The problems with Virginia.

[Anarchist420]

Taxes are too damn high for the deficit we have, spending is too damn high. The sales tax is among the lowest in the country.

The roads aren't too well off either.

Well, what's wrong with making the DMV more efficient, privatizing some of the prisons, and a few roads, as well as legalizing drugs, taxing them, and reducing other taxes? Plus getting rid of some of the cops. I don't hate cops, but they're too damn expensive to have so many around. Plus the damn huge number of security guards at the high school I went to. They can increase tax deductions for donating to the cops by 50%. The public schools have so much waste. Way too many computers they don't need. Too many vending machines they don't need. They can abolish the public fire departments and replace them with volunteer ones. They get tax breaks for that. They'll probably be more efficient.

The other thing. End laws in which civil servants can't have their pay reduced. The private sector has to do it sometimes, why shouldn't the public sector have to do it?

My question: What's so hard about cutting the fat out of the budget? Is it really that hard to privatize things--better service, less price? Gary Johnson didn't seem to have too much of problem doing so in NM.

 

[Tristicus]

The problems with you:

You're too damn retarded to make a good post.

 

[Anarchist420]

I'm actually in NC right now. Explain what's retarded with post, please.

 

[Moonbeam]

Self hate. Our country was too good for our feelings so we are turning it back into a backwater nation so we can feel at home again.

And don't forget. You didn't hear that. You are too busy making it happen.

 

[Linflas]

I'm actually in NC right now. Explain what's retarded with post, please.

Well that to begin with. Maybe you should be worrying about the finances of state government in North Carolina rather than Virginia. We actually have a pretty efficient DMV, and may even end up the year with a modest surplus.

State revenue dips, but beats projection

 

[heyheybooboo]

I'm actually in NC right now. Explain what's retarded with post, please.

I thought I smelled something ...


My suggestion to you: take your agenda, promote it, and run for public office.

In Virginia, please




--

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Taxes are too damn high for the deficit we have, spending is too damn high. The sales tax is among the lowest in the country.

lol wat

The roads aren't too well off either.

good roads cost money, where does that money come from? oh ya taxes.

Well, what's wrong with making the DMV more efficient, privatizing some of the prisons, and a few roads, as well as legalizing drugs, taxing them, and reducing other taxes? Plus getting rid of some of the cops. I don't hate cops, but they're too damn expensive to have so many around. Plus the damn huge number of security guards at the high school I went to. They can increase tax deductions for donating to the cops by 50%. The public schools have so much waste. Way too many computers they don't need. Too many vending machines they don't need. They can abolish the public fire departments and replace them with volunteer ones. They get tax breaks for that. They'll probably be more efficient.

Only thing I'll touch in this mess is fire departments. Its a bad idea to get rid of professional fire departments, especially in dense urban areas. You can't rely on volunteers for 24.7.365. Yes volunteer fire departments are important but there just simply aren't enough volunteers to go around.

The other thing. End laws in which civil servants can't have their pay reduced. The private sector has to do it sometimes, why shouldn't the public sector have to do it?

VA state employees have had their pay frozen multiple times over the last decade. No cost of living increase = decrease in net pay.

My question: What's so hard about cutting the fat out of the budget? Is it really that hard to privatize things--better service, less price? Gary Johnson didn't seem to have too much of problem doing so in NM.

Your mistake is assuming privatization results in the same or better service at a lower price.

 

[MotF Bane]

We actually have a pretty efficient DMV,

No such thing. :awe:

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Well that to begin with. Maybe you should be worrying about the finances of state government in North Carolina rather than Virginia. We actually have a pretty efficient DMV, and may even end up the year with a modest surplus.

I lived in Virginia for about a year eight years ago and I remember having to wait for hours to get anything done at the DMV. It was a nightmare!

I can't really articulate it well, but something about the thought of living in Virginia just gives me the creeps. I didn't like the auto-emissions and yearly auto-safety inspection laws, either. I lived in the high-density Alexandria area off of Route 1 close to the Fort Belvoir base. Maybe it's just that I associate NoVa with outrageously expensive rental rates and huge amounts of minorities (which I've always viewed as an indicator of a high crime area).

Maryland has its own issues and they love red light and speed cameras but it doesn't feel as creepy to me. If I were to ever relocate to the DC-NoVa area again I don't know where I'd end up living.

 

[Skitzer]

The problems with you:

You're too damn retarded to make a good post.

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with this assessment.

 

[ss284]

The thought of a speeding ticket costing me $1500 in VA keeps me from crossing the Potomac.

 

[Linflas]

The thought of a speeding ticket costing me $1500 in VA keeps me from crossing the Potomac.

The highest fine is $7.00 per mile over the speed limit doubled for a construction zone +$200.00 if it is in a marked residential area so unless you are doing 100 over the limit I doubt you are going to get a $1,500.00 speeding ticket even under the worst possible case which I tried to assume above. But keep depending on those old outdated internet myths to keep your paranoia at a high level.

