless. These people often got themselves into a financial bind all by them selves. Lacking self discipline? Typically yes. Ignorant of the fundamentals of finance (and usually basic arithmetic)? Yes, again. Personally irresponsible? Yes, yes, yes. These people typically have problems! There are also probably some exceptions out there who may have gotten themselves into a financial mess through circumstances beyond their control. It happens.

So just because many of these people are lacking self discipline, ignorant of finance, and personally irresponsible does this mean that Payday loan consumers deserve to be further submerged into a hopeless cycle of outrageously abusive lending charges?

According to some of our Virginia lawmakers the answer seems to be “Yes”.

As bad as the Payday lenders are themselves for such abusive lending practices, we here at the Iconoclast are more outraged at the political leadership in the Virginia General Assembly who seemingly have sold out the victims of this legalized loan sharking practice and who are trying to convince the public that they are going to “reform” the abusive practice.

One of the ringleaders for saving the Pay-day lenders’ “bread and butter” seems to be Virginia Senator Richard L. Saslaw who along with 10 other members of the Commerce and Labor Committee recently voted (11 to 4) to reject a consumer supported drive to repeal the current Virginia pay-day loan laws and to substitute an industry supported so called “reform” bill.

Senator Saslaw's approach to reform comes in the form of Senate Bill 1014.

However, the so called “reform” bill still still seems to leave in place loan charges equal to 391 percent annualized interest.

It is not to hard to figure out why the pay-day lenders would support such “reform” is it?!!!

But one wonders why on earth would the Senator Saslaw and his colleagues on the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee consider it reform leaving in place such a fundamentally abusive problem?

The answer might be found in Jeff Schapiro's recent reporting on the subject.

With reformers like Senator Saslaw in key positions in the Virginia General Assembly, I guess we all best start praying to God that we never find ourselves swiming in the shark infested waters of Virginia.

Catch!!!

Disclaimer: Payday lending is perfectly legal in Virginia thanks to the laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly. Morally reprehensible, but perfectly legal.

The Iconoclast and other thin skinned people struggle to understand Virginia’s enlightened political leadership!!!

2007-01-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

Do Macacas, Muslims, Blacks and Jews have thin skins or maybe cause for concern?

Do the views of Allen, Goode and Hargrove set a good example for progressive leadership in the new century?

Freedom of speech applies to throwbacks too!

What do George Allen, Virgil Goode and now Frank Hargrove, Sr. have in common?

Probably they have any number of things in common including considerable success over the years as Virginia politicians. These three individuals have in the past been widely recognized as leaders, and yes, role models for all the rest of us to emulate.

Their words have taken on extra weight and significance owing to their perceived superior enlightenment. These are the “law makers” who, along with their colleagues in the most august chambers of the Virginia House of Delegates, the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, make the laws and policies by which all the rest of us live.

We the people apparently have trusted them, or at least, a majority of us have trusted them in the past.

But most recently these three role models have demonstrated a common trait of speaking their mind and expressing a certain “honesty” rarely seen in politicians. This "honesty" that has revealed some disturbing character issues.

With ex- Senator George Allen it was the Macaca comments back in August when his campaign for re-election to the United States Senate took a nose dive. First there were implausible explanations about not knowing what a “Macaca” was. Then there were general apologies. Then there were unseemly and unnecessary gaffs about “eating ham sandwiches” when referring to his Jewish connection.

With current 5th District Representative Virgil Good, it was the unexpected public revelation of his anti-Muslim rants in a letter to xenophobic constituents.

Again Representative Goode's comments were unnecessary but quite revealing of a disturbing lack of tolerance of religious and cultural diversity. Thus far, Congressman Goode is not backing down. There is no apology coming from him.

Now, it is Virginia Delegate Frank Hargrove, Sr. in his advise to black Virginians to “get over it” referring to the slavery thing. He also takes a swipe at Jewish people for “killing Christ.”

Macacas, Muslims, Jews and Blacks just don’t have a good sense of political reality or perhaps even a sense of humor according to these leading Virginia politicians.

What is this... a case of good men gone wild?

Probably not. These leaders say these things because they apparently believe with some justification that at least some of their constitutes expect such comments and positions.

Of course some of our readers might remember that Virginia's political leadership also at one time supported the practice of slavery right here in Virginia.

And much more recently, our political leadership supported the policy of massive resistance.

Thin skins? Maybe. But maybe not.

In closing, the Iconoclast would like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Ex-Senator Allen had a right to speak his mind and we are glad he did. That is why he is “ex” Senator Allen instead of second term Allen.

Also, Representative Goode had a right to express his fears of Muslims. This is a free country and he was just exercising his right of free speech even if it was speech advocating the curtailment rights of others to choose their own religious practices or to participate in the American political process. Apparently Representative Goode enjoys some support for these views and remains quite unapologetic if not oblivious to the hypocrisy of his views.

Delegate Hargrove also has a right to express his views that some of us Virginian’s have thin skins and should “get over” our common history. At least we know where he stands on the matter.

But one is prompted to wonder how the good Delegate can reconcile in his mind how it is OK for some Virginian’s to be “proud of their heritage” but it is not OK for other Virginian’s to have lingering grievances over that same “heritage.”

Just a little something to think about...

The Iconoclast hopes that Virginia politicians will keep exercising their rights to express their "honest" opinions on important issues. Sometimes we learn something important.

Freedom of speech! That is what makes American the great nation it is!

Pork Rind Politics and Corruption Takes another Hit in Southwest Virginia

2007-01-18T12:32:00.000-05:00

Eight More Indicted facing 100+ Charges!

The Web Widens and the Noose Tightens!!!

Back in August of 2006, the Iconoclast reported on the widening investigation out in Southwest Virginia involving public officials who bought the local Appalachian Town elections in 2004 with such comical bribes as pork rinds.

The original investigation which started off as a somewhat amusing story about buying votes with pork rinds seems to have spun out of control eventually involving up to three special prosecutors following different paths to other suspected criminal activity. One aspect of the widening investigation was the suspicion that public officials may have been protecting criminal enterprises, misusing police powers for political retribution, taking kick-backs and other unpleasantness.

The use of public offices and local law enforcement personnel to protect large scale, organized gambling operations was one of the suspected criminal activities. These operations were raided last Summer and large amounts of gambling equipment and cash was seized.

At that time we predicted that other indictments were on the way. See “Appalachia Investigation Widens.”

Well, we knew it was coming sooner or later. And yes, another big shoe dropped with the news report out of Roanoke this morning that eight more individuals, not including those previously convicted in the election fraud case, have been indicted and now face in excess of 100 new counts including various racketeering, money laundering, gambling and related offenses.

See “Gambling probe nets more than 100 charges” in the Roanoke Times.

According to this news report, prosecutors are being coy about the details but have indicated that the investigation continues and additional charges are anticipated.

Where will it all end?

Coincidentally, ex-Mayor Ben Cooper, the “Boss Hogg” of Appalachia was scheduled to face sentencing today in the aftermath of his conviction on 243 counts of election fraud stemming from the 2004 election "fix". Thirteen other fine citizens of Appalachia had also been charged and previously convicted including other public officials and law-enforcement personnel. Now facing sentencing as the so called "ring-leader", one has to wonder who else ex-Mayor Cooper has dropped the dime on.

More indictments coming? Mmmm...

Isn’t it funny, in a pathetic sort of way, how one thing leads to another?

Oh well, maybe in time authorities will finally get to the bottom of the sad case of official corruption in this little Southwestern Virginia community.

But for now, this thing just keeps on getting worse.

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T11:05:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year folks!

This has got to be the best time of the year. Off for a week and a half. No worries. No problems. Absolutely the best time of the year.

And... not to brag... but 2006 was a great year... Got promoted. Wife doing well in her job too. Little kid growing up... Friends and family fat and sassy.

Yeah, I got to go back to work the second week of January, but I do so knowing that 2007 will be even better yet.

Life is good!!!

What more can I ask?

So... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We have it so good here in America!

While for Americans the New Year is a time of joy and optimisim, such is not the case elsewhere in the world for far too many.

Take the situation in Solalia for example.

Where is Somalia anyway?

Didn't Americans go there a few years ago to help those folks out? I guess that didn't turn out so well.

But there are many other places to think about besides the pitiful mess in Somalia like Darfur, Iraq, Iran, North Korea... just to name a few. People in these parts of the world are oppressed and typically sacrificed for the interests of some brutal dictator, theocrat or military thug in charge.

So... at this time of joy, optimism and celebration for us Americans, maybe we could take a few moments to think of those peoples around the world who do not have it so good at this moment. Prospects for these untold millions of people are uncertain at best.

I guess they have children too.

I guess they want their children to grow up and have a future too.

Maybe they even want their children to grow up and to read and write and be free... kind of like I would hope for my child...

Something to think about perhaps.

But... as I sit here in the warm safe comfort of my den, I get ready for the games to begin... and think of more pleasant things... my family, my many opportunities, the American way of life and... thank God... freedom.

Happy New Year!!!

What does Christmas mean to you?

2006-12-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

What does Christmas mean to you?

Yes... it is a Christian holiday.

Yes... it is a time for gift giving.

Yes... it is a time for families and friends to get together.

Perhaps it is a time for a little extra self-imposed stress.

Perhaps it is a time for fighting the traffic and the crowds in the shopping malls.

Perhaps it is a time for a bit of over-indulgence of all things good and maybe even of things not so good.

Perhaps it is a time to think of those who are less fortunate even people who may not be Christians.

Perhaps it is a time for good will towards all men and women even those who look different, worship different religions and represent different cultures.

Perhaps it is time to think about the picture depicted here and wonder about who these people were over two thousand years ago and where they were.

Isn't it kind of funny that the Middle East is still in the news every day here in America?

Take it easy, relax, reflect and peace be with you who ever you are and where ever you are!

Merry Christmas.

Congressman Goode has “Macacca” Moment!

2006-12-20T21:29:00.000-05:00

Oh God… Say it isn’t so!

5th District Congressman “Islamophobic”!

New Word Added to Lexicon!

Embarrassed and Offended!

Maybe I had better strike that reference to God.

Let me start again…

And please don’t get me wrong. I love Christianity. I go to church and sing the praises with the best of them. I believe in God. I consider myself God fearing if not a perfect example of what a Christian should be. Some of my best friends are Christians.

But I know there are other people in this world and they do not share my religious beliefs. This does not make them bad people. In fact.. some of them also qualify as friends.

So what is this strange story we are now hearing about a letter that was apparently issued by United States Congressman Virgil H. Goode, Jr. singling out Muslims for immigration limitations to the United States?

Frankly, I like Virgil Goode… or at least I did. He is a likable guy… laid back… mostly straight talking…

Unfortunately, Virgil may not have read too closely a letter that he signed that seems to suggest that he is a bit of a bigot or worse yet is breaking new ground in adding to our lexicon the new word “Islamophobic”.

While Virgil is not, technically speaking, my official Representative in Congress, he does represent my fair Commonwealth of Virginia. And I am a tad bit offended that Virgil has degraded the reputation of our fair Commonwealth as being a place of religious intolerance.

If I may, I will remind readers of that little "technicality" that I like to refer to as the First Amendment of the Constitution… you know… the one that says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Of course there is no law in question here… just the words of a United States Congressman. And too, it is important to note that he is not trying to mess with the Constitution at all. All he wants to do is to keep certain types of people out so that they don't partake in the democratic process and elect more Muslims to office to mess with the "American Way".

I certainly love the American way of life but was some how of the impression that that life did not have any qualifications of religious affiliation. Actually, I am sure of it and am a bit troubled by the Congressman's letter, the complete text of which reads as follows:

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-4605

December 7, 2006

Dear Xxxxxxx:

Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

The Ten Commandments and “In God We Trust” are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, “As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office.” Thank you again for your email and thoughts.

Sincerely yours,
Virgil H. Goode, Jr.
70 East Court Street
Suite 215
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151

Amazing. I am dumb struck. Offended? Yes... you may surmise correctly.

I am particularly offended at certain language in Congressman Goode’s letter.

Let me be very specific. The letter reads in part: “…if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.”

So… what exactly is the “Virgil Goode position” ? Certainly… an excellent question!

Well, it seems that the Congressman is opposed to illegal immigration… which sounds pretty reasonable. In fact, I am not aware of any other Member of Congress who is presently endorsing illegal immigration.

But what about the next sentence in his letter about ending “the diversity visas policy… allowing many persons from the Middle East to come into this country.”

What?!!! We are now to select people for admission to the United States by their religious affiliations?!!!

Yes... I know... there is a First Amendment to the Constitution and most of us remember what it says.

Ok… take a deep breath…

I remember 9/11. I remember it well. It was a horrible day. Yes there were Muslims involved. I get it! Ok?!

But… and this is a big “but”, it troubles me when a United States Congressman gets all xenophobic about Muslims… or for that matter… any particular group of people.

While there are some Muslims who are politically hostile towards America, there are many more who are just ordinary people who want to live in peace just like... say Presbyterians and Baptists.

Has Congressman Goode ever bothered to study history? Does he remember what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II.

Actually, I do not remember anything in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights or the subsequent amendments prohibiting Shintoism or Buddhism. But during World War II our government locked Japanese-Americans up just because they looked like the enemy.

I guess it made sense to our wise leaders at that time.

So now, I am wondering if anyone remembers any special exclusionary language in the Constitution concerning Muslims!

I don't think so.

I do remember that we as Americans had some “late unpleasantness” concerning how we dealt with black people, sometimes known as African-Americans, negros, etc.

For that matter I also seem to remember some awkward moments in American history involving Jews, Catholics, Italians, Koreans and even the beloved Irish.

Is the good Congressman now going to introduce new legislation prohibiting Muslims and all Arabic speaking people from serving in the United States armed forces, the United States government, and the CIA?

Where does this strange attidude end?

Mmmm… Do we ever learn?

Bigotry… does that ring a bell?

Virgil… please tell us it isn’t so!

Has Congressman Goode had a “Maccaca” moment?

When are the next elections?

NOTE: We here at the Iconoclast apologize for our laziness since election day. Frankly, we were so dazed at the tectonic shift in American politics that we mistakenly thought that our work was done. Silly us!!! Gradually we are coming out of our slumber. Thanks is due to Congressman Virgil Goode who has reminded us that much work remains to be done!!!

If God shopped… he (she) would shop at Wal Mart…

2006-11-27T20:44:00.000-05:00

Wal Mart is God!

Or at lest... our friend the all mighty dollar!!!

You are getting sleepy… very sleepy….

Go buy some stuff at Wal Mart…

I love Wal Mart… (oh, by the way... happy holidays!).

I love everything about Wal Mart…

I love the approach to the parking lot! It is so big and inviting. I start to drool as I take in the first vision of that big, beautiful, box like building… full of familiar but yet unknown treasurers.

I came to get eggs… but yet… there is a perceptible increase in my heart beat… an unmistaken rush of anticipation.

I know that if I am lucky, I will find a parking space within a hundred yards or so of the main entrance of that temple of consumer delights. If not… well… who really gives a sh…! I will park where ever I have to… just to get my Wal Mart fix!

I even love the smell when I walk in the big doors... packing boxes, freshly pealed open with a box cutter knife by practiced shelf stockers.

Ummm... so comforting...

Yes… perhaps I sometimes feel guilty… I am fully aware that I really don’t need anything but the eggs I came for, but know that I will find something else… a treasure that will gratify my lust for consumption. Maybe some especially appealing deal will jump out at me… some unbelievably attractively priced garden hose… some fantastically beautiful lawn furniture competitively priced or not… and, of course, some really cool toys for the kids.

The eggs? Oh yeah... the eggs... I will try to remember...

What is there not to like about Wal Mart?

It makes me happy! The stuff... yes... the stuff...

But there is more...

The people… I really like the people. They, the Wal Mart associates (sometimes mistaken for employees), obviously like their jobs. Hell no… they love their jobs… Some of them love their jobs so much that they go way beyond what might be considered normal retirement years just so they can bring joy to consumers like me. They stand at the door and greet me with such enthusiasm. It is like they have the perfect job… just standing there and smiling at me… giving me the self-affirmation I need to take the whole experience in…

These are obviously “people people” who enjoy the joy of selling stuff to people who truly need some stuff...

Number six? No!!! I am not a number... or maybe... yes... I suppose I could be... Where was I?

I don't really crave the stuff...

I can stop any time I want... I just don't want to... at least right now...

The cart… it is so big and… yes… so inviting... I feel warm and comfortable...

Pile in the stuff… lots of stuff…

So… what is this disturbing news we are seeing coming out of Roanoke County?

It seems that some crazy people out in Roanoke County are questioning the advisability of building another quarter million square foot Wall Mart store.

Why?

Who cares about traffic?

Who cares about impacts on surrounding neighborhoods?

Why would anyone question Wal Mart?

So what if Wal Mart sucks massive amounts of disposable income out of the Roanoke Valley and sends it by wire transfer to Arkansas every day?

So what if Wal Mart undercuts local businesses until they go bust?

So what if Wal Mart exploits local labor?

Why would anyone waste time on these questions?

Most communities don't bother. Local elected officials in little communities everywhere go absolutely ga ga when they get a call from corporate headquarters from our friends at the United States of Exploitable Market Areas... otherwise known as the US of EMA... the real government of North America.

I want my stuff!!! I want it cheap!!! Yes… I want my Wal Mart…

You are getting sleepy… very sleepy…

Go buy some stuff at Wal Mart!!!

Don’t worry… be happy!

NOTE: Of course, regular readers of the Iconoclast recognize sarcasm when they see it. Typically, local officials are idiots and fall all over themselves when dealing with Wal Mart and other recognized "big box" prospects who like to be known as "economic development". Beware... economic development is not about selling a bunch of stupid "stuff" to a culture of adicted consumers who don't really know why they buy the stuff in the first place. Nine times out of ten, the community gets ripped off because local government officials don't require that the prospect pay a fair impact fee. Do most local officials even know about impact fees? You be the judge.

Greene County Named As Defendant In Law-Suit While Ex-County Administrator Dodges Bullet on New Fellony Charges!

2006-11-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

Was Board of Supervisors negligent in oversight of County Boss?

Will Taxpayers have to pay to clean up the mess?

What are the lessons to be learned?

Back in August, the Iconoclast reported on an interesting story about citizen activism leading to the prosecution of the ex-Greene County Administrator on charges of making false entries of official records by a public official… fundamentally a violation of the public trust by the County’s chief administrative official.

For those of you who may not be familiar, Greene County is a pretty little County located roughly between Harrisonburg and Charlottesville.

In July, the ex-County Administrator, one Julius Lee Morris, with 32 years of service, was convicted of misdemeanor charges of altering official public documents while in office. The conviction resulted in no jail time and a nominal $1000 fine.

At that time the Iconoclast opined that while the convicted former County Administrator would not be facing any jail time he had irreparably tarnished his otherwise long public service career and undermined public confidence in the Greene County Government.

However, since that time, Mr. Morris has appealed his conviction on the misdemeanor counts.

Seemingly in response to the appeal, a Grand Jury has recently returned new felony indictments against ex-County Administrator Morris for the same misconduct for which he was previously convicted misdemeanor charges.

The new felony counts, if they were to have stuck, would have resulted in up to 20 years in prison and a $200,000 fine. As bad as the mindemeanor convictions were, convictions on the new felony charges would have been indeed very bad news for the long time Greene County Administrator.

So, perhaps seeing the wisdom of leaving well enough alone, Mr. Morris has recently dropped his appeal of the misdemeanor convictions. In turn, the prosecutors have dropped the new felony indictments.

The most recent twist in this story can be seen by clicking here.

But this is not the end of the bad news for Mr. Morris.

As the story goes, the ex-County Administrator is alleged to have compounded his initial problems by abusing his authority of office to attempt to frustrate the efforts by other County officials to investigate “multiple, potential zoning violations” concerning real properties for which he, the County Administrator, had financial interests in. This abuse is alleged to have led to the unjustified firing of then Planning Director Catherine Clossin … with the purpose of silencing her and stopping the investigation.

Didn’t work…

Isn’t it amazing how one bad deed leads to another, and another, and another?

But anyway… as a result Ms. Clossin, the former planning director who had her job with the County cut short, has filed a $1.35 million lawsuit against her former boss alleging wrongful dismissal from her position.

Interestingly, the lawsuit also names the Greene County government for its role in the misconduct, presumably the Board of Supervisor’s failure to properly supervise the County Administrator and hold him accountable, and failure to prevent the wrongful dismissal.

This story has just gotten a lot more interesting to the taxpayers of Greene County… and worrisome.

To what extent is the Board of Supervisors responsible for the misconduct of the County Administrator? How much is this going to cost the taxpayers… in legal fees and a potential settlement? What could have been done to avoid this troubling situation?

The answers to these questions are still a long ways out… probably many months or maybe even years. Ms. Clossin’s attorney has indicated that his client is not really all that interested extracting money from the County. But, isn't that what the attorney’s always say?

Much will depend on the depositions. What information did the Board of Supervisors have at its disposal? Did the Board of Supervisors act reasonably or was it negligent? Was there reasonable expectation that the Board of Supervisors should have known what was going on before the planning director was fired? Did they know and choose to turn a blind eye? Or, the worst possible scenario, were Board members acting in complicity with the County Administrator perhaps to avoid bad press coverage, or out of a misguided sense of loyalty to the long time County boss, or to cover up a bigger problem?

These are all possible questions for the lawyers to ask in deposition.

Most fundamentally, this is the classic question of … “what did they know, and when did they know it?”

If the Board is ultimately revealed to have had knowledge of the County Administrator’s wrong doing and failed to act appropriately on that information, for any reason, it is quite possible that the County government will face significant civil damages.

Unfortunately for the Greene County Board of Supervisors, some of the most damning facts of the case have already been decided once in Court indicating that the County Administrator was criminally culpable. It is also known that the County Administrator was responsible former planning director was fired. The County Administrator works directly for the Board of Supervisors. There is not much left to the imagination.

So, the Iconoclast will go out on a limb and predict that this lawsuit never goes to trial, the principal reason being that the County’s attorneys are very likely to advise the Board of Supervisors to negotiate and settle the claims rather than risking a trial in front of a vengeful jury.

This story is interesting because it involves local government officials who are sworn to serve the public interests. The questions are what make this story both interesting and instructional. By observing the mistakes of others, we can learn to avoid similar problems and hopefully achieve higher standards in public accountability.

The Iconoclast hopes that the golden horseshoe brings Greene County some good luck. Looks like they might be needing it.

Stay tuned.

VOTE TUESDAY TO MAKE AMERICA THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE!!!

2006-11-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

VOTE NOVEMBER 7TH FOR YOUR CHOICES!

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

EVERY VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

If you read the Iconoclast regularly or once in a while, there is an excellent chance that you will need no reminder that Tuesday is Election Day.

You will march right down to the appointed polling place and participate in the Great American experiment in democracy.

Democracy... What does that really mean?

Chances are... you will vote not just because it is a right, but because it is a duty to all your fellow Americans, a duty to your community, a duty to your nation.

You will also vote because it is an expression of hope and anticipation that the American experiment in democracy will continue to evolve into a more perfect model of government.

Admittedly, some may be voting with the thought to “throw the current rascals out” and to bring in some new ones…

I mean to say … bring in some new leaders… not new rascals.

Whatever…

Whatever your party affiliation (or not), Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, Communist, Green, etc., voting should be taken seriously by all Americans who are eligible to vote. Voting is an easy way for every little voice to be heard... to count... to make a difference in our home communities and across the nation.

Unfortunately, too many eligible voters choose to stay at home and let others decide their political fate on a whole variety of issues... national security, health care, social security, taxes, education, community quality of life, transportion, etc... you name it.

Even in the last hotly contested 2004 Presidential Elections, only about 61 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast a vote. The other 39 percent failed to show up for what ever reasons. Some may have had a plausible excuse. No car to get to the polls; no cab fair; in the hospital in a coma; had to take the cat to the vet. Unfortunately, too many just stayed home watching cartoons on the boob tube or some other nonsense.

More voter turnout statistics from the 2004 general elections can be seen by clicking on this link.

If nothing else seems to get you too excited about putting forth the effort to vote, just remember that one of the most important reasons to vote is that a lot of Americans have fought, bled and died for the principles of democracy and so that you will have the right to vote.

And too, Americans have fought, bled and died so that others in all parts of the world can enjoy freedom and democracy.

How many Americans have bled and died? Too many to be sure… You can see the numbers here.

So, on Tuesday November 7th, get out and exercise your right to vote. Do your part to make the Great American experiment in democracy a more perfect model. And after you have voted, be proud that you have done something important.

Henry County Virginia Sheriff's Department Officials Alleged to Be Crooks!!!

2006-11-03T20:33:00.000-05:00

Prosecutor declares: “Disgraceful corruption!”

20 Indicted Including 13 Current or Past Members of Sheriff Department…

Including… GASP… Sheriff Frank Cassell himself!

