Virginia Libertarian

The News Leader – www.newsleader.com – Staunton, Va.

The ordinance targets a growing trend: Rural landowners can legally split ag land and give it to family members who can quickly flip the properties to developers – and avoid the planning and zoning requirements that normally shape residential development in the county.Lawrence Campbell, whose farm lies downstream from such a development near Stuarts Draft, regularly endures torrents of unregulated runoff. Not surprisingly, he favors the slowdown.

“The county’s let this thing get away from them and it’s not easy to back up and tie it down,” he said. “We’ve got to have some rules and regulations.”

Others bridle at any law that would restrict cutting off lots for relatives and resale.

“This is eminent domain in disguise,” said Grottoes farmer Homer Frazier. “It’s telling farmers what they can do with their land.”

The proposed ordinance stemmed in part from recommendations from the supervisors-appointed agricultural task force. It closely follows the model adopted by Augusta’s northern neighbor.

Rockingham County Planner Billy Vaughn said the newly refined rules “are doing what they’re designed to do – to give the county some involvement in how often agricultural land can be subdivided.”

I’d have to agree with Mr. Frazier, while the county isn’t taking your land, they are telling you what you can do with it.  I really like that last statement by “Planner” Billy Vaughn.  Now, someone just tell me why the county should have any involvement in telling folks what they can and can’t do with land they are supposed to own?

The News Leader – www.newsleader.com – Staunton, Va.

U.S. Senate: How effective do you believe the Medicare Part D prescription drug program has been in its first year?
Medicare Part D Candidates in the U.S. Senate race answer the question: How effective do you believe the Medicare Part D prescription drug program has been in its first year, and what changes, if any would you make in it? (300 words)

George Allen

As is common with any change of this magnitude, there have been some start-up issues. However, statistics have shown that the Medicare Part D prescription drug program has made prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. The prescription drug benefit is the biggest adaptation to Medicare since the program was created. More than 700,000 seniors in Virginia have enrolled in the program this year and are saving an average of $1,100 dollars on their annual prescription drug costs. We need to continually examine the program to ensure that it is operating effectively and efficiently and to make it as easy to understand as possible.

Gail Parker

If I could understand it, I could answer this question more intelligently. It would be more effective if it were not so complicated. I would simplify it.

Jim Webb

The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is good in concept. However, the influence of drug companies in its implementation has made it inefficient and in serious need of reform. The benefit is confusing to many seniors and does not provide as much coverage as it could because of inefficiencies in the structure of the program.

In the Senate I would vote to allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices, similar to what the Veterans administration does. On the top twenty prescriptions written as a part of the program a competitive process could save over $7 billion.

All right, this just goes to show you that Allen has no spine on his own. Come on “start-up issues”?!? This is almost as bad as creating Medicare itself. Oh, and to fix it, what else, more government oversight. At least Webb would let the program negotiate prices. Not one of them says what really needs to be said: Do away with it (and preferable the entire Medicare program as well).

The News Leader – www.newsleader.com – Staunton, Va.

President Bush is a proponent of an “ownership society” where workers put aside their own money in health and retirement savings accounts. What is your opinion of such a system, and how would you ensure minimum wage workers could afford adequate coverage?

George Allen

I support the idea of an ownership society. That is why I supported the creation of the new lower 10% tax bracket to help Virginians keep more of what they earn so they can save, invest or spend on what they choose. I have introduced legislation in the Senate to increase the amount of money an individual can contribute to his or her Health Savings Account each year, which gives families more control over health care choices. I also strongly support retirement and education savings accounts and was able to expand Education Savings Accounts to allow for the purchase of computers and educational software.

Gail ParkerEveryone in America – not just Americans – should have ready access to affordable health care insurance. We can help minimum wage workers plan for retirement by keeping the cost of transportation low, through providing rail transit, and by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and food supply.

We believe the best way to increase the wages of Virginians is to create good paying jobs, such as those that would be created by building Rail, and providing rapid transit, i.e., high-speed rail transit, to widen access to good paying jobs and to higher education and training opportunities.

Jim Webb

I do not support privatizing social security. The social security benefit is one of the most important programs run by our government. Allowing workers to reduce their contributions into Social Security and divert those contributions to private accounts can only hurt the existing Social Security program.

I also oppose health savings accounts. These programs do not benefit the majority of Americans; HSAs are for the healthy and wealthy. I think we should allow all Americans to participate in a pooling system based on the federal Employees Health Benefits Program. This can reduce the cost of health care and ensure greater portability in the coverage people can afford. It is also important to help ensure access to insurance for many of the 46 million uninsured Americans. That is why I think the government should give assistance to people earning up to 300% of the poverty level. These steps would help make it easier for low income Americans to afford health coverage.

I also support raising the minimum wage from its current level of $5.15.

An ownership society is what this country was founded upon, and it is what we need to get back to. Freedom and responsibilty go hand in hand. Without one, you won’t have the other. It is not the governments job to provide either retirement funds or health care funds to the American people, it is their job to provide them for themselves. The minimum wage laws need to be abolished, and the government needs to keep its nose out of a contract between two private parties over what one is going to pay the other.