Cantor Demands What Cantor Wants - January 2012
"I want what I want, when I want it." This was the quote that Eric Cantor chose to accompany his senior year photo while attending Collegiate High School. Fairly telling, isn't it? As I sit down to write this month's column, House Republicans, led by Mr. Cantor, have rejected a bipartisan vote in the Senate to extend the payroll tax cut— a tax cut which is received by 160 million workers and amounts to $1,000 over the course of the year, or around $40 per paycheck. In the Senate, the vote to extend the tax cut passed overwhelmingly, 89-10, with 39 Republican Senators voting for it, including Mitch McConnell and John McCain. House Republicans are so determined to keep President Obama from moving our economy forward that they are willing to raise taxes on hard working Americans during the holidays rather than extend a popular tax break that has Democratic support.
Despite the best efforts of Mr. Cantor, President Obama has an impressive track record of accomplishments going into 2012: combat troops are now out of Iraq; Osama Bin Laden and other top terrorists have been killed or captured; 32 million more Americans will be able to afford healthcare for the first time and almost 5 million children with pre-existing conditions can now get health insurance; we still have a domestic auto industry; and while improvements must still be made in
our economy, we have avoided another Great Depression and nearly 3 million jobs have been added in the private sector— 21 months in a row where the American economy has seen private sector job creation.
While I am hopeful that the payroll tax cut will be extended, the actions of Mr. Cantor and House Republicans provide a crystal clear glimpse for all Americans into the priorities of the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives. In a rare instance of the 'maverick' returning, Senator McCain admitted as much this week, stating that Congress' failure on this "hurts the Republican Party" and that "this
is really tragic for the American people, and I would say that next November, no incumbent is safe, nor should they be"... certainly something to think about as Mr. Cantor seeks reelection this November.
Clark Mercer,
HDC Vice-Chair for Technology
Editor's note: after this piece was written and at the last minute, the payroll tax cut was extended because of overwhelming pressure from the Obama administration, the American public and even disgruntled Republican Senators who realized that House Republicans were on a Kamikaze mission. |
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The master of classic science fiction, Robert Heinlein, was well known for lacing his novels with zingers and pithy one-liners. As I reflect on the results of the November 8th elections in Hanover, I'm reminded of two of Heinlein's favorites: "TANSTAAFL" (which stands for "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch") and "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."
Thanks to a voting bloc that blindly hates the government without having any grasp of how it actually works, Hanoverians put into Supervisors chairs at least three pro-development drones, Davis, Hazzard and Peterson, with a declared agenda of making life better for those at the profit end of the real-estate development game, and worse for everyone else - including the folks who will buy their houses. They foolishly believe that they can end the proffer system without replacing that revenue and without hurting county services.
But TANSTAAFL *always* applies. Increases in population mean increased load on roads, sewers, water sourcing and purification, fire and police, schools, and the list goes on; take away revenue from one source, and either it must be replaced from elsewhere or those services must suffer. Hanoverians are rightly proud of the high level of services the county provides, and cutting them will create a backlash. In other words, cut anything and the screams will be loud and long – and it's guaranteed that the screamers will include plenty of those who created the mess at the ballot box by voting in these three. So the revenue *will* get replaced eventually... but how?
I lived in California for nearly a decade. For many years now, it's been the case in CA that no new multi-home development, regardless of size or type, can be done without forming a complex Homeowner's Association in accordance with state laws. Why? Because the counties in CA do not have to and will not perform any of the non-emergency services that you and I take for granted here. Want your streets maintained? How about proper drainage? Want street lights? Decent grass in the common areas? Nope, nada, zip. The builder pays to install them at construction time (and of course passes that cost on to the home buyers) and forever after, the HOA must cover all costs of ongoing utilities, upkeep and maintenance. So the homeowners pay ridiculous monthly HOA assessments (usually several hundred dollars) *on top of* their property taxes, to cover those expenses. TANSTAAFL.
The proffer system imposes a reasonable levy on those that will have the financial gain from development – it spreads the load around in a manner that's fair and equitable for all. Take it away, and the money *will* come from somewhere else – property tax increases, "special assessment districts" or similar schemes, or the California plan. Regardless of which means is ultimately used, it means more cost for you and me, just so a few people in the 1% can get even more profits. Is that what you *really* want??
Steve Sneed,
Mechanicsville District Chair |
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Today, as I do every day, I logged onto Facebook. But today, instead of seeing friends sharing funny YouTube videos, wishing each other happy birthday, or complaining about still being at work my "top news" on Facebook was this:
"I'm going to buy Michelle Obama's new book about her White House produce garden because I really want to know how to grow caviar and champagne!"
I'd like to say that I rarely see negative or hateful political comments on Facebook. While social media can bring groups together to organize, to fundraise, and to communicate; the reality is that it also provides an outlet for a minority of people who are simply angry and uninformed.
But this is a much larger conversation than just one about social media. For too long media outlets, like Fox News, have participated in the dissemination of factually incorrect info-tainment. These media outlets normalize a culture of anger and hate. I often see news clips, articles, and, yes, sometimes even Facebook statuses that reflect the language and culture of hate that has persisted and I have to wonder, is this the norm? Does our country really think it is okay for the media to fuel ignorance rather than just reporting the news?
I am grateful at these times to realize that I am wrong. This is a small minority proudly proclaiming their ignorance to all. I watch Rachel Maddow call out Fox News and Operation Rescue for the murder of Dr. Tiller, and I have hope. I see Twitter activists tweeting support in 140 characters or less with the hashtag #ambersarmy, and I have hope.
And sometimes, I talk with my life-long Republican grandmother and find out that she plans to vote for President Obama in 2012, and I have hope.
Jaime Kannan,
HDC Vice-Chair for Fundraising |
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During the sixties, a little girl saw her mother rushing to lock the doors and close the shades. She then began counting her children to make sure no one was left outside. It was the day everyone had been talking about. The day a group of people would march and hold a rally at the local fire department. She remembers peeping through the curtains to see these funny looking people walking down the road with cone shaped hats and white sheets. She remembers thinking: "What did this mean and who were they?" The only answer she received was: "just hush child and know they don't like us".
She has many memories of separation, division, hatred, unfair treatment, and differences in opinions that have shaped her perceptions, beliefs, and understanding of people.
Today she is much older and in a position to share her experiences with the younger generation (students). To them, the thought of treating someone differently because of their skin is "crazy and doesn't make any sense". Well, the question is, "If it doesn't make sense, then why does it, (racism), still exist"? A person of color, who is highly qualified, gets overlooked for a position. A hate crime occurs in a local school/university. The President of the United States gets yelled at and called names during a Congressional meeting.
Do we allow it or are we not giving voice to the right audience who can help to make a difference? We are not there yet. We need people in positions that will stand firm in the face of adversity.
Martha King-Anderson,
HDC Vice-Chair for African American Outreach |
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