Uneasy is the Iron Throne occupied by King Joffrey...on his elbow scheming advisers vie for power.-- Publicity Photo courtesy of HBO, "Game of Thrones."
Hey, it’s Terrific Tuesday again! How’s everything in your neck of the woods? Who besides me is tired of gray skies and rain accompanied by the weird sound of the 17 year cicada? I think I am in the twilight zone.
Off I go to spin a yarn for this bleak day.
I have been watching Game of Thrones again on HBO this season. HBO is my sinful extra cost. While I buy meat and food with pink stickers, I use the savings to afford HBO so I can watch Game of Thrones until Nucky Thompson and Boardwalk Empire return.
I absolutely love Game of Thrones. The rebirth of Dragons has driven me wild with visions of my childhood when I wanted so to find a dragon skeleton or even a single dragon tooth or scale. The scheming and politics in such an ancient place– well they remind me of something…Hmmm….
I have noticed a great parallel in Game of Thrones to local, state and national politics. Who has the King’s elbow and whispers sweet nothings into his ear, is likely to be the one who is influencing policy. Look at the whole sordid John Edwards affair. Certainly those who whispered in his ear influenced him to his demise and of course in his own stupid quest for love in all the wrong places. But, they received a lot out of doing it allegedly in dollar terms.
Here, the King has changed in some respects, to a Queen. Who at her elbow whispers in her ear? She ought to get out more and discover the truths of Botetourt County on her own. More than one is concerned she isn’t getting a true picture. You see, I hear the whispers of others elsewhere throughout the county–I drive around here about 500 miles per month. Maybe some people who desire the spot at the elbow, but certainly voices that need to be heard so she can form her own viewpoint.
I Googled “Lewis and Clark” (as in proposed Legacy Trail) 46,900, 000 in .22 seconds and then Googled “Greenfield” 8,930,000 .53 seconds. Which could matter most? In tourism dollars and the L&CLT, it could be built upon a love story. “William Clark visits Julia Hancock before Thomas Jefferson! News at 6.” Good copy, baby! Not to mention historical context, which made me laugh when the two were compared. Greenfield could be part of the L&CLT because they were contemporaries, but it will never have anything more than local historical context on its own. Lewis and Clark helped build a nation with a gritty and determined exploration. It has huge significance in a country beleaguered– could it become a rallying point– who knows?
On the other hill, I am all for the Sports Complex– its time will continue to build. Diversity will help America expand in the future economy, I feel. This country loves sports and being entertained. The lack of the new business end worries me after all of those budget meetings this year. Many whisper to me that to add more smaller businesses at Greenfield would make sense. 40 or less employee companies.
But do the folk whispering at the elbow think so? Who is leading the charge to attract business here? That could be where all the difference is made. We have “Winter is Coming” (lack of revenue) and what have we done to prepare besides raise some taxes ? Have we sent the Knight’s Watch beyond the Wall while we fight amongst ourselves like they do in The Game of Thrones? Where will the alliances be made? Ahhh….
And the final part of this yarn. There are those fallen from grace that many, not as attuned to Botetourt County, do not know are no longer in power here (and from where I sit, I am not sure some of those fallen good old boys have figured that out yet, neither). For example, two Republican chairs from a different viewpoint have now been elected in the party in so many years plus. For the folks who play in Richmond and Washington– that would be a good fact to keep in mind. The King has changed and you can bet there is someone looking for his elbow.
See you next week!
RSS feed 
