Bacon's Rebellion

  • Erica Ausch: The Last Holocaust Survivor in Hampton Roads?

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    Erica Ausch flanked by daughter Jodie Woodward and granddaughter Liza Woodward

    by Kerry Dougherty

    More than 80 years ago the Nazis began โ€œcleansingโ€ Europe of Jews. The reign of terror began with hate and harassment. It moved on to expulsion and finally to the death camps. Initially the rest of the world didnโ€™t know what was happening.

    By the time they noticed, six million Jews were dead.

    Maybe, if the world had seen what happened to the Reisner family in an idyllic Austrian town at the start of the Holocaust, many lives could have been spared.

    The horror of what happened two weeks ago in Israel is a raw reminder that there are those in the world who still want to eradicate Jews.

    As a result, 89-year-old Erica Reisner Ausch is worried.

    This cheerful and energetic Virginia Beach resident, who teaches water aerobics in the summer and plays Mahjong with her friends all year long, has spent the last two weeks fretting about what the deadly attacks on innocent Israelis means for the future.

    Erica Ausch was a married woman with children before she learned the truth about her family: They were not refugees from Austria as sheโ€™d been told by her parents who wanted to protect her from the truth, but Holocaust survivors. She was two years old when Germany annexed Austria and when the Nazis stormed her little town of Kittsee. (more…)

  • The Impact of Virginia’s Certificate of Public Need Laws on Nursing Home and Home Health Care Availability and Expenditures

    Posted on

    by

    sherlockj

    by James C. Sherlock

    I have come across a major study in the National Institute of Healthโ€™s National Library of Medicine that made a point that I have not explored sufficiently to this point.

    It discusses the intersection of nursing homes, home health care, CON laws like Virginiaโ€™s Certificate of Public Need (COPN) law, and Medicaid expenditures.

    I have shown over time in a series of columns how bad many of Virginiaโ€™s nursing homes are.

    Antitrust authorities at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have long taken the position that CON laws are anticompetitive.

    This study, conducted prior to COVID, indicates that COPN administration will ensure that nursing facilities not only have little competition from other facilities, which it was designed to do, but also will limit home health care expansion, which the COPN law does not mention.

    That is very good for the Virginia nursing home industry.

    It is bad for every other Virginian, every one of whom may need at least post-operative recovery and rehabilitation if not long term care.

    Some will need it in a dedicated facility, others can be better served at home.

    The study indicated that COPN will tend to make home health care less available and potentially raise total Medicaid spending. It also showed that market forces unconstrained by CON laws like COPN will tend to reverse those trends.

    So this article is dedicated to our politicians and their constituents.

    You. (more…)

  • What the Heck Does “a Historical Connection to Slavery” Mean?

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    by James A. Bacon

    Project Gabriel, an initiative of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, discussed ideas this summer on how to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling restricting the role of race in college admissions, Do No Harm has found through a public records request.

    โ€œVCU and other medical schools are trying their utmost to circumvent the Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action,โ€ Do No Harm Chairman Stanley Goldfarb toldย The College Fix. Do No Harm, a national organization headquartered in Henrico County, combats identity politics in medicine.

    Project Gabriel scholarships, writes the College Fix, “would be available for ‘those with a historic connection to slavery.’ A list of challenges included questions such as ‘How do you determine someoneโ€™s historic connection to slavery?’ and ‘Restriction of affirmative action in college admission โ€“ how does this affect race-based scholarships?’”

    โ€œWork around the ruling on affirmative action and find ways we can still help give scholarships to those students in need,โ€ say Project Gabriel notes. (more…)

  • Jeanine’s Memes

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    From the Bull Elephant

     

  • The High Stakes in Virginia’s Very Close Nov. 7 Election

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    from Liberty Unyielding

    Virginia is holding a very close election. The last day to vote is on Tuesday, November 7. If you live in Virginia, you can also vote early, at specified locations, on Monday through Friday, from September 22 to November 3, or on Saturday, October 28 or November 4.

