Bacon's Rebellion

  • Conservative Snowflakes

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    James A. Bacon

    by James A. Bacon

    Delicate snowflakes aren’t found only on college campuses. Some conservatives in Virginia, it seems, are just as prone to melting down and suppressing images and ideas they don’t like.

    It appears that “multiple parents” have approached Patrick County Supervisor Denise Stirewalt with concerns about reading materials their children are being exposed to in school. What are we talking about? Inappropriate sexual content? Profanity? Suicide? Race war? Genocide? No, we’re talking about Norse mythology stories.

    “One instance involved a third-grade student who was having nightmares as a result of a story he had read in class. The story was a single Student Reader, Unit 6, titled ‘Gods, Giants, and Dwarves,’” reports the Martinsville Bulletin. The story has been removed from the curriculum.

    Good grief!

    I don’t know for a fact that the parents who complained are politically or culturally conservative, but Patrick County is a very conservative and Christian community. And I don’t know how graphic the material was that the child found so disturbing. But with those caveats, I feel moved to issue a warning: conservatives, don’t adopt the pathological traits of the left! Don’t become snowflakes! Don’t coddle your children! Cultivate the virtues of courage, resilience, and determination. (more…)

  • RVA History: Merging Manchester

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    Robin Beres

    by Jon Baliles

    I often joke with people when I am asked about Manchester that it was an independent city until 1910 when they merged with Richmond — and they have probably regretted it ever since.

    Em Holter has a nice piece in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the merger of the city nicknamed “Dogtown” that is worth the read.

    On the day of the vote in 1910, pro-merger pamphlets were distributed that promised lower taxes, better infrastructure, and free passage into Virginia’s capital city (no more toll on the bridge). Opponents cautioned that annexation would mean increased taxes and inferior services. History can certainly be ironic. (more…)

  • Virginia Democrats in the House of Representatives Vote Against Their Own Daughters

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    sherlockj

    USA Women’s National Team 2019

    by James C. Sherlock

    Abigail Spanberger, (D) Va. – Voted against protections for girls and women in sports

    Every Virginia Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a bill to amend Title IX to prohibit biological boys and men from competing against biological girls and women in K-12 and college sports.

    Voting nay: Donald Beyer, Gerald Connolly, Jennifer McClellan, Bobby Scott, Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton.

    H.R. 734 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 amends Title IX (“on the basis of sex”) by stating that the term “sex” in athletics shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

    Jennifer McClellan (D) Va. – Voted against protections for girls and women in sports

    The consequences of a no vote. H.R. 734 protects the dreams and hard work of girls who wish to play college sports.

    The ones who got up early and stayed late training for their sport. The ones whose parents ferried them to practice and games on weekends.

    It protects girls and young women in contact sports such as soccer and field hockey from inevitable injury from bigger, stronger, faster men.

    Indeed, it protects their ability to participate.

    It prevents the biological male who never won a medal from deciding — no hormones or surgery required — he is female to mount the platform and be awarded the gold. To break records set by girls and women.

    To get rich with the new NIL rule in college sports and richer yet in women’s professional sports.

    Everyone who thinks that won’t happen, raise your hand. (more…)

  • RVA 5×5: Valet Parking

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    Robin Beres

    by Jon Baliles

    There was a lot of talk and coverage this week about the City of Richmond’s Planning Commission unanimously approving the removal of parking minimums citywide with the full City Council expected to take the matter up at its meeting Monday night.

    The ordinance as written would allow developers to decide how much parking to include in new developments anywhere in the city — or if they need to include any parking at all to serve the development. For decades, the city-required developments to also provide a certain number of off-street parking spaces based on the size of development, the number of dwelling units, type of use, or total floor area.

    The end goal is to allow developers to determine how much parking to provide in their developments and if they don’t have to provide expensive parking, they will then increase the supply of needed housing units. The city recently declared a “housing crisis,” and the need for more housing across the entire region is urgent. The proposal is one of the recommendations from the Richmond 300 master plan, which is in favor of less “auto-centric” zoning and more in favor of denser and more walkable mixed-use neighborhoods.
    (more…)

  • New York Times “DEI” Article Prompts Questions About Ryan’s Views

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    James A. Bacon

    Bert Ellis. Photo credit: New York Times

    by James A. Bacon

    Kudos to Stephanie Saul for her front-page article in The New York Times this morning. She quotes Bert Ellis and me accurately and in context in an impressively even-handed account of the brewing controversy over Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Virginia.

    Followers of Bacon’s Rebellion will find that the article, which explores DEI issues at UVa through the prism of Ellis’ appointment to the Board of Visitors, covers familiar ground. However, it does contain nuggets of news, mainly by putting UVa President Jim Ryan and other university officials on the record on issues about which they have been largely silent so far.