By now the news has hit the streets, in Henry County, the epicenter of the story, in Roanoke the home of the Poff Federal Courthouse, and throughout Virginia. The news was big enough that it was on the national network news before most Virginia news outlets had a bead on the story.

Readers of this blog are perhaps aware that the Iconoclast has an editorial policy of exposing the bad behavior of public officials as a way of educating others of the perils of such behavior. By doing so, we hope that in some small way public officials her in Virginia will hold themselves to higher standards when carrying out their public business.

This story is particularly depressing…

This is a story of a culture of corruption in the Henry County Sheriff’s Department in Henry County, Virginia.

Henry County is a good sized county in the far western part of Southside Virginia or maybe the eastern part of Southwest Virginia. It is perhaps best known for the City of Martinsville that is located in the center of the County. With a population of about 60 thousand, Henry is a significant population center. They have experienced economic problems in recent years and have been working hard to pull themselves up by the boot straps.

You can read more about Henry County by clicking here.

Yesterday, we learned that Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassel, and about a dozen other individuals currently or previously affiliated with the Sheriff’s department and another seven civilians were named in a 48- count indictment involving theft of impounded property, using and dealing with illegal drugs, trafficking in firearms, and abstruction of justice.

You can get the high (or low) points of this pathetic story from The Roanoke Times by clicking here.

Or, if you are a real glutton for punishment, you can read the 50 page Grand Jury indictment in all its inglorious detail.

Before going any further, the Iconoclast wishes to acknowledge that in America there is a presumption of innocence for all persons accused of a crime. That presumption applies here to Sheriff Cassell and his 19 co-defendants.

He and the rest will have their day in court. Given the potential consequences of lawmen and women being convicted of such serious crimes, I am sure that there will be a spirited defense effort put forward in the coming months.

It should also be mentioned that just because the Sheriff and quite a few of his Sheriff's Department personnel are facing indictments, it should not be construed that all of the Henry County Sheriff's Department personnel are crooks. The work of the Sheriff's Department must go on. Hopefully, the remaining organization is strong enough to pull itself together and move ahead with their responsibilities to the 60 thousand people of Henry County.

Having said that, a casual review of the indictment suggests that things do not look so good for the named defendants, considering that at least one is cooperating with the FBI and DEA.

The allegations if proven true are most egregious. Individuals who wear badges of authority… individuals who wear uniforms symbolizing the law and order… individuals who are sworn to protect and serve the citizens of their community… these individuals are now standing accused of committing some of the most dangerous and despicable crimes that can be imagined in any community… that being stealing dangerous contraband held in their own custody, and selling this contraband back on the streets to criminals. That contraband is alleged to include dangerous drugs (cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana) and guns.

What is the public to think when individuals sworn to uphold the law are seen to be the crooks?

What would possess any law enforcement official to betray the public trust?

If the allegations are proven against the Sheriff and the other members of the Sheriff’s Department, it won’t be the first time that members of the law enforcement community have crossed the line to become the crooks.

But what is so disturbing about this case is the large number of law enforcement officials who seem to be involved in the overall conspiracy.

Who else knew or suspected what was going on?

How long has this alleged corruption been going on?

How is it possible that so many people could be involved without others knowing about it?

What kind of “culture” was being maintained in the Henry County Sheriff’s Department?

Is this another example of corrupting nature of power?

Or is this just a pitiful betrayal of public trust and community safty for the money?

Chances are, when all is said and done, we will be able to look back and see that... yes... there were signs of problems that were ignored by people who should have known better.

Maybe we can learn something from this very depressing story as it unfolds.

Stay tuned.

NOTE: The photograph above is of Sheriff Frank Cassell as he is leaving the the Poff Federal Court Building in Roanoke. He doesn't look quite as impressive as he does in his official portrait for the Henry County Sheriff's Department Webpage.

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

2006-10-31T15:15:00.000-05:00

What keeps you awake at night?

Things that go bump in the night?

Or is it something scarier?

Ghosts, goblins and vampires?

No, not so scary.

Mad dogs, snakes and spiders?

Maybe.

But what really keeps you awake at night? What really scares you?

Perhaps it is the weight of the world that seems to fall on your shoulders at times.

Perhaps it is the fear of the unknown future that gapes in front of you.

Perhaps it is self doubt.

Perhaps it is a secret that you are not particularly proud of.

Perhaps it is shame for an unjustice that you are responsible for.

Perhaps it is disappointment that you could have been a better human being.

Yes, these are the real scary things. These are the things that keep us awake at night.

But anyway, maybe we can all do better next year.

Happy Halloween!!!

Prince Edward Vice Chair "Lawyers Up"!

2006-10-25T20:38:00.000-04:00

Vice Chairman Howard Simpson... on CDA development...

Doesn't know?

Doesn't care?

Or maybe there is something to hide?

The scene at the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors October meeting in Farmville, Virginia was surreal...

Hard questions concerning the Poplar Hill Communtity Development Authority (CDA) were asked... but no answers were delivered...

A well attended Board room... A long agenda... A number of important issues of public interest...

Coming late on the agenda, following a number of routine matters... approval of minutes, routine reports, paying of bills, and several public hearings... was a little matter entitled "Request for Status Report on Poplar Hill CDA."

This request was the topic of a previous Iconoclast post.

One could almost imagine Chairman Buckie whisper under his breath: "Please... everybody... just go home and do not watch this pathetic display of complete non-accountability of County government."

Observers in the Board of Supervisors meeting room (few that they were at the late hour) were aghast at the scene.

You could hear a pin drop...

All of the questions were addressed to Vice Chairman Howard Simpson who was the Board of Supervisors representative on the Poplar Hill CDA board since 1999... the very beginning of the CDA.

But few answers were coming from Vice Chairman Simpson that evening.

Not complete silence... but... a lot of mumbling... and... what was that again? Talk to the lawyer...

Talk to the lawyer? What is this all about?

Observers were again left to scratch their heads in wonderment about what was going on. The CDA is a publicly created entity owned "lock, stock and barrel" by the good citizens of Prince Edward County. Why do we need to talk to the lawyer?!

It seems that back in early July, there was some curious news reported in The Farmville Herald concerning a bank forclosure notice on certain key real property holdings of the publicly owned Poplar Hill Community Development Authority (CDA) in Prince Edward County. The news of the foreclosure came only a month after the "Grand Opening" of a brand new 18 hole golf course financed through the aid of a $8.8 million Federall loan guarantee.

At that time, the headlines in The Farmville Herald read: "Could Impact Inn, Conference Center Site, Not New Golf Course."

I am not kidding... the claim was that the foreclosure would "not impact" the golf course!

Not to mince words too much, the Iconoclast has previously made fun of the Herald's overly optimistic headline "spin" on an obviously serious problem.

Fact is... the foreclosure on significant real property holdings of the CDA has serious implications for the overall project and may be a sign of other problems ahead for the citizens of Prince Edward County and taxpayers in general.

Perhaps the Herald's earlier optimism was misplaced.

But now, perhaps to set the record straight, a new article has appeared in the Herald on the Poplar Hill development under the headline "CDA Would Consider Sale Of Existing 18-Hole Golf Course Site In PE." Coincidentally, this new Herald article appeared exactly three weeks after the Iconoclast first broke the story about possible problems in paradise.

Wow! Sell the golf course!

This article represents quite an "about face" from earlier Herald reports that the forclosure would NOT have an impact on the golf course.

Of particular interest, this article contained several comments by Poplar Hill CDA Chairman Norm Krueger. Krueger, in addition to being the current Chairman of the publicly owned Poplar Hill CDA, is also the Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer of Hampden Sydney College. Recall also that Hampden Sydney Poplar Hill, LLC is an important stakeholder in the overall Poplar Hill development holding significant real estate interests.

Anyway, Krueger is quoted in the Herald as saying: "Its been a bumpier than expected start for Poplar Hill Community Development Authority's 18-hole golf course..." and that "Playwise, it's down from what we had projected because of the inn and conference center absence and the lack of development out there."

Mmmmm... "Playwise it's down because of the inn and conference center absence and the lack of development out there." Is that the same as NOT having an impact?

Krueger also volunteered that "The CDA is certainly not... an expert in running golf courses..." (Now is a good time to let the citizens know!)

And then there is the real bombshell... the acknowledgement that "Yes" the sale of the CDA owned golf course is an option that would be considered.

Consider the sale of the golf course?!

What does that mean? Under what circumstances and terms would the CDA consider selling the golf course?

Hasn't that golf course been promised to revert to County ownership in the future? If it is sold, what are the citizens of Prince Edward County going to get out of this deal?

What about the $8.8 million Federally guaranteed loan guarantee? What about all the other public resources that have been invested? Are we talking about a sale price to recover the significant public investments? Or are we talking about the taxpayers having to eat the loss? Who is looking out after the public interests in this deal? Who would have to approve the sale of the golf course?

So many questions....

And this brings us back to our story...

At least in title, Vice Chairman Howard Simpson is supposed to be representing the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors on the Poplar Hill CDA board of directors, and therefore is also supposed to be looking out after the public interests.

However, when Vice Chairman Howard Simpson was asked to report on the Poplar Hill CDA there was... a pregnant silence.

Other than referring to the minutes that he has provided the Supervisors, Vice Chairman Simpson's only substantive comment was that he would not comment further and that things discussed about the CDA in executive session are not to be discussed now (during the October meeting).

Executive session?

What executive session? Does the public ever really ever know when the CDA meets? Aren't all of the CDA meetings kind of private... kind of secret? So how can the public ever know anything about the CDA... especially if Vice Chairman Simpson is not talking?

Vice Chairman Simpson fended off several questions with the same answer... talk to the lawyer... that being the CDA's attorney Harlan Horton.

Considering that Vice Chairman Simpson has represented the Board of Supervisors and citizens of Prince Edward County on the Poplar Hill Community Development Authority for seven years (since 1999), his lack of responsiveness to basic questions was alarming to most observers.

I guess the good citizens of Prince Edward County are just expected to trust their elected officials to do what is best. But maybe that is not such a good idea.
Why can't Vice Chairman Simpson answer basic questions about the financial condition of the Poplar Hill CDA? What is protected about that? What does he have to hide? Why does he need a lawyer to answer these basic questions?

Maybe answers can be found elsewhere...

Maybe the answers can be seen in the picture below of the "Grand Opening" of the Poplar Hill Golf Course on June 14th.

Do these gentelmen have the answers to the important questions?

They are from left to right: Henry Booth, Harlan Horton (Poplar Hill CDA attorney), Southard Brumfield, Hunter Watson (former Chairman of the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors and Commonwealth Transporation Board member), and Scott Harwood (former Chairman of the CDA and current Virginia Tobacco Commission member)... all well known movers and shakers in Prince Edward County.

Also, all of these individuals are known to have been part of the original Poplar Hill Associates, LLC, a private for-profit entity related directly to the overall Poplar Hill Development but separate from the CDA. Nonetheless, Watson was the former Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; Harwood was previously the President of the Poplar Hill CDA; and Horton, is the current CDA attorney, the same attorney who Simpson referred all questions too.

Mmmmm... Getting nervious yet?

Perhaps we will be hearing from Mr. Horton in the near future. But frankly, we wonder... who is Mr. Horton most likely to represent best in this matter... the citizens of Prince Edward County or his buddies and business associates out their on the fairways? Yes... we wonder...

But in closing, the Iconoclast asks once again: Why does Vice Chairman Simpson have to "plead the fifth" to basic questions concening the Poplar Hill CDA?

Oh well...

As they say... Mr. Simpson ... "you have a right to remain silent... "

Maybe Vice Chairman Simpson is smart to "lawyer up" rather than to explain what he has been doing for the past seven years.

You can bet that there will be more about this story in the future.

NOTE: Quotes of CDA president and group picture are from The Farmville Herald. As always, thanks for the tips. Keep them coming.

Electric Deregulation Revisited... Likely to fail in Virginia says Richmond Times Dispatch!

2006-10-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

Lawmakers asleep at the switch?

Or are lawmakers just selling out to special interests?

The consequences of a failed campaign finance reform policy.

A new case for term limits.

It is kind of interesting when I learn that the big boys in the mainstream media wake up and acknowledge the reality that the Iconoclast has previously reported.

Click here for previous posts.

In the Iconoclast post back in May of this year, we pointed out that electric power deregulation will probably be a bad thing for Virginia, especially for the smaller consumers.

So now we are learning that The Richmond Times Dispatch editorial staff is concluding that electric deregulation will likely fail in Virginia, with the consequences that consumers will be shortly facing power bills skyrocketing out of proportion to present conditions, like in other states.

Surprise, suprise! Electric power deregulation is going to wind up costing us consumers more money!

Duh!

What were our lawmakers thinking when they came up with this idea of deregulating the electric power industry, which was essentially dominated by a few very large public corporations overseen by the government? Did these "rocket scientists" in Washington really think lots of little upstart companies were going to jump in and drive costs down? Have you recently priced the development cost of a new power generation station... by any fuel or method of power production? How about the cost of developing or acquiring a power distribution system?

Frankly, this was a "no-brainer". Of course electric power deregulation is going to cost the consumers more money. Also, anticipate impressive profits for the big electric power generation and distribution utilities... all thanks to our lawmakers in Washington who thought it made sense to eliminate or at least reduce governmental oversight of the industry. Investors want to make money and with the government now stepping away from their regulatory role, expect that management will take advantage of the situation.

The lawmakers were apparently a little woozy from getting wined and dined too much by the lobbyists and didn't think too much about what their actions would end up doing to the average consumer.

Which brings me to another subject... campaign finance reform.

Politicians often do some crazy things and their motives are not always pure, especially when money is so important to winning elections. Candidates and office holders are always looking for more money and lobbyists are always accommodating to make sure money is available to those who can deliver for the special interests.

Given the nature of the system, we are kidding ourselves if we think that campaign finance reform is the answer or will every work. It is not ever going to work... ever!!!

Money has a way of finding its way into the pockets of people who can be bought. (Think Randy Cunningham... a war hero... and a few others in just recent months.)

A few of the politicians get caught. Others don't. But there is a lot of questionable money floating around on Capital Hill.

The Iconoclast therefore goes on record to recommend a serious reconsideration of Congressional term limitations.

This goes for both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate.

Members of Congress should be limited to no more than three, four year terms consecutively, for a total of twelve years consecutively. Presently, Members are allowed unlimited numbers of two year terms.

US Senators should be limited to no more than two, six year terms consecutively, for a total of twelve years consecutively. Presently, Senators are allowed unlimited numbers of six year terms.

If very successful and popular office holders want to wait out a term and then try again for another twelve year stint, that would be fine. But the idea of term limits is to break up the heavy advantage of the incumbency and to reduce the financial influence of special interests on elections.

All efforts to effectively control or manage campaign finance have been thus far a failure... kind of like electric power deregulation has been and will continue to be. Under the present system, Capital Hill is occupied by Senators and Members of Congress who have been effectively bought and paid for by special interests.

This is wrong and undermines the basic principles of democracy.

Unfortunately, for too many lawmakers, it is all about the money... a vicious cycle.

Only by getting new people in office on a regular basis will Americans ever realize true democracy uncorrupted by "influence buying".

Term limits now!!!

Official Corruption in Appalachia: A sad but all too common story.

2006-10-20T20:09:00.001-04:00

One down!

Thirteen to go!

The healing process has begun…but…

The gavel came down hard this past week in a courtroom in Wise, Virginia.

A sickening bang echoing throughout the courtroom and throughout the little community of Appalachia.

Former mail carrier Don Estridge heard the verdict pronounced: Guilty!

One down. Thirteen to go. And they are coming down fast... most expected to cop a plea by the end of next month rather than risk worse consequences in front of an unforgiving jury and judge, and team of prosecutors.

Estridge was the first defendant to face the music in the voting-fraud conspiracy that brought the little Town of Appalachia into the national news earlier this year.

Thirteen others are waiting in the wings to learn their fate.

Of course, we knew that the story was not going to have a happy ending.

This is a story of wide-spread official corruption in the little Town of Appalachia, Virginia. It is a story of strong willed and seemingly intelligent people who, for reasons unknown, could not resist the temptations of power.

Some of the background on this pitiful story can be read in the Iconoclast archives.

It all started off as a seemingly amusing story about buying votes for as little as a bag of pork rinds. Yes, it sounded funny at the time the story broke.

Eventually, it was found that other pitiful bribes worked just as well…cartons of cigarettes and six packs of beer… whatever!

The amusing little story quickly turned serious when the 300 page indictment was handed down naming 14 good citizens of Appalachia, some in high political offices, in a conspiracy to rig the 2004 Appalachia town election for fun and profit.

It is sad to think that democracy can be so horribly corrupted with such pitifully insignificant bribes.

Just think about what serious bribes can do!

Mr. Estridge is one of the "little" co-conspirators and will face a relatively mild six months in jail and a fine. He was convicted of stealing or diverting absentee ballots, but acquitted of conspiring to help others to vote more than once.

Most of the other co conspirators seem to be negotiating plea deals with the government, including former Town Mayor Ben Cooper, the alleged “mastermind” of the plan to take over control of the local government.

Only former police officer Mike Baber is resisting cooperation and will likely go to trial in the coming months.

As previously reported in the Iconoclast, the voter-fraud conspiracy is just one aspect of this unfolding story. The investigation continues to broaden and is now looking into illegal gambling operations that may have been protected by the crooked public officials.

Additional indictments can be expected.

Who else is involved?

Time will tell.

The healing process has begun.

But... sad to say... the story is far from over.

Stay tuned for new developments.

Big Bamboozler of Buckingham

2006-10-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

Buckingham Schools make the grade!!!

But Buckingham Vice Chairman silent on big plans to remake School Board in his own image?

Is Supervisor Bates attempting to hoodwink community?

Greetings friends and former neighbors in Buckingham!

Recent news reports indicate that congratulations is in order for the Buckingham County School Division for having won accredidation for all division schools. A difficult challenge for any school division but all the more so when you have the political leadership engaged in open warfare as we have seen this past year in Buckingham.

Superintendent of Schools, Larry Massie gave appropriate recognition to all concerned for the accreditation success, including the students, teachers, principals staff and the School Board. He even acknowledged the important efforts of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors which have "contributed to Buckingham County's ability to recruit and retain highly qualified instructional personnel."*

Yes indeed, it certainly helps when everyone is pulling in the same direction to get a tough job done, and it must be gratifying to see the good results of the cooperative efforts.

Speaking of everyone pulling in the same direction, what ever happened to Buckingham County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Brian Bates' plan to remake the Buckingham County School Board in his own image?

Because you asked, the Iconoclast has followed up on the story that originally broke in Buckingham earlier this summer.

This story was interesting because of the unusual reversal of normal circumstances. Like they say… there is no story in a case involving a dog biting a man… but when man bites a dog… now there is a story!

Such was the case when earlier this summer, Buckingham County Supervisor and Vice Chairman Brian Bates made a big splash in the local news concerning his plans to… how shall we say... roll back the principles of democracy a bit in Buckingham County to eliminate the pesky elected Buckingham County School Board that had been giving the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors some grief over the past year about how best to deal with the school facilities requirements for the county.

Supervisor Bates plan was to hold a new special referendum to reverse the 1998 county referendum that created a school board with members elected directly by the people. If successful, this new referendum would allow the Buckingham Board of Supervisors (himself included) to hand pick new school board members.

So, back in July, Supervisor Bates started his quest to gather signatures on a petition supporting a local referendum on changing from direct election of school board members to appointment by the Board of Supervisors. According to news reports, he needed only 865 signatures.

By August, The Farmville Herald reported that Supervisor Bates by his own account had collected a “pretty respectable” 512 signatures, but fell short of the needed 865 signatures. In the same news report Supervisor felt it appropriate to express offense to those who had suggested that he was trying to “take away the citizen’s right to vote” labeling that criticism as “dubious at best”.

Wow!!! 512 signatures in less than thirty days! Unbelievable!!!

On top of that, Supervisor Bates went on to claim that most of those 512 people who signed the petitions agreed with the Board of Supervisors position on the school facilities issue.

Gosh, it must be gratifying for a politician to enjoy such wide-spread support!

But then, it seems it is time for a reality check.

On the basis of emails we have received, it seems that some Buckingham County folks are skeptical of Supervisor Bates’ convenient claim of personal vindication of his position.

There were other questions.

If Supervisor Bates was so impressively successful in the petition drive in less than 30 days, wouldn't that suggest that the idea was an important one and that it enjoyed wide support? So, why stop now? Why not carry that petition forward and put the same question on the ballot in November 2007, concurrently with his re-election bid?

It only makes sense: if the refererendum is a good idea now, it will still be a good idea in 2007!

So in August, the Iconoclast asked Vice Chairman Bates for an independent verification of the petition signatures.

As of early September, the Iconoclast had received no word from Vice Chairman Bates.

That being the case, the Iconoclast again contacted Supervisor Bates directly by email at his office at Longwood University a few weeks ago. Again nothing.

We again contacted him last week and offered him a final opportunity to present his signatures of support or alternatively explain his position.

Thus far, Supervisor Bates has elected to ignore all of our invitations.

Mmmmm...

Perhaps it is because Vice Chairman Bates does not have and never did have 512 signatures supporting his plan. To borrow his own words, perhaps the petitions are... “dubious at best”.

Or perhaps, using our own words...the petitions and 512 signatures are a sheer fabrication so that Vice Chairman Bates could avoid having to admit that his initiative was such a humiliating failure.

If the signatures existed, it would be easy and wise for Vice Chairman Bates to allow an independent observer to drop by his office to see them.

Why would he claim to have the signatures if they did not exist?

What does it say about Vice Chairman Bates' character if he is making the whole story up?

Would a politician ever be so bold as to lie to his or her constituents? (This is obviously a rhetorical question.)

The Iconoclast offer to Supervisor Bates still stands: If Vice Chairman Bates produces the evidence, the Iconoclast will publish it here with apologies for ever doubting him.

On the other hand, if Vice Chairman Bates remains in hiding, we say his actions speak volumes concerning his character and worthyness to hold public office.

Has Supervisor Bates earned the new title: "The Big Bamboozler of Buckingham" ?

For all practical purposes, his actions seem to have put that question to rest.

NOTE: The quote (*) is from The Farmville Herald. The picture at the top of the page is not a real politician. It is the late, great W. C. Fields who sometimes played a variety of fictional roles including of that of bamboozling politicians and other assorted dishonorable characters. The picture below seems to be the real thing.

Good Morning Korean Peninsula

2006-10-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

N. Korea pulls the trigger.

Crazy people with atomic bombs!!!

So, what now?

It is so good to see the sun rise following such a dreary weekend. But wait... that is not the sun rising over the Korean Peninsula.

It appears to be a nuclear bomb test.

North Korea?

Where is North Korea? Why should we worry? What do we really know about them? Maybe this is just somebody elses problem?

Is this part of the "War on Terror"? Probably not... (I don't remember hearing anything about their oil reserves).

Perhaps they are just trying to protect their national interests just like the rest of the members of the Nuclear Weapon Capable Club of Nations.

Perhaps we can sit down and talk with them. I am sure they are reasonable people.

Obviously, it was a little bomb and word on the street is that they do not have enough weapons grade nuclear material to make more than a dozen or so bombs.

Just a dozen or so little nuclear bombs. Probably no big deal.

Mmmmm...

What if they decide to sell them to friends?

Osama and his Al Qaeda associates?

Iran?

Somebody else with a big grudge?

What now?

Any way... good morning.

What can Congress learn from the Vatican?

2006-10-06T10:11:00.000-04:00

Individual bad behavior condemned.

But Institutional bad behavior may be bigger scandal.

There is no need for the Iconoclast to rehash the sordid details concerning the grossly inappropriate behavior of former US Congressman Mark Foley of Florida. Those details are abundantly available in print, TV and Internet venues.

Besides, scandal in Washington DC is nothing new.

Money and sex are common themes for scandal in Washington going back to the earliest days.

The list of Washington politicians who have found themselves the center of attention in scandals of one description or another over the years is too long to recite here. But strikingly similar scandals involved former Congressmen Mel Reynolds of Illinois and Gerry Studds of Massachusetts both having been sexually involved with minors... one having gone down for the misconduct and the other surviving it.

We also have a long list of Washington politicians who are more into the power and money thing. Former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham comes to mind.

The Abramoff scandal still unfolds as we speak.

But now Washington a all "a twitter" over the most recent scandal involving former Congressman Mark Foley. The investigation is just now beginning and will likely drag on well past the looming Election Day.

Having listened to the story unfold over the past week, it seems that the real story and scandal, yet untold, is less about the deplorable behavior of one obvious “bad-egg” on Capitol Hill, but rather about the political culture that seems to have covered up the bad behavior. Lots of people are talking and apparently Congressman Foley's behavior was not such a surprise to the Capitol Hill regulars.

While the Foley investigation is likely to drag on and produce vague and inconclusive results prior to November 7th (Election Day), it is likely to eventually reveal that too many individuals in positions of authority clearly knew or should have known of the explosive nature of the behavior long ago and turned a blind eye to the problem.