    Voters are almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. A recent Washington Post poll shows that 47% of likely voters prefer the Democrats, while 45% of likely voters prefer the Republicans.

    Republicans and Democrats are tied on the generic ballot, according to recent polls for Cygnal and Yahoo News.

    A Founder’s Insight poll shows 45% of Virginia voters plan to vote for the Democrats, and 44% plan to vote for Republicans. A poll by Coefficient shows 41% Virginians plan to vote for the Democrats, while 40% plan to vote for the Republicans.

    Control of Virginia’s legislature could be decided by a single vote, like yours if you live in Virginia. In 2017, the pivotal legislative race in Virginia was decided by a coin toss to break a tie, after two candidates got the same number of votes in Virginia’s 94th district. The Republican candidate won that coin toss. His win in that race gave Republicans control of the House of Delegates by a narrow 51-to-49 margin.

    The election results may determine whether Virginia cuts taxes or instead raises government spending at a rapid clip. Virginia has a Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, but the legislature is split between a Democratic-controlled state Senate and a Republican-controlled House of Delegates. The Democratic-controlled Senate has blocked most of the governor’s proposed tax cuts, but it did grudgingly agree to repeal most of the state sales tax on groceries, reducing it from 2.5% to 1%.ย  Governor Youngkin and Republicans would like to fully eliminatethe grocery tax, while Democrats want to keep the tax so they can spend more taxpayer money. (more…)

  • Anti-Jewish Extremism at UVa — Next Steps

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    by

    sherlockj

    Courtesy of SJP at UVa https://www.instagram.com/sjpuva/

    by James C. Sherlock

    The University of Virginia has made quite a national name for itself over the responses of its campus anti-Jewish extremists to the slaughter of babies in Israel.

    It is not a reputation it wants.

    On October 8th, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UVa, an organization officially recognized by the Student Council and eligible for funding by the student activities fee, issued a statement โ€œunequivocally support(ing) Palestinian liberation โ€œby any means necessary.โ€

    โ€œAny means necessary.โ€

    It was cosigned by:

    1. Afghan Student Association
    2. Arab Student Organization
    3. Asian Pacific American Leadership Training Institute (APALTI)
    4. Asians Revolutionizing Together at UVA
    5. Asian Student Union
    6. Bengali Student Association
    7. Black Student Alliance
    8. Black Muslims at UVA
    9. Central Americans For Empowerment (CAFร‰)
    10. Environmental Justice Collective at UVA
    11. Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association
    12. FeelGood at UVA
    13. Hindu Student Council
    14. Indian Student Association
    15. La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc.
    16. Lebanese Club
    17. Minority Rights Coalition
    18. Muslim Institute for Leadership and Empowerment (MILE)
    19. Muslim Student Association
    20. Muslims United
    21. National Pan-Hellenic Council
    22. National Society of Black Engineers
    23. Nepali Student Association
    24. Organization of African Students
    25. Pakistani Student Association
    26. Persian Cultural Society (PCS)
    27. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
    28. Political Latinxs United for Movement & Action in Society (PLUMAS)
    29. Sheโ€™s the First at UVA
    30. Sigma Omicron Rho (ฮฃOP)
    31. Sikh Students Association
    32. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
    33. The 13 Society
    34. Turkish Student Organization
    35. undocUVA
    36. UVA Beyond Policing
    37. UVA Survivors
    38. Young Democratic Socialists of America

    (more…)

  • The Incomplete Case for Higher Tuition at UVa

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    by

    James A. Bacon

    by James A. Bacon

    As the Board of Visitors ponders how much to raise tuition & fees in the next two academic years, the University of Virginia is grappling with strong inflationary pressures and a long-term shortfall in state aid, senior university administrators said Wednesday.

    Even so, administrators told the Board’s Finance Committee, UVa offers a great “value proposition” compared to other Top 50 universities. Its in-state tuition is lower than that of top private universities, and its four-year graduation rate is the highest of any public university in the country.

