Bacon's Rebellion

  • Bacon News of the Week

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    When my daughter Sara Bacon was in high school, she had a good friend named Katie Macon. I always thought they’d make a great law firm — Macon Bacon & Associates, or some such. Never did I imagine that Macon Bacon would be the name of a college baseball team, much less that it would be assailed as politically incorrect.

    But such is the utterly insane and humorless world that we live in. Playing upon the national mania for cured pig meat, a Macon, Ga.-based baseball team calling itself Macon Bacon has a bacon strip named Kevin as a mascot and sells menu items like “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Bacon Wrapped Bacon, Steak Cut Bacon, Bacon Cheeseburger, Bacon Dog, Bacon Loaded Cheese Fries, Bacon Loaded Mac N Cheese, and Bacon Chips.”

    Now killjoys with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have denounced the team, reports the New York Post: โ€œMacon Baconโ€™s glorification of bacon, a processed meat that raises the risk of colorectal cancer and other diseases, sends the wrong message to fans.โ€ The physicians recommended plant-based imitations of meat as a substitute.

    Macon Bacon President Brandon Raphael basically told the physicians group to take their zucchini and eggplants and shove them where the sun don’t shine. The fans love the team’s name, he said. “The Macon Bacon will be sizzling forever and will not consider a name change. Ever.โ€

    Yessss! –JAB

  • Setting the Stage for the Great Race-in-Admissions Debate

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    Should admissions be color blind?

    by James A. Bacon

    People have been asking me what I think about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibiting colleges and universities from using race as a specific basis for admitting students. I’m not a legal scholar, so I won’t offer any opinions on the legal or constitutional merits of the decision. I speak as a citizen.

    My sense is that the Court has made a huge step forward in the generations-long campaign to build a color-blind society. If you share the ideal that a man should be judged by the content of his character, not the color of his skin, you will applaud the ruling regardless of its legalities. And if you believe that the condition of Blacks and Hispanics can be elevated in American society only through preferential treatment of their race and ethnicity, you will see it as a blow in furtherance of White supremacy.

    The immediate impact will be to generate waves of punditry on how colleges and universities should implement the ruling — or evade it. Prevailing commentary seems to hold that most university administrators will “take a hard look” at their admissions policies, then tweak them to accomplish what they want — higher percentages of Blacks and Hispanics — without triggering lawsuits.

    That certainly seems to be the case at the University of Virginia, where President Jim Ryan and Provost Ian Baucom have said in a statement to the university community that they will follow the law but also “continue to do everything within our legal authority to recruit and admit a class of students who are diverse across every possible dimension and to make every student feel welcome and included here at UVA.” (more…)

  • A Simple Statement of Fact about the Public Schools

    Posted on

    by

    sherlockj

    by James C. Sherlock

    I know. Schools. Again.

    But Virginiaโ€™s schools have been shown to be getting worse faster than those of other states.

    Perhaps we should do something.

    Read the National Assessment Board’sย press release from June 21st. One paragraph drew my attention:

    The LTT assessments in reading and math measure fundamental skills among nationally representative, age-based cohorts and have been administered since 1971 and 1973, respectively.

    Students were generally making progress until 2012, when scores started declining.

    Scores took a sharp downturn during the pandemic. Today, the average score for 13-year-olds on the LTT reading assessment is about where it was in 1971.

    Despite the large decline in math, the average score in 2023 remains higher than in 1973.

    Declining since 2012 nationwide.

    Virginiaโ€™s have been declining since 2017. In a hurry.

    (more…)

  • Governor, GOP Not Selling Their Tax Reforms

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    Time’s A-Wasting.

    by Steve Haner

    The following paragraph was written five months ago. It is reproduced now with some emphasis added.

    The 2023 Virginia General Assembly tax debate is just another revival of an old political show. Last year it ended well for new Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) and for those hoping to pay less in state taxes.ย  This year is not guaranteed to see the same outcome, not unless there is a late push to engage public attention as the House and Senate seek compromise.