In the end the political apologists will explain the behavior in ways to diminish the perception of wrong doing. We are already hearing excuses that the story did not come out earlier because of the desire to protect the victim and his family. We will probably hear more lofty explanations that privacy rights of the Congressman Foley prevented earlier intervention. And of course, we will hear some who say that the leadership in Congress was focused more on the important issues of national and international concern.

However, in the end, this may turn out to be just one more example of an institutional cover-up motivated by self-interests of political preservation.

The more I hear about the story, the more it reminds me of the Catholic Church sex scandals that have surfaced over the past several years, involving misconduct by priests and high church officials who knew about the inappropriate behavior but still covered it up... in numerous cases and over many years.

Perhaps Church officials thought they were acting to protect the victims. Perhaps they didn’t want to ruin the "more important" work of the Church. I am sure that the high Church officials had what they thought were good reasons for inaction.

Do you see the similarities?

But in the end, it was nothing but a cover-up to avoid responsibility of the institution. And, in the end, the cover-up was by far the much bigger scandal.

Will Congress end up the same way?

NOTE: Photograph at top is the Vatican dome. Photograph at bottom is the US Capitol dome. A remarkable similarity in visual images. Are there other similarities?

Tee-Time in Prince Edward: abrupt change from celebration to financial crisis raises questions.

2006-09-29T21:23:00.000-04:00

Is this a case of public resources being diverted for private profit?

Were taxpayers blindsided and ripped-off?

Responsible community leaders silent.

Familiar names emerge.

Regular readers of the Iconoclast may recall that I grew up in Southside Virginia as a kid. So here is a new story from my old stomping grounds, the background on which is provided through news clippings and other relevant documents.

If by any chance you happen to be a taxpayer who sometimes wonders where your tax dollars wind up (probably all of our readers) , this ought to get your attention.

Part I: Official Disclaimer-- My personal love of golf!

Not so long ago, I guess I was at my zenith as an aspiring golf champion... you know... the easy money, the chicks, the travel to exotic places.

I was always into sports and my grandfather absolutely loved golf. So I got the bug early and did pretty well as a teenager. But as I grew older other distractions, including a few sports injuries, girls, getting married and starting a family, tragically sidelined my career as a championship golfer.

Sigh…

Be that as it may, I still love golf and still hold the personal belief that there can not be enough golf courses. Every community should have a golf course. What the heck…every neighborhood should have a golf course. And, on top of that, they should all be free to the public or at least very cheap.

Dream on… it ain’t going to happen! Reason being: practical economics.

Golfing is a great sport... but...

Golfing is an expensive hobby. Golf courses are expensive. Unquestionably, golf is the biggest and most expensive "board game" that was ever invented. Golf courses require hundreds of acres to entertain a relatively small number of users... about 150 acres for a 18 hole course built to the latest recommended standards for high quality courses.

But that is not the least of it.

Have you recently checked into the cost of the cutting edge equipment that is a must if you are to be competitive?

I would not say that golf is a sport only for the rich, but it is for people with a fair amount of discretionary disposable income available for recreation. You have got to really love the game in order to willingly soak up those membership dues and green fees, the cost of a decent set of clubs, the travel and incidental costs that seem to just come with the turf. (Sorry about that pun.)

Fact is: The "sport" of golf is about money, real estate, and ... well.... money... Golf courses are often built as "centerpieces" of much larger real estate developments as a way to attract a certain caliber of clientel and their money.

Sometimes there are questions concerning the environmental impacts of golf courses on their host communities, but that is another story.

For the most part, golf courses are nice facilities to have in a community for those who can afford to use them and so long as such developments are paid for by private investors and users.

Having gotten my official disclaimer out of the way, we can now move on to our new unfolding story… a story that has been brought to the Iconoclast by our readers in Southside Virginia over the past several months.

PART II: No public resources at risk?

For months… no… years… the local newspaper, The Farmville Herald, has trumpeted the progress of the long awaited Poplar Hill Golf Course and all that it's supporters have promised in economic development and far reaching benefits to the community.

The new golf course and associated facilities including a suitably impressive clubhouse, inn /hotel, and conference center was to be developed through the publicly sanctioned Poplar Hill Community Development Authority (CDA).

As originally explained in official public records, the CDA project activities were not going to require any investment of County funds and would not put any tax dollars at risk. Official documents report that large "institutional investors" would bear all the risk for the CDA through their purchase of tax exempt bonds. On the basis of these assumptions, the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors created the Poplar Hill CDA in 1999.

Earlier this summer, June 14th to be exact, the Poplar Hill Community CDA celebrated a long awaited “Grand Opening” of their brand new and highly acclaimed 18 hole golf course. Other anticipated CDA developed facilities, including the planned club house (a temporary club house was built), the inn /hotel and the conference center would have to wait. The golf course "Grand Opening" was attended by local dignitaries and was reported with great fanfare in The Farmville Herald.

This facility was reputed to have the finest of grasses and was designed and built to “championship” standards as recommended by the United States Golfing Association (USGA).

This is the kind of golf course that aspires to host major golfing events drawing the biggest names in the sport and thousands of avid golfing groupies, who spend millions of dollars in lodging, meals, related entertainment, attire, etc. This is a major sports / leisure industry that communities like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and Pinehurst, to name a few, have cashed in on in recent years.

Just as a point of interest... Myrtle Beach claims to have over a hundred golf courses available to visitors. Hilton Head boasts 25 “championship” quality courses, and more for the less discriminating. Pinehurst, North Carolina, long know for its good golfing, has only a paltry 29 golf courses. But they are very nice ones with lots of amenities.

These kinds of world class facilities also tend to spin off some pretty impressive real estate ventures for upscale housing for knowledgeable investors or well connected insiders.

As wonderful as this may seem, Prince Edward County is not currently known as a major golfing destination in the known “world of golf.” It would seem that local Prince Edward County officials aspire to change that perception.

However, while the potential for profits may exist, there are some very real risks for those who put up the money to undertake these multi-million dollar developments.

So years back the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors set out on a mission and put into place the legal creation of the Poplar Hill Community Development Authority... otherwise known as the Poplar Hill CDA.

Under the auspices of the County Board of Supervisors the Poplar Hill CDA was created to develop a golf course and other support facilities, presumably to serve the public interest by stimulating local economic development. According to official records, the financial risks were to be born by "institutional investors" including large mutual funds, banks, insurance companies, etc. and not the taxpayers.

No risk to the taxpayers!

So far so good...

Except for one thing…

As reported in The Farmville Herald on July 12th, less than 30 days after the June 14th “Grand Opening” of this beautiful golf course, the Poplar Hill Community Development Authority was facing … gasp… foreclosure on key assets!

Foreclosure!

Part III: Opps... A do over please?

Foreclosure… such a nasty word…

The foreclosure notice established July 28th, for the public sale of approximately 120 acres of land owned by the Poplar Hill CDA.

The real estate involved in the foreclosure included the land that was previously planned for development as a inn /hotel and conference center and so called “snaking section” that could have become an additional nine holes of golf.

The local newspaper, The Farmville Herald, has reported that the anticipated foreclosure “…sale would have no direct impact on the golf course or a planned residential area…” The Herald also stated in their headlines that the foreclosure “could impact the inn, conference center site, not new golf course.”

Could impact the inn… conference center… but not the golf course?

Let us be charitable…

Seriously... at the very best... this editorial phraseology is not just questionable... it is down right ominous...a feeble attempt to put an optimistic face on a seriously troubling situation.

Of course the foreclosure on a significant real estate asset of the Poplar Hill CDA, that being the site reserved for the inn / hotel site and conference center would indeed impact the golf course! And not in a good way!

The whole idea for creating the Poplar Hill CDA in the first place was to generally benefit the economy of the area. Now critical elements of the "centerpiece" public facilities are in jeopardy.

Golf courses do not exist in a vacuum. They must be part of an overall community including lodging, restaurants, and a whole host of other services and amenities... the whole hospitality industry...

Golf courses need lots of paying golfers with cash to spend in support of the investments made, operations,routine maintenance, etc.

There may be a problem here!!!

Local observers report basic construction work on the development is still incomplete and relatively few golfers are showing up… at least… maybe not enough to pay the bills for a multi-million dollar development, including what has been publicly reported to be an $8.8 million dollar taxpayer backed U.S. Government loan guarantee.

This taxpayer backed loan guarantee is curious considering that the Poplar Hill CDA was originally portrayed as putting no tax dollars at risk.

This U.S. government loan guarantee, through Rural Development, is reported in The Farmville Herald to be due to the favorable political intervention of Congressman Virgil Goode, overriding concerns of Rural Development officials who were reported to have not been so enthusiatic about the risks and economics of the project. Considering that Rural Development's mission is to support essential public facilities and services, there may have been some other legitimate questions concerning the appropriatness of publicly financing a golf course to support speculative real estate development.

What few jobs there might have been for local workers are now in question for the foreseeable future. Without an inn / hotel and conference center, there will be no conferences, no tournaments, no masses of well healed golfers and tourists.

Obviously, this would not be an appropriate subject for the Iconoclast, or a public concern were it not for the considerable public resources that have been put at risk by public officials on the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors (and in Washington) on the faith that all will eventually work out satisfactorily.

So far things have not worked out so well for the public interests. Maybe the private investors are safe and out of harms way but the public interests are in jeopardy.

Given the recent foreclosure on a critical land asset, it would seem reasonable that the responsible local officials might have some explaining to do.

Part IV: Who has the answers?

Who is responsible?

The answer to the question… “Who is responsible?”… is literally a cavalcade of the “ who’s who” of the most important citizens of the area…

The public record is fairly clear…

When the idea of thePoplar Hill Community Development Authority (CDA)was first initiated, it was led by a number of influential citizens and representatives from prominent local institutions. Public records indicate favorable recommendations for the CDA from representatives from Longwood University, Hampton Sydney College, the local Chamber of Commerce, individual local business persons and investors. Some of these supporters appear to have had real estate or financial interests in common with the Poplar Hill CDA.

Then Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, one gentleman by the name of Hunter Watson, was known to be an “avid golfer” who coincidentally had certain financial /real estate interests that directly related to the creation of the Poplar Hill CDA.

A Declaration and Disclosure Statement was rerecorded in the June 8, 1999 Board minutes stating Chairman Watson's personal financial interests in Poplar Hill Associates, LLC as an investor, and declaring that he would not participate in the discussions or votes concerning the Poplar Hill CDA.

Notwithstanding this official declaration (June 8, 1999), Board minutes of July 13, 1999 record that then Chairman Watson not only recommended appointments to the Poplar Hill CDA board of directors, but also voted for the appointments he recommended. This was a controversial vote with three dissenting votes. These actions did raise questions about the potential of "conflicts of interest", but nothing ever came of it so far as public was concerned.

Sources close to the situation have provided news reports confirming that Mr. Watson resigned, mid-term, effective January 1, 2003, as Supervisor and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Chairman Watson’s resignation occurred only after Poplar Hill CDA was created by the Board of Supervisors and only after he had taken part in making key appointments to the Poplar Hill CDA board to oversee the planned developments... developments related to real estate holdings that he had interests in.

One of Chairman Watson’s choices, confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, to the CDA board of directors was Supervisor and Vice Chairman Howard Simpson… the same person who is still Supervisor and Vice Chairman of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors. He was appointed to represent the interests of the citizens of Prince Edward County on the Poplar Hill CDA in 1999 and has remained in that position to this day.

Vice Chairman Simpson is well known as being a "regular fixture" in the Courthouse, frequently in the offices of the County Administrator, but normally a man of few public words. Although he has been the official representative of the Board on the Poplar Hill CDA since 1999, he has rarely reported on the subject since his appointment to the Poplar Hill CDA in 1999.

Observers have asked what Vice Chairman Simpson has been doing all those hours that he has been hanging out out in the County Administrators office in recent years.

In early 2004 (Feburary 10, 2004), the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisor’s minutes report that the Poplar Hill Community Development Authority “is comprised of approximately 1,063 acres of which Hampden Sydney Poplar Hill LLC owns approximately 192 acres,: Poplar Hill Associates, LLC owns approximately 195 acres; and Poplar Hill Development Group, LLC owns approximately 238 acres. The remaining 435 acres are owned by the Poplar Hill Community Development Authority.”

This quote from the official records is confusing as the CDA is a publicly created organization and the LLCs are private for-profit organizations. However, the LLCs seem to be lumped all together as part of the CDA initiative. Related yes. The same thing no.

Remember, former Chairman Watson declared a personal financial interest in the Poplar Hill Associates, LLC.

The one obvious question is how the Poplar Hill CDA can go from celebration to financial crisis in less than 30 days?

It is inconceivable that the Poplar Hill CDA board members could not have been aware of the impending financial crisis on the day of the "Grand Opening". In fact, CDA attorney Harlan Horton has indicated to the local press that the CDA attempted to negotiate a "payout on the note" as far back as last October... almost a year ago. Why was this not publicly reported by responsible County officials earlier?

Also, there are questions concerning how anyone can logically claim that the forclosure of the 120 acre site which was to be the location of critical support facilities (inn / hotel and conference center) would have no impact on the golf course or planned residential area. Such claims defy common sense.

Most recently, on September 12, Prince Edward Board Supervisor Lacy Ward submitted a formal request to the Board to require that Vice Chairman Howard Simpson, the Board's long-time member of the Poplar Hill CDA, give a status report on the situation with the Poplar Hill CDA. This request asked that Vice Chairman Simpson specifically give "an in depth status report on the CDA operations" and " pay particular attention to the forclosure action and it's impact on the overall CDA plan, the overall financial status of the CDA to include loan balances, income for operation of the golf course, etc."

Sources who were present at the Board meeting reported that Vice Chairman Simpson, the Board's long time appointment to the CDA board reacted to the request with total silence!

In fact, the whole issue was met with silence by the entire Board. Chairman William "Buckie" Fore showed little reaction and moved on to the next item on the agenda after no discussion.

Readers of the Iconoclast may remember Chairman "Buckie" Fore, as the Board's Chairman since former Chairman Watson resigned. Local observers have suggested that Fore may have been a "favorite" (read "hand picked" ) by the former Chairman Hunter Watson to succeed him as Chairman. Furthermore, Chairman Fore is known to have a long time employee / employer relationship with the local newspaper, The Farmville Herald. (You may conclude from this fact whatever you wish.)

Contrary to earlier public representations, it is clear that public tax dollars have been put at risk to finance the developments of the Poplar Hill CDA. Other interests related to the golf course but privately owned included the Hampden Sydeny Poplar Hill LLC, Poplar Hill Associates LLC, and Poplar Hill Development Group LLC appear to be deriving advantage from the public initiative and risk through the Poplar Hill CDA.

Other significant investments of public funds have been in the past and may still be under consideration to support the Poplar Hill CDA and the various identified for-profit private entities (the LLCs). This may include grants from the Tobacco Commission and the Virginia Department of Transportation. VDOT is presently considering a major road project directly serving the project (U.S. Route 15). Also,former Chairman of the Poplar Hill CDA, Scott M. Harwood, was identified in a 2005 request to the Virginia Tobacco Commission for a $1.7 million special projects grant for activities specifically supporting the Poplar Hill Inn and Conference Center (the site for which has been recently forclosed on by the bank).

Mr. Harwood has since resigned from the Poplar Hill CDA and now serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

Given the recent public revelation of the bank forclosure on significant real estate holdings of the Poplar Hill CDA and the possibility that OTHER public funds may still be under consideration for investment in the project, it is indeed necessary for responsible public officials to start answering questions.

For starters, why was the public blindsided? Why are public funds being used to support this speculative real estate venture? Are public funds being put at risk so that private for-profit entities may reap the profits? Who are the real beneficiaries of this project?

While non-committal during the September 12th Board meeting Chairman Fore and Vice Chairman Simpson owe it to the public to start providing some long overdue answers to these serious questions.

Presumably, the next shoe will drop in October.

Will the public get the long overdue answers?

This will be one to watch... to be sure!

Finally… as we know… the wheels of Prince Edward County Government... and its off-spring... the Poplar Hill CDA... could not have moved without the bureaucrats who work behind the scenes to make things happen. One such individual pictured (above) recently out on the fairway of the new golf course is none other than Prince Edward County Administrator Mildred B. Hampton… perhaps an avid golfer on vacation… perhaps something else...

You be the judge.

NOTE: Thanks to our contributors. As always, the Iconoclast appreciates the local tips on developing stories. Please send your confidential tips to

The Wizard Speaks

2006-09-26T08:22:00.000-04:00

I am not going to waste a lot of time and words in explaining this newest story concerning Senator George Allen as was reported this morning in grueling detail in The Richmond Times Dispatch.

But, it seems that Senator George Allen’s recent problems with “Macaca-Gate” and his “identity crisis” involving his family heritage, may recede into the past as a distant and relatively pleasant memory in comparison to the latest story.

In this latest story, the Senator’s favorite topic… that being football… seems to be coming back to bite him.

Specifically, former football teammate Dr. Ken “Wizard” Shelton, has come forward with two other former teammates (choosing to remain anonymous) to report that they recall the then University of Virginia football quarterback, George Allen as demonstrating “racist” behavior and rhetoric.

In fact Dr. Shelton contends that his nickname “Wizard” was given to him by George Allen in recognition of the Dr. Shelton’s surname being the same as that of Robert Shelton, who happened to be the Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America in the 1960’s. While Senator Allen claims no credit for and asserts no knowledge of that specific source of the “Wizard” nickname, other sources have confirmed that Dr. Shelton’s nickname was indeed “Wizard”.

Coincidence?

Interestingly, University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato has stated without qualms on national television (Chris Matthew’s “Hardball”), “I’m simply going… to say with what I know is the case and the fact is that he did use the n-word.”

This could be a problem.

For the record, Senator Allen vigorously denies the entire story.

The Iconoclast is not going to weigh in here with any kind of in-depth analysis as this story is just too new and too raw. However, this story deserves more examination to determine what the facts are and what it means to Senator Allen’s political future.

If the story can not be plausibly verified, Senator Allen is owed an apology. If the story turns out to be verified, Senator Allen probably has some more explaining to do.

NOTE: The photograph above is of Robert Shelton, the Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America and not Dr. Ken Shelton, Senator Allen's former football teammate.

The Senate Contest in Virginia heats up in the hereafter!

2006-09-18T14:05:00.000-04:00

Allen or Webb: Who does the late President love the most?

Will the final word from the late President Ronald Reagan put issue to a final rest?

The Iconoclast spares no expense or effort to get answers!!!

As the political season continues to heat up, the average non-political citizen is inundated with all kinds of information, claims and counter-claims from the candidates, from their campaign organizations, from the parties they are affiliated with and from various talking heads who put themselves out to the public as knowing what the heck they are talking about.

Added to the confusion, in the contest between incumbent George F. Allen and Jim Webb for the junior United States Senate seat for Virginia we have the unusual situation where political commentary comes to us now from beyond the grave.

This makes things much more confusing for us mere mortal voters.

The controversy began earlier this month when the Webb for Senate camp unveiled their first big TV advertisement (30 seconds long) using video clips showing the late President Ronald W. Reagan introducing in highly complementary terms the then Assistant Secretary of Defense James Webb.

Subsequently, the same James Webb served in the Reagan Administration as the Secretary of Navy until he resigned in 1988 over disagreements with cutbacks in the number of Navy ships.

This advertisement is what might be termed in political circles as a decidedly “positive commercial” containing only information of a positive or favorable nature for the candidate without any critical information about the candidate’s political opponent. These kinds of advertisements are often touted by political observers as a good thing in contrast to the "negative commercials” that contain mostly critical or negative information concerning the political opponent.

So what is the problem?

Well… as the late President Reagan was fond of saying… while people say that positive campaigning is good, everybody knows that negative campaigning is much better. Oh yeah! Much, much better...

So, that being the case,the Allen camp is going negative with a new campaign attack add against Webb.

Allen's people are "crying foul" because the Webb advertisement seems to “imply” that the late President Reagan would support Virginia native and Democratic candidate James Webb as opposed to supporting California native and Republican candidate George Allen for the United States Senate in Virginia.

On top of this, the late President’s widow, Nancy Reagan, has asked Webb to not use the video clip from a 1985 public event showing her late husband complementing then Assistant Defense Secretary Webb (an appointment by the Reagan administration), invoking the reason being as the lack of her express authorization to use the public video records in which her late-husband, the former President appeared.

According to the Allen people, Webb’s actions are outrageous and disrespectful of the late-President’s widow. How brazenly disrespectful can a political candidate be... the gall of using historical records for political advantage?

The Allen people have gone on to explain that the 30 second video clip implies that the late President would support Webb whose only claim to legitimacy was being born in Virginia, being an outstanding graduate of the United States Naval Academy, a decorated combat war veteran, a former high ranking official in the United States defense establishment, and a successful writer.

By extension of the Allen team arguments we voters may fairly conclude that the late President would never do that but rather prefers California born George Allen, whose dad was a national sports icon, and who presently holds the junior Senate seat in Virginia.

Mmmm…

Who do we believe? It is so hard to know for sure. Who can possibly know what or who the late President Ronald Reagan would support today considering that he died over two years ago?

Here at the Iconoclast, we do not let mere earthly technicalities stand in our way. We hate unresolved questions and within the limits of our budget, will spare no expense or effort to get to the bottom of this quandary.

So, we decided to go to the original source… that being the Gipper himself… "The Great Communicator" … the late President of the United States, Ronald W. Reagan.

You may be wondering: How can we do this?

Well… easy… if you believe in astrology… which we of course do! In fact, lots of important people believe in astrology.

To finally resolve once and for all this question, we have consulted with Sister Bling-Bling Chickenbone of Charlestown, West Virginia or there abouts. Sister Chickenbone comes to us highly recommended possessing both a certificate of attendance and crystal ball from the prestigious West Virginia Academy of Astrological and Spiritism Sciences and Candle Products Wholesale Warehouse, Inc.

After submitting our query by email to Sister Chickenbone’s web-site, along with the appropriate major credit card information and charge authorization for $19.95, we received the following prompt and professional written response.

“The spirit world sends you greetings and good will. Continue your quest for spiritual enlightenment and wisdom. You will be rewarded richly. Visit our candle and paranormal accessories shop on-line or at 1307 Elm Street, behind Ray’s Rent-to-Own, here in Charlestown. Bad credit, no credit? Not a problem.

President Reagan sends you his best wishes. He is doing well and continues to watch with interest the worldly matters of the living. However, he advises all interested parties that he has not endorsed either candidate for the United States Senate from Virginia preferring to leave that matter up to the good judgment of the voters. He has also indicated that he has not issued authorization to anyone, including Nancy, to guess what he may or may not think of today’s events, reminding all concerned that his job here on earth is done and today’s events are for the living to deal with as best they can.

The late President also offers the sage advice to those who may be confused or in doubt that the history is only what it is and that it can not be changed by mortal spin doctors even if they are employed by Republican Senator George Allen.

For the deluxe, enhanced reading (which comes with a special boxed set of candles suitable for home séances), at only $49.95, additional insights from the hereafter are available.”

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen… the final word from the hereafter from The Great Communicator himself. What more can anyone else say (unless they fork over the additional $49.95 for the deluxe enhanced reading).

If it was only possible to change history! Wouldn’t it be grand? Jim Webb would not have been standing on that stage back on May 22, 1985 with President Ronald W. Reagan, and the President wouldn’t have said those nice words.

History would be entirely different! If only!!!

But President Reagan and Jim Webb were there on May 22, 1985 at the United States Military Academy and those words were spoken.

What a rotten break for Senator Allen. Don't you just hate it when the facts get in the way of a perfectly good political campaign?

“Ethnic Rally”…?

2006-09-12T15:42:00.001-04:00

What does this mean?

Am I invited?

What shall I wear?

Ladies and gentlemen, I will admit it… I am confused, befuddled and perplexed…

Having been raised by a mother who attempted (sometimes in vain) to instill in me and my sisters the importance of good manners and proper etiquette, I perhaps worry too much about how to behave in various social and business venues.

So, you can imagine the quandary that I presently face concerning how to respond to Senator George Allen’s recently announced new campaign event format, that being the so called “Ethnic Rally.”

If Senator Allen should schedule one of these Ethnic Rallies in my community, should I attend?

How does one get invited to attend one of these Ethnic Rallies? Are blood tests required?

Is Caucasian considered to be an ethnicity? I have been told that I have a great tan. Does that help with whole “ethnic” look.

What if the ethnicities get all mixed up? You know… the Latinos, the Asians, the Africans, the Native Americans?

What does everyone talk about? Probably ought to stay away from anything political. I know... we can just smile a lot… A smile says a lot about a person.

What kind of finger food do they serve at these Ethnic Rallies and how does one properly eat it to avoid being seen as a non-ethnic buffoon? Tacos? Egg rolls? Ribs? Sushi?

What about choices of beverages? Tequila? Malt liquor? Saki?

What would one wear to an Ethnic Rally in contrast to normal rallies? Maybe some bright colors would be in order. Yeah… a bright yellow shirt would probably fit right in... one similar to those pictured above perhaps!

