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By Vivian J. Paige
Elections have consequences.
Did you catch "Saturday Night Live" last weekend? In a relatively short period, Virginia has become the laughingstock of the nation.
The latest to draw the attention of national political pundits is the bill that would require women to undergo an ultrasound prior to having an abortion. Many of those ultrasounds would have to be performed transvaginally because the fetus in the first trimester is too small to be seen on an abdominal ultrasound.
The law as proposed - House Bill 462 and the identical Senate bill 484 - provides no relief for the victims of rape or incest.
Even without knowing these two things, a majority of Virginians surveyed - 55 percent - oppose an ultrasound, according to a poll conducted by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.
This arrives on the heels of House Bill 1, better known as the "personhood" bill. That legislation would define life as beginning at conception. Mississippi voters rejected, by a wide margin, a nearly identical proposal in November that would have amended that state's constitution. I wouldn't normally compare Mississippi to Virginia, except that the Wason Center poll indicates a majority of Virginia voters don't support the measure either.
If this weren't enough, how about some gun bills? Receiving the most attention is Senate Bill 323, which would eliminate the prohibition on purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period. This limit was put in place when Virginia was a gunrunner's paradise. Two thirds of those surveyed support retaining the ban. No matter - the bill has already passed the Senate and is well on its way to passing the House.
In fact, all of these bills and a lot more like them - silent protests and online petitions notwithstanding - will probably become the law in Virginia.
Because elections have consequences.
Last November, all 140 seats of the General Assembly were up for election. Despite that, voter turnout was a paltry 28.61 percent, even less than what it had been in 2007, the last time the entire legislature was up for election.
Think about it: More than seven in 10 Virginia voters didn't even bother to participate. It should be no surprise that those elected to represent all of us actually, well, don't.
Part of the problem was the lack of competitive races, the direct result of partisan redistricting. Despite the efforts of many, the topic of redistricting and its effects on us simply was not embraced by the majority of folks.
So we are where we are.
The majority of us don't want invasive medical procedures mandated by our government. The majority of us don't want to define life as beginning at conception. The majority of us think one handgun a month is enough.
But the overwhelming majority of us didn't bother to let our voices be heard.
Decisions are made by those who show up.
John Stuart Mill's essay, "On Liberty," warned of the tyranny of the majority. What we are experiencing in Virginia today is equally troublesome for our representative democracy: the tyranny of the minority.
Vivian J. Paige writes about local politics and other topics at blog.vivianpaige.com. Email: blog@vivianpaige.com
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VOTING?
----ITS A SHAME THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT VOTING/MOST PEOPLE CAN NOT BE BOTHERED / MOST PEOPLE WOULD SIT AT HOME AND COMPLAIN ABOUT EYERTHING AND EVERONE/ THE TROUBLE IS THE PEOPLE WHO DO SOMETHING ARE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THAT WANT SOMETHING AND ARE WILLING TO GET UP AND FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY WANT/ IF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE, THEN HOW CAN THEY COMPLAIN? people --under one thing-A STIRRED POT GETS COOKED AND A STANGNET ONE burns /I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW FRANK IN VA.BCH
ObamaCare?
The majority of us don't want invasive medical insurance mandated by our government.
Didn't hear too much objection to THAT from Ms. Paige, did we?
.
Because there was no reason to object. That's why.
By your logic, there'd be no interstate highways, uniform rail standards, basic public education parity, clean air and water, safe food and skies, national energy policy or racial integration. None are in the Constitution and almost all were, or still are, unpopular among Libertarians. Perhaps that's the reason so few people are drawn to the Libertarian point of view.
Fortunately, the majority of Americans believe in looking out for each other and for the common good.
But even if they didn't, the evidence demonstrates that nations where there is universal health coverage, or as close to it as possible, have not only lower healthcare costs, but better medical outcomes. That means they take better care of people for less money. Even a Libertarian can get behind that idea.
Typical Libertarian
Typical Libertarian response; enjoy free medical care in an emergency room, and expect others to pick up the tab. Greenmun's entire philosophy of life is dictated by this simple principle,; that is, let someone else pay for the services he and his family receive. Fact is, health services are an essential part of life in communities; we live together in such close proximity in schools, recreation centers, swimming pools, restaurants and shopping malls. Clearly, the health of those in close proximity to us in these situations is as critical as our own. In that environment, it is not unreasonable at all to require each individual to seek and obtain health insurance in order to maintain the public health. Next time you dine out with your family, Mr. Greenmun, do you want the server who delivers your food, the cook/chef who prepares it, and the dishwasher who is in charge of sanitation, to have health insurance, or not?
Typical elitist Democratic Party/Business Lobby shill
Mike, unlike YOU ... my family can't afford to eat out. Working producers like my wife and I can't afford to eat out because of all the government taxes taken from us to be redistributed by guys YOU support in political office.
But, to directly answer your question. I support Freedom and Liberty - and our Constitution. People need to make their own choices in life and they are free to buy whatever healthcare they wish.
You?
You disresepct our Constitution as you line your pockets with tax funds, tax breaks, and backroom deals.
Your "vision" is one of a elite government Nanny-State to dictate to citizens how they should spend their money, what they should eat, what they should buy, and how much of their own money - and their own property they can keep. The rest to be redistributed by government controlled by you and your "Visions" pals who decide what the non-business lobby producers should be "permitted" to keep.
You looking down on Libertarians is like Hitler looking down on the Allied forces for standing up to fight for people's basic rights, their Liberty, and their choice to NOT march, lock step with Hitler's armies.