    (more…)

  • WaPo Eats Crow, Students’ Journalism Award Stands

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    Credit: Bing Image Creator. Journalist eating crow.

    by James A. Bacon

    It is sweet indeed to read the latest Washington Post article about the Virginia Military Institute: after calling into question a top journalism award bestowed upon The Cadet independent student newspaper, media reporter Paul Farhi found himself gulping down a serious helping of crow in a follow-up story headlined, “VMI student paper award upheld after plagiarism, conflict-of-interest probe.”

    The series of Cadet articles, which were critical of the VMI administration’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, won the Virginia Press Association’s top community service award — the first for a student newspaper in Virginia. Rather than praising the young journalists for their accomplishment, Farhi criticized them. He contended that the series of articles contained plagiarism and that the Cadet had failed to disclose a conflict of interest to judges.

    But Conrad M. Shumadine, a retired Norfolk attorney hired to determine if there were grounds for canceling the award, wrote that the honor was made “in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and is not subject to an after-the-fact challenge…. An award should be a celebratory event not an invitation to disparagement.” (Read his report.) (more…)

  • Check Out Which New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect July 1st

    Posted on

    by

    Robin Beres

    by The Republican Standard staff

    The Virginia General Assembly passed several small bills due to the split between the Republican-led House of Delegates and the Democratic-controlled Virginia State Senate. Yet the areas where they did find co-operation could matter to many Virginians as we head into Fourth of July weekend.

    Enhanced Penalties for Fentanyl Manufacturing or Distribution
    Reeves SB1188 Senate 35-5 House 50-42
    Provides that any person who knowingly and intentionally manufactures or knowingly and intentionally distributes a weapon of terrorism when such person knows that such weapon of terrorism is, or contains, any mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

    Universal Occupational License Recognition
    McDougle SB1213 Senate 40-0 House 99-0
    Establishes criteria for an individual licensed, certified, or having work experience in another state to apply to a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and be issued an occupational license or government certification if certain conditions are met.

    Police Chiefs May Enact Local Curfews during Disturbances
    Norment SB1455 Senate 27-12 House 53-45
    Enables the chief law-enforcement officer of a locality to enact a curfew under certain circumstances during a civil disturbance.

    Making Sure Every District has a Legislator
    Suetterlein SB944 Senate 39-0 House 99-0
    Requires special elections to fill a vacancy in the membership of the General Assembly be held within 30 days of the vacancy if the vacancy occurs or will occur between December 10 and March 10 which coincides with time right before and during the General Assembly session. (more…)

  • Virginia: Look West To See Whatโ€™s Coming

    Posted on

    by

    Robin Beres

    by Kerry Dougherty

    Reason #5,692 not to vote for ANY Democrats running for the General Assembly this fall:

    We all know that Virginiaโ€™s leftists in Richmond yearn for our lovely commonwealth to be more like California. When last they controlled the state legislature these nuts directly tethered our energy policies to that โ€œprogressiveโ€ utopia.

    It wonโ€™t stop there, so letโ€™s see what else is on its way from the West Coast.

    Looky here! Itโ€™s Assembly Bill 665, working its way through the legislature. When this passes โ€” and itโ€™s just wacky enough to win approval โ€” it would essentially emancipate some 12-year-olds, allowing them to seek mental health care without their parentsโ€™ approval. (more…)

  • Electricity Bill Caps for Poor Start in November

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    by Steve Haner

    Beginning next winter, low- income customers of Dominion Energy Virginia or Appalachian Power Company will be eligible to have their monthly bills capped under a new state financial assistance program.

    The income cut off to qualify for Virginiaโ€™s new Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) assisting low income households with their electric bills is the same as the threshold for the long-standing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). So LIHEAP beneficiaries will likely be the first enrolled in the new program later in 2023. (more…)

  • Old Law Coming Back to Bite Virginia?