As you can see there are so many questions…

But I have a couple of final questions for Senator Allen…

What kind of Senate candidate would come up with the idea of having an Ethnic Rally in the first place?

What kind of Senate candidate would need to hold an Ethnic Rally?

Frankly, the whole idea just doesn't quite sound right.

RELATED ARTICLES:

My two-cents on Macaca Gate

Has Senator George F. Allen "jumped the shark"?

Politics and Eternity

Remember 9/11/2001...

2006-09-11T10:16:00.000-04:00

Remember 9/11/2001…

What have we learned?

Are we safer today?

Will be ever be completely safe?

Words of wisdom from 1932 may hold answers for today's challenge!

Since 9/11/2001 the world has changed and will never be quite the same again. For the first time in over a half century, an enemy of the American way of life struck at our homeland.

On this day, the Iconoclast joins millions of Americans and friends around the world in remembering those whose lives were lost or horribly changed on that terrible day five years ago.

Before that fateful date, most of us probably did not give much thought to the idea that any conceivable enemy in the world would be so bold as to directly strike at the American people... regular people... civilians... innocent people...

In recent days and in the days to come, perhaps thousands of scholars and assorted pundits will speak and write millions of words attempting to explain what it all means and what the future holds. No one really knows in detail what the future holds… except that the world has changed.

Pundits and politicians are fond of asking the question: “are we safer today?” Who really knows? Have we ever been completely safe? Will we ever be completely safe? Safe from what?

Respectively the answers are: nobody; no; probably not; and any and all threats...but mostly the threat of some faceless enemy.

Fact is: the world has always been a dangerous place. None of us are going to get off this spinning ball of confusion alive... at least in the flesh.

There is little to be gained by wrapping our houses in duct tape and stocking up our bomb shelters with MREs, cases of extra ammo and bottled water. Living in fear is not the answer.

Reasonable precautions yes; society-wide paranoia no!

So, it seems to me, while we are here on planet earth, and regardless of our nationality, political affiliations, ethnicities or religious beliefs, we should all make it our first priority to enjoy our lives, our friends our neighbors and try to make the world a little better place while we are here.

In fact, we Americans probably enjoy the highest degree of personal safety that any culture anywhere on the face of the earth has ever experienced during any time in history.

Can we do better? Perhaps. But it is not a good thing to go off the deep end with worry and suspicion of people who are different from us and who have different ideas.

Perhaps we should ponder the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the occasion of his First Inaugural Address in 1932 when he said “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

Nameless, unreasoning and unjustified terror... Do these words fit today's circumstances.

While the circumstances today are of course far different from 1932 (the Great Depression), the advice may still be good.

Let us as a civilization advance and not retreat into a mental cave of paranoia.

Happy anniversary Iconoclast readers!!!

2006-09-08T16:17:00.000-04:00

Taking a moment to reflect…

Where we’ve been…

Where we’re going?

Happy anniversary Iconoclast readers… whoever you are… wherever you are!!!

Yes, it has been one whole year… but not really.

I am fudging the one year anniversary date a little here. The actual one year anniversary date for the blog named "The Commonwealth Iconoclast" was June 29, 2006… a couple of months ago.

I was too busy at the time and forgot to take note of this significant milestone.

In the blogosphere, one year is an eternity. Things happen fast. Much faster than any one individual can keep up with. Lots of blogs don’t even last a month let alone a year. Those of you, who, like me, grew up with the Internet, know that we live in a brave new and scary world… move along with it or get run over.

The Commonwealth Iconoclast blog was started officially on June 29, 2005 with a little post entitled “Legalized bribery” which discussed the unholy influence of big special interests money on American politics… this is still a huge issue and a threat to American democracy as we know it. (We will talk about it again in the future.)

Believe it or not, since that time, the Commonwealth Iconoclast has had featured nearly 200 posts, totaling approximately 200,000 words, on subjects ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. The estimated 200,000 words counts only the original writing by our little team of contributing writers (including Tom, Lowell and myself, plus a few other friendly contributors), but the links to these posts add up to literally many millions of words… some written by, arguably, the greatest minds in history (some maybe not so great).

Since we started, we have discussed world politics, national politics, Virginia politics, local politics and a number of other issues that defy any classification. We have taken on issues with far reaching implications such as social responsibility, energy policy, gun control (gum control also), religion, abuse of political power, political corruption, government incompetence, partisan politics, economic development, shady land deals, voter fraud, pork rinds, constitutional law, coon dogs, personal and pujblic ethics, various sports related issues and a fair amount of trivia.

We have talked about many personalities including Kim Jung Il, Che Guevera, Dick Chenney, Charles Taylor, Jerry Falwell, Tom Delay, Tim Kaine, Joseph Geobbels, Russ Potts, Mark Warner, George Allen, Barney Fife, and an almost endless list of local officials who have “distinguished themselves” usually by some boneheaded behavior.

We have covered a “beat” that includes the entire known universe, the planet earth, various countries around the world, the good old USA, various states, and of course, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

That is the nice thing about the blogosphere: we can talk about whatever we want, whenever we want and nobody can say “you can’t do that” or “you are over budget” or anything else rain on our little “idea parade”.

I think of all the things we write about, the most rewarding are the posts we make closest to home… the ones about the goings on here in Virginia and especially in the little communities all around our wonderful Commonwealth.

Many communities have enthusiastically stepped up to the cyber-podium to speak about what bothers them: Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Richmond, Cumberland, Lynchburg, Buckingham, Chesterfield, Charlotte, Appalachia, Prince William, Buchanan, Prince Edward, Roanoke, Henrico, Lunenburg, , etc.

But to our good friends in Elkton a special thanks. There is perhaps no community in Virginia with more active in the greater community discussion. Thanks for your continuing contributions to the Iconoclast.

The inspiration for this little blog comes from our readers where ever they come from (even some from beyond the USA). That was not the original intent but that is what it has become. It is a discussion among civilized, but diverse people without animosity, without violence, without bullets, without IEDs. Just words… that is all it is… just words.

Your thoughts… your comments… your confidential tips… This is what it is all about... Without these, the Iconoclast would have certainly ceased to exist a long time ago, perhaps after only a few months.

But, since June of 2005, the Iconoclast has had nearly 40 thousand hits according to monster.gostats.com. Considering our limited operating budget, that is a fair number.

However, by blogging standards, 40 thousand hits in a year or so is not a lot of hits. Only a few hundred hits a day. The highest I recall was perhaps 600 hits in one day. We are not ready to go public. And our contributors still go without monetary compensation. Maybe next year… Our budget? That is classified.

But honestly, the Iconoclast probably has only a few hundred regular readers who have marked us as a “favorite”. For whatever reason, they come back to see what is going on here, there and where ever. Some of these folks send us confidential tips (we really appreciate this); some regularly submit thoughtful comments; some just watch.

That last category… the ones who just watch, they are the most interesting. They are the “voyeurs” who seem to carefully observe what is happening but never share with us their thoughts.

Amazingly, there are perhaps a few thousand “voyeurs” who keep checking in but do not choose to comment.

These people intrigue me. What are they thinking? Who are they?

Just anonymous bloggers … I suppose trying to understand the world they live in a little better. That's cool...

The Iconoclast thanks all those anonymous bloggers out there and invites all of them to take the next step… to participate in the great debate that is raging on in the blogosphere… where we peacefully challenge accepted notions and call for higher standards of social behavior. There is no censorship (so far). We don’t try to judge. The blogosphere is just about ideas… your ideas perhaps.

The Iconoclast may occasionally step on a few toes. If you personally have been offended in any way by anything appearing in this blog, it is my humble opinion that you may want to take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself if you did not play an important role in offending yourself. (Think about it.)

Hopefully you were not expecting an apology.

Somebody once said: “knowledge is power.” And this was way before the Internet and way, way before the blogosphere emerged as a phenomenon. Of course who ever said it was right… but what would they think if they could see the world-wide 24 hour news cycle now reduced to instantaneous “real time” discussion of the world we live in.

What would they think if the blogosphere was controlled by nobody and everybody? Scary thought to some perhaps?

Where is the Iconoclast going? Who knows? Who cares? The Iconoclast will continue as long as a few people care enough to keep it going… and not a second longer.

Where will Katie Couric be next year? And… wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had the same PR budget that Katie Couric has?

Thanks again to all contributors. You have been great. Keep on blogging!!!

Happy anniversary!

Politics and Eternity

2006-09-01T00:12:00.000-04:00

What it takes to succeed in politics.

The saga of Senator George Allen and his ups and downs on the campaign trail.

More downs than ups in recent weeks.

I am not going to beat a dead horse… but I will say one thing about the continuing saga of Senator George Allen and his little “macaca” mishap: In politics a few weeks is an eternity.

The story can be reviewed at the ABC News report entitled "The Macaca Heard Round the World."

The expression "macaca" apparently is some kind of monkey and in some circles used as a racial slur... guess we learn something every day. The "monkey" pictured with this post is not actually a "macaca" but is probably more acurately a fair depiction of the political personalities we are talking about.

Indeed, the past few weeks was a dazzling display of just how frail a political career can be.

Here today… gone tomorrow!

Perhaps it is not as bad as that, but this past few weeks has been nothing short of a disaster for junior Senator from Virginia, George F. Allen, all because of few poorly chosen words at a campaign stop in a little place called Breaks, Virginia.

Of course, no one knows this better now than Senator George Allen.

All summer long, Senator Allen enjoyed an enormous poll and money lead over Democratic opponent Jim Webb. The campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate was seen as a mere formality on the road to the Presidency in 2008.

All that heady speculation of becoming the next “Leader of the Free-World” came to an abrupt end on August 11th when the “macaca” mishap erupted.

How bad has the past few weeks been?

Pretty bad! Pretty damned bad!

There are lots of polls and other subjective measures but we will just show you one.

The July Wall Street Journal / Zogby interactive poll showed Allen soundly leading Webb by 10.6 points.

Pause and think about that lead for a minute...

By August, the same poll showed Webb in the lead by 1.3 points.

This is a 11.9 point shift in the same poll in less than 30 days.

Some polls are obviously loaded. Some are fairly objective and attempt to measure what is going on in the real world… oh… maybe we shouldn’t use that expression.

Say what you will about polls, but this is a very dramatic shift in a recognized poll that is not normally known for being all that frivolous.

Considering Allen’s previous history, his impressive cash war chest, his Presidential aspirations… the past several weeks has been nothing short of a disaster.

Allen’s problems started earlier this year with the article in The New Republic. Perhaps this was just a little bump in the road coming from a arguably “liberal leaning” publication.

If that was all the bad news there was, Allen would undoubtedly blow Webb away in November.

But then there was “macaca-gate” and several weeks of bad press in the mainstream media as well as a blistering beating in the blogosphere.

Now, just a couple of days ago (August 29th), The Nation brings up another little problem in an article entitled “Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen.”

This article rehashes the entire “macaca-gate” story and then goes on to resurrect the 1996 story of then Governor Allen’s apparent indiscrete posing with a little known organization known as the “Council of Conservative Citizens” , or the CCC. This organization has been characterized as being the successor organization to the segregationist “White Citizens Council” … a white supremacist group.

This is the same organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a “hate group”.

Let us make one thing perfectly clear, the Iconoclast is not calling Senator George Allen a "racist bigot" .

But there are questions.

On the basis of those questions, the Iconoclast is making the observation that what was considered a sure thing just a few weeks ago is no longer a sure thing. Senator Allen is no longer a sure thing.

We also wonder about the company he likes to keep.

Questions of Senator Allen’s suitability to hold a position of political leadership here in Virginia have emerged. We will go so far as to say that the idea of George Allen becoming the next “Leader of the Free World” has all but evaporated.

In our humble opinion, that is just not going to happen.

For the next two months, Senator Allen needs to be thinking about reestablishing his credibility with Virginia voters… and we mean all of them… even those who wear "yellow shirts" and may not otherwise share his own physiological features.

Senator Allen needs to be working on giving the citizens of Virginia some reason why we shouldn’t be turning to Jim Webb as a viable choice for new junior Senator from Virginia.

In all political campaigns, mistakes are made. We have seen that in recent weeks.

Are these little mistakes a symptom of bigger mistakes ahead? How is our government going to treat American citizens on such important issues as education, privacy, health care, economic opportunity, security and old age. What have we learned from this experience?

Think about it...

Let us hope that the monkey that Senator Allen introduced to Virginia Senate Campaign 2005 is not the just another man looking at himself in the mirror.

Has Senator George F. Allen “jumped the shark” ?

2006-08-24T19:38:00.000-04:00

Political career trajectory unclear!

Still climbing or on his way down?

A moment’s lapse of judgment causes damage!

Continuing today was the discussion around the water cooler about Senator George F. Allen and his little “macaca” problem. The headlines in The Richmond Times dispatch this morning read “Allen phones, apologizes to Webb aide”.

It was a slow day and everybody had to chime in with an opinion. Some think it is a non-consequential issue. Some think it is an embarrassment but that it too will pass in time.

But one of the old "gray-beards" in the office suggested a scenario that may not bode so well for the junior Senator from Virginia.

Russ (last name withheld), a normally quiet gentelman in his later 50's, was at UVA a couple years ahead of George F. Allen. He didn’t really know Allen then and wasn’t into the football scene or other circles that Allen may have traveled in.

But Russ was ready to talk. It seems that Russ clearly remembers when young George Allen, just barely out of law school, ran for a seat in the Virginia General Assembly. He did not win that time but "carried the ball home" with a win for a House of Delegates seat in 1981, beginning the meteoric political career of George F. Allen.

Since that time, Russ followed with close interest Allen’s fantastically successful rise from a humble beginning of wealth and privilege to the spectacular political career that included being elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, the United States House of Representatives, Governor of Virginia and now the United States Senate. Some political observers now consider Allen as a man with promising prospects to end up in the Oval Office and leader of the free world in 2008.

All of this happened in the short span of only 25 years.

But Russ was quick to point out that Allen’s meteoric raise in politics was not all of his own doing. It was to a good measure due to being in the right place at the right time (the U.S. House of Representatives race in 1991 to fill a vacancy left by ailing Congressman D. French Slaughter, Jr.) and to the mistakes of his political opponents (poor political judgment of candidate for Governor Mary Sue Terry in 1993).

Without the benefit of one U.S. Congressman getting sick (Slaughter) and one Virginia Attorney General (Terry) getting goofy, it is entirely possible that George Felix Allen would be a political nobody today.

Russ recounted how former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry experienced a similarly blessed political career.

Terry started out her political career as a conspicuously successful Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1978, and was elected Virginia’s first woman Attorney General in 1985. She was arguably one of the most popular politicians in Virginia in 1985. Every political challenge she met, she coasted through with resounding victories. Of course during her ascendancy as a political power hitter, she was always running as a Democratic candidate during an era when the Democrats were in control of Virginia politics.

So, when Mary Sue Terry announced that she was running for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there was little doubt that she would succeed, especially since she was running against a less well known Republican opponent who was considered at that time to be a political “light-weight” --one George Felex Allen.

As expected Terry’s campaign got off to a good start and she enjoyed a comfortable lead in both the polls and the money chase. Things were looking good… real good.

Then something happened… Something bad... real bad.

The golden girl, Mary Sue Terry, started tripping over her own tongue. She didn't sound like a Governor... or at least somebody the voters were comfortable in making Governor.

There was bad advice coming from the DNC down to the Terry camp. There was fumbling by her handlers. There were policy gaffs that revealed that Terry either did not understand Virginia needs too well or that she was not in charge of her own campaign. Whatever the case may have been, the early lead Terry enjoyed vaporized in breath-taking short order and campaign dollars started flowing to political “light-weight" George Allen. The rest is history.

The political ascendance of Mary Sue Terry was in a meteoric trajectory until, through her own little political mis-steps, it came to a sudden apex and began a rapid descent during the months preceding the November 1993 election for Governor of Virginia.

Russ pointed out that every political star has a certain trajectory of ascending to an apex and then going into decline. Some trajectories are longer and some are shorter. Some are higher and some are lower. We never know how a political career will end until it is over.

The question now is obvious: Did Senator George F. Allen hit his political apex on August 11th when he twice called a “foreign looking” but American born Webb campaign worker by the name “macaca” … a type of monkey and also a term that is sometimes used as a racial insult.

Another one of our more culturally enlightened colleagues chirped in: “It sounds like Senator Allen may have jumped the shark.”

Of course none of us mid-30-ish people knew what on earth she was talking about… "jumped the shark" ? What is that supposed to mean?

The explanation was a lot along the lines of what Russ had explained but it had to do with the rise and fall of the old TV favorite “Happy Days.” The popular TV series went on forever until the Fonz “jumped the shark.” That symbolism now applies to any situation where the ascendancy in popularity of a TV show, a celebity, political personality, or whatever, has stopped and the decent has begun.

Recent polls (take your pick) indicate that Senator Allen no doubt did himself some damage. Rasmussen gives a pretty good run down and assessment.

So, for those of you who relate better to the pop-culture than to practical politics the question might be better stated: Did Senator George Allen "jump the shark" on August 11th?

I guess we will know better in November.

Readers... your views please.

Virginia: Numero Uno!!! But for what?

2006-08-23T12:16:00.000-04:00

Hog heaven for business interests?

Or…

Something more sinister?

The Iconoclast asks some awkward questions!

No. Miss Virginia did not just take top honors in the Miss America contest. While that would be nice, that would be just another beauty contest and not an appropriate topic for the “serious blogosphere journalism” that you have come to expect here at the Iconoclast.

What we speak of now is nothing less than serious business… "business" as defined by Forbes Magazine... arguably one of the world's most respected authorities on the subject.

Forbes Magazine also has a web-site at http://www.forbes.com that claims to be the “Home Page for the World’s Business Leaders.” Forbes Magazine and its web-site are reputable sources of all things "business" and especially all things “money.”

Forbes is known for its practice of publishing ranked “lists” of money related things like for example executive pay, Forbes 400 richest people in America, the World’s richest people, most expensive zip codes, etcetera, etcetera, on and on, adnauseam. Frankly, I think Forbes publishes these lists to give a little bit of spice to an otherwise very dry subject matter.

I understand that for many, money is never a dry subject… maybe it is just that Forbes is not my regular choice of reading material.

But anyway, how could I overlook the headlines in the August 16th edition of Forbes reading “Virginia: The Best State For Business” ?

Alright! We’re number one!

By Forbes standards, this was a “fluff piece” written in terms that even I could understand and enjoy.

Briefly, the Forbes ranking of all 50 states in America was based on 6 general categories containing a total of 30 “metrics” measuring the desirability of a state for business interests.

The 6 general categories included business costs, economic climate, growth prospects, labor, quality of life and regulatory environment.

In this ranking Virginia placed in the top ten states for all six general categories and in the top half of all states for all but 3 of the 30 metrics.

Pretty darned impressive if you ask me.

Having been born and raised and lived in Virginia my entire life, I generally knew that Virginia was a good place to call home and a state with many assets to be proud of… the mountains, the ocean, its historic cities, its beautiful country-side, its long and significant history, its contributions to our nations founding and growth… I could go on and on…

But to be honest, I don’t ever recall thinking that “I like Virginia because it is a good place to make money.” I would probably like Virginia as my home even if it were a bad place to make money. I guess that is why I am not a regular subscriber to Forbes.

But, the basic premise of the Forbes new list and Virginia’s “numero uno” position has got me thinking.

What does it really mean?

Is being the number one best state for business necessarily always good for all of us regular people who live here?

After some research, my findings were decidedly mixed.

Yes, there is an obvious correlation between a good business environment and the creation of profit for business owners and investors. Sometimes, but not always, that translates to good jobs and good wages to support workers, families and the community in general.

Did you notice that I said "sometimes" ?

Business profits do not always translate directly to good business citizenship.

Some businesses take more from the community than they give back. Some businesses provide jobs but they are not living wage jobs. Some businesses extract non-renewable resources. Some businesses create harmful environmental impacts. Some businesses abandon inner cities that got them started and move out to the richer suburbs. Some businesses become a burden on community infrastructure and never generate taxes pay for that burden. Some businesses expect that the taxpayers should subsidize their profits (AKA corporate welfare).

So, the point here being, business profits for owners and investors are not enough to conclude unequivocally that a favorable business environment is all good and never bad for everybody. That would be a far too simplistic generalization. As in everything, there are always winners and loosers.

In fact, there are some real interesting pitfalls to consider.

Some most interesting insights on these potential pitfalls are found in an arcane piece of research coming out of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA) at the University of Connecticut entitled “The Economics of Ethics: The Cost of Political Corruption” published in February of 2004.

The basic thesis of this research is that political corruption is harmful to the public interests and carries significant economic costs for society in general.

No kidding?!

Most interestingly, while this research seems to have prompted by circumstances in Connecticut, it provides a ranking of political corruption on a state by state basis. The research document explains that the quantification of political corruption is difficult because “the perpetrators work so hard to evade detection.” However, it goes on to conclude that “…the number of federal convictions of public officials for crimes involving corruption is a good proxy for the level of political corruption across the states.”

This is where it gets real interesting for us Virginians. (Read this very carefully.)

It seems that the Commonwealth of Virginia, the same Virginia just came in number one in the Forbes list for the "Best States for Business" is none other than the same Virginia that came in number one in the CCEA ranking of states on Federal misconduct convictions per 100 elected officials for the ten year period from 1986 to 1995.

Not only did Virginia come in number one for the most political corruption during this period, its rate of Federal convictions of elected officials during that period (10.3 convictions per 100 elected officials) was nearly 5 times greater than the average for all states (2.12 convictions per 100 elected officials). Remember… this was for a ten year period. This is not a fluke.

When you compare the 25 best states and 25 worst states for business to the ranking for political corruption, it is really hard to see any correlation at all. This leads me to conclude that what we have here is "apples and oranges" or an inappropriate statistical comparison.

Given this problem, what can we to conclude from this unusual dual number one ranking for Virginia… "the best state in America for business" and the at the same time the most politically corrupt?

Are we to conclude that political corruption is good for business? Such conclusion would be sensationally provocative and obviously an oversimplification of a much more complex dynamic.

However, there can be no doubt that political corruption is not infrequently motivated by shady business practices aimed at making a quick and easy buck. Sad to say: this happens all the time... here in Virginia and elsewhere. Maybe here in Virginia far too often.

In the hope to glean more insight, we had one of our Iconoclast research associates contact directly the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis to try to find out why Virginia is not just number one in political corruption but conspicuously in a league of its own and depressingly way ahead of almost all other states (only Florida and Maryland were even remotely close to Virginia for official corruption).

A knowledgable CCEA representative graciously offered the theory that it “probably was linked with the combination of a lot of opportunities for public officials to exploit economic development activities and contracting and weak state or local oversight.”

Very interesting...

That theory makes a lot of sense. Little official oversight combined with the temptation to make a quick, easy and crooked buck.

Going further in our research, we came across the May 28, 1991 speech by the then President of Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel, entitled “On the temptations of political power” delivered on the occasion of his acceptance of the Sonning Prize for his contribution to European civilization.

And yes, this does relate to the subject we are discussing.

The speech, opens with the thought provoking question: “Why is it that people long for political power, and why, when they have achieved it, are they so reluctant to give it up?"

He then goes on to explain that there are three basic motivations for seeking political power: the motivation of ideas for a better society, the motivation of self-affirmation the individual is making a difference, and the motivation of the perks that come along with political power.

Havel was appropriately humble when he said: “I feel compelled again and again to examine my own motives and ask whether I am not beginning to deceive myself. Might I not be more concerned with satisfying an unacknowledged longing for self-affirmation – a desire to prove that I mean something and that therefore I exist – than I am with pure public service?”

What about the privileges of office… you know… the perks… Yeah…the perks are nice.

On the issue of privileges of office Havel is poignantly circumspect… as if thinking about himself he said: “But where do logic and objective necessity stop and excuses begin? Where does the interest of the country stop and the love of privileges begin?”

Continuing he says: “Regardless of how pure his intentions may originally have been, it takes a high degree of self-awareness and critical distance for someone in power – however well-meaning at the start – to recognize that moment clearly. You get used to things, and gradually, without being aware of it, you may lose your sense of judgment.”

Mmmm. Something to think about…

The Iconoclast makes no pretense of being any kind of a “socio-political think tank” However it a sobering thought that my home state Virginia, the state that I love is, ranked number one in the Forbes list of the "Best States for Business" and at the same time number one for political corruption over an entire decade.

It bothers me that not only is Virginia ranked number one in political corruption for an entire decade, the incidence of political corruption is nearly five times the national average.

This is nothing short of disgraceful!

I would like to thank the CCEA of the University of Connecticut for their very informative research. I would like to also thank former President Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and the Czech Republic (1993-2003, where ever he is, for his thoughtful insight on the temptations of political power.

This issue of public integrity warrants further research and far more financial resources than the Iconoclast has available to spend on it. Thus the Iconoclast issues a challenge to all of Virginia’s fine institutions of higher learning to delve into the issue further and find out why Virginia is number one for lovers, for business interests and for crooked politicians.