    The Finance Committee meeting yesterday marked the beginning of a two-month decision-making process. The purpose of the initial meeting, said Committee Chair Robert M. Blue, was to provide “context” for the discussion. A November hearingย will allow students and others to express their views about college costs. The Board is scheduled to adopt a new tuition structure in December.ย 

    Although university officials did not say explicitly that a tuition increase is justified, the “context” presented was geared to supporting such a conclusion. Board members offered no pushback during the one-and-a-half-hour session, asking only a few questions for purposes of clarification. They did not drill into the data proffered by administrators, nor, despite assurances that UVa was working assiduously to achieve efficiencies and reduce redundancies, did they ask for specifics. No one addressed faculty productivity, administrative overhead, or other drivers of university costs. (more…)

  • Bacon Meme of the Week

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

  • Loudoun Dems Reject Former House Speakerโ€™s Donation

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    Eileen Filler-Corn

    from The Republican Standardย 

    Democrats in Loudoun have rejected the donation of one of their declared 2024 Congressional candidates.

    In a move that raised eyebrows, the Loudoun County Democratic Committee (LCDC) Officers hastily decided to donate $1,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their Israel/Gaza Relief Fund, following the receipt of a $1,000 contribution from Eileen Filler-Cornโ€™s PAC, โ€œEnergize For Change,โ€ just last week. (more…)

  • Whatโ€™s Going On with Rep. Kiggans?

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    by Kerry Dougherty

    Itโ€™s a good, old-fashioned clusterfart in our paralyzed House of Representatives as Republicans fruitlessly bicker over a replacement for Speaker Kevin McCarthy who was deposed recently by eight GOP agents of chaos without a plan for what comes next.

    Early on, it appeared that Louisianaโ€™s Steve Scalise would be the consensus candidate to replace McCarthy, but when his bid failed on a floor vote, it was the more conservative Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan who got the nod.

    Yet Jordan failed to reach the magic 217 needed to lead House Republicans. When a second vote was called he lost again.

    Many in Virginiaโ€™s 2nd District were shocked to see Rep. Jen Kiggans, who flipped the district from blue to red in 2022, among the โ€œnoโ€ votes.

    The backlash was swift and nasty. My emails and Twitter feed were full of livid Republicans saying they were โ€œdoneโ€ with Kiggans.

    โ€œWhatโ€™s the difference between Kiggans and Elaine Luria?โ€ one wanted to know.

    For one, Kiggans doesnโ€™t vote in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi, I replied.

    โ€œSheโ€™s another Lynn Cheney,โ€ Tweeted a disgruntled Republican.

    โ€œJen just voted against Jim Jordan for Speaker. Everyone needs to remember this day and never vote for this traitor again.โ€

    Traitor?

    Calm down, please. You may not agree with this former helicopter pilot and Navy vet but she is anything but a traitor. (more…)

  • State Elections This Fall: What to Watch

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    by David J. Toscano

    (This column was first published in Fights of Our Lives!)

    Halloween is right around the corner and many Americans are considering whether skeletons and hobgoglins should adorn their homes and how their children will dress for this spookiest of holidays. But other scary events are also upon us, in the form of critical elections in several states on November 7. ย  While this is neither a presidential nor a midterm election, the results will nonetheless reverberate across the nation.

    Statewide elections are now underway in Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, New Jersey, and, most importantly, in Virginia.ย  Key ballot initiatives are before voters in Ohio and Maine, and several contests for state Supreme Court Judgeships are up for grabs. Reproductive rights figure to play a key role, and could make a difference in Virginia, where Republicans are aiming to flip the State Senate and have declared their intentions to institute a 15-week ban on the procedure if they do.

