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If the tone and tenor of the statewide campaigns underway
already leave you yearning for larger times, you’re
not by yourself. I
have been pulling together from contributors around Virginia the makings of a book of essays and political
commentary that will be published later this year.
The
tentative, working title of this project is “Notes
from the Sausage Factory,” taken from the famous
Otto Von Bismarck quote of a hundred years ago:
“People who love the law or good sausage should
never watch either being made.” I will tell you
more about this book, and perhaps give you glimpses
of it, as publication draws near. Until then, this
reminder of larger times crossed the transom the
other day. It came from former House of Delegates
member Alan Diamonstein who represented
Newport
News
for 33 years, from 1967 to 2000.
“Although members of the General Assembly were identified
as Republicans or Democrats, it was clear to me,
during the first years of my service as a delegate,
that it was far more important to distinguish
yourself as someone who could furiously and
knowledgeably debate issues on the floor and in
committee and still go to dinner with the opposition
that same evening to swap stories about the folks
back home. There was a shared respect and reverence
about the obligation we had to shape the future of
the Commonwealth.
“The governors who occupied the third floor of the
Capitol reflected that largely unspoken commitment
and duty. Whether they were Democrat or Republican,
the leading initiatives of those years almost always
related to improvements and objectives that would
impact our children and grandchildren.
"Establishing the state sales tax to pay for the
community college system; making equal opportunity a
state policy; increasing the income tax to clean up
pollution from primitive sewage systems; raising the
gas tax for an ambitious program for new roads and
bridges – all set in motion the changes for things
that we take for granted today …. and most of
these were initiatives from Republican governors.
“As the years unfolded, and Democratic governors took the
helm, there was a focus on the rights of the
disabled and mentally ill, the funding needed for
our teachers and higher education, international
trade, diversity at the highest levels of state
government and, again, the importance of our
transportation network to our economy and quality of
life.
In addition, an unlikely but determined
coalition was forged at the highest levels to foster
the election of the nation’s first African
American governor.
“This
was a time for landmark legislation with a purpose
for our future. I was fortunate to work with those
who helped me propose and win support for several
bills and budget items that I think might be
included in that list. I dedicated much of my time
to funding improvements for higher education and to
creating housing programs that would meet the needs
of all areas of Virginia.
“And
I can’t forget one of my favorite retrospective
efforts -- introducing bills to admit women to the
University
of
Virginia
(which failed for many years). Although this paled
in comparison to Governor Baliles’ later
initiative to allow women to attend the Virginia
Military Institute, in its time it was quite
controversial.
“Were these ideal times? Of course not. I witnessed
aggressive prejudice against Jewish constituents on
a regular basis. African Americans were often
excluded without a chance to demonstrate their
character or capabilities as individuals. And women
had no place at the official table when some of the
most important decisions were made.
“But progress was made. Today, there is reason to be
concerned about what progress means. Some of the
visions promoted by candidates amount to a kind of
bargain basement mentality - vote for me – I’m
cheaper. People
seem to be willing to vote against their own
long-term interests and values if a candidate is
successful in convincing them they can get more, pay
less, and have their values legislated for them.
“Although we are losing our older leaders, those whose
ingrained sense of community and sacrifice was
shaped by World War II, another generation has begun
the debate of how we use our collective resources to
create the Commonwealth we deserve.
It’s not always a pleasant process, and you
may not want to know all the details. But it is our
history in the making, and it will reflect who we
are to all who come after us.”
-- April 11, 2005
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