Unquestionably our beautiful Commonwealth is exploding with economic opportunity. The temptations that former Czech President Havel spoke of are beckoning our political leadership. Inadedequate state and local oversight is sacraficing the greater public interest. Reform is needed. Virginia universities... step up to the plate and help find the way to higher public integrity.

Being number one is not all that it is cracked up to be.

This is not just one more beauty contest.

NOTE: The photograph accompanying this article has little or nothing to do with the subject of the article. It is just a picture of some pretty girls in a beauty contest. No suitable pictures were available of happy rich business investors or corrupt politicians who helped them get that way. So this picture was as appropriate as we could find. Thanks for understanding.

Buckingham County: What is the measure of political leadership?

2006-08-21T08:39:00.000-04:00

What role does honesty play in political accountability?

Supervisor / Vice Chairman Brian Bates still silent!

Questions of accountability continue to mount!

The interesting story in Buckingham County concerning the impasse between the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors and the Buckingham County School Board continues unresolved with little sign of political leadership on the horizon… least of all from Buckingham County’s own Supervisor and Vice Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, Brian Bates.

It seems that Supervisor Bates has started a war but is now heading for the hills leaving others to clean up the mess. What started out as a legitimate question of general public policy has now become a question of political accountability by one of Southside Virginia's up and coming political leaders.

Some history might be in order here.

For the past year, the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors and the Buckingham County School Board has been at an impasse as to how best to address the County’s school facilities needs. Such disagreements are not uncommon but the Buckingham County impasse is conspicuously entrenched in the local politics.

Considering that the County school program represented about 70 percent of Buckingham County’s total budget for the year ending June 2004, plus the fact that the impasse hurts first and foremost the school aged population of the County, this is a very serious problem with fair arguments on both sides.

In July, the impasse led Supervisor and Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Brian Bates to come up with a bold and novel solution, that being to wipe the elected Buckingham County School Board off the face of the earth through a new referendum that would replace the elected school board with a new school board appointed by the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors. The local news paper, The Farmville Herald, characterized Supervisor Bates’ plan as the “nuclear option”… an apt description if there ever was one.

This bold and novel “solution” to the impasse problem was made by “private citizen” Brian Bates as he explained it in his own words and the voters were encouraged not to confuse the interests of private citizen Bates with the political interests of Supervisor and Vice Chairman Bates. (Please remember that these are two entirely separate individuals with no overlapping interests.)

By August 4th , Supervisor Bates… I mean private citizen Bates… had proudly announced that he and his supporters had collected 512 signatures of the 865 signatures required to get the measure on the ballot as a special referendum but had fallen slightly short by the deadline of August 9th to get the matter on the ballot for November 2006. He lamented that “he should have initiated the effort earlier so that he would have had 60 to 90 days to collect signatures.”

Private citizen Bates was effusive in his quoted comments to local newspaper saying among other things “That’s pretty respectable” and “this has been a positive experience” and perhaps most significant “Even the people who disagree with the notion of an appointed school board agree with the course of action by the Board of Supervisors”…

Please remember that this is private citizen Bates speaking and not Supervisor / Vice Chairman Bates who may have some interest in that “course of action by the Board of Supervisors.” (I apologize if this gets a little confusing at times.)

Citizen Bates was also outspoken against certain unidentified individuals who might question his plans labeling the concern that he was trying to take away voters rights to directly elect the school board as “dubious at best”.

Of course private citizen Bates was not trying to take away citizen rights to directly elect school board members… never in a million years! It should have been intuitively obvious to anyone that what private citizen Bates was trying to do was to wipe the elected Buckingham County school board off the face of the earth. It had nothing at all to do with voting rights. If there is nothing to vote for there are no voting rights to take away.

Duh!

Two weeks ago, the Iconoclast asked the obvious question: What is private citizen Bates going to do with the 512 signatures.

If indeed they exist, this petition drive is nothing less than phenomenal, a mandate to continue and to get this measure on the ballot for a special referendum in the November 2007 election… the very next election cycle.

At the same time (two weeks ago) the Iconoclast issued to Supervisor and Vice Chairman Bates… or Citizen Bates… a challenge to allow an independent verification that he had truly collected 512 signatures in support of his bold and novel solution to the impasse problem.

So far, neither citizen Bates nor Supervisor/Vice Chairman Bates has chosen to step up to the plate and be accountable for either his personal or political actions.

No word … no independent verification of the 512 signatures. Mmmm….

If the special referendum on the method of establishing the Buckingham County School Board was a good idea for November 2006, why wouldn’t private citizen Bates continue on his phenomenal trajectory of success and give the citizens of Buckingham County the choice they so richly deserve?

The Farmville Herald revealed in a recent op/ed piece a certain squeamishness about this referendum saying that “Thankfully, that petition drive failed to get enough signatures to put the elected School Board issue on the ballot in November. There is no need for Buckingham County residents to give up their election of School Board members and if enough signatures had been collected to put that question on the ballot it would have certainly created additional delay in settling the school construction issue.”

The Iconoclast respectfully takes issue with our friends at The Farmville Herald and particularly with the logic. With a phenomenal 512 signatures already collected in less than 30 days (according to private citizen Bates’ unverified accounts) the issue demands an final resolution by the voters on November 6, 2007. As for the Herald’s presumption that the referendum would “would have certainly created additional delay” there is no plausible logic to suggest that the future is limited to only that one pessimistic scenario.

In fact a pending referendum could be the catalyst to propel both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board to be on their best behavior this coming year and to finally get the job done. Either that or risk political extinction in the next election cycle for all concerned.

Coincidentally, Supervisor /Vice Chairman Bates… no relation to private citizen Bates… is up for re-election in November 2007.

The Iconoclast is of the view that failing to pursue the referendum idea now, considering its phenomenal public support so far (according to private citizen Bates’ unverified accounts) is tantamount to “sweeping the problem under the rug” for others to clean up later. This would be the lazy and easy thing to do... but not the right thing to do.

Of course, if private citizen Bates’ petition drive was a failure… and we are not saying it was… the Iconoclast would certainly understand why private citizen Bates would choose to suspend any further pursuit of the special referendum in 2007.

But according to private citizen Bates, the petition drive was far from being a failure and in fact was a phenomenal success… vindicating the Board of Supervisors position all along… a position that he… private citizen Bates… has no stake in.

Mmmm…

Frankly, the Iconoclast is beginning to wonder if Supervisor /Vice Chairman Bates is being entirely honest with the citizens who he serves.

If Supervisor Bates has the 512 signatures he claims, it would be a very easy matter to have those signatures independently verified. This has not happened.

Why not?

And, if Supervisor Bates has those signatures, why is he not pursuing the referendum for November 6, 2007, at the same time he is running for re-election as Supervisor?

In the final analysis, this is a question of political accountability.

What is it that we look for in our political leaders?

Is it firm conviction in ones vision for the future? Is it determination to get the job done? Is it the ability to compromise and find consensus among diversity of views? Is it the ability to act with bold wisdom?

Maybe.

What role does honesty play in political accountability?

What would it mean if Supervisor Bates can not or will not submit to independent verification of the 512 signatures on the petition he initiated?

What if the 512 signatures do not exist? Not saying that they don't... but what if?

Would it really matter to the voters in 2007 if Supervisor candidate Bates gets an “A” for boldness and an “F” for honesty?

The Iconoclast is not impugning Supervisor Bates’ integrity but is wondering why he has not responded to the simple request for independent verification of what he is publicly claiming? This is an important question and it deserves an answer.

So again Supervisor Bates, if you have the goods, you deserve credit for your initiative and success. The Iconoclast will post the findings as soon as they are independently verified. If you do not have the goods, we would be interested in hearing your explanation. So please contact commonwealthiconoclast@yahoo.com.

Let us get this matter resolved.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Gavrilo Princip, unintended consequences...

Buckingham Official Evokes "Nuclear Option"...

Buckingham County: The Battle of the Boards

My two-cents on Macaca Gate: Was Allen on the Sauce?

2006-08-18T14:00:00.000-04:00

The blogosphere is on fire in regard to Senator Allen and "macaca gate"....is it plausible that a little sauce loosened up the Senator's lips?

Last night, I showed the infamous "macaca" blast by our junior (and hopefully out-going) Senator to a couple of friends who were vaguely familiar with the whole ugly fiasco.

Needless to say, after watching the video, my friends - who are generaly ambivalent when it comes to politics - were taken back by the pure hate and vitriol that radiated from Senator Allen while dressing down Mr. Sidarth.

To my friends it appeared that possibly Georgie might have had a little Kentucky bourbon (aka: truth serum) running through his veins when he went David Duke on Sidarth. Good point.....

Now I haven't heard this mentioned yet, but why not? After all, George loves his dip, and chewing tobacco, so why not a litte bourbon to wash it all down? Every card-carrying good ole boy loves a taste of Kentucky bourbon on occasion, including me! (My favorite would be Maker's Mark by the way...)

Think about it for a minute. Seems plausible.... George and all his buddies, cruising around in a tour bus, making campaign stops, socializing...it's easy to see why this would be almost akin to a rolling party on wheels. Hell why not? Toss back a few bourbon and gingers...make a speech, shake some hands...oops, say something stupid, yet very telling!

So take a look again at the video again, do you think George was on the sause? If so, is it possible that Allen has "issues" with the bottle?????

All jokes aside (sort of), if Allen was drinking or not is beside the point. The "macaca" comment taken in context of his history as reported in The New Republic may open up a crack in his armor by revealing that he is a mean spirited, smart mouthing, product of privilege, who has become fat and smug as an incumbent politician.

Gradually, Allen's public image as a likable guy is starting to erode to be more in line with reality... a highly ambitious, vindictive and unlikable person... something that many Virginians have known for quite some time.

The next two months are assured to be extremely interesting! It's almost September and Jim Webb has a chance, and this is good!

Therefore I think we should all have a drink to this tonight!

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!

Appalachia Investigation Widens

2006-08-16T13:46:00.000-04:00

Election fraud investigation sparks new inquiries.

New Special Prosecutor named by panel of Judges!

Illegal gambling tied to ongoing investigation?

Where is it all going to end?

In the sad story of official corruption in the Southwest Virginia community of Appalachia, The Richmond Times Dispatch reported last week new developments in the widening investigation.

Readers of the Iconoclast will recall that this whole mess got started about two and a half years ago (May of 2004) as a result of complaints and allegations of strange and goofy election practices in the Town of Appalachia.

When it was learned that votes were being bought for as little as a bag of pork rinds (I kid you not), there was the inevitable snickering and guffawing throughout the Commonwealth and even the nation, the story having made the national news!

The snickering stopped, however, when the announcements came of the 300 page indictment, including 917 separate charges against no less than 14 important citizens of the Town of Appalachia including none other than The Honorable Ben Ellis Cooper.

Along with Mayor Cooper, also indicted were Councilman Owen Sherrett III, Benjamin Surber, head of the Appalachia Police Department, and eleven other cronies and relatives who shared in the “privileges of office” during the reign of Mayor Cooper.

The 300 page indictment revealed a disturbing pattern of dirty local politics, vindictiveness, greed, megalomania and out right corruption by public officials.

Once again in May of this year (see earlier Iconoclast report) , the community was again rocked by a major police action to uncover a major illegal gambling activities and that they were possibly related to the official corruption investigation.

Initially, this investigation was being led by Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chad Dotson, who stepped aside to be replaced by two Norton attorneys, Tim McAffee and Greg Stewart as Special Prosecutors.

While McAffee and Stewart started the investigation into the illegal gambling investigation, a three Judge panel, last week, appointed the a new Special Prosecutor, Lee Harrel, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney from Wythe County to handle the illegal gambling investigation.

Both Special Prosecutors McAffee and Stewart will remain to prosecute the voter-fraud case against the 14 persons indicted so far.

This makes three Special Prosecutors working on the widening investigation in the little Town of Appalachia.

Given the incredibly complex nature of this widening investigation, it is easy to see why they now need three Special Prosecutors. Expect this developing story to continue for many months if not years before the whole story is played out. We wouldn't be surprised if more indictments are not on the way.

The Iconoclast will keep its readers updated periodically on this sordid story. Maybe we can learn something from it.

Note: As always, the Iconoclast appreciates additional insights and tips from readers who are close to ground zero. Information may be sent confidentially directly to commonwealthiconoclst@yahoo.com .

RELATED STORIES:

Pork Rind Scandal No Longer A Laughing Matter

Pork Rinds: A threat to democracy?

Three Cheers for Grand Jury...

In the Search for Elusive Truth

2006-08-13T21:40:00.000-04:00

Who can you believe?

Professional journalism vs. Blog journalism?

What is ground truth in our complex and diverse world?

Truth is where you find it... even in the blogosphere!

Team Iconoclast is always amused to see how the blogosphere continues to gain in prominence in the modern lexicon.

Even the most casual perusal of mainstream media outlets will find scores of references to blogs and the blogosphere. We even find references to blogs in the cartoons. Everybody wants to talk about blogs and the blogosphere, but still the blogosphere is a mystery to most observers, especially those much over the age of thirty… sadly, I am now pushing those limits.

This is kind of curious considering the term “blogosphere” was only first coined in 1999 and didn’t have much public exposure until just a couple of years ago (about 2004 during the Presidential election campaign season).

Still, countless academics, social-scientists, philosophers, journalists and pundits of every description are trying to make heads or tails out of what the bloggosphere is and what role it serves in the world today. The blogosphere... a product of the Internet… is an ever expanding web that never ends… so they say…

So, it was with interest that we recently read in The Southside Messenger an editorial entitled “Anonymous bloggers.”

The recent editorial piece was about blogging and contained some thoughts about what blogging is all about. The editorial points out that “up until recent years the American public was reliant on mass media outlets to obtain their news” but now “the internet has spawned a new form of journalism: blogging.”

While this is perhaps an over simplification, there is indeed a faction in the blogosphere that can be categorized as pertaining to current events, political and social commentary, etc. These blogs might fairly be considered a new form of journalism providing an important alternative source of information to those who are so inclined to search the world-wide-web.

The Iconoclast falls in that narrow category of the vastly diverse blogosphere.

On one point we take mild exception to the editorial position of The Southside Messenger where the editor states that “unlike professional journalists, bloggers are not tethered to any code of ethics.”

This is not true.

Within the blogging community which is admittedly informal, rapidly growing and constantly changing, there is a spirited debate and discussion concerning standards of ethics. For the vast majority of all news-type blogs, the unvarnished truth is the "gold standard" for measuring what is fit to publish. Admittedly, there is now and always will be spirited debate on what is the real truth. The measure of truth is elusive. Also, the truth sometimes uncomfortable if not down right unpleasant.

Furthermore, does anyone really believe the mythology that professional journalists are free of bias and report only the unvarnished truth? Code of ethics notwithstanding, every major outlet in the mainstream media has a bias on just about any issue you can think of. The idea that mainstream media is purely objective is absolutely ridiculous.

Think about it. Who in their right mind would accept the FOX (conservative spin) or CNN (liberal spin) version of the news as the absolute pure and objective, fact based news?

The fact is that the really good professional journalists are skillful at camouflaging their biases so that they appear objective and fair. Maybe it is... maybe it isn't. That is the job of historians to hash out later.

The bloggosphere is much harder to assess and categorize than the mainstream media. There are too many blogs for anyone to effectively assess. Some are very scholarly. Some are stupid and frivolous. Some are based on some form of reality. Some are based on fantasy. Some have ethical purpose of mind. Some have malicious purpose of mind. Some are in between. There is no way to fairly generalize about the nature of all blogs.

Yes, there will always be rogue bloggers who intentionally publish hurtful lies, distortions of fact, and malicious propaganda for any number of causes… good, bad or indifferent. These bad examples are normally quickly identified and challenged by a large universe of knowledgeable readers. The rogue bloggers are forced to either rebut the challenge, retract their erroneous positions, or to whimper away in silence. The rogue bloggers come and go sometimes in a matter of days or a few weeks. Most of these rogue bloggers just can’t sustain any regular readership other than by fellow crazy’s.

The Iconoclast doesn’t claim to be The New York Times of blogs… oh… maybe that wasn’t such a good example… but we endeavor to base our reports on verifiable facts and to take principled positions on those facts. These are our opinions. We are entitled to have opinions just like everybody else.

We receive a fair number of scandalous tips from readers as potential topics for new posts. Some of these tips are quite useful. As a matter of editorial policy, we do not report scandalous tips just for the sake of feeding the scandal. Information received from readers, anonymously or identified, is not used unless 1) it serves what we consider some principled purpose, and 2) it can be reasonably verified as factual through at least one other independent source. Our editorial policy is not all that different from the standard used by so called professional journalists.

From time to time, the Iconoclast will make a mistake in a post. Errors in fact or of a clerical nature will be corrected as soon as they come to our attention.

But, for the most part, points of disagreement are not due to error. They are simply a reflection of honest differences of opinion on any number of contentious issues. Readers who take exception with the Iconoclast’s editorial position on any issue are encouraged to express their disagreement in the form of comments. We only ask that the comments be kept reasonably civilized.

But... in case you are wondering... we do not retract positions or opinions just because somebody gets their feelings hurt.

Some might ask about the anonymity that is so prevalent in the blogosphere.

Participants in the blogosphere include those who write posts on a blog and those who participate in the discussion of those posts. Anonymity is a common practice in the blogosphere for many reasons.

The Internet was born in the murky world of international cold war politics and secrecy. J.C.R. Licklider, one of architects of the evolving information technology “saw [the idea] of universal networking as a potential unifying human revolution.”

Think about it: universal networking… a unifying human revolution. What does this mean? Does the word “revolution” give you any ideas?

For one thing, the concept of universal networking tears down all barriers concerning who has the right and capability to express ideas. With universal networking, otherwise known as the Internet, everyone has the right and capability to put their thoughts out there on the world-wide-web for better or worse.

Anonymity is useful because ideas are dangerous… even good ideas… even progressive ideas.

In some parts of the world today, the expression of certain ideas that most of us would consider righteous can result in almost certain assassination, execution, torture, or indefinite incarceration for no lawful reason.

Even here in America, where we have the First Amendment right of freedom of speech, the expression of ideas is not always welcome by the prevailing political authorities and can result in very real and unpleasant political retribution. Consequently, many individuals who participate in political blogs today in America elect to remain anonymous. They chose to let their ideas do the fighting.

As a political / social commentary blog, the Iconoclast does not shy away from controversial issues, stories or personalities. In fact, controversy, or sharp differences in positions on various issues is exactly what makes for interesting blog posts. We are not afraid of offending traditional sensibilities and we do not mind making irreverent fun of bad behavior by important people.

Regular readers of the Iconoclast will recognize that we often discuss examples of bad behavior by public officials as a way to teach better behavior. From these examples of bad behavior, others can learn to avoid the same mistakes.

On the other hand, the Iconoclast doesn’t mind giving a tip of the hat and thanks to those little people who distinguish themselves by taking the righteous stand against injustice under the color of authority. There are many unsung little heroes in every community who stand up to against the “tanks” of abusive authority every day. Some get run over. The least we can do is to give them a little unsolicited recognition and appreciation.

So, during your search for the elusive truth, don't presume that the mainstream media will always tell you the truth and don't presume that the blogosphere will always tell you lies.

The Iconoclast advises that readers should evaluate critically all sources of news and only after careful evaluation use your analytical skills to determine where the truth really is. It takes work... but it is worth it.

The truth is out there... and maybe even in the blogosphere.

You, my friends, are the final arbitrator of what the truth is.

Conflict of Interest: A case study in standards of public conduct.

2006-08-11T12:31:00.000-04:00

Are appearances of conflict important?

Or, shall we adhere to the “handcuffs and prison bars” standard of public accountability?

Richmond’s Benjamin J. Lambert IV caught on the horns of a dilemma?

Readers of the Iconoclast are no doubt aware that the Iconoclast has addressed the issue of “conflict of interest” by public officials on a number of occasions during this past year.

So, it was with interest that we read the recent news report and accompanying editorial piece in The Richmond Times Dispatch concerning Benjamin J. Lambert IV, and his withdrawn candidacy for the 3rd District Richmond School Board seat.

Before we go any further, we wish to make it clear that Mr. Lambert has a good reputation and has done nothing to warrant criticism in this matter. He is in the news because he has been caught on the horns of a dilemma... a decidedly uncomfortable place to be!

The news article in The Richmond Times Dispatch explains that Mr. Lambert who had earlier announced his candidacy for the school board seat, and to contest incumbent School Board Member, Carol A. O. Wolf, was compelled to withdraw his candidacy when his employer Banc of America Investment Services, elected not to approve his request for company permission to run for elected office.

Mr. Lambert is a vice president and financial advisor to the Banc of America Investment Services.

In declining Mr. Lambert’s request for permission to run for the Richmond School Board, Banc of America Investment Services sources indicated that the company “takes a conservative view on conflicts of interest and so turned down Mr. Lambert’s request to seek public office.”

Mmmm… interesting phraseology… “takes a conservative view” on conflict of interest?" We will come back to this in a moment.

What exactly is "conflict of interest"?

In the same edition of The Richmond Times Dispatch, the Editor, weighed in on this matter in an editorial entitled “Side Out.”

In this piece, the Times Dispatch Editor laments that the withdrawal of Mr. Lambert from the contest will leave the 3rd District Richmond School Board seat uncontested giving incumbent Carol A. O. Wolf a free ride. It goes on to suggest that Mr. Lambert “would have brought a fresh voice to the discussion on the city’s schools…”

The Iconoclast does not disagree with the Times Dispatch’s concern that the 3rd District School Board seat will go uncontested. Yes there is a need for ”sober reflection and dispassionate scrutiny” as the Editor characterized the qualities that Mr. Lambert would bring to the table.

However, the Iconoclast takes a slightly different view of the situation… a dilemma if you will… one that pits the question of appearances of conflict of interest against the real need to have spirited debate and self reflection on the Richmond School Board.

And this issue goes beyond the Richmond School Board and even the City of Richmond.

Now let us go back to the interesting phraseology cited above. The Iconoclast is inclined to commend the Banc of America Investment Services for it is so called “conservative view on conflicts of interest.”

What the Banc of America Investment Services seems to be saying here is that they are not satisfied with meeting minimum standards of the law when it comes to their own employees becoming involved with public offices. The company is setting a higher and more ethically strict standard concerning conflict of interest than is required by law.

Good for them! A breath of fresh air all too rarely seen in modern business practices and today's politics!

Not only does the Banc of America Investment Services want to avoid actual legal conflicts of interest, it wants to avoid even the appearances of conflict of interest. The company apparently recognized that this situation could have become a credibility and trust issue in a scenario where Lambert would serve in a dual role as a broker-dealer and member of a school board trying raise money via bond issue.

By Virginia law namely Title 2.2, Chapter 31, the State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act, Mr. Lambert could have no doubt walked a careful line to avoid actual conditions of legal conflict of interest. The Banc of America Investment Services was wise to not accept the minimum standard. They will be better served by adhering to the higher standard of public accountability.

For this good example of high standards in ethical conduct for its employees, a tip of the hat to the Banc of America Investment Services from the Iconoclast!

While the Richmond Times Dispatch is not flaunting the issue of conflict of interest, the Iconoclast awards Times Dispatch a questioning raise of the eyebrow for not even mentioning the issue of “conflict of interest” as the company’s concern in declining permission for Mr. Lambert’s candidacy.

It seems to us that the Times Dispatch may have overlooked the more important issue... namely integrity in public service.

Conflict of interest... this is an important issue. Editors of The Richmond Times Dispatch... wake up and pay attention!

There is no doubt that Mr. Lambert will have many opportunities to contribute to his community in the comming months and years. For the time being, it is best that he do so as a private citizen. We wish him well in whatever role he serves.

Lunenburg Special Election for Sheriff: A Nice Guy Finishes First!

2006-08-09T11:35:00.000-04:00

"Nice guys finish last"...but not this time!

Arthur Townsend - who was recently fired by interim Sheriff Randall Stoots for not being "loyal" - wins Lunenburg's special election for Sheriff!

Though the State Board of Elections hasn't verified the results, it appears that Sheriff Randall Stoots is on the bottom looking up at both Arthur Townsend and Jimmy Moses in Lunenburg's Special Election for Sheriff which took place yesterday.

Will this serve as a "wake up call" to other local elected officials in Southside Virginia who consistently exercise poor judgement? Let's hope so, or the ghost of Barney Fife could come calling on those folks next!

The Iconoclast congratulates the voters of Lunenburg County for selecting Arthur Townsend as their next Sheriff. Our sources in the area indicate that Mr. Townsend is experienced, professional, and well-liked by citizens of the County. We feel confident that Mr. Townsend will make better decisions than his (albeit temporary) predecessor, Mr. Randall Stoots.

We here at the Iconcolcast hope that newly elected Sheriff Townsend will offer Jimmy Moses back his former job, which Moses was unjustly fired from a few months ago by Stoots.

