A Bit of Advice for the Governor…
By Shaun Kenney | Monday, October 11th, 2010 | PolicyGovernor McDonnell should cringe when ABC privatization efforts start getting compared to the Black Knight of Monty Python fame. When that happens, you know it’s time to try something different.
What is that “different” item?
Here’s a thought: Just privatize the ABC stores. The whole damn thing.
Win, and you reduce the size and scope of government. Lose, and you still stake out a position on side of taxpayers, small businesses, and small government advocates.
This isn’t a battle about “revenue neutral” rates. Let government tell you how they’re going to make ends meet for a change, so you don’t have to hear it from taxpayers all the time.
Just a friendly thought.
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Shaun Kenney is the Chairman of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, former Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia, and an active blogger since 2002. Shaun lives in Thomas Jefferson's backyard with his wife, six children, and a modest attempt at a farm in Kents Store, Virginia.
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14 Responses to "A Bit of Advice for the Governor…"
Well yes, just drop the pretext that quality government services are needed and wanted by taxpayers. Of course for you Shaun, that is simply want, that is, to….”cut the arms and legs off government so it can be drowned in a bathtub.” At least we know where you stand, but that is not how Bob McDonnell ran as a candidate for Governor. To adopt that ideology now would be to break faith with the large numbers of moderates and independents who believed he had the best interests of Virginians in mind, as he promised. To give away the revenue stream provided by the ABC system would be to break faith with those who elected him.
And ignore you fiduciary duty to the taxpayers and give away their asset to the private sector for nothing. Great plan.
Doesn’t seem to bother Shaun. Perhaps he will propose selling the schools, libraries, parks, and recreation centers in his county, or better yet, give them away to his campaign contributors. Sell the county landfill and just tell people to burn their trash on their own property. Better yet, sell Main Street so the buyer can charge a toll and exclude RINOs from using it. Why stop at the ABC system?
Brilliant, Shaun. You could’ve titled this “Listen to Kirwin”
I can understand why the RELIGIOUS right is against privatizing alcohol sales. The state could somewhat control the sale of alcohol. Now, this could be a legitimate discussion where a rational solution could be made.
Now, I am confused with why the liberal left (or anti-big corporate Democrats) is against privatizing alcohol sales. On one hand, it’s to pay for their roads. But on the other hand, it falls into the category of those evil large corporations…like McDonalds and BP. BUT EVEN WORSE. This is the government profiting off the backs of people who are addicted to alcohol, to pay for roads.
For the LIBERAL LEFT to argue that it’s revenue getter then they support offshore oil drilling or other types of revenue generating enterprises. If there’s a discussion about the environment, we can always bring up DUI.
Here’s another question. Why would a women’s advocacy group endorse a man over a woman within 24 hours of him calling her a WHORE? Don’t quite get that one either.
Can some of these moderates explain the logic in compromising with liberals? I’ll read and discuss with an open mind or as open as I can.
Here’s the problem – we need the money for transportation. If we don’t get it, there’s not going to be many other choices left. This was his biggest outside-the-box revenue raiser and if it goes, he’s going to have to make some difficult choices that no one wants to have make.
That’s why it’s critical that the ABC privatization make money.
“Read my lips, no new taxes”…
“You can keep the healthcare you currently have”…
My plan to privatize ABC will “be revenue neutral” and “will solve the transportation problem” and “will bring lower prices to the consumer”…
“I’m from the Government and I am here to help.”
“The check is in the mail”
@Brian, thanks for the response, if your answering my question, but think of the revenue offshore oil would bring. Hell, Alaskans get a refund from big oil for just being a citizen.
Maybe we need to make some tough decisions about our transportation. Light Rail is not a need, it is a want. Even the Virginian Pilot stated that the taxpayer would absorb 80% of the operating costs for light rail which means that it would continue to be a drain on our general fund or transportation budget.
Glad your light rail can be paid for on the lives of people killed by drunk drivers. Just like toys in Happy Meals…sugar and salt in your food, etc.
If my memory serves correctly didnt McDonnell originally propose privatization as a (partial)solution for transportation? Dont remember a populist clamoring for ABC privatization just for the sake of doing it until the last few months.
McDonnell’s campaign needed a transportation funding mechanism (to get back the center right and chamber types) that didnt involve raising taxes (to appeal to his base). In the end it may not have mattered, he would have won anyway due to the anti-obama sentiment.
As far as the oil post-offshore drilling may or may not happen and if it happens how much of that revenue will virginia get? It may work out but it may not.
Shaun. I could not disagree more. I wrote on this topic on Brian’s message, but will repeat the thrust of it here. If your plan is to simply to keep the status quo where every store remains where it is, and no more, then there is no point in selling them. You can read my thoughts on the matter under Brian’s thread.
I agree with this as do Most of us Lowly taxpayers:-)
When we say smaller government did you think somehow we just meant Federal? No..
No new taxes… We do not need big Rail or big green energy.
Yes. we need offshore drilling and yes we can do it. Are we afraid of Obama or the Supreme Court?
Read the Bill of rights the Constitution.. thefederalist papers and Nullification by Thomas Woods.
States, not Supreme Court, must decide law and protect freedom.
America’s founders did not create “one nation” with 13 (now 50) provinces. They created a confederated republic with 13 (now 50) “Free and Independent States.” (Declaration of Independence) This means that even after the US Constitution was ratified in 1787, the states maintained independent, nation-state status. Therefore, each State is duly authorized and charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights and liberties of its citizens.
Conservatives who run to federal court and beg for this treatment are their own worst enemies.
Resist the intimidations and bribes of Washington, D.C. and the UN
Most know that the Federal Government Does not Reign Supreme.
U S Constitution vs U N Treaty
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Everyone — “LISTEN TO KIRWIN.”
LOL
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