Why is the motto Thus always to tryants important to Virginia?

Answer 1

Virginia at last is considering asserting her rights under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution. HR61 was introduced 2/26/09, by Peace, Fralin, Byron, Cline, Cole, Gilbert, Landes, Lingamfelter, Marshall, R.G., Morgan, Ware, R.L. and Wright. Text of the bill: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HR61.

In doing so, we join the majority of states that has felt it necessary to take back the powers currently being usurped by the federal government. The government's favorite tactic of expanding power by creating constituencies dependent on federal largess is evident on every slimy page of the stimulus bill. The ultimate goal is behavior control, where the feds impose California values on God-fearing Virginians.

The bill is an example of the concept of “stimulus control.” A subject can be forced to react a certain way, given the proper pleasant, or very unpleasant, behavior reinforcement. The stimulus bill is thus aptly named. They dangle money in front of cash-starved states, forcing them to accept provisions that clash with state law. Want road money? You have to use union labor, even in a right-to-work state. Want unemployment help? You can’t force people ever to go back to work. School renovation funding? Make sure the schools are never used by those horrible religious groups, which I assume includes Girl Scouts. States are forced to support propositions and philosophies their voters have rejected.

Chronic dependence wreaks psychological devastation, and is anathema to the pursuit of happiness. The stimulus includes $250 billion in expanded welfare payments, virtually assuring that yet another generation will be lost to the seductive support of the welfare state. We turned our backs on this as a nation in 1996, with the GOP congress’ welfare reform. Virginians benefitted. Most families, 85%, stayed off welfare and reduced their need for food stamps and other assistance. Most, 83%, had health coverage for their children within 18 months of leaving welfare. Their incomes rose steadily, our economy benefitted, and those forced off handouts benefitted. More families stayed together, single mothers put off having children. Removing welfare-to-work is the ticket to impoverishing Virginia by increasing our dependent class, luring them to the dole with Medicaid, free lunches, food stamps, and free government cheese. No, really; there is $50 million for surplus cheese in the stimulus.

It doesn’t begin or end with the stimulus. The Freedom of Choice Act, FOCA, will rip out all state-decided restrictions on abortion. How dare they. There is nothing more tyrannical than the government confiscating taxes under threat of imprisonment, only to use the money for morally reprehensible purposes in opposition to the voters’ wishes. HR45, Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, will make gun ownership so burdensome as to be a de facto ban. Virginia hunts, and Virginia will defend herself.

What right do Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have to ax Virginia’s successes in fighting poverty, in refusing unions, in supporting religious groups’ good works? To force us to support what we have rejected in the polling booth?

Virginia’s motto is “Thus always to tyrants.” It should be the title of this bill.