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Sparkling Diversity

Sparkling Diversity provides a unique view of Hampton Roads, Virginia through the eyes of Archie Whitehill, a long-time resident of Norfolk. Politics, places, events, ideas and people are explored in sometimes provocative ways.

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Stating the Obvious?

In a story about public transportation in downtown Norfolk, Mayor Paul Fraim is quoted as saying, "It seems we need to be smart about it."

I should hope so.  It seems the other option would be to do the dumb thing, or, perhaps doing something that is only a smidgeon smart.

Photo by Archie R. Whitehill

This quote by Mayor Fraim tickled me in two separate ways. 

First, I was tickled that he stated something so obvious, that we need to do the smart thing.  I would hope and direct that my government always do the smart thing, or at least try to, on any issue.

Second, I was tickled that the reporter reported such a statement.  The reporting of that statement may easily imply that the Mayor, and his council, rarely do the smart thing, so this is really newsworthy, that we will now do the smart thing.

In light of this deeply philosophical truth uttered by Norfolk's mayor, I would like to make a proposal, one that will have far-reaching effects on us all, our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, our states, our nation, yea, even the entire world.  That proposal is that we always need to be smart about what we do.

There.  All the world problems are solved, easily and with no complex rules, just the need to do the smart thing. 

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Spend it now

Where would we be without the space programs? The economy grew as a result of it. Can you imagine a world without satellite? There are just too many examples to cite about how the space program created wealth.

You do not create wealth by sticking your spare money in a sock and burying it. Wealth is created by investment and spending. It is a lot less expensive to build a rail system at this point of high unemployment then it would be to wait. I am glad the people did not wait when it came to building the hoover dam.

Virginia has to lose it's dust bowl mentality and join the 21st century.

May the force be with you.

The smart thing

Was the Hoover Dam, the highway interstate system, national parks, subway systems, the electrical grid system, social security, local parks, libraries, the fda to insure non poisonous food, railroads, shipping ports, infrastructure, worth spending money on?

Absolutely yes.

Should we remain a provincial state without regard for progress?

Hell no!

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