Our Economic success is dependent on continued wars

Yesterday James Koch, economist and former ODU president, painted a grim outlook in ODU’s annual state of the region report. Anticipated cuts in defense, a continued slow recovery, transportation issues, and even a rising sea level all contributed to his dreary forecast. This report should not have come as a shock to anyone as the writing has been all over the walls for some time now. We have been insulated from a lot of the mayhem in economies around the country mostly because of the defense industry. This is really just the bureaucracy catching up with the markets.

However, the second part of the article was titled, “End of War will Hurt the Region,” and that is something this region really ought to take to heart. That is about the most honest summation of the Hampton Roads economy one could offer. We are a region tied inextricably to war and its supporting industries. Koch’s projections now have defense making up over 45% of our economy, which is up from 28% two decades ago. So vital is conflict to our economy that he felt it necessary to mention that the possible continuation of the war in Afghanistan is not, “a viable political platform in the next election” for President.  One can hope he was joking, but the Pilot did not seem to think so. Joke or no joke, this is how many people view America’s wars.

We are in a regional moral pickle folks. American troops abroad are good for us economically but often times bad for our souls.

Let’s prove Koch and our history wrong. Let’s build an economy that does not have to pray for war and lament peace. Nothing would make me happier than if ten years from now Koch stood up and said that 50% of our industries were a benefit to mankind. Imagine that with me. No gray areas, no lives being leveraged against our economic security, just production that the whole world can appreciate. Now, many may say that sounds like a crazy acid-saturated hippie dream but….

Wind Power is coming to Hampton Roads!

The easiest way to tell if something is really going to happen is not to listen to your local government or some activist, but to wait for a major corporate announcement. Well citizens, that day has finally arrived! Gamesa and Northrop-Grumman have announced a partnership that will drop a team of 40 engineers in Hampton Roads for the purpose of, “site selection, permitting, final construction and installation of the prototype and testing.”

Summation: We are getting wind turbines!

This could be the first step towards bringing jobs to Hampton Roads that continue our tradition of service to the world without the moral ambiguity that comes with unpopular wars. I hope that our leaders take this and run with it.

New Slogan – “Hampton Roads: The Green Energy Leader of the World!” Ok, that might be too much too fast, but a boy can dream.

I also want to mention that this came to my attention because of an Altdaily reader. In my mind that is what this model of media is all about, folks. Community guided news. News that is truly democratic in nature and responsive to its readership. Thank you very much, Alex Erving!

Congressmen Glenn Nye has two days of bad press

The latest poll in the 2^nd district congressional race has Scott Rigell ahead by 6 points and Republican enthusiasm running high. Nye argues that the polls do not reflect recent campaign developments like his endorsement from the NRA, and the US Chamber of Commerce. Both of these organizations normally back Republican candidates and so his thinking is that he can erode the conservative credentials of Scott Rigell with these announcements. What these endorsements actually show is that the voters of the second district have two very similar candidates, a conservative democrat and a conservative republican. One thing is for sure, voters of the second district would be forgiven for thinking they don’t have too much of a choice come Election Day.

This Wavy article is not really relevant to the campaign, but it does make the Nye camp look a bit immature. This is the reality of American politics though. Some time ago some strategist thought it would be a good idea to film everything the other guy did and the rest was history. Campaigns regularly hire people to follow their opponent with a camera until you break them or catch them at a bad moment that can derail their career.  Why would they stop? Democrats in Virginia have a proven record of success. (Read: former Senator George Allen.)

Its ugly but both sides assume the other would or is doing the same and so the practice continues. Damn prisoner dilemmas.

*** On a personal aside, I met the videographer covered in the article the night before this piece ran and he happens to be a very nice young man.

Here is another Virginia Democratic Congressional Candidate getting bad press

Dems can’t catch a break this year it seems. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with her pictures in the slightest. I just don’t want to believe in a world where you can’t go to a Christmas party with people wearing penises on their foreheads.

Krystal Ball also has a point about the whole Scott Brown posing nude and this is a double standard thing.

Charlie the Smoking Chimp far outlives the average Chimp life expectancy

Someone somewhere is using this to justify lighting up their next smoke.

Koch really is a killjoy

As if telling us look forward to a decade of dismal economics was not enough, for an encore he decided to take a crack at Norfolk’s new light rail system. Koch said that the light rail costs are not “justifiable,” citing the fact that the bulk of the operating costs would have to be subsidized by the government.

Public transportation is always subsidized, but that should not be confused with loss or wastefulness. Costs are kept low for the consumer in order to encourage use, because only through citizens riding light rail will the corollary benefits, which outweigh the subsides, become evident. Traffic alleviation, road maintenance savings, and environmental factors like air and water quality are all huge boons to the local region that are difficult to attach economic numbers to. If you want light rail to succeed get on the train.

Virginia Tea Party Convention in Richmond this Weekend

I will be in attendance, as will our editor, Jesse Scaccia. Please let us know what you would like to hear about. There is an impressive list of speakers who hold considerable sway in this grassroots movement. Post questions you would like asked below.

Turns out that Lou Dobbs is not just a bad person, he is also a hypocrite

Lou Dobbs makes the big bucks by trashing a class of people who have not the voice or resources to defend themselves, which makes him a terrible person. Lou Dobbs also employs these same people whose very existence he loathes… that makes him a hypocrite. Louie has undocumented workers help maintain his daughter’s horse, named “Jumper.”

Lou is scheduled to speak this weekend at the Virginia Tea Party Convention. Rest assured I plan to ask about Jumper.

Come to Bardo tonight

Tonight is the rescheduled Norfology event to be held at Bardo. Please, please, please come on out and meet other wonderful people from the area. There is so much going on in the community around us that needs your voice, needs your energy. I have crazy ideas that need to be shot down. Come out and share a drink with people who care about Norfolk, about this region, and about making positive changes in the world we share. If none of that is appealing to you there will be free food. Hope to see you there!