Comments on: Stop building Blacksburg High

By: Love It Here

Love It Here — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:49:17 +0000

So absolutely bizarre that a community in a region in which education is the economy
and the advantage in job growth that there is such opposition to a school! In a city of 44,000+
residents that is growing strongly you would accuse people of something as ‘selfish’ as wanting
a safe, quality school for their children to attend. Educating our youth is one of the most sound
assurances we have to benefit everyone in our county. Growing our local industry and business
sectors in a manner that arm our children to compete in the world is imperative — one of Montco’s
greatest weaknesses in attracting competitive business (and FYI – we are doing a great job already
at doing so) has been that for a few companies there are not enough ‘skilled and qualified’ workers
living here to fill potential jobs!!! That should alarm everyone from the local mechanic, to the MBA
and everyone in between. The smarter and more educated and skilled our citizens are the more we
will continue to grow and prosper. Please – let’s drop the ‘provincialism’ and narrow thinking. If you
fail to see the value of education and the facilities required to do so – then you fail to see the future.

By: StanZ1987

StanZ1987 — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:33:41 +0000

Sorry MH, I was just commenting on the ‘keep it local’ statement. In a previous blog thread, I did provide a good alternative for raising funds which was raise the gasoline tax. It hasn’t been raised in 20+ years and it would capture money from citizens and non-citizens. That money would be earmarked specifically for transportation projects thereby allowing more general fund money to be used for schools instead of roads. What’s great is it’s a USER fee in a sense, which appeals to you from your earlier statements.
I mean I know, raising the gasoline tax is still RAISING a tax but there are more roads, maintenance costs are higher, and higher efficiency automobiles have reduced the number of gallons purchased thereby reducing the income stream but logically it makes sense.
But, I guess my statement about going local kinda gets back to the original discussion about that Declaration of Independence imagined, Constitutionally protected right to a super value meal (which you state is not your preference, and yet, you posted a comment online, last fall, about the C’burg Triathlon interfering with your ability to get to McDonalds).

By: Matt Herring

Matt Herring — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:35:59 +0000

Another good idea StanZ

By: E William

E William — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:00:04 +0000

and to continue in that line, Dwayne, speaking of contracts, to all those who advocate stopping construction by denying the tax increase: what do you think will happen when Montgomery County defaults on its contracts to the contractors? They will sue, and win. So, you advocate wasting the $1 million+ already spent on construction AND opening the county to massive damages. Then, of course, the EPA will slap us with massive fines for leaving the raw dirt standing, which will run off into a protected stream…or should we spend even more money on seeding and laying straw over the many acres?

The whining about the tax is pathetic. Invest the future of our children and our county. Get over it…or move to a county with lower taxes. Oh, wait, we already have one of the lowest rates in VA! Nevermind.

By: StanZ1987

StanZ1987 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:30:45 +0000

And to carry Dwayne W’s comment to the logical conclusion; start buying your food at farmer’s markets, eat only at locally owned “Mom and Pop” restaurants and start buying everything you can from anyone and everyone besides corporate food chains and big boxes. That’s REALLY putting your money where your mouth is if LOCAL is what you’re after…

By: Matt Herring

Matt Herring — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:29:34 +0000

Good point Dwayne!

By: Dwayne W

Dwayne W — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:59:15 +0000

on that note Hoki07, why couldn’t the contracts be offered to local trades? At least this way the money stays within the community. Instead, some company out of state will come in and build and thus none of the tax money, err our kids’ tax money will stay in the area.

By: Hoki 07

Hoki 07 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:41:22 +0000

Everyone donate your trade to build, Viola! NO INCREASE IN TAXES!

By: E William

E William — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:40:18 +0000

@Surin,

ok, wait just one minute. You label the Hoover Institution as being “neoliberal” yet you state Don Rumsfeld is a current fellow. Can you not see the disconnect in that? Rumsfeld is the quintessential anti-liberal, as was Hoover. Further, your lack of historical knowledge is startling; Hoover did not “cause The Great Depression.”

Think before you write, sir.

By: Kenneth Surin

Kenneth Surin — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:16:37 +0000

@ Barbara S:

The Hoover Institution, though based at Stanford, is nothing but a neoliberal propaganda mill, named after the president whose policies caused the Great Depression, and which also has Donald Rumsfeld, who bears heavy responsibility for the fiasco in Iraq, as one of its current fellows. Enough said. Heaven help us if us people from Montgomery County get their bullet points from the Hoover Institution.