Philosophy
Took the short people to Williamsburg, Virginia the other weekend. For so much of American history in the colonial and post-colonial era, Virginia was the wealthiest and most powerful state. More Presidents have been born in Virginia than any other state. Four of the first five Presidents were born in Virginia.
But now, the state has little in terms of national power. It does not have a metropolitan area capable of supporting a sports team in any sport -- heck, even Buffalo and Oklahoma City have sports teams. Why has Virginia faded?
True, about a third of its land was taken away when West Virginia was formed, but it's not like West Virginia had the resources that makes it a real player (what it does have Robert Byrd imported to it). Yes, it was powerful when the U.S. was an agrarian society while the north had a head start in industrializing, but there are any number of of post-industrialization power centers in the country. Yes, it suffered during and after the Civil War, but so did Atlanta.
So, why is Virginia no longer the player it was in American politics?
- Strong Gun Laws Work (or, Rather, Weak Ones Don't)
Last week, a man with a concealed carry permit from the state of Virginia shot himself, his mother, and her doctor in Johns Hopkins Hospital because he wasn't pleased with the treatment offered by the top hospital on the planet Earth. Because he thought...
- Curious Statistic For Plato, Missouri
"It’s official: U.S. population center is near Plato, Mo." March 24th, 2011 The Kansas City Star The U.S. Census Bureau just raised the status of the southern Missouri community of Plato, an incorporated village in Texas County. The bureau announced...
- Who Is She?
Virginia O'Hanlon One day late but still an interesting story. [Click to enlarge] Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus [Wikipedia] ...
- Moon Rocks
I was not aware of this practice. "NASA Moon Rocks Gifted to States and Provinces" Lunar Samples on Display in State Museums by Beverly Bright March 8th, 2010 Suite101.com Fifty U.S. states and provinces each received a piece of lunar rock encased...
- Rush Holt--will He Assist Science?
Rush Holt Will Rush Holt be a significant spokesperson for the sciences in congress? Time will tell. Rush Holt, 59, is a resident of Hopewell Township, N.J. Born in West Virginia, he inherited his interest in politics from his parents. Hisfather was...
Philosophy
What's the Matter with Virginia?
Took the short people to Williamsburg, Virginia the other weekend. For so much of American history in the colonial and post-colonial era, Virginia was the wealthiest and most powerful state. More Presidents have been born in Virginia than any other state. Four of the first five Presidents were born in Virginia.
But now, the state has little in terms of national power. It does not have a metropolitan area capable of supporting a sports team in any sport -- heck, even Buffalo and Oklahoma City have sports teams. Why has Virginia faded?
True, about a third of its land was taken away when West Virginia was formed, but it's not like West Virginia had the resources that makes it a real player (what it does have Robert Byrd imported to it). Yes, it was powerful when the U.S. was an agrarian society while the north had a head start in industrializing, but there are any number of of post-industrialization power centers in the country. Yes, it suffered during and after the Civil War, but so did Atlanta.
So, why is Virginia no longer the player it was in American politics?
- Strong Gun Laws Work (or, Rather, Weak Ones Don't)
Last week, a man with a concealed carry permit from the state of Virginia shot himself, his mother, and her doctor in Johns Hopkins Hospital because he wasn't pleased with the treatment offered by the top hospital on the planet Earth. Because he thought...
- Curious Statistic For Plato, Missouri
"It’s official: U.S. population center is near Plato, Mo." March 24th, 2011 The Kansas City Star The U.S. Census Bureau just raised the status of the southern Missouri community of Plato, an incorporated village in Texas County. The bureau announced...
- Who Is She?
Virginia O'Hanlon One day late but still an interesting story. [Click to enlarge] Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus [Wikipedia] ...
- Moon Rocks
I was not aware of this practice. "NASA Moon Rocks Gifted to States and Provinces" Lunar Samples on Display in State Museums by Beverly Bright March 8th, 2010 Suite101.com Fifty U.S. states and provinces each received a piece of lunar rock encased...
- Rush Holt--will He Assist Science?
Rush Holt Will Rush Holt be a significant spokesperson for the sciences in congress? Time will tell. Rush Holt, 59, is a resident of Hopewell Township, N.J. Born in West Virginia, he inherited his interest in politics from his parents. Hisfather was...