Additionally the Iconoclast hopes that Mr. Townsend will publically offer Randall Stoots the option to stay on as a Deputy with Lunenburg County. Thus showing real leadership, professionalism, and courage - which is something Mr. Townsend was unjustly denied when Stoots dismissed him after 20 + years of dedicated service. We know this is asking alot, but we feel that Mr. Townsend is up to the task! Whether or not Mr. Stoots chooses to accept such an offer is his choice...

So, nice guys don't alwasy finish last do they?! Congratulations to Arthur Townsend, and we wish him the best of luck in his new, and well deserved position!

(Note: The photograph above is not Arthur Townsend addressing the media after his victory, but rather someone who is happy about the results of another unrelated election!)

Buckingham School Board Petition: "Trust, but Verify"

2006-08-06T20:06:00.000-04:00

"Trust, but verify." - President Ronald Reagan

A new twist in the Buckingham School Board Petition effort. Buckingham Supervisor Brian Bates said he acquired 512 signatures in support of a referendum on this issue.

The Iconoclast would like to independently verify these signatures. Consider this a respectful challenge!

Regular reader of the Iconoclast are aware of an on-going story involving Buckingham County's Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Brian Bates, and the County's elected School Board.

In summary, it appears that in the past the two elected Boards have had a few "issues". In regard to the "issues" the Iconoclast isn't inclined to chose a side, instead we hope the two Boards will work out their differences for the good of all the citizens and children of Buckingham County. We still feel this can be done...

You might recall that this past July Supervisor Bates - acting as a "private citizen" - proposed (in the eyes of many) a fairly radical solution to the disagreements between the two elected Boards. Supervisor Bates stated he would spearhead an effort to collect signatures in order to put the issue (of elected versus appointed School Boards) back to the voters of Buckingham County this coming fall.

The July 7, 2006 issue of the Farmville Herald stated, "Brian Bates is spearheading a drive to gather singatures on a petition supporting a local referendum on changing from direct election of school boad members to an appointment process."

If Supervisor Bates was looking to stir up a "hornets nest", he was successful. Reactions from citizens, local media, silly internet polls, and the Iconoclast wasn't too supportive of Supervisor Bates' propostion to eliminate the direct election of School Bord members in Buckingham County. After all, it was only a few years ago that voters in the County overwhelmingly voted in favor of direct elections for School Board members.

As I stated previously, anyone who actually believes that voters would willing chose to take away their right to vote for something, is living in "la la land". But that's just my opinion.

Additionally, Bates' proposal for Buckingham appears to be having the opposite effect in nearby Prince Edward County. As we speak signatures are being collected in Prince Edward in support of a referendum (which would appear on the ballot in November of 2007) to directly elect School Board members in that County.

Though I personally feel that Supervisor Bates' proposal is tanatamount to political suicide, he absolutely has the right - per the Code of Virginia - to petition the citizens of Buckingham County in order to place this issue on the ballot. Fair enough....

So how did Supervisor Bates' recent petition drive go? According to Supervisor Bates pretty well...

Supervisor Bates recently told the Farmville Herald that his drive to collect 865 signatues (or ten percent of the registered voters in Buckingham County) has fallen short just before the deadline, August 9, in order to have this issue appear on the ballot this coming fall.

The August 4, 2006 issue of the Farmville Herald states,

"Brian Bates, who spearheaded the effort, said that 512 signatures were acquired....Bates launched the petion drive druing the first week of July and faced an August 9 deadline for filing the certified petition...Bates said that he was not terribly surprised given the time-frame and added that he should have started the effort earlier so that he would have 60 to 90 days to collect the signatures. Noting that over 500 signatures were gathered in just a few weeks, he offered, "That's pretty respectable"

INDEED SUPERVISOR BATES, THAT IS PRETTY RESPECTABLE, BORDERING ON AMAZING!

We here at the Iconoclast just happen to know a little bit about collecting signatues for a petition. Sure, it might sound pretty easy? right? Well guess again!

I've had the opportunity to collect signatures for a petition in a large urban area, where registered voters are plentiful. I found out when people sign petitions, they generally like to know exactly what they are signing. Therefore, it's not unusual to take up to 15 minutes (and often more time) explaining to voters exactly what they are signing.

Now imagine doing this in a large rural County with only 8,649 registered voters covering 581 square miles! In case you're wondering that's approximately 15 registered voters per square mile. Even if you put aside the fact that such a petition would likely be highly unpopular with voters, it's easy to see that such a task wouldn't exactly be akin to shooting fish in a barrel. Petition drives can be tough, tedious, and exhausting work!

Consider these issues as well:

In 1992, only 800 (18 percent) voters suppported appointed School Board againts 3,630 (82 percent) who suppored elected School Boards.

Accepting the claim that there were 512 signatures, Bates obtained in less than a month a number of signatures equivalent to 64 percent of all voters who voted for appointd School Boards in 1992.

Assuming Supervisor Bates was able to obtain one signture every 10 minutes of canvassing, his signature campaign would have required at a miniumum of 85 hours of total survey time.

Considering that for every voter in 1992 who voted for appointed School Board members, there were 4.5 voters who voted the opposite way (for an elected School Board), the probability of getting one signature every 10 minutes during a 85 hour effort, is while not physically impossible, highly doubtful.

Considering that the ability to obtain one signature every 10 minutes, during the 85 hour effort, would require in a span of 10 minutes the surveyor to explain what the petition was about to several people who were not likely to sign (on average 4.5 persons), convince them to change their minds, or alternatively go on to the next person, repeat the process again, and have them print out their name and address and sign the petition.

Maybe Supevisor Bates had lots and lots of help gathering signatures? I think it would be more reasonable to assume it would require an average of more like 20 minutes on average per signature, or 171 hours.

Quite simply we here at the Iconoclast have our doubts. Therefore, we respecfully challenge Supervisor Bates to show a mutually agreeable third party the 512 signatures within two weeks from today's date.

Honestly, if Supversisor Bates did gather 512 signatures in such a short period of time we would be extremely impressed! Additionally, we would hope that Supervisor Bates would continue with these efforts, and again attempt to gather enough signatures to place this issue on the ballot for the 2007 election. If Supervisor Bates gathered 512 signatures in such a short period of time, he should have an easy time gathering the same signatures, plus the needed addtional signatures by next August. Indeed, this is his democratic right!

All we ask is that Supervisor Bates contact the Iconoclast (commonwealthiconoclast@yahoo.com) in order to work out the details to have a mutually agreeable third party view the 512 signatures. Supervisor Bates has corresponded with the Iconoclast in the past, so we know he is able to contact us if he wishes.

We here at the Iconoclast are not attempting to "beat our chest" in some sort of silly cyberspace bravado. If we can verify the existence of the 512 signatures we will gladly report this to the readers of the Iconoclast. We are simply following the advice from our Nation's 40th President...

"Trust, but verify"

We look forward to reporting to our readers the results of our inquiry.

Stay tuned....

Barney Fife to decide Lunenburg race for office of High Sheriff ?

2006-08-04T08:50:00.000-04:00

Ghost of famous lawman decisive factor in special election!

Ectoplasm and Politics in the Old Free State!

Ghosts and goblins…is this fair politics… or what?

Ladies and gentlemen… we are almost on the eve of the final special election for High Sheriff of Lunenburg County.

On August 8th, only a few days away, the good citizens of Lunenburg County will finally decide who will take the office of High Sheriff of Lunenburg County Virginia, the Old Free State of the Confederacy.

Friends tell me… and who am I to doubt it… that Lunenburg County is called the “Old Free State” because when Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, in anticipation of the late unpleasantness, they seceded for good… forever… and forever…

Yes, there may have been a few minor military set backs… but nothing that would change the minds of the Lunenburgers and their political leadership.

So the story goes, Lunenburg County may have “forgotten” to rejoin the Union after the War of the Rebellion was done.

Technically, Lunenburg County may still remain a sovereign nation separate from the United States of America!

Probably just a clerical error… or something…

Whatever…

The real issue today is the almost unbelievable political drama that is unfolding in Lunenburg County in the special election race for Sheriff in the aftermath of the untimely (and perfectly legal and natural) deaths of the past two Sheriffs.

We now are facing a four way race.

See previous posts for details.

So far, the Iconoclast has elected to not endorse any one candidate. However, we confess to make a great deal of fun of Sheriff Stoots for firing two reputedly competent Deputy Sheriffs after learning that they could be political rivals.

Frankly, Sheriff Stoots has never adequately explained his actions in firing Deputies Moses and Townsend to our satisfaction. Excuses and rationalizations… at best. Dumb knee-jerk reaction by most accounts!

So… with the Iconoclast poll showing that Sheriff Stoots and fired-ex-Deputy Moses in an apparent neck-in-neck race with only a few days remaining before the final vote, we at the Iconoclast are in the awkward position of making a recommendation to the good citizens of Lunenburg County.

We had hoped it wouldn’t come to this but it did…

Given this dilemma, we notice that not too far behind the leaders in this special election (Sheriff Stoots and fired-Deputy Moses) is none other than the Ghost of Deputy Barney Fife.

The Ghost of Deputy Barney Fife. Dare we hope for answers? Yes... We hear you...

Given these most strange circumstances, we at the Iconoclast are inclined to suggest some kind of way for Lunenburg County to come together and heal. There must be some way to move ahead and bring some sense of closure to this very strange situation.

So, we suggest that those who voted for the Ghost of Deputy Barney Fife consider voting for fired-Deputy Moses in the actual election on August 8th.

This is our thinking…

We hope that Sheriff-elect Moses will do the right thing for all concerned. Give fired-Deputy Townsend back his job. He did not deserve being fired by Acting-Sheriff Stoots on highly questionable grounds. This was an act of political retribution.

Furthermore… and this is a big one… the Iconoclast recommends that Sheriff-elect Moses offer to Sheriff Stoots (after losing the election) a job as “Deputy Stoots,” so long as he (Stoots) agrees to carry out the oath of office (none of this “loyalty to the boss” crap).

Deputy Barney Fife was always a “Deputy” and we always loved him. In his hands, the results of the Lunenburg County special election for High Sheriff now rest.

To be perfectly honest, most of us know that Barney Fife is a fictional character played by Don Knots. We are cool with anyone who might differ with our view. But Barney Fife was a great inspiration whether fictional or real or ectoplasm.

Barney… we seek your guidance!

The Iconoclast has no problem in entrusting the results of the Lunenburg County special election to this great lawman.

May the best candidate win…

Ex-County Administrator in Greene County Convicted!

2006-08-02T10:48:00.000-04:00

Citizen complaints lead to allegations of false entries of records by an officer!

Long term investigation ends in conviction of Ex-County Administrator!

Long arm of the law catches up!

This is an interesting news story coming from nearby Greene County, and falling under the category of violations of public trust by public officials… an all too large category and one shared by too many individuals who mistakenly feel that “privileges of office” include not having to follow normal policies, rules and even… as in this case… the law.

Greene County Virginia is a very pleasant little county of about 15,000 people, located only a few miles north of Charlottesville. It doesn’t have the rapid growth that the Charlottesville area has but it is a prosperous and growing community with a bright future.

Real estate speculation and development is a thriving business for some. The smell of money to be made is in the air.

Perhaps that is what led to the problem we speak of now. What problem?... you may ask.

The problem that eventually led to this interesting news story started almost two years ago, and a year prior to the retirement of the long-time Greene County Administrator. The problem evolved from an inconsequential citizen complaint about certain irregularities involving the County’s zoning ordinance.

This story was reported briefly again last week in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville.

It turns out, that those irregularities involved a certain property owned by then County Administrator Julius Lee Morris.

One thing leading to another, a Special Prosecutor was named, and nearly two years later, the former Greene County Administrator Julius Lee Morris, who had only recently retired after serving as the County Administrator for 32 years, has been convicted of altering official public documents.

Specifically, the alterations involved unauthorized changes to official planning / zoning documents of the County.

While it is perhaps significant that the former County Administrator’s inappropriate behavior involved real estate property that he had a personal financial interest in, that particular fact was secondary to the fundamental illegality that a public official had made false entries into the official public records of the County.

Think about this for a moment.

Why do we bother keeping “official public records” anyway?

Answer: It might be good to keep and protect certain records for the protection of the public interests.

This would make good sense, given the frailties of human memory and inevitable differences of opinions that result on different issues after the passage of time. Having official public records guarantees that citizens can inspect the records and derive satisfaction that everybody is playing by the same fair policies and rules.

It certainly would not make any sense if important official public records were to be arbitrarily changed willy-nilly by those officials who are entrusted to keep and protect those public records.

Nor would it be appropriate for public officials to mishandle, damage, destroy or loose public records, either through negligence or especially, intentionally with the purpose of changing the nature of public policy and actions.

In the case at hand, planning /zoning documents are for the purpose of documenting the official policies and actions of the local unit of government pertaining to land-use and development. Policies, rules and procedures are adopted by the governing body to ensure that there is uniformity and fairness in how land is developed and used.

The attorney for the ex-County Administrator argued that her client somehow was not responsible because the records were not “in his keeping and belonging to his office.”

Unfortunately, for ex-County Administrator Morris, the Judge did not buy these specious and convoluted argument which were outlined in an earlier article in The Daily Progress.

The Judge concluded that the ex-County Administrator was indeed criminally culpable as he was the top administrator and direct supervisor of the zoning administrator who routinely kept custody of the documents. The Judge concluded that the alterations were made with fraudulent intent and were therefore illegal. Central to the Judges ruling of illegal conduct, he noted that the alterations were done by “concealing the original writing on the plans rather than noting a revision” as is normal procedure when an alteration is proper.

To add to the ex-County Administrator’s problems he was found to have “lied” to state police and to be “untruthful” in his representation that the County Attorney gave him advice to make the alterations to the planning/zoning documents.

It is unclear what advantage the ex-County Administrator Julius Lee Morris derived from this illegal act of making “false entries of records by an officer” but it is likely that he rationalized it as minor matter and one that would not be noticed by the public or be questioned by other county personnel. After all, he was the boss.

The ex-County Administrator was wrong on all counts. The public did notice. And, when faced with an official investigation by a Special Prosecutor from other county, other Greene County personnel had no choice but to cooperate and tell the damaging truth. To do anything other than tell the truth and whole truth would have resulted in unpleasant legal consequences.

This is not a happy story. Sources in the community have suggested that over the years the ex-County Administrator Morris seemed like a pretty respectable public official. Unfortunately for Mr. Morris, a Judge has ruled that his behavior was illegal.

No we are not talking about long years in prison for the ex-County Administrator. However, Mr. Morris’ otherwise good reputation is tarnished forever. Worse yet, Mr. Morris betrayed the public trust and damaged public confidence in the Greene County Government. It will be repaired in time, but not forgotten soon.

If there is any silver lining to this sad story of violation of public trust, it is that the wheels of justice and long arm of the law, while slow and ponderous, do in most cases, and in the end achieve justice for all... even for Mr. Morris.

Sigh…

POST SCRIPT: According to The Daily Progress: "Present in the courtroom was Catherine Clossin, Greene’s former planning director, who said she was fired for probing into possible zoning violations involving Morris. She has filed a federal lawsuit against Morris and the county seeking unspecified damages. No trial date has been set."

What a tangled web we weave...

Sigh... again...

Gum Control… Your life may depend on it.

2006-07-28T00:30:00.000-04:00

Now and again, a story will come across our desk at the Iconoclast that is so serious… so profound… so relevant to our day to day lives… that we are instinctively prompted to shout… “Stop the presses”…we have something important to talk about!

That story is none other than… gum control.

Friends… this subject is so close to my heart… that I can hardly emphasize it too much:

I know, I know… you will say that gum does not kill people… people kill people.

But it is not as simple as that. Gums are a threat to civilization as we know it.

So, when I recently read in USA TODAY recently that Europe is trying to eradicate gum crime, I was absolutely ecstatic

Europe has long been the leader in progressive thinking. Way, way ahead of the rest of the world on so many issues. The Maginot Line is a good example of this leadership… providing almost perfect defenses against almost any conceivable threat that could possibly arise…

Well… maybe that is not the best example…

But gum control is and important issue.

So far as I know, there is no Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the rights of the American people to unconditional access to, use of, and possession of gums of any description… whether it be automatics… or fully automatics… or for sporting purposes… or for self defense purposes… It really doesn’t matter…

Gums represent a serious threat to our civilization and must be reasonably regulated.

The fundamental fact is: the Founding Fathers of this great nation just did not envision the world we live in today. How could they?

How could they know of the vast variety of gums that would come to be available to the American society? Just walk into any Gum Store in America to see the danger. Gums of every description… and for what purpose… why I ask?

How many parents are aware of the dangers and leave gums unsecured and accessible to children?

How many children have to suffer the consequences of parental inattention?

Indeed a tragedy.

But seriously… gum control is probably a better idea than the Maginot Line…

We are talking about “gum” control and not “gun” control. You know, the nasty, sticky, black, gunk, that inconsiderate people spit out on the sidewalks to fowl the environment.

Do you know what we are talking about?

If not… just take a look at any sidewalk anywhere in America. It is an epidemic problem. Think of the germs. Think of the damage to public property. Think of the clean up cost.

Given the magnitude of the problem, obviously there are billions of people who don’t seem to give this problem a lot of thought. These are not stupid people. These are just people who don’t give a lot of thought to what they are doing. It is just like throwing a cigarette butt on the ground… the thinking is that there is no harm done.

Wrong!

Little acts of environmental degradation multiplied by a million or a billion adds up to some mighty serious environmental problems.

So, the Iconoclast gives a tip of the hat and wink to all of Europe for giving some badly needed attention to an important issue.

Seriously…

Maybe not as sexy as gun control… but gum control is still worth talking about. In fact, gum control has long been a topic of serious discussion in in other parts of the world.

To readers of the Iconoclast who come to us for somewhat serious albeit irreverent social-political commentary, and find this apparent tripe about gum control, I offer my apologies.

However, maybe, just maybe, this issue of gum control is not just so much tripe. Maybe we in America should give the issue a moment of meditation before we again fowl the environment by thoughtlessly spitting out that little gob of goo, otherwise known as gum.

The lesson to learn here is that individual citizens can make the world a little better by making very little bitty adjustments in personal behavior. This is only one example. How many other examples can you think of?

ACLU still supports First Amendment

2006-07-27T22:09:00.000-04:00

Freedom of Speech, the foundation of democracy.

The Iconoclast is pleased to report that the First Amendment to the Constitution is still alive and well at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Back in June, we reported on the ACLU proposed internal guidelines that would have effectively censored ACLU board members on what they could say in public, and control what questions they could ask of the ACLU executive director. The proposed guidelines would have also established other draconian measures to keep an eye on ACLU employees. By keeping an eye on, we mean monitoring what they say and think.

These guidelines have been widely condemned within the ACLU organization itself and elsewhere as being a hypocritical betrayal of the ACLU’s traditional role as a staunch defender of the Constitution and especially the First Amendment civil liberties relating to free speech.

In news, just released recently, the ACLU leadership has re-thought its proposed guidelines and has withdrawn the most odious of provisions.

The official ACLU statement on this course reversal can be seen by clicking here.

Freedom of speech… the first and perhaps the most important of our civil liberties… don’t take it for granted!!! Not for a second…even here in America the “home of the brave and land of the free.”

Little seeds of tyranny remain hidden and dormant, even where you least expect to find them, only to sprout and flourish when good citizens let down their guard.

Freedom!

Please take care of it.

Charlotte County: Questions of Accountability

2006-07-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

Charlotte County Administrator Travel Expenses Raise Citizen Questions and Concerns!

Supervisors decree everything fine and dandy!

Administrator has reason to smile?

Now and again the Iconoclast receives tips from readers about “interesting situations” involving government officials across the Commonwealth. Such a story was recently forwarded to us by several friends in Southside Virginia.

The story involves Charlotte County government and the way it accounts for the expenditure of tax dollars… or doesn’t account… but at least thinks it does.

Confused yet?

Charlotte County is a small rural county in the vast region generally called Southside Virginia.

It would probably be fair to characterize Charlotte County as a tranquil but poor rural County. There are no cities and very few job opportunities for young people. For that matter there probably are not a lot of job opportunities left these days for anyone.

Charlotte County likely has more than its fair share of elderly, retired, people on fixed incomes, and poor people.

Most would agree that Charlotte County government has many needs and few public resources available to meet those needs. They need to make every dollar count.

More information on Charlotte County can be seen by clicking on this link.

The story that the Iconoclast will now address erupted in media reports about a month ago. Both The Richmond Times Dispatch and The Southside Messenger recently reported on this story in considerable detail.

However, the story goes back to at least last year.

It seems that the controversy started last year when a citizen of Charlotte County, one Mr. Larry Lail, made a request to the Charlotte County Administrator’s office for documentation of travel expenses incurred by long-time County Administrator Russell B. Clark and his Assistant County Administrator Stephanie Heintzelman.

Mr. Lail apparently wanted to see where these two top County officials were traveling to and how much the taxpayers of Charlotte County were paying for these activities. His request covered the years 2002 to 2004.

This request was by itself quite unremarkable.

In America, there is a fundamental presumption that all government functions belong to the people. That is why government records are typically referred to as “public records.”

Here in Virginia, the prevailing “sunshine law” is known as the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Under this law, most governmental documents are presumed to be available to any citizen upon request (there are a few exceptions to protect certain exempted public and private interests for good cause).

What was remarkable about Mr. Lail’s request was the reaction by Charlotte County government… or more accurately… unusual reaction.

Normally, one would presume that a citizen request for public documents would be fulfilled in just a few days as is required by law.

That did not happen.

The basic problem was that the County could not deliver the requested receipts for the travel expenses because those documents did not exist.

Supervisor Joseph Carey acknowledged that "...Mr. Lail discovered a flaw in the system, and the board took action to correct it…”

Long time Chairman of the Board Gary Walker offered: “We can’t give him what we don’t have… it’s not there.”

According to County Attorney Russell Slayton, the County has not required receipts for travel expenses in the past. Lawyer Slayton goes on to explain that the County is not required to provide anyone with receipts that do not exist.

Wow. All those years in law school certainly paid off!

If this legal explanation was not enough to put the matter to rest, the creative resolution passed by the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors would certainly do the trick.

By a vote of four in favor, the Board voted to approve a resolution to declare that all was “proper and reasonable" with travel expenses. Two Supervisors abstained from the vote and one Supervisor was absent.

The resolution stated in part “a review of past reimbursements has confirmed that those reimbursements were made in compliance with the county’s reimbursement policy.”

In case you are wondering, those voting for this creative resolution to decree all fine and dandy, were Chairman Haywood J. Hamlet, Vice Chairman Garland H. "Butch Hamlett, Jr., Supervisor Gary D. Walker, and Supervisor Nancy R. Carwile. Supervisors Ashley L. Myers and Joseph E. Carey, Sr. abstained from voting and Supervisor David M. Guill was absent from the vote.

Ok…

Now I have a few questions.

What policy?

What kind of official policy would knowingly leave this kind of gap in the County’s fiscal accountability systems? Remember… we are talking about a considerable amount of money here.

This is a gap big enough to drive a Mack truck through with the doors open!

How long has this been going on?

Who is responsible?

What kind of Board would allow this kind of problem to go unchecked for so many years?

What have the auditors been smoking all these years?

The Iconoclast sought to find answers to these questions.

As a first step, a representative from the Iconoclast contacted Charlotte County Administrator Russell B. Clark in June ask him to either respond to a series of specific questions or, if he chose, to respond generally to the situation as he saw fit.

We checked back with Mr. Clark last week with a reminder.

As of this date, County Administrator Clark has elected to ignore both options.

On the other hand, several citizens have openly expressed concerns that the Board’s action by passing the resolution was a “disappointment” and little more than an act to “sweep obvious problems under the rug.” Citizens question how the Board can decree something is "proper and reasonable" on faith without any factual evidence.

One source noted only four Supervisors out of a total of seven actually voted in favor of this dubious resolution.

This is hardly a confidence inspiring vote.

Most interesting, several sources reported that alleged “sloppy and/or questionable financial management” practices involving the same Charlotte County officials, most notably, County Administrator Clark, date back a good many years.

The Iconoclast wants to make it absolutely clear that it is not suggesting that any Charlotte County officials have misapplied public funds.

However, on the facts we have learned from media reports and other sources in the community, the Iconoclast would conclude that the circumstances indicate a fundamental lack of adequate financial management oversight by the Board of Supervisors, poor financial management by the administrative personnel, and a less than forthright response to legitimate questions of governmental accountibility by the members of the Board of Supervisors.

Bottom line, Charlotte County government is probably not going to be a top contender for any “Iconoclast Good Government Awards” in the foreseeable future.

When considering problems of sloppy financial management, whether it is in Charlotte County or elsewhere, it is important to keep in mind abuse and waste of public resources is not limited to only clear-cut cases of criminal misconduct.

Other sources of abuse and waste can and do result from bad judgment, incompetence, greed or ethical weaknesses.

If citizens do not pay attention, public officials will with alarming frequency take advantage of their apathy.