 

[shortylickens]

This is so fucking sad I wanna cry. The worst part its probably how the majority of Virginians see things.

 

[dbk]

meh.. just get rid of the illegals and the gangs. I actually appreciate VA roads. MD roads are awful, though.. traffic - what can you do. I'm sure once the metro expansion is finished, things will improve.

 

[Linflas]

meh.. just get rid of the illegals and the gangs. I actually appreciate VA roads. MD roads are awful, though.. traffic - what can you do. I'm sure once the metro expansion is finished, things will improve.

The problem with Virginia roads is largely confined to Northern Virginia and Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads. In both cases the local governments decided that they wanted all the benefits of development without planning the required infrastructure to support the development. Now they are playing a game of catch up made worse by the financial downturn. I am not quite sure why anyone thought they could increase the population of Northern Virginia by over 1 million people over a period of 30 years without laying down any significant new pavement but this is essentially what took place.

 

[Mojoed]

Taxes are too damn high for the deficit we have

Uhh taxes are TOO high? Taxes in general, or a specific type?

My sister who lives in Massachusetts has a tiny 750 sq. foot house on 0.1 acre in a not-so-good neighborhood and she pays nearly $4000 per year in property taxes.

I recently moved to a nice area of Virginia and pay only $520 per year in property tax for a house nearly 3000 sq. feet.

 

[TruePaige]

1) VA roads are pretty darn good. I learned this when I lived in the Northeast.

2) DMV isn't that bad...but is it a pleasant experience anywhere?

3) Taxes are low and our debt is low, in a healthy area..not sure what your point was?

4) I prefer we not replace people who save lives and property with volunteers, seems like a horrible place to save a few bucks.

5) Vending machines make money for school systems. They don't cost them much if anything in most cases (varies by district, but most companies are HAPPY to have the contract and handle everything, giving the school a cut of the take).

6) Computers in general are pretty cheap these days, I don't see the point in slashing the school technology budget to save a fraction of a percent in expenditures.

 

[MotF Bane]

Uhh taxes are TOO high? Taxes in general, or a specific type?

My sister who lives in Massachusetts has a tiny 750 sq. foot house on 0.1 acre in a not-so-good neighborhood and she pays nearly $4000 per year in property taxes.

I recently moved to a nice area of Virginia and pay only $520 per year in property tax for a house nearly 3000 sq. feet.

Taxachusetts!

 

[Anarchist420]

I guess the taxes aren't too high admittedly. It's just that they seem high after Federal Taxes. I mean, under some monarchies hundreds of years ago, they only took 7% of GDP. Someone on the mises forum mentioned that.

Anyway, I still think there is a lot of inefficiency in the state government. I think it would be nice to legalize marijuana. That would create jobs.

And yes, traffic in Hampton Roads is a bitch.

I'm just in NC until tomorrow. Visiting someone.

 

[kinev]

I guess the taxes aren't too high admittedly. It's just that they seem high after Federal Taxes. I mean, under some monarchies hundreds of years ago, they only took 7% of GDP. Someone on the mises forum mentioned that.

Anyway, I still think there is a lot of inefficiency in the state government. I think it would be nice to legalize marijuana. That would create jobs.

And yes, traffic in Hampton Roads is a bitch.

I'm just in NC until tomorrow. Visiting someone.

[looks at user-name]...and there it is. That's the essence of your rant once you strip away the inaccuracies and hyperbole.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

2) DMV isn't that bad...but is it a pleasant experience anywhere?

At the DMV in my state it's easy in, easy out. I can normally get my business done in less than 15 minutes and I live in a high density suburban area. In fact I could do many things over the Internet if I wanted to.

When I used the Virginia DMV it was a 2-3 hour wait nightmare.

 

[shortylickens]

The problem with Virginia roads is largely confined to Northern Virginia and Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads. In both cases the local governments decided that they wanted all the benefits of development without planning the required infrastructure to support the development. Now they are playing a game of catch up made worse by the financial downturn. I am not quite sure why anyone thought they could increase the population of Northern Virginia by over 1 million people over a period of 30 years without laying down any significant new pavement but this is essentially what took place.

They could save a LOT of wear and tear on the roads by extending the VRE and Metro further west. Most traffic comes from DC and metro area commuters.

 

[Linflas]

They could save a LOT of wear and tear on the roads by extending the VRE and Metro further west. Most traffic comes from DC and metro area commuters.

Actually less than 25% of commuting in this area involves travel to/from DC. That is why they could extend VRE and Metro all the way to Front Royal and not get much return on the investment.

 

[piasabird]

Maybe for reducing the costs for police we should do similar things to the nursing profession. Use some rental cops for minor things like work in the office and administration. Then only pay the higher rates to patrol officers not on desk duty. Some observational patrols or observation stations could be manned by light duty officers. Instead of sending officers to check on alarms maybe use security technicians.

 

[irishScott]

As someone who lived the first 18 years of his life in Fairfax County, you are so full of shit. Everything I was going to say has already been said.