Bacon's Rebellion

Author: Dick Hall-Sizemore

  • Cuccinelli Takes a Stand for Prosecutorial Integrity

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore
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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore Ken Cuccinelli, a former Virginia state senator, Attorney General and candidate for governor, has long been the bแป‡te noire of Democrats.ย Nevertheless, he deserves a lot of credit for his recent stand. In a guest essay in yesterdayโ€™s New York Times, he reminds us of a legal concept that is often forgotten. In…

  • Response to Kerry: You Are Wrong

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore This whole story about FEMA being broke and, consequently, not being able to assist Helene victims, is another lie propagated by Trump. First, the Secretary of Homeland Security was referring to the possibility of having enough funding to cover the costs of another major storm this season. Congress just appropriated an additional…

  • More Crime Than They Said

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore It turns out that the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) campus is not as safe as itย  purports to be. Federal law requires institutions of higher education to publish the number of crimes committed on, and adjacent to, campus.ย The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that the university has discovered that it has been significantly…

  • Covering the Flooding

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    Because I slammed the Richmond Times-Dispatch yesterday for its lack of coverage of the flooding in Southwest Virginia, I need to give it credit for today’s front page story, complete with a large photograph, regarding the response and cleanup. One of its best reporters, Dave Ress, describes some of the effects, along with the work…

  • There is News Outside of Richmond

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore
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    This past weekend, the remnants of hurricane Helene caused major flooding and damage in southwest Virginia. Two people died as a result of the storm. But you wouldnโ€™t know this if you just depended on the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Not a word in the digital or print editions, except for a brief mention in the wire…

  • A Rational Medical Care System?

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore
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    I had cataract surgery last month. Of course, that procedure involved administration of some anesthesia. I just got the insurance statement. The total doctor/facility charges listed for the anesthetist was $1,826.40. The Medicare discounts total was $1,711.80, about 94 percent. The total amount the doctors’ group got was $114.60. Can anyone explain to me how…

  • Bacon and the Dragon

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore The Washington Post recently had a story on the original Bacon who led a rebellion in Virginia, and it was not flattering. For a long time, Nathaniel Bacon was depicted in Virginia history books and tradition as a romantic figure who led a rebellion against the unpopular English governor and planted the…

  • The Governor Seizes the Power

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore The Virginia Department of Education (DOE) has issued its โ€œguidanceโ€ on the usage of cell phones in schools. While there are lots of definitions and clarifications, the policy boils down to this: โ€œGuidanceโ€ implies โ€œsuggested, but not mandatory.โ€ย That is not the case here.ย The document concludes with this directive: โ€œSchool divisions are expected…

  • Dismay at Mr. Jefferson’s University

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore The sounds you hear coming from Charlottesville are the sounds of hopes being dashed.ย Critics of the president of the university, Jim Ryan, and what they claim are its bloated DEI bureaucracy, its high tuition, and its โ€œintellectual monocultureโ€ met reality.ย At its just-concluded meeting, โ€œthe Board buttressed the status quo.โ€ Jim Baconโ€™s complaints…

  • The Case Against Assault Rifles

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore Pop quiz.ย Who said the following about assault weapons?ย โ€œThey are military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defenseโ€ฆ[and] which have become primary instruments of mass killing and terrorist attacks in the United States?โ€ OK.ย So, it is a trick question. The correct answer is โ€œnone…

  • Down With the Machines

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore Republicans seem determined to destroy any credibility they may have regarding elections. The chairman of the Hanover County Republican Committee recently presented a resolution to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors that requires counting all ballots in an election by hand rather than through the use of electronic counting machines.ย The resolution also…

  • Keep Your Hands Off My Single Family Zoning

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore The high cost of housing is a frequent topic of discussion in society and on this blog.ย Some observers fault local governments for their restrictive zoning practices that limit density.ย According to this argument, increasing density would help mitigate the increase in housing costs. The argument has merit.ย However, its proponents seem to assume that…

  • Still Clueless

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore In a break from the practices of previous governors, Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed an outsider totally unfamiliar with state government in general and Virginia in particular to be his Secretary of Finance.ย Before his appointment, Steve Cummings had held several high-level positions in investment banking.ย After two and a half years on the job,…

  • Be Careful What You Ask For

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    by Dick Hall-Sizemore Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) is very upset about the plan to locate a Rosieโ€™s Gaming Emporium in Henrico County.ย This is the facility that features โ€œhistorical horse racing,โ€ which many have equated to slot machines. Churchill Downs, the parent company of Rosieโ€™s, plans to open the facility in an existing shopping center, the…

  • By the Way….

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    Dick Hall-Sizemore
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    Those readers in the Bacon’s Rebellion community who view the Washington Post as a mouthpiece for progressives need to read the comments of the paper’s editorial board regarding Kamala Harris’ economic plan. For those who do not subscribe to the Post, here is the summation: “Instead of delivering a substantial plan, she squandered the moment…