Citizens have the power to make a difference. Much waste and abuse can be prevented through citizen involvement.

Take for example Brenda Stewart, ordinary citizen in Chesterfield who uncovered travel expenses incurred by top Chesterfield County officials, including an $18,000 charter jet trip by the Chesterfield County Administrator and Chairman of the Board for matters that were arguably not even legitimate County business.

That County Administrator has since repaid the citizens the full amount for that lapse of judgment.

Another recent good example was citizen Lee Albright who exposed a culture of abuse by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries ,where state officials financed what can only be described as exotic travel… in this case an African safari… at taxpayer expense and then sought to cover up the abuse.

As a result of this citizen's demand for accountability, several senior state officials were shown the door.

It is not always easy for citizens to get the information they need from government agencies. Even though the law is clear, public officials with secrets to hide are sometimes very creative in resisting the prying eyes of concerned citizens.

This story in Charlotte County, Virginia is ongoing. The results may be months away. But it is good to see that Charlotte County citizens are exercising their rights as the lawful owners of the Charlotte County Courthouse and everything it contains.

Best wishes in this noble quest for responsible government.

NOTE: As always, the Iconoclast appreciates information submitted to it in confidence. Please keep us posted on developments.

Gavrilo Princip, Unintended Consequences, and Direct School Board Elections in Southside Virginia...

2006-07-22T13:57:00.000-04:00

What does a Serbian assassin, a Vice Chariman of a Board of Supervisors, and direct School Board Elections have in common? Maybe more than you might think...

I'll admit it, I'm a huge history buff, and history is chalked full of examples of how the actions of a single individual has produced unimaginable and (often) unintended consequences. Potentially another example of this might soon manifest itself in Southside Virginia? Try to follow me on this one...

Take World War I for example: Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Imperial Prince of the Austrian Empire, in the streets of Sarajevo. In Princip's twisted world, he thought the assassination of the Archduke would spurn a revolution which would free Slavic people from the "persona non grata" influence of the Austrian Crown. Gavrilo's actions most definately produced an unintended and unforeseen consequence.

Instead of advancing the emancipation of Slavic people from the Austrian Crown, these actions instead lead to what is know as the "domino theory" which ultimately lead to World War I - which lefts millions of people dead (including hundreds of thousands of Serbians) and some of the most vile and devastating warfare known to man...all of which were unintended. Bad move Gavrilo!

Ok, so now you're probably asking yourself "what in the hell does this have to do with School Board elections in Southside Virginia?" Fair enough... so just "fast forward" 92 years from Habsburg dominated eastern Europe to rural Southside Virginia. No problem, right? Now, here's another story of how the calculated actions of an individual might just produce unforseen and unintended consequences...

Victims of unintended consequences? Serbian Assassin Gavrilo Princip (left), and Vice Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, Dr. Brian Bates (right).

For those of you who read the Iconoclast you may recall a recent piece about Dr. Brian Bates, Vice Chairman of Buckingham County's Board of Supervisors, who via an editorial in Farmville Herald (as a "private citizen" of course) advocated for the elimination of direct elections for Buckingham County School Board members.

Citizen Bates wants Buckingham to return to appointing School Board members by the County's Board of Supervisors, which he just so happens to be the Vice Chariman of...Dr. Bates - in his editorial - suggested he would lead a movement to gather enough signitures to put this issues to the voters - via a referendum - in the near future.

I guess the logic is this: if the two elected Boards (Board of Supervisors and School Board) can't come to a consensus in regard to the future direction of Schools in the County, then do away with the direct elections of School Board members (ie, "The Nuclear Option"!) Just allow the Board of Supervisors to appoint people who will share THEIR opinions....and we will all live happily ever after! Problem solved! right?

Needless to say, it appears that the voting public hasn't taken to Bates' proposition. People are funny, they prefer to vote when given the choice. I'm assuming that Supervisor Bates must have anticipated atleast SOME support for his idea (afterall he went through the trouble of writing an editorial in the local paper)and maybe Bates knows something we don't? Maybe?

If I had to guess, I would be willing to wager that Supervisor Bates wishes he could retract his letter, because of the unintendted consequences it appears to be producing. In matter of fact, it appears that a polar opposite "domino effect" is mounting as we speak in regard to Bates' "nuclear option" for Buckingham's School Board.

You see, Brian Lee, an educator and resident of Prince Edward County, has clearly articulated his oppostion of Bates' proposal to eliminate the direct elections of School Board members in near-by Buckingham County.

Mr. Lee clearly points out that the Commonwealth is actually a "late blommer" when it comes the direct elections for School Board members. It was only 1992 when legislation was passed in Virginia allowing for the direct elections of School Boards. Believe it or not, before this legislation was passed, Virginia was THE ONLY state that did not allow for elected local school boards.

But since 1992 the Commonwealth is making up for lost time in hurry, 102 of the 134 local school divisions in Virginia have changed or begun the process of changing from an appointed school board to an elected one and more than 60 percent of Virginia's current school board members are elected officials.

So you don't have to live in Buckingham County to see that the idea that voters - no matter the County or City - would willingly choose to strip their ability to directly elect School Board members. To believe voters would do so is illogical to the point of boarding on asinine...really.

Now Mr. Lee has recently started a grass roots movement to have School Board members directly elected in Prince Edward, the County where he lives and works as a teacher. Thus, alligning Prince Edward with the majority of School Boards in Virginia. What a super idea that every democracy loving citizen should support! And it is easier to do than you might think! It would take minimal organization and effort to do so, plus it would be virtually guaranteed to receive overwhelming approval by the voters of Prince Edward...no question! I mean think about it: how would you vote if asked if you wanted the right to, well, vote for something? (Remember in 1992 the voters of Buckingham voted in favor of directly electing School Board members by a 3,640 to 800 margin.)

We here at the Iconoclast feel that direct elections are the cornerstone of civic life, and we fully support Mr. Lee's efforts to gather support for a referrendum on this matter in Prince Edward, and we will help to promote this issue in order to get it on the ballot as soon as possible.

Process wise, it is too late to get such a referendum on the ballot in Prince Edward for this coming November. In regard to this matter, the Code of Virginia states,"The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in such locality on the January 1 preceding its filing."

Therefore the citizens of Prince Edward have until January 1, 2007 to collect signitures from 10 percent of the registered voters in the County in order to have this issue appear on the ballot in November of 2007. In case you're wondering, 10 percent of the registered voters in Prince Edward would be 1,158 signatures.

So I guess this will give Mr. Lee and those who support his efforts ample time to collect the requied signitures for placing this issue before the voters of Prince Edward! But it would be best to start soon! (I'm thinking about 6 hours on a Saturday in front of the Wal-Mart in Farmville would likely be sufficeint!)

So back to Gavrilo Princip and the idea of unintended consequences. History tells us that Princip's decision to assassinate Archduke Ferdinand in the streets of Sarajevo did not help to immancipate the Serbian people, but instead resulted in World War I, and death of hundreds of thousands of Serbians. Though Supervisors Bates' proposal to eliminate the direct elction of School Board members in Buckingham County will not lead to global warfare, it might just have the opposite affect in the region. Which most definately was unintended. Sometimes the course of history is changed, but not in the manner in which one might have intended or plotted - but change happened all the same....Sort of ironic isn't it?

The Iconoclast looks forward to promoting the idea of direct elections for Scool Board members in Prince Edward!

Let the dominos fall!

Ok, time to cast your vote for the Lunenburg Special Election for Sheriff!

2006-07-21T11:36:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know Tom and I have gone a little overboard on the polls here recently. But they are lots of fun aren't they?

Don't forget to get out and vote for real on August 8th! WV

Shoot-Out at Not So "O.K. Corral" in Lunenburg County Tonight!!!

2006-07-20T13:11:00.000-04:00

Update Report.

Sheriff Candidates Debate Tonight!!!

Check all handguns at the door please!

As a community service, the Iconoclast is pleased to publish this reminder that four candidates for special Sheriffs election of August 8th, will be debating this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Harry Wellons Auditorum at the old Victoria High School.

This promises to be almost as much fun as the legendary shoot-out at the "O.K. Corral" figuratively speaking of course.

However, since the Iconoclast first reported on this special election back in May, the rhetoric has been rather hot, a lot like flying lead going in all different directions. Given the news reports of vandalism against a number of the candidates' campaign signs, it may be fair to say that some individuals (not necessairly the candidates themselves) have resorted to dirty tricks.

Not a good example of civilized behavior.

The original post entitled "Sheriff Stoots Shoots Self in the Foot in Lunenburg County" can be seen here.

Initially, the Iconoclast became interested in this story because of what seemed to be the inappropriate actions of the acting Sheriff Randall L Stoots following the sudden and unexpected death of former Sheriff Charles W. Stokes. And yes, the death of Sheriff was by natural causes in case you are not from Lunenburg and were wondering.

As we reported in May "...in a master stroke of political ham-fisted poor judgement, the newly appointed Sheriff Stoots first announces his intentions to run for Sherriff in the up-coming special election, and second, summarily fires two senior members of the Lunenburg County Sheriff's department, one Deputy Arthur Townsend (21 years with the department) and two Deputy Jimmy Moses (25 years with the Department.)"

At the time Sheriff Stoots explained something to the effect that the two fired Deputies were asked for their "continued support and cooperation" and then when he learned that both planned to also run in the special election, he sumarily fired them.

Since that time Sheriff Stoots has made a mighty effort to re-explain exactly what happened and why his actions were not just a dumb knee-jerk act of political retribution.

Many citizens from the community have weighed in on both sides, some with serious comments, and some not so serious.

Presently there are four candidates vying for the coveted position of High Sheriff of Lunenburg County, the Old Free State of Virginia. They are:

Acting Sheriff, Randall L. Stoots, 9 years experience in law enforcement.

Former Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Moses, 25 years with the Lunenburg County Sheriffs Department.

Former Deputy Arthur Townsend, 21 years with the Lunenburg County Sheriffs Department.

Mecklenburg Correctional Center Office David R. Jackson, 26 years with the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Both Deputies Moses and Townsend were previous close contenders the 2004 special election for Sheriff when the late Sheriff Stokes was elected in the aftermath of an earlier untimely death of another Sheriff. (Frankly, with this history of untimely deaths in office, I am not sure why anyone would want this job.)

The Iconoclast, wishing to be as fair as possible republishes here all of those comments for your reading enjoyment.

There are so far 32 separate comments on record. They are as follows in order of receipt:

• At 11:09 AM, Anonymous said…
Sounds like Sheriff Stoots just gave a way the keys to the jail.

• At 5:13 PM, Conaway Haskins said…
I eagerly await what you find out. It's about time someone lit a fire under Lunenburg's figurative butt.

-- Conaway

• At 8:45 AM, Anonymous said…
I live in Virginia and this is the first time I've even heard of this County. Still this is interesting all the same, is the local media in the area covering this story? Seems like total BS to me.

• At 3:53 PM, Anonymous said…
Good insight and reporting!

• At 7:37 PM, Anonymous said…
Seems to me that the Sheriff would have been smarter to keep those two boys on the job and very busy so they wouldn't have so much time on their hands to campaign for the office of Sheriff.

• At 8:53 PM, Anonymous said…
Will,

It is just not right to make fun of Barney like this. Barney is a good lawman and may occasionally hit a few bumps in the road. But never, and I mean never, would he do something like this. So please, in the future, do law enforcement people everywhere a big favor and do not compare Barney to Sheriff Stoots.

Very sincerely,

Sheriff Andy Taylor
Mayberry, NC

PS. Y'all come down and see us sometime.

• At 9:17 AM, Anonymous said…
I would have to agree with my friend and collegue Sheriff Taylor. I personally find nothing wrong with Sheriff Stoot's behavior. He's a good man, and only has the best interest of the Citizens in mind.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Boss Hogg
Harzard County, TX

• At 8:24 AM, Anonymous said…
The blog site owner here presents himself as some sort of self-appointed country legalist with the community's best intentions in mind. He, however, is a the real Boss Hog of Brokeback Mountain. Besides, Barney Fife was a great guy. Just ask Andy Griffith.

Check this Hogg's blog.

He supports gay rights! Gay marriage! And who knows what other kind of perversion.

It's not about community for him except in the sense, perhaps, of communism. We heard about the free love movement and communism in the 1960s. Now we have the gay love movement. Gay sex, the gay lifestyle, etc. are OK if you really love someone. Just be free. Just love the opposite sex.

Guess what?

Freedom is not the be all and end all. America was built on Christian values by Christian people. And Christianity declares homosexuality immoral. It is nothing more than disguised pedophilia. Child molesters and homosexuals want to have sex with persons outside the confines of a God ordained, anatomically and biologically destined design (even Darwin would view homosexuality as a significant aberration.)

Human anatomy states that men were made for women, humans were made for humans, and adults made for adults, not some other combination. That's the truth. It is plainly obvious.

Romans 1:19-20 tells us, “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

You simply cannot deny it. It is inherently obvious. You would be a liar to deny it. Even Darwin would agree that humans evolved for those purposes. The sex roles of males and females from the plant kingdom to the animal kingdom are immutable and obvious. Penises were made for vaginas. Penises were not made for other penises. Vaginas were not made for other vaginas. But homosexuals would deny the truth.

Romans 1:25-27 tells us, "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

If the propaganda were to say that we should all defy anatomy and only have one arm. How many people would be made unhappy, if they believed they had to remove their arm? Only the most disordered would actually enjoy having their arm removed. Maybe that is due penalty for your perversion. You choose homosexuality, then you cannot have children.

Stop the gay propaganda and set people's minds free. Thought control hasn't worked in China. It won't work here.

• At 8:25 AM, Truth 2025 said…
The blog site owner here presents himself as some sort of self-appointed country legalist with the community's best intentions in mind. He, however, is a the real Boss Hog of Brokeback Mountain. Besides, Barney Fife was a great guy. Just ask Andy Griffith.

Check this Hogg's blog.

He supports gay rights! Gay marriage! And who knows what other kind of perversion.

It's not about community for him except in the sense, perhaps, of communism. We heard about the free love movement and communism in the 1960s. Now we have the gay love movement. Gay sex, the gay lifestyle, etc. are OK if you really love someone. Just be free. Just love the opposite sex.

Guess what?

Freedom is not the be all and end all. America was built on Christian values by Christian people. And Christianity declares homosexuality immoral. It is nothing more than disguised pedophilia. Child molesters and homosexuals want to have sex with persons outside the confines of a God ordained, anatomically and biologically destined design (even Darwin would view homosexuality as a significant aberration.)

Human anatomy states that men were made for women, humans were made for humans, and adults made for adults, not some other combination. That's the truth. It is plainly obvious.

Romans 1:19-20 tells us, “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

You simply cannot deny it. It is inherently obvious. You would be a liar to deny it. Even Darwin would agree that humans evolved for those purposes. The sex roles of males and females from the plant kingdom to the animal kingdom are immutable and obvious. Penises were made for vaginas. Penises were not made for other penises. Vaginas were not made for other vaginas. But homosexuals would deny the truth.

Romans 1:25-27 tells us, "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

If the propaganda were to say that we should all defy anatomy and only have one arm. How many people would be made unhappy, if they believed they had to remove their arm? Only the most disordered would actually enjoy having their arm removed. Maybe that is due penalty for your perversion. You choose homosexuality, then you cannot have children.

Stop the gay propaganda and set people's minds free. Thought control hasn't worked in China. It won't work here.

• At 8:25 AM, Truth 2025 said…
The blog site owner here presents himself as some sort of self-appointed country legalist with the community's best intentions in mind. He, however, is a the real Boss Hog of Brokeback Mountain. Besides, Barney Fife was a great guy. Just ask Andy Griffith.

Check this Hogg's blog.

He supports gay rights! Gay marriage! And who knows what other kind of perversion.

It's not about community for him except in the sense, perhaps, of communism. We heard about the free love movement and communism in the 1960s. Now we have the gay love movement. Gay sex, the gay lifestyle, etc. are OK if you really love someone. Just be free. Just love the opposite sex.

Guess what?

Freedom is not the be all and end all. America was built on Christian values by Christian people. And Christianity declares homosexuality immoral. It is nothing more than disguised pedophilia. Child molesters and homosexuals want to have sex with persons outside the confines of a God ordained, anatomically and biologically destined design (even Darwin would view homosexuality as a significant aberration.)

Human anatomy states that men were made for women, humans were made for humans, and adults made for adults, not some other combination. That's the truth. It is plainly obvious.

Romans 1:19-20 tells us, “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

You simply cannot deny it. It is inherently obvious. You would be a liar to deny it. Even Darwin would agree that humans evolved for those purposes. The sex roles of males and females from the plant kingdom to the animal kingdom are immutable and obvious. Penises were made for vaginas. Penises were not made for other penises. Vaginas were not made for other vaginas. But homosexuals would deny the truth.

Romans 1:25-27 tells us, "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

If the propaganda were to say that we should all defy anatomy and only have one arm. How many people would be made unhappy, if they believed they had to remove their arm? Only the most disordered would actually enjoy having their arm removed. Maybe that is due penalty for your perversion. You choose homosexuality, then you cannot have children.

Stop the gay propaganda and set people's minds free. Thought control hasn't worked in China. It won't work here.

• At 9:03 AM, Anonymous said…
What's even better is that the mayor of the town is rumored to have put him up to it. This mayor is also the undertaker, fire chief, and once a furniture store owner as well.

• At 10:33 AM, Anonymous said…
Truth 2025 seems to be upset because you took a shot at Sheriff Taylor..funny!

• At 10:34 AM, Anonymous said…
What in the hell does gay marriage have to do with Sheriff Stoots' insane decision to fire two experiened Deputies????????

• At 11:08 AM, Anonymous said…
Truth 2025 has way, way too much time on his hands worrying about gays. When an individual fixates too much on any one thing, they begin to see the object of fixation everywhere. There is help out there for people so aflicted. But first they need to acknowledge that there is a problem.

• At 6:20 PM, Anonymous said…
Truth, what the hell is yor problem?

• At 10:08 PM, Anonymous said…
Ok. So we got some crackpots out there. Get back to the subject of Sheriff Stoots and his problem with judgment.

I would like to hear from Sheriff Stoots. Why should we vote for him? Does he have some ideas? What are they? We got some issues in Lunenburg and I would like to hear how he is going to address them.

So, Sheriff Stoots, what do you say?

• At 8:09 PM, Anonymous said…
We see recently that Sheriff Stoots' defenders are attempting in public letters to do damage control by justifying the dismissal of two deputies as appropriate behavior. All he is trying to do is to eliminate fair competition for the office of Sheriff. The voters see through this excuse and will send him a message on election day.

• At 9:02 AM, Anonymous said…
well before the last election

deruty Townsend lost his weapon,at central high school when he took off his gun belt to play basketball. To this date his gun has never been recovered. When sheriff Adams was alive he and mrs.Townsend caught deputy Townsend and the dispatcher having sex in the sheriff's office. He should have been fired then. Iannot vote for a person who cannot keep up with his own weapon.

• At 4:18 PM, Anonymous said…
This is getting juicy. Now, if Sheriff Stoots can just get some good dirt on former Deputy Jimmy Moses and the other dude, he will have it made on election day. So much for taking the high road. Lets get down and play in the mud.

• At 11:51 PM, Anonymous said…
Jimmy Moses is the best choice. He has a lot of experience, and is a nice man who would keep the citizens in mind. Also there have been spray-paint on some Moses and Townsend signs...what does htat say to you?

• At 10:53 PM, Curtis Brooks said…
I am a Sheriff Stoots Supporter and understand that he is probably the only man for the job that will break up the good ole boy PD's of Lunenburg County. Randall Stoots also had his personal property and signs vandalized but this was not mentioned in the paper. This county and the local newspapers are tendentious of our sheriff.
"Arthur Townsend and Jimmy Moses... Each having over two decades of experience" does not make them automatically qualified for the job.

• At 10:22 AM, Anonymous said…
If I had to guess it sounds as if Sheriff Stoops, and his supporters are attempting to do a little "damage control" at this moment. If Sheriff Stoops is interested in breaking the "good ole boy" system, then he will have his chance to do so come this August. But what qualatative standards do you apply to someone to determine if they are "good ole boys" or not, seems to be alot of "wiggle room" in this definition.

I don't know this to be true, but it wouldn't surprise me if Stoops (and some of his supporters) are attempting to martyr the Sheriff (by destroying his signs) in order to once again deflect attention from his silly decision.

If Stoops is confident that he is indeed the best man for the job, the voters will elect him. Dismissing the two deputies was a poor decison, and he should have know better...it just looks bad!

• At 4:26 PM, Anonymous said…
It is a shame that one small community has nothining else to do but make comments and threats to a man who is doing his job. NO ONE could ever understand the responsibility and stress that has been given to Sheriff Stoots who wants to do the job he was given with grace and honor. There have been to many years where people in authority have taken advantage of there position and gotten away with more then anyone could imagine and those individuals know who they are. I applaud the honest man and the only honest man on the ticket for Sheriff is STOOTS!!!!!!

• At 9:57 PM, Anonymous said…
I think your still missing the point..i assume that stoops was appointed to the postion to "hold hte postion" until a special election could be held..correct? if this is this case, then indeed it was poor decision (some might say stupid) to fire two senior deputies. If what you claim is true, then stoops will be vindicated in august...

still, good people can make bad decisions, and I think this is what the blog author is trying to communicate...

• At 1:23 PM, Anonymous said…
As a relative newcomer to Lunenburg, I don't know personally any of the candidates for the special election for Sheriff.

However, if I may observe, I would suggest that this discussion is a good thing and shows that there is some interest in the community to make things better.

Over the past three and a half years, I have listened to people grumble about the problems with our County officials here in Lunenburg. But when it comes to doing something about the problems, I see too much apathy.

So, I am happy to see this discussion on the special election for Sheriff. It is only one office but it is important.

And no, I am not prepared to endorse any one of the four candidates at this time. I am still listening and looking for answers.

Thanks.

• At 2:13 PM, Anonymous said…
All these problems the Sheriff is having is unfair. He was just doing what Barny would have done. Nip it! Nip it in the bud!

• At 2:31 PM, Jeff Paul said…
I personally know each of the three major candidates in this election. I have worked side by side with them all for several years as a law enforcement officer in Lunenburg county. I know alot that the general public doesn't know. Not from rumors or hearsay, but because I am behind the scenes with them. I know the answers to most questions you may have and will give them honestly. If I don't know the answer I will simply tell you I don't know. As far as Mr. Stoots goes, I've never really had any problems with Stoots until this whole firing of the Deputies scandal. Stoots has always seemd to be an ok, laid back, country boy kind of guy. I would never in a million years have expected him to do something like this. The two deputies that he fired were both honest, hard working deputies with lots of experience and were both an asset to our Sheriff's Office. I was extremely dissappointed with Mr. Stoot's "Insecurity" based decision. Some people say "well if Sheriff Stokes liked him enough to make him Chief Deputy, them he must be ok"...WRONG!! Sheriff Stokes told me himself that the only reason he made Stoots his chief deputy was... and I quote..."Because everybody else ran against me". Stoot's sidekick Curtis Brooks is obviously being fed information. The problem with that is that if you don't know the truth firsthand, then second hand information can get you in alot of trouble You can't always rely on what someone else tells you as being the truth. This is where the possibility of Slander Suits come into play. Mr Brooks needs to verify the information he is being fed before posting or printing it. He could be facing alot of trouble. Stoots and Brooks have both made comments that are at the least very misleading, but some are just flat out untrue. For example, Stoots having the same training as everyone else. This is a completely untrue comment that can be verified. I can personally tell you several areas of training that Townsend and Moses have had that Stoots has not. I find it interesting that Stoots thinks that the people of Lunenburg are not smart enough to realize that it is very unlikely that a person with only nine years of experience could possibly have as much continued training as someone with over twenty years experience. In closing, I would like to say that if anyone has a question that they would like answered truthfully, please let me know and I will gladly answer it for you if I know the answer. If you choose not to put them on this discussion you can e mail me personally at jpsjb@yahoo.com .

Thank you.

• At 1:49 PM, Anonymous said…
I think it is a shame that you would quote our previous Sheriff when he is not able to confirm or deny this quote. I knew Sheriff Stokes very well and have a hard time believing that this was his only reason. This only proves that you may not be a reliabe source and may be giving biased information. Are you still in law enforcement or just the lead singer of Southern Justice? Stoots is a very fair man and my support goes to him!! Go Sheriff Stoots!!

• At 12:42 AM, Anonymous said…
This is a lot of lies and crap on this website. All I have to say is get your facts straight or shut up.

• At 6:39 PM, Adam said…
I believe that any person in any organization should strive to excel, and work towards the highest position in that organization. If a senior deputy of 20 plus years has no aspirations to be sheriff then their goals are not being set high. (After saying this I do understand that some law enforcement officers want to do just that. Enforce the law and not do so much administrative.) A person should not be punished for wanting to make the best of themselves, and fulfill their goals. Author Townsend taught me and everyone one of my peers about drug abuse when we were children. He is friends with many people in the county and is a very nice man. Jimmy Moses is also a caring man that also has many friends in the county. Firing two men wishing to excel to the best of their abilities, and that have such a strong network in such a small county is political suicide.