    Posted on

    by

    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Voting booths in Portsmouth. Photo credit: Virginian-Pilot

    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    On behalf of three Virginia residents, the Virginia ACLU, along with a large D.C. law firm, has filed suit in federal court challenging the provision of Virginiaโ€™s constitution that disenfranchises anyone convicted of a felony, providing that their voting rights can be restored only by the governor.

    Such a legal challenge is not necessarily new, but the basis for this one is novel and fascinating The plaintiffs claim that the provision of the Virginia constitution is illegal because it violates the provisions of the federal law that allowed for the Commonwealthโ€™s readmission to the Union after the Civil War.ย  That law included this provision, similar to that included for laws applicable to other member states of the Confederacy:

    That the State of Virginia is admitted to representation in Congress as one of the States of the Union upon the following fundamental conditions: First, that the Constitution of Virginia shall never be so amended or changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the right to vote who are entitled to vote by the Constitution herein recognized, except as a punishment for such crimes as are now felonies at common law, whereof they shall have been duly convicted under laws equally applicable to all the inhabitants of said State.ย  [Emphasis added.] (more…)

  • Patriotism in Virginia

    Posted on

    by

    Robin Beres

    by Robin Beres

    In less than a week, Virginians, like Americans everywhere, will celebrate Independence Day. This year, despite high inflation, high gas prices, a sharply divided electorate, and rising crime rates, there seems to be a growing consensus that we celebrate this occasion with all the gusto we can muster.

    Despite the holiday falling on a Tuesday, from Winchester to Norfolk to Abingdon, plans are afoot for a glorious Fourth, complete with fireworks, parades, and hot dogs. Mount Vernon is celebrating the naturalization of hundreds of new American citizens. Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission to its historic area and art museums on July 4. Virginia Beach is hosting free concerts on 17th Street, 24th Street, and 31st Street. Just about every small town and village is having a parade. With 27 military installations around the state, expect to see lots of marching troops and military static displays.

    Audience members hold their hands over their hearts while the U.S. Air Force Band plays the national anthem at Williamsburg, Va., July 4, 2012.

    Thankfully, Virginia has so far managed to avoid the oppressive heat dome that sits over much of the United States. But even if the temps do soar above the 90-degree mark, it probably wouldnโ€™t deter many Virginians from celebrating our Independence Day. Itโ€™s what we do โ€” and studies show we do it with more pride than any other state in the union. (more…)

  • Public School Clubs: What Happened To Chess, Drama and Debate?

    Posted on

    by

    Bob Rayner

    by Kerry Dougherty

    Never mind that public school test scores are plummeting and that kids from coast to coast are falling hopelessly behind. The Biden Administration is focused on one thing: โ€œinclusion.โ€

    On June 21 the Department of Education issued a โ€œtoolkitโ€ called โ€œCreating Inclusive and Nondiscriminatory School Environments For LGBTQI+ Students.โ€

    Included in the toolkit is the Biden Administrationโ€™s recommendation that โ€œteachers and administrators help students establish Gender and Sexuality Alliancesโ€ in their schools.

    Those are clubs, based only on sexuality. If your local high or middle school doesnโ€™t have one yet, itโ€™s coming.

    Count on it.

    At the risk of sounding like a fossil, I need to ask: since when do schools urge kids to start clubs on sexuality? Whatโ€™s next, the Future Dominatrixes of America club? A Furry Fan club? A Pup Play club?

    Enough, already. (more…)

  • Roanoke County Quietly Extends Contract For $109,000 Year Registrar But Questions Persist

    Posted on

    by

    Robin Beres

    by Scott Dreyer

    For many historical and cultural reasons, America has traditionally been what sociologists call a โ€œhigh-trustโ€ society. As reported in this report from the Pew Research Center, cultures with high trust (such as Canada and Sweden) usually have low crime and corruption while the reverse (such as South Africa and Peru) is also true.