    The fallโ€™s election will likely provide more evidence of the increasing nationalization of state politics, as voters continue to vote based on who is serving in White House rather than the unique qualities and positions of candidates. And these elections will further display the partisan divides in the nation, and a growing political schism in the nation. (more…)

  • Navy Helicopter Pilot Stands Up to MAGA Bullies

    Posted on

    by

    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, (R-Second District)

    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Although I probably disagree with most of her policy stands, if I lived in her district, I would vote for Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-02) solely on the basis of her resistance to elevating Jim Jordan to Speaker of the House of Representatives. She not only voted against Jordan twice, but she supported the compromise proposal to expand the authority of the interim Speaker pro tempore. One of her Virginia Republican colleagues, Bob Good (Fifth District), firmly resisted that proposal because it would (gasp!) mean working with Democrats. Kiggans denounced “the chaos caused by the minority of the majority.”

    Caveat: If she again ran against Elaine Luria, who served on the January 6 Commission, it would be an awfully tough choice. That area produces tough female politicians.

  • Hatred of Jews at UVa – A Pot Brewed in the Faculty Lounge Boils Over

    Posted on

    by

    sherlockj

    PHOTOS of smiling infants hang next to their bullet-ridden coat pegs in a bloodstained nursery devastated by Hamas terrorists. A little girlโ€™s bicycle lays in a bullet-ridden yard. Credit Internewscast.com

    by James C. Sherlock

    Israel was attacked by Hamas on October 7.

    On October 8, this letter was issued in Charlottesville.

    โ€œEventsโ€ were โ€œa step towards a free Palestine.โ€

    On October 11, President James Ryan issued a strong message condemning the savage Hamas massacre in Israel. He deserves credit for that, but has not gotten it on the grounds of the University.

    Also on October 11, Jewish students at the University felt it necessary to address the University community in the Cavalier Daily. (more…)

  • Miyares Moves to Support Israel

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    Jason Miyares

    from The Republican Standard

    In the wake of the attack on Israel carried out by terrorist organization Hamas last week, Attorney General Jason Miyares is calling upon Virginia law enforcement agencies to help Israelis fight for their lives in a new way.

    Fox News obtained copies of a letter distributed to over 100 sheriffs’ offices by the AGโ€™s office, urging them to donate โ€œsurplus body armor, protective gear and other tactical equipmentโ€ to be collected by his office and sent to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). (more…)

  • Bacon Bits: Ungovernable Virginia

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    It’s not just the big stuff we need to worry about — broken borders, riots, crime waves, school shootings — we need to pay attention to the little stuff, too: small things that betray the fraying of the social fabric. Some instances in today’s headlines:

    From WAVY-TV: “Video shows man choking county attorney at Gloucester Co. meeting.” Cell phone videoย taken at a public meeting to discuss a bond referendum shows Gloucester County resident Lawrence Cohen with one hand holding a microphone and the other choking Gloucester County Attorney Edwin N. โ€œTedโ€ Wilmot. I know nothing about the issues or personalities involved, but that’s just not acceptable. Choking people in public hearings is not the kind of thing that used to happen.

    Meanwhile, Arlington County Public Schools is rolling out a new “electronic campus management platform” at several schools, reports ARL Now. The platform will allow schools to regulate the number of students in the halls and going in and out of buildings. Sounds like Orwellian overkill for a school disciplinary problem. What’s next? Artificial Intelligence to decide who gets a hall pass and who doesn’t? (more…)

Now Available

Book cover of 'Dust Mites: A Second American Revolution' by James A. Bacon, featuring astronauts planting a flag with a blue and white emblem on a lunar landscape, with Earth visible in the background.
For sale on Amazon.com

The year: 2075. The American colonies on the Moon are getting restless under Washington’s tyrannical rule….

This second edition of “Dust Mites” has a snazzy new cover, includes helpful lunar maps, and is 5,000 words tighter than the original. The sequel, “Trogs,” is scheduled for publication this summer.

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Bacon’s Rebellion is Virginia’s leading politically non-aligned portal for news, opinions and analysis about state, regional and local public policy. Read more about us here.

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