• At 10:29 AM, Anonymous said…
I live in Lunenburg and cannot comprehend why people would vote for a whiny Sheriff like Stoots. All he ever does, it seems, is complain, complain, complain. "My wife is being threatened. She's scared to leave the house. My kids are in jeopardy. People throw their trash in my yard." What Stoots will never say is that his wife is going door-to-door every day handing out campaign literature. She sure seems scared to me. Townsend, on the other hand, won't talk to the press. Jackson is NOT a deputy, nor has he ever been - no experience in the field. So, it seems that my vote has to go to Jimmy Moses by default. I will say this, one local paper has printed fine interviews with all of them (except Townsend) and has done other articles about the race. If you want to know about these candidates pick up a few past issues of the Southside Messenger. Other than that, I can't wait for the "Royal Rumble" tomorrow night in Victoria!

• At 10:07 PM, Jeff Paul said…
First of all, if you choose to be at all credible don't be afraid to post your name. Quit leaving comments anonymously. I quoted what Sheriff Stokes told me because it is fact. That is word for word what he told me. Also, if it was so terrible for me to quote what the late Sheriff said, then it seems like your candidate Mr. Stoots has some explaining to do as well. Have you seen the articles in this weeks local papers? They are full of things that Mr Stoots says was told to him by Sheriff Stokes. Was it alright for him to print them but not me? In final rebuttle to your comment, yes I am still proudly employed as a police officer in Lunenburg County. If you know as much as you think you do, you wouldn't have to ask that. Since my article in the paper, several law enforcement officers within the boundaries of Lunenburg County (including deputies) as well as many citizens have come to me, shook my hand, thanked me, and expressed great gratitude for printing the facts. One comment (from law enforcement) was "I'm glad somebody's telling the truth around here". It's a shame that the only people who know the truth about the lies being told are law enforcement officers who can't openly tell the public because of their position. There is great concern within the law enforcement family in Lunenburg about Mr Stoots but it is not expressed due to employment concerns. Mr Stoots' latest articles are full of misleading information and flat out lies. I have known Stoots for a long time and it is extremely hard for me to believe that he has chosen this strategy for his campaign. I once highly respected Mr Stoots but am now extremely disappointed in his actions. I hope I have answered your questions and I invite you throw more at me if you want more facts. But once again, step out of your cowardly costume...be proud of what you believe in...let everyone know who is supporting Stoots...tell us who you are...but if you don't, I really don't blame you. I would be ashamed too.

Yours Truly,
Jeff Paul
Victoria PD

As of this date, July 20th, 2006, the Iconoclast has not endorsed any one of the four candidates.

The Iconoclast is unable to attend tonight's festivities, but wishes to encourage the good citizens Lunenburg County to attend tonight's debate.

Please, as soon as the dust settles and everybody runs out of bullets, send us your comments.

We are waiting breathlessly.

Good luck to all four candidates! May the best candidate win!

Ok, Elkton (and those interested in Elkton) Have your say now!

2006-07-20T10:01:00.000-04:00

Congressman Goodlatte: Finally on the Correct Side of a Civil Rights Issue!

2006-07-19T09:33:00.000-04:00

Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who is often on the wrong side of civil rights related issues, recently voted to reauthorize the 1965 Voting Rights Act. For this - as one of your 650,000 constituents - I congratulate you Congressman Goodlatte!

To a fanatical few, Goodlatte's vote to reauthorize the 1965 Voting Rights Act is viewed as a slap in the face to the Commonwealth's electoral sovranty. I feel the opposite. Those who are frustrated by Goodlatte's vote to renew this act give anemic justification for opposing Goodlatte's vote.

It appears these individuals/institutions (with this fringe view) believe that the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act somehow shackles the Commonwealth to years of strict draconian Federal oversight in regard to the election process. This simply isn't true. In case you're counting, only 33 Congressmen voted not to reauthorize the act. Fortunatley no Virginia Congressperson is part of this shameful group...

I suggest that these individuals review Virginia's torid and colorful past in regard to voting rights. Also, take a look at challenges that might be faced in the future.

Simply said, the reauthorizing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act is not an attempt to cede the electoral process to unnecessary Federal control or intervention. This act reassures all voters in the Commonwealth that the proper channels exist for maintaining a fair and open election process. Hopefully, the Commonwealth will not repeat the sins of the past (see above), but let's not "throw the baby out with the bathwater" on something so vital to basic democracy...agree?

After voting to renew the act Congressman Goodlatte stated, "I believe the right of each individual to vote is one of the most precious rights we hold as American citizens."

Amen to that Congressman Goodlatte!

"Cesspool of Corruption and Inefficiency"

2006-07-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

...City of Richmond.

So says former Governor and current Mayor L. Douglas Wilder of Capitol City.

Sometimes controversial Mayor right on target on issues of restoring integrity in city hall!

I really don’t like to cover the political scene in Richmond. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, there are a lot of really good blogs out there that do a great job in giving the people of the region an unvarnished perspective on the ways of Richmond City government and the Richmond area politics.

Secondly, and most importantly, it is almost too easy to criticize and to make fun of the bad behavior of public officials in the Richmond area.

There are just too many cases of official goofiness, misbehavior, dumb ideas, bad ethics and out-right criminal activity.

To cover all this nonsense properly, I would have to quit my day job and probably hire some extra staff do the leg work, research and writing.

What is the fun in that?

So, I will leave it mostly in the hands of those many capable bloggers out there who do such a wonderful job.

Be that as it may, I was struck by a feature article in the Saturday edition of The Richmond Times Dispatch entitled “2 charged in theft of funds from city.”

At first glance, one would think that these front page headlines are likely to cause little stir in the Richmond City Hall. After years and years of one incredibly embarrassing scandal after another, what possibly could the indictment of two more City of Richmond officials ((one former and one current) do to raise the collective consciousness of the general public in demanding better oversight of city governmental functions?

Remember former Councilman Chuck Richardson, convicted for the distribution of heroin, contempt, and refusal to identify his suppliers, and sent to prison?

Remember, former Mayor Leonidas Young, convicted of fraud, obstruction and tax evasion, and sent to prison in 1999?

Remember, former Councilwoman Gwen Hedgepeth who was convicted for bribery. After she secretly recorded taking cash from a real estate developer and landlord for her vote in selecting a new mayor?

Councilwoman Hedgepeth was also implicated in the case of Robert Evans who ripped off the City and its taxpayers for an estimated $800,000, by cooking the books on council payment requests under the so called “Paygo” system.

It is perhaps interesting that both former Mayor Young and Councilwoman Hedgepeth were practicing members of the clergy.

There are other examples in recent years. I just can not remember them all.

The most recent indictments would no doubt pass with little notice given the history of corruption in the City of Richmond.

However, one thing makes this recent announcement of indictments noteworthy, in my view.

That one thing is Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

When contacted about these indictments of city employees, Mayor Wilder stated: “Our administration has pledged to seek out and eliminate the cesspool of corruption and inefficiency that has characterized the Richmond government for too long.” He continued by saying “This examination of local government will be ongoing.”

No, excuses… No “weasel words”… No evasive “no comment”… dodge. No passing the buck to somebody else.

The man sounds like he is seriously disgusted with the situation and is going to do something about it!

Say what you will about the man, but you have got to respect Mayor Wilder’s colorful, direct and decisive words on this problem.

He may not be perfect. He certainly has his critics. And a few words alone will not make all well overnight.

But on this matter, he made an immediate decision to directly engage the issue and to give the citizens a sense of confidence that somebody cares and may actually do something.

Time will tell.

This is what citizens, taxpayers and voters want to see in political leadership when confronted with real problems.

Unfortunately, this is all too rare. Too often, this is not what the citizens get in their political leadership.

Too often political leadership, when confronted with problems of misconduct or ethical digressions within their administrations, react in “knee-jerk” fashion and leap to defensive positions, digging in, hiding and evading any effort to address the real problems.

Why would any political leader do this? Assuming that they have nothing to hide themselves, why would they want to duck and run?

All this accomplishes is to undermine public trust even further.

Inefficiency and corruption is not limited to only the City of Richmond as readers of the Iconoclast may have noticed over just the past year. There is no local government in Virginia that can say unequivocally that there is no room for improvement in efficiency and accountability. Just go back and look at the Iconoclast archives if you don't believe it.

Some local governments have a long way to go before the political leadership can say with a straight face that their administrations are efficient and accountable to the citizens.

Many current and aspiring local government political leaders can learn something from the Honorable Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

It is called leadership.

Real leadership does not run and hide from problems.

Real leadership is always trying to make things better.

There is no shame for those who try and fail. Only time will tell if Mayor Wilder is successful in cleaning up the "cesspool of corruption and inefficiency" in Richmond city government.

On the other hand, there is nothing but shame for those who see the problems and choose to do nothing about them.

Have your say Buckingham!

2006-07-17T16:55:00.000-04:00

Shiver Me Timbers, Buckingham Supervisor Makes a Nasty Cut!

2006-07-15T08:54:00.000-04:00

More Buckingham County Scandal.

Leadership credibility sorely lacking.

If it were not so pittiful, it might be funny.

My friend Will, he is an eternal optimist, and is always trying to believe the best in people.

I, on the other hand, will admit, to be a bit of a cynic.

I personally believe that within every kind, honest and honorable sole, there is a crook scratching, clawing, and punching to get out.

Perhaps my attitude comes from my religious upbringing. Yes there is good in everybody. But there is also temptation all around us. And even good people fall from grace with alarming regularity.

That is why I go to church. I don’t even trust myself!

As some wise guy once said: “the Devil made me do it.”

This brings me to my story about the good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors.

Unfortunately some of these latent crooks decide to get involved in government now and again.

Surprise, surprise!!!

As readers of the Iconoclast are no doubt aware, the Vice Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, one Dr. Brian Bates (AKA Doctor Know-It-All, ©, “Ralphie”) has recently touched a match to a huge firestorm of controversy in Buckingham County involving his attempt to expunge from the face of the earth the Buckingham County School Board.

Unbelievable arrogance…

It went… KA-BOOM!!!... this past week.

I heard the blast all the way to Charlottesville!

Sources close to the situation have indicated that, the Board is feeling the heat and is hoping to send Dr. Bates into a state of permanent “leave of absence” to cool down the situation.

However, there is a new tiny little problem.

And maybe this is good news for Dr. Bates (Doctor Know-It-All ©, “Ralphie”).

It seems that the good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors has a few minor problems of his own.

The details of this new mess, involving the highest political leadership in Buckingham County, have been recently reported in the Daily Progress, in Charlottesville.

According to the article, it seems that the good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors may have “mistakenly” ripped off the timber on about 50 acres of isolated rural land of its valuable timber.

Chambers, and his two sons, have long time been know as being in the logging business in Buckingham County. It is a good and honorable business although it is sometimes known to be on the fringes of what we know to be modern “ethical” business. There is a lot of “off the books” activity.

I mean, you are out in the woods… what the hell… nobody is watching…

Except for this time, Mr. Harry D. Bruns II, of Charlottesville… one of my neighbors… took notice of about 50 acres of timber that came up missing.

Bottom line: the good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors is now facing a $115,280 state fine levied by the Virginia Department of Forestry for certain environmental violations and likely a serious civil law suit.

Reverend / Chairman Chambers asserted: “That’s the first time I got a fine” in 30 years.. He claims that it was all a mistake.

Reverend / Chairman Chambers has also suggested that this is all "politically motivated."

Politically motivated?

O.K... if you believe that, I've got a bridge in Manhattan for sale at an incredible price...

However, Mr. Bruns is not so understanding and seems concerned that his isolated property would have been ripped off with no notice were it not for the fact... that he just happened to catch it.

KA-BOOM, again!

Bruns stated: “He came in the back way through a locked gate on a private road… Selma was untended for a few years and this was very isolate in the back. He didn’t get to where it was visible from the road.”

How in hell do you make a 50 acre mistake?

That is a lot of real estate to just get confused about!!!

As for the official record, forestry officials have confirmed that good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors has had a few problems.

This includes, in recent years, citations for violations of the Virginia Silviculture Water Quality Act in Buckingham, Fluvania, and Nelson county and official records of at least 10 separate timber owners who have special orders or notices of required actions for stream violations on their lands.

That is three counties that he has had problems in just in case you didn't catch it.

This is the Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors.

State forestry officials have indicated that property owners don’t get a lot of help from local Commonwealth’s Attorneys (the prosecutors).

Wonder why that is?

Given the tremendous value of missing timber that is involved across the Commonwealth (timber theft estimated to be worth up to $7 million per year), this appears at first glance to be very strange.

However, Commonweath’s Attorney, E. M. Wright, Jr., from Buckingham County (the prosecutor) seems to put some welcomed light on this issue.

Prosecutor Wright dropped the case against Chambers in January for reasons cited in the linked article.

He explained that stolen timber in Buckingham is fairly rare saying “I doubt if I’ve seen one a year. We have convicted some and sometimes the landowner and the wood cutter would settle.”

O.k… Maybe that sounds plausible...

But, let me speak as a cynic for a minute.

According to sources close to the ground in Buckingham County, Commonwealth’s Attorney E. M. Wright, just coincidentally, happens to also be the Buckingham County Attorney as a second job and... a second pay check.

As Commonwealth’s Attorney he is the prosecutor responsible for pursuing crooks and bad guys. This is a job that the voters gave him. He gets paid for this.

However as Buckingham County Attorney, a different and separate job. He is paid again, and quite handsomely I might add, by the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors to give the Board legal advice on a variety of County government matters.

This second job is a good job. It is also a good pay check… on top of and in addition to the pay check he gets to put bad guys away as Commonwealth's Attorney.

Think about that for a second.

Guess who signs that pay check and who probably has a lot of say about keeping Attorney E. M. Wright on the pay roll? Answer: The good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors.

Is there maybe a conflict of interest?

Do we really think that Commonwealth’s Attorney E. M. Wright has the purity of motivation, free of consideration of that attractive second pay check, to objectively pursue his boss, the good Reverend Joe N. Chambers, Jr., Chairman of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors?

Call me a cynic… but I don’t think so.

I guess this is good news for Vice Chairman Brian Bates. He is not the only one who has problems on the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors.

The schools?

Until they clean up a few more fundamental problems with Buckingham County government, the schools, as critically important as they are, may be the lesser of more serious leadership and ethical problems.

Congratulations Vice Chairman Bates… you are no longer the only one on the spot.

Note: The photograph is of my favorite old time icons of foolishness, my friends Laural and Hardy. This is not to suggest the image of Chairman Chambers and Vice Chairman Bates. We would never want to suggest that the Buckingham Board of Supervisors might be led by fools.

A very scary guy

2006-07-14T18:06:00.000-04:00

Recognize him now?

Jospeh Goebbels the archetype for modern propaganda, misinformation and disinformation.

No, the kindly looking "gentelman" featured in the July 8th, post is not a member of the local Board of Supervisors, in by-gone years.

Correct answer seems to have first been submitted by Jerry Griffin. Bingo! You get a cyber-cigar! Others got it right also.

It is heartening to see that others pay attention to history. We learn important lessons from history especially we learn to recognize danger when it is still in its infancy. By doing so, we can sometimes avoid a lot of misery.

The correct answer to our little quiz is Joseph Goebbels – the late Chief of the Reich Ministry of Information and Propaganda, from 1933 to 1945, for mass murderer Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.

Geobbels was a very clever guy. A very bright guy. Excelling in academics he even held a PhD degree. That is why they called him Doctor Geobbels.

He did indeed pioneer the use of emerging technologies including the cinema, radio and…yes… even initiated in 1935 the very first application in the world of regular television service. With his natural intelligence, good education and appreciation of cutting edge technology, it is little wonder that he rose rapidly to the highest levels of Nazi leadership.

But don't let appearances of education, culture and refinement fool you.

Doctor Geobbels was a mean little man who fancied himself as a "ladies man" to compensate for his deep insecurities.

Goebles was a very scary guy. Very ambitious, passionate for his causes no mater how wrong they may be, ruthless in his dealings with perceived opponents. He had a win at any cost mentality and didn't care who had to pay the ultimate price. A very scary guy.

Remind you of anyone?

Goebbels is often pointed to by modern day political pundits as the archetype of those who would practice the dark sciences of propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation. His name is often invoked as the personification of bad government, running a muck, and deceiving the people into believing myths and lies typically for all sorts of improper motives.

Never could someone like this emerge in a position of power in a democracy… right?

Think again.

Even in America, “the home of the brave and land of the free” we see too often instances where our political leadership runs a muck and falls short of telling the people the truth. A little oversight here, a little cover-up there… it is a very slippery slope leading sometimes to wholesale abuse of political authority.

This can be seen in the highest or lowest political offices in the land… from the White House to the Courthouses.

Why, you might ask, in America, would our democratically elected government or any of its officials, ever want to fool the people?

I am not even going to attempt to answer that question!

Just remember, as American Psychologist Timothy Leary once wisely suggested: “Think for yourself and question authority.”

Don’t let scary people run your government.

Keep informed and question authority.

You will be glad you did.

Buckingham Official Evokes "Nuclear Option", New Southside Blogger Responds...

2006-07-12T10:48:00.000-04:00

Normally Will covers all the "goings on" in Southside, but since I too have some family and friends in rural Southside Virginia I couldn't but help to notice the recent press in regard to an ugly (and very public) "war of words" between the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors and the County's School Board. You might even recall a piece that Will wrote a few months ago about this very issue.

Anyhow, it appears that an all out turf war has developed between the two elected boards. The issue seems to be over new school construction and the general future of the County's school system. Without knowing too much about all of the dynamics of this issue, it is obvious (to me) that the two elected boards have developed divergent opinions on how to address these very issues. Now, I don't live in Buckingham, but from what I can gather no one seems to question the need for upgrades and improvements to existing school facilities in Buckingham. Now it is up to civil debate if these upgrades include rehabing existing facilities, or contructing new facilities. This seems to be a fairly common debate in many communities throughout the Commonwealth...

But instead of acting like responsible and pragmatic elected offcials (I know this might be too high of a standard for some) and trying to work through these differences and find some area of common ground/understanding for the good of all the school children in the County, it appears that a member of Buckingham's Board of Supervisors recently chose to go on the offensive instead. Dr. Brian Bates, wrote a letter to the Farmville Herald (and get this) as a "citizen" and not the Vice-Chair of the County's Board of Supervisors. (Yes, he actually said this in his editorial!)

Well, citizen Bates in his editorial goes on to explain why he thinks the County should now have the Board of Supervisors appoint members to the School Board, as opposed to having them elected by the citizens of the County as they are now. Wow! I'm assuming that Dr. Bates doesn't have a doctorate in public relations, or well, diplomacy! (I do apologize for not linking Dr. Bates' editorial but the Herald DOES NOT archive their stories!)

Localities in Virginia appear to be split between appointing an electing School Board members. I really don't think there is anything wrong with either method. But for the Vice-Chair of the Board of Supervisors to wrtie a letter to the editor - during the middle of a contentious debate between the two boards - as a "citizen" seems nuts to me. Vice-Chariman Bates is either the most shrewd politician in Southside Virginia (think Tom Delay) or the most insane (think Tom Delay again)...I guess we will find out soon enough. I think in poker this is referred to as "going all in"!

Well, anyway a new blogger over in Prospect, Virginia - Ralphie - seems to have some close and personal connections to this issue, and he has an extremely colorful way of describing this situation in Buckingham. Give it a read if you get a chance, let's just say that Ralphie definitely "ain't from around these parts"....If citizen Bates was looking to "stir up a hornets nest" he just might have been successful! I wonder just how many Ralphie types live in Buckingham?

It certainly will be interesting to see how the citizens of Buckingham react to citizen Bates' proposition...stay tuned!

Related Reading:

Buckingham: Keep Electing School Board

Nuclear Option Chosen in War of Words

Town of Appalachia: A new sunrise.

2006-07-10T11:03:00.000-04:00

An Update Report.

Brighter days to come.

The investigation widens.

Lessons for other communities.

Good news folks…

Metaphorically speaking, the good citizens of the little Town of Appalachia are waking up to a new sunrise and breathing in fresher air these days.

This is the result of the airing out of town hall and the removal of corrupt officials and their practices of cronyism and abuses of official offices for retribution, protection and financial gain.

As of this past week, the Appalachia Town Council was once again complete, with a full complement of Council members and… for the first time in a long time… a Mayor who didn’t have billowing clouds of corruption hanging over his head.

Readers of the Iconoclast will remember this most pitiful story that first broke last year.

The story started with reports that voters in this sleepy little Southwest Virginia Town were being bought off during the 2004 town elections with assorted bribes including six packs of beer, marijuana, and… the clincher… pork rinds! See previous posts here.

Initially it was kind of funny… but also so pitiful that a vote can be bought so cheap… A bag of pork rinds… Unbelievable…

But, as we now know, what started off as a bad joke has snowballed into a full blown Federal investigation and eventually a 300 page federal election-fraud indictment against 14 officials including the former Mayor, the former Town Manager, a former councilman, and others.

The trials for these initial indictments are scheduled for this fall.

Stealing votes, stealing elections, putting cronies in useful offices, abusing public offices for fun an profit. It was a slippery slope that took down the top dog politicians in the Town of Applachia.

The 300 page indictment is not the end of it. The investigation continues widen into organized illegal gambling, allegedly sanctioned and protected by town officials!

We can expect more "shoes to drop" in the coming months. Probably more indictments.

This is a sad story about a sorry bunch of politicians who sold out their integrity for money and inflated egos. This story is too often heard these days.

There are lessons that we might learn from the tragic experiences of thelittle Town of Appalachia. These lessons, if learned in time, can save others from suffering the same ignominious grief.

Just last week, the Iconoclast reported on an alarmingly similar case of cronyism and nepotism in Prince Edward County, Virginia.

We should know by now that cronyism and nepotism is a "gateway drug" for harder forms of official abuse of public office.

In the case of Appalachia, it apparently spread to retribution against political enemies and protection of illegal activities for friends. Now it is apparently extending to include large scale illegal gambling.

When politicians start giving out jobs to friends and family, those tainted employees are highly susceptible to other abuses.

Because of their connections, tainted employees serve a different master and may not follow the same rules that others are expected to follow. They know that they have friends in high places to whom they owe favors in return for their jobs and protection. Conditions are right for an escalating pattern of further abuse of public trust. Lots of temptations. A favor here. A favor there. Wheeling and dealing. Pretty soon, the public interest gets compromised and then forgotten and finally sacrificed completely.

The practice also sucks the morale out of honest public employees and sends message that integrity does not matter. Cronyism and nepotism, once it gets a toe hold, tends to spread and protect itself from perceived threats.

It is like a cancer on government. It keeps growing until it is killed or cut out.

But for now, back in the little Town of Appalachia the good town-folk can sleep a little easier knowing that they are back on the road to honest government. They have a ways to go yet and there will be some painful bridges to cross along the way.

But they are on their way to recovery.

And once they complete the process of cutting out the cancer of corrupt government, perhaps together the good citizens of Applachia will conclude that good government is worth jealously fighting for and protecting in the future for the common good of all citizens.

Congratulations citizens of Appalachia.

Can you identify this pioneer in radio, television and mass media?

2006-07-08T10:29:00.000-04:00

Back in March, the Iconoclast introduced a new twist to our format to keep it fun, informative, and educational.

The idea then was to ask our readers to identify an image of an individual who - through their progressive ideals, thoughts, and actions - helped to shape our nation into not only the “home of the brave”, but also the “land of the free”.

The kindly looking gentleman pictured here was indeed a significant pioneer in the application of early radio and television technology and was unquestionably one of history’s most effective practitioners of the art and science of mass media. This man would make today’s master “spin doctors” pale by comparison!

From a purely technical perspective, this man could indeed be considered a progressive thinker… way ahead of his times… He helped shape the course of world events and contributed to the ascendancy of America as the world power we know today in ways he could have never imagined.

But be cautioned… not all progressive thinkers apply their innovations to honorable causes.

This is a trick question.

Who is this man and how did he contribute to make America “…the home of the brave and the land of the free”?

Lunenburg Special Election for Sheriff: Who do you intend to vote for, or who would you vote for (that is if you only lived in the Old Free State!)
	Randall L. Stoots
	Jimmy Moses
	Arthur Townsend
	David Jackson
	The ghost of Barney Fife

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Do you believe Elkton's Town Council recent decision to terminate Angler Development's contract was a good one?
	Yes, in the best interest of the Town its better to pull out of this deal now, rather than later.
	No, a deal is a deal, this will only cause the Town more headaches.
	Neither, can't we all just get along?

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Buckingham Residents: Do you support Supervisor Bates' idea of eliminating the direct election of School Board members ?
	Yes, let the Board of Supervisors appoint School Board members, I can't be bothered.
	No, I like the idea of directly electing the County's School Board members.
	Neither, I only vote for American Idol contestants!

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