Virginia is for Tyrants

From Merriam Webster - Definition of tyranny

1: oppressive power 

every form of tyranny over the mind of man

— Thomas Jefferson

especially : oppressive power exerted by government

the tyranny of a police state

Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.  - Thomas Jefferson

When I woke up this morning and found articles all over Facebook regarding Virginia Delegate Chris Hurst's recent driving while impaired episode, which took over three days to actually get to the "news," and his subsequent slap on the back (not even hand!) release with not so much as a ticket, along with the non-apologetic, cavalier attitude, "it is what it is," it really irked me. Mr Hurst, for those that don't know, was an on air anchor at the same station as his girlfriend, Allison Parker who was shot and murdered along with her cameraman Adam Ward in 2015 while covering a story. The killer was a psychotic former co-worker.  After Hurst left the station, he pretty much ran on gun issues platform citing Allison's death as the reason for his run for office.

FYI...In 2017, 1,014 died from gun violence in Virginia. Out of that 65% were suicides. I do hope Hurst  is exploring mental health issues besides restricting gun rights. According to Virginia Traffic Crash Facts published by the VA DMV, in 2017 almost 250 people were killed in Virginia due to the actions of drunk drivers. 7,285 crashes were caused by drunk drivers. These crashes led to 4,430 injuries.

So, Virginia Delegate Christ Hurst who's concerned about "the safety of Virginians" blows over the alcohol limit and gets released with a warning. By the way, for the rest of us, drunk driving laws make it illegal nationwide to drive with a BAC at or above 0.08%. But the same laws apparently do not apply to Virginia representatives because get this: Article IV of the constitution says that during a session, legislators may not be arrested for anything short of “treason, felony, or breach of peace.” Click here to read the article.

You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbor. - Walter Bagehot

And now with SB240, aka Red Flag Law, beware the tyrannical neighbor even more so. Despite heavy opposition, it's going to go through. Have a beef with a neighbor? Have a beef with an ex? Have a beef with a cop? Have a beef with anyone who doesn't like you? You can now be red-flagged.  Read the full summary at the end of this article. 

Don't get me wrong, some of the law makes sense, but it needs tweaking for sure to protect innocent people. As a recipient of some piece of shit making a false charge against me, warranting an after-midnight bang on the door from a couple of cops, I can attest to the danger of this law. I wasn't able to pursue charges that time because the officer was astute enough to not file any report, and I was naive enough to think it would be impossible for a cop to act on something so absurd it defied logic, but now I'm wiser. I realize I will always be an "Eye-talian hot-head" (his words) Yankee no matter how many decades I live in Virginia, and the police are not always my friends. By the way, this was before the time the same cops came to my house in a no-knock raid and held guns to mine and my husband's heads after going to the wrong address! Now I have cameras everywhere and will prosecute to the fullest extent, and the sue the shit out of anyone that files a false claim against me.

Tyranny cannot defeat the power of ideas. - Helen Keller

I have to wrap up this post quick before HB1627, an attack on the First Amendment, becomes law. According to the legislation, it bars anyone from insulting “the Governor, Governor-elect, Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant Governor-elect, Attorney General, or Attorney General-elect, a member or employee of the General Assembly, a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, or a judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia.” So I best not say Governor Blackface, or Coonman (even though that was his nickname in college) under the penalty of crime. You can still read about the governor's blackface forays here in an article from the NY Times and see all the folks who called for his resignation before he sold his soul out.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. - Edmund Burke 

Riddle me this Virginians...How in the world did Joe Morrissey, who had sex with a minor, was arrested five times, disbarred, indicted on federal charges of possession and distribution of childhood porn not only get elected as a Virginia senator, but become the "biggest player in Richmond?"

You know why? Because the Republican party of Virginia did not run anyone against him. In fact the Republican party of Virginia did not put up a candidate in 29 districts! And word is there were lousy candidates in many of the districts they did have someone running. People say elections have consequences and it's true, you have to get out and vote. But, how can you vote against someone if there's no one running against them?! Time for fresh ideas, fresh faces, fresh candidates to step up to the plate. The swamp needs to be drained at all levels. May be long overdue to retire the two party system.

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem to lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. - Thomas Paine

Right now Virginia is under the total control of the Democrats, and frankly, it's like they're mad with power. Actually, even some of the bills put forth by Republicans are making me scratch my head. Every day is a new "adventure." It was getting to the point that I thought you know what, maybe it's time to get the heck out of Virginia. We had a good run. My kids are older now. I'm about ready to retire. Why do I need to deal with this insanity? The people were never really that friendly with me, and southern hospitality is a myth. But then I think, maybe more than I'd like are unfriendly and not accepting of this damn Yankee, but not all are like that. I look around at the beautiful vistas, my mountains, streams, rivers, valleys, wildlife, fresh air, no rush hour traffic, no subways, no alternate side of the street parking hell, all around a just easier lifestyle, and I say, heck no! I'm not leaving. I'm a fighter. I will stick it out. This too shall pass. Maybe I need to start writing again to "let it all out" and hope they won't come for me. There's plenty of people fighting for the 2nd amendment...we need people to fight for the 1st too.