    Most astonishing are the quotes from Ryan, who comes across as totally clueless about the aims of his critics.

    James E. Ryan, the university’s president, said he believes the majority of alumni feel the way he does — that diversity is desirable and needed.

    “I haven’t heard anyone say we should have a community that is monolithic, unfair and unwelcoming,” he said in an interview.

    Mr. Ryan said he wonders about the motives of the critics.

    “Whether this is an effort to focus on the aspects of D.E.I. that seem to threaten academic freedom and push toward ideological conformity, or whether it’s an effort to turn back the clock to 1965 — it’s hard to know,” he said in an interview.

    (more…)

  • Jeanine’s Memes

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    James A. Bacon

    From The Bull Elephant

  • Restoring Trust in Institutions

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    by

    James A. Bacon

    Created by Microsoft Image Creator

    by Matt Hurt

    Over the last several years, it has become widely accepted that trust in our institutions has declined. Ultra-tribalism has infected almost every aspect of public discourse, which has certainly enriched the war chests of our politicians on both sides of the aisle. On April 20, 2023, the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) provided a wonderful example of how this trend can be reversed.

    The VBOE has been in the process of updating Virginia’s history Standards of Learning for over two years. Unfortunately, history is the subject which has become targeted by different political/ideological factions.  Some argued that certain versions of the standards were intended to promote a specific ideology.  Others argued that other versions attempted to whitewash history. This work has drawn fire from both progressives and conservatives, and it is doubtful that either side will be satisfied with the end result. (more…)

  • Bacon Meme of the Week

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    James A. Bacon

  • Fourth Circuit Gives Standing to Parents Suing Loudoun County Schools over First Amendment Violations

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    by

    sherlockj

    Ian Serotkin
    LCPS School Board Chair, Defendant

    by James C. Sherlock

    In a win for freedom of speech, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond overturned a finding by a federal district judge that Loudoun parents did not have standing to sue the School Board for infringement of First Amendment rights.

    The parents alleged a bias reporting system instituted by Loudoun County Public Schools “chilled their children from exercising their free speech rights.”

    The ruling:

    … the parents plausibly allege that implementing the new reporting system chilled their children’s speech to support their First Amendment claims. So, we vacate the district court’s order dismissing those claims and remand for those claims to be considered on the merits.

    I suspect the new trial and appeals will find even the current, revised LCPS policy on reporting to be intended to chill protected speech. (more…)

  • VMI Disguises DEI Contract

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    Robin Beres

    By Jake Spivey

    In late fall 2021, Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors and its newly installed superintendent were still reeling from the state investigator’s specious report condemning the Institute’s cultural climate. Resolving to quiet a mostly nameless and unidentifiable assortment of individuals criticizing VMI, the Board submitted through the state’s contracting website a request for proposals (RFP), for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultation and training services. The solicitation sought companies that could help VMI “intentionally strengthen its commitment and work around DEI to aid the Institute in achieving Inclusive Excellence Plan goals and objectives.” The to-be-hired firm would provide VMI’s leadership a way to “institute DEI activities” for VMI’s leadership, faculty, full-time staff, and the 1,600 member Corps of Cadets. The RFP outlined requirements and described services that, no doubt in the minds of VMI’s leadership, would correct deficiencies neither the Commonwealth nor the investigative team had factually identified or documented in the June 1, 2021 report.

    Unfortunately, in its zeal to implement a contract for DEI consultation and training, VMI attempted to circumvent the Commonwealth’s procurement laws. A competing contractor, the Center for Applied Innovation, LLC (CAI), recognized a variety of inconsistencies regarding access to records as part of the proposal process. As alleged in court documents, VMI improperly awarded a “Notice of Intent” to award a contract to NewPoint Strategies, LLC (NewPoint). On March 18, 2022, CAI filed a formal protest in Rockbridge County Circuit Court alleging VMI had violated the state’s Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA). VMI denied it acted improperly, delivering a denial letter to the Court on March 28, 2022. It asked the Court to dismiss CAI’s lawsuit, claiming VMI was exempt from the state’s procurement laws. On July 14, 2022, Judge Christopher Russell listened to oral arguments from CAI’s attorneys and lawyers from the Office of the Attorney General, Christopher Bernhardt and Patrick O’Leary, who represented VMI. On August 3, 2022, in a surprise ruling, Judge Russell agreed with CAI and declined to dismiss the lawsuit. VMI appealed this decision, requesting the Court reconsider its original ruling. The Court did so, reversing its opinion. This action emboldened VMI to surreptitiously continue pursuit of a DEI-services contract with NewPoint.
    (more…)

  • Washington State Appears Set to Legalize No Notification of Parents for Youth Gender Transition

    Posted on

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    sherlockj

    Washington State Senator Mark Lilas (D), sponsor of Senate Bill 5599 Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.

    by James C. Sherlock

    In another flashing sign of the apocalypse, Democrats in the Washington State legislature want the state to become a destination for runaway youth seeking gender transition as minors.

