Monday, November 19, 2007

Election Roundup-The Thanksgiving Turkey

So the elections are over and what has been gained? Is Danville any better off then it was a few weeks ago? Did Pittsylvania County suddenly come kicking and screaming into the 21st century? Only time will tell.

In fact nothing has really changed. Though I usually disagree with the Register/Bee they hit the nail on the head with the editorial about some of the county supervisors. The egos of some of the member could fill the Goodyear blimp. The incumbents have nothing to be proud of at all. The county has for years steered rudderless through the sea of politics and has accomplished exactly nothing. If a business was run like Pittsylvania County it would be bankrupt. No plan for the future, no financial management, and no idea of where to go now. The new members are outnumbered by the old cronies and will spin their wheels in frustration for years. You see, the county has no plan. None. Zip. Nada. The supervisors idea of long term planning is deciding the dumpsters will be green.

The county supervisors need to realize that the largest county in Virginia has no plan for growth, no way of balancing the budget, and no clue as to how to prepare for the future. They shell out money for an industrial park in Gretna that has no water, sewer, or road access. What would stockholders in a large corporation think if a board of directors made such an asinine decision? There would be an uprising. It’s a shame Pittsylvania voters can’t act like stockholders.

Yes taxes are low. And what do you get for the taxes? Nothing. The supervisors fund the schools at the bare minimum. They wouldn’t even do that if they were not forced to by the state. And yet the schools perform well. Perhaps they should do worse so they can get some more money! The supervisors give lip service to the bond referendum which the voters surprisingly voted for overwhelmingly. Lets see how long it takes them to act on it……

The state representation is no better. After a mud slinging campaign and an obscene amount of money spent what does Danville have? A delegate who was listed as one of the most ineffective representatives during the last term in Richmond. Add to that a new state senator who will be so low on the totem pole that southside Virginia will be a forgotten area when the feast in Richmond takes place. This is what the voters in Danville wanted?
As this Thanksgiving begins it will be hard for this area to look around and give thanks for much. The inmates have taken over the asylum.