    Unfortunately, polls show Americansโ€™ trust in major institutions has been on a downward slope for the past 15 years or so. Gallup first measured confidence in institutions in 1973 and has done so annually since 1993. A Gallup poll from June 2022 showed significant declines for 11 of the 16 institutions tested and no improvements for any.

    Those who expressed โ€œa great dealโ€ of confidence in the three branches of the federal government, newspapers, TV news, big tech, and the criminal justice system were all at 26% or below.

    On the issue of voting, most Americans have generally trusted the system, although documented cases of stolen elections exist. One example is the 1948 Democrat primary Senate runoff in Texas. Then-Congressman Lyndon Johnson (D) was initially behind until some mysteriously โ€œuncounted ballotsโ€ were found in a ballot box called Box 13. Johnson then won with an 87-vote margin, earning him the nickname โ€œLandslide Lyndon.โ€ Johnson went on to defeat the Republican candidate in November and from the Senate later became John F. Kennedyโ€™s vice president and then president after JFKโ€™s assassination. (more…)

  • Correction: My Story on PIPP Was Wrong

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    Virginiaโ€™s Department of Social Services (DSS) has prepared a plan for the implementation of a cap on electricity costs for low-income customers of Virginiaโ€™s two main utilities. My report on June 27 that the plan was โ€œmissing in actionโ€ was wrong.

    For the most interested, you can find the DSS draft here, and it envisions the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP) beginning in November of this year.

    I owe apologies to the folks at DSS who clearly have been working on this, and obviously they were working with both utilities to get to this point. I also falsely implied it had dropped off the radar with the Glenn Youngkin Administration, and unfairly implied that the various advocacy groups who supported this had lost interest in it. My post was so irredeemably wrong and unfair I just deleted it.

    Part of my reason for the post was to flush out what was happening, and I appreciate the reader who had seen the document and referred to it in a comment. He provided the link above. But the commentary was mine and I regret the errors. I will now dive in a bit deeper and perhaps file a later report on what is being proposed.

    Fifty-one years ago last summer, covering my first American Legion League baseball game for the Petersburg Progress-Index, watching a local team (and being asked to keep the official scorebook) for the first time, I wrote a story that included the wrong names of the player who scored the winning run and the player credited with the RBI. The editor made me take every angry phone call. The feeling rushes back.

    -SDH

  • Population Changes in the Commonwealth Since the 2020 Census

    Posted on

    by

    sherlockj

    by James C. Sherlock

    The Bureau of the Census has issued its estimates of the population changes in Virginia and its 133 jurisdictions since the 2020 census.

    They are always of interest, but perhaps more so since 2020-2022 spanned the COVID years.

    The categories of change calculated by the Census Bureau are total change, natural change (births minus deaths) and migration. They provided the raw numbers.

    In the attached spreadsheet, I let Excel calculate the percentages, which I find more meaningful. Some are surprising given that it was only a two-year period, but perhaps not, since it spanned the COVID years.

    Weโ€™ll examine them. (more…)

  • Policing Ain’t Bean Bag… Or Maybe It Is

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    Upon hearing that the Fairfax County Police Department had scrapped conventional shotgun shells in favor of “bean bag” projectiles, my initial reaction was to mock the change. Bean bags? What’s the next tool in the police arsenal — pillows? Given the approving tone of the article in The Washington Post, I was tempted to dismiss the idea as the latest excrescence of politically correct dogma.

    After further examination, I have reconsidered. Tasers are one non-lethalย  alternative, but they don’t always work, especially if the target is pumped up on drugs. Does anyone remember Rodney King?ย The bean bag projectiles aren’t perfect — they can cause injuries or in rare circumstances kill. Still, they inflict a lot less damage than bullets or buckshot. The Fox News clip above shows how Atlanta police used bean bag rounds to disarm a man with a hatchet and axe.

    Giving police alternatives to beating recalcitrant suspects into submission is always a good idea.ย  — JAB

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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