    They proudly point to a newly passed law as their party’s response to other states passing laws to prohibit transgender medical services to youth under the age of 18.

    Virginia progressives, envious, are temporarily disarmed from changing Virginia law.

    There will be work to do when they get back full control in Richmond.

    I have every confidence in their capability to catch up.

    Washington State is poised to legalize non-notification of parents of “youth seeking protected health services” if the kid runs away from home.  The law creates a new “compelling reason” to not notify parents of the location of a runaway child.

    The existing “compelling reason” in Washington law is an allegation of child abuse.

    The new law added as a “compelling reason” that the child is seeking gender transition.  If a child has runaway for that reason, no parental knowledge of the child’s intent to transition genders, much less parental abuse, even needs to be alleged.

    The bill passed on party line votes.

    Instead of notifying parents, the youth shelters and temporary foster homes will notify the state Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).

    It gets worse.

    Wait until you read about Washington State’s Medicaid “services” to these kids.

    (more…)

  • Apologies Run One Way in Woke World

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    James A. Bacon

    Credit: Bing Image Creator

    by James A. Bacon

    The woke witch trials of the 21st century don’t burn their victims at the stake, but they still do immense harm.

    We previously told the story of how Morgan Bettinger, a 4th-year student who ran afoul of the University of Virginia’s social-justice warriors, was vilified on social media, investigated by university authorities, and required to perform social-justice-related community service to atone for supposed threats she never uttered.

    What we haven’t told before but can now thanks to a lawsuit asking for the expungement of disciplinary sanctions on Bettinger’s college record, is what it’s like for a student to endure the assaults of the Woke Mob.

    The question every UVA alumnus, student, parent, professor and member of the UVa community must ask is this: how can freedom of speech and expression thrive in an environment where students are treated this way?

    The lawsuit cites the following testimony Bettinger gave in a recorded interview with the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights. (more…)

  • One Case, Five Virginia Energy Reg Failures

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    Dominion solar farm. Photo credit: Dominion.

    by Steve Haner

    How badly broken is Virginia’s energy regulatory system?  One recent State Corporation Commission decision on Dominion Energy Virginia’s proposed next wave of solar projects illustrates several of the problems.  The projects are unimportant, routine.  What matters are the policy failures revealed.

    Only the rich can look at the future and yawn. (more…)

  • Note to Hybrid and EV Owners and Those in Collisions with Them – Don’t Try to Extinguish a Battery Fire

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    sherlockj

    by James C. Sherlock

    CNBC reported today as breaking news a concern about hybrid and electric vehicle fires that professional firefighters have known about for some time.

    Vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can be especially dangerous when they catch fire.

    CNBC offers a video showing smoke billowing from three electric pickups parked tightly together.

    Moments later, flames shoot several feet above the vehicles, which were unoccupied.

    Fires involving EV batteries can burn hotter and longer and require new techniques to extinguish, posing a growing challenge to first responders.

    Hybrid electrics, which have both a high voltage battery and an internal combustion engine, have a 3.4% likelihood of vehicle fires according to a study, far higher than either internal combustion or electric alone.

    Spontaneous combustion of an EV battery is unlikely, but collisions are a concern. (more…)

  • JMU Debate Team Opposes Debate

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    by

    Robin Beres

    by Kerry Dougherty

    It’s been decades since I was in college so help me out here. Wouldn’t you expect a university debate team to support free speech and the airing of diverse ideas?

    Yep, that’s what I thought too.

    But you haven’t met the easily triggered members of James Madison University’s debate team. They’re leading the opposition to a scheduled appearance next week by conservative author and podcaster Liz Wheeler. The topic of her speech: The Ideology of Transgenderism.

    Stunning.

    These pearl-clutching lefties are so devoted to the trans movement that they want to dismiss and silence anyone who dares to question the notion that boys can become girls and girls can become boys.

    Apparently a gaggle of so-called debaters have anointed themselves the arbiters of what is and what isn’t worthwhile speech at a state-supported university.

    These are supposed to be lovers of debate. I guess they prefer to stick to esoteric, yawn-inducing topics such as presidential powers and the ethics of animal testing rather than actual issues that resonate outside their little debate club echo chamber. (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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