On our way to the public library this evening with my family, we passed by a very peaceful demonstration of approx 30 people in downtown Leesburg.  I noticed the signs for “Support Public Option” (or something very similar).  As I passed by the group and turned north on 15, I adamantly shook my head in disagreement.  That’s when I saw the other signs (most likely the opposite side of the sign I first saw), “Health Care for All”.  So, by expressing my disagreement with the public option, I am also displaying by my opinion AGAINST Health care for all? 

These two are obviously not synonymous; the public option has to do with insurance not the providing of health care.  No one ever states that anyone (with cash or without) can get health care from almost any emergency room across the country.  Regardless, the goal seems to be to link the Public Option with an emotion triggering idea such as “Health care for all.”  Anyone who opposes the public option surely opposes health care for all, right? Ummm….not really.

It’s the same emotional carrot that is dangled in front of the public when politicians/activists promote higher funding for educational programs; it’s FOR THE KIDS, you hate monger!   Sure does generate an emotional response.   I don’t want to be thought of as an uncaring unenlightened schnob that thinks that if you can’t pay for health care, then tough titties.  Who does?  And that’s the bitch of it.  It allows the debate to never talk about the basic fundamentals for each argument. 

In one corner, we have a group that believes that the government is the solution.  Government control is best; government knows best.  Through the government’s intervention, we can provide everyone healthcare.  Popular thoughts:  “Why doesn’t the other side care about the folks who are hurting and struggling; we’re a rich country so we should do something.  If it meant health care for all, I would pay more taxes.”  The rub:  By providing everyone healthcare, the only way to reduce cost (to even sustain this coverage) is to limit access.

In the other corner, we have a group that believes in limited Government.  The Government has its place for regulation and removing barriers to competition (if they actually do this, seems rare now a days doesn’t it?).  It’s only through competition that you can lower costs.  Besides if there more completion, there’s more options and more choices.  Popular thoughts:  “If the other side is so willing to pay higher taxes to provide health care for all, how many people’s health care are they currently paying for (my guess is zero)?  If I feel that I have a case against my insurance company, I can bring them to court.  I can’t bring my government to court if I suspect wrong doing, unethical behavior or otherwise.  How can a private company compete with the government?  Why doesn’t the government allow insurance companies to compete against each other across state lines?”  The rub:  It’s easy to give power to government and it’s hard to give people responsibility for their own well being.

Since these fundamentals do not readily fit on a sign that any person can hold on the corner of a street or in a town hall meeting, I guess we will never get down to brass tacks.

I am hungry just thinking of writing this post.  We recently partook of the newest restaurant to grace downtown Leesburg:  The Cajun Experience.  It definitely was an Experience!  If you don’t look out of the window to check your bearings, your fast-pasted DC metro life becomes irrelevant and slowly melts away.  Don’t look now; you are in slower pace Louisiana now and the only things that matter are your family, the food in front of you and the company at your table (and possibly surrounding tables).  Owned and operated by native Louisianans, the Experience offers traditional Cajun (not to be confused with creole) dishes: etouffee (pronounced A-Too-Fay), gumbo, po-boys, etc.  Being from Louisiana, Lafayette to be exact (and about as Cajun as you can get!), I really, REALLY like my husband’s etouffee.  The Experience’s etouffee makes my husband’s etouffee taste like a Chef Boyardee right-out-of-the-box knock off (I hope he is not reading this!).  The etouffee is rich, flavorful and served with a side of potato salad.  As it is seasonal, order the etouffee as long as you can!  First-timers, don’t be shy with the potato salad.  Go ahead and mix it with the etouffee; your taste buds will thank you!  I also recommend the beignets and coffee, both of which are reminiscent of a certain New Orleans cafe.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to try more dishes (red beans and rice, chef’s special and pecan pie?) during the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival this weekend.  By the way, last chef’s special was blackened Talapia on a bed of etouffee.  C’est tres bon!

The Cajun Experience is located at 14 Loudoun Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (and they are hiring!)

No?  Maybe?  Who knows!  The DHS recently submitted a report titled “Rightwing Extremism:  Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” to state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.  While the report does not define or describe what constitutes rightwing extremism, it does identify circumstances that may encourage it (basically everything that is going on now…as long as Obama is in office, apparently).  Read it here.

I for one am going to contact my local law enforcement to find out how they are using this information.  Leesburg Virginia police contact information may be found here or you can e-mail the Cheif of Police.

If you find any information from your city/county/state, please feel free to share by leaving a comment.  I’ll let you know if the Leesburg Chief of Police has recieved a similar report on “leftwing extremism”, but I’m not so sure leftwing extremism exists.

An article on the hearing last week regarding the potential new site for the Loudoun Gov’t. Apparently Supervisors Snow and Tulloch was just flummoxed and confused that people would want the center for Loudoun County Government to remain in the County Seat.

Simply shocking. Can anyone explain to me why it would be shocking for citizens of North, Central, and Western Loudoun along with the Leesburg Town Council to want the Loudoun Government to stay in Leesburg?

Can someone also explain to me why this would be a bad idea?

Yesterday was the LCRC Convention and all the predictions of death, destruction, pestilence, famine, and so on did not come to pass. There was 60% turnout, which is better than expected, and the place was packed! It went pretty smoothly, except it was pretty long. Next time I will bring a pillow, but otherwise excellent job by those who put it together.

Though the convention seemed even longer for my Leesburg District. We were supposed to go next to last in the voting, and then as we filed onto line, it was announced that Sugarland Run was going to go before us due to technical reasons with the machines.

Frustrating to say the least, but sure shows which Republicans were the most committed. And that’s the great thing about these conventions. We are able to make sure that Republicans choose the Republican nominees, and we see who are the most hardcore. As district chair, I know who I can call to help out in November.

A couple observations - Gary Clemens gave an amazing and evergetic speech. Hard to believe it came from someone running to be a bureaucrat! Jack Ryan had a great line in his speech to illustrate how accessible he would be - he announced his cell phone number! I should have called it. For a couple speeches, I was disappointed that some of the candidates were booed when they were called to the stage. Not classy. Booing a remark is one thing, but booing the person is not good. Finally, my man Jim Clem (Leesburg District Supervisor) addressed the crowd wearing a short sleeve shirt with a design that looked like something you wear on a cruise in the Caribbean, compared to the other candidates decked out in suits. In his short speech he had the funny line that he was the only one who had the sense to dress for the weather.

Anyway, congratulations to everyone that won. There may have been a race or two I wouldn’t have minded seeing go differently, but we had great candidates for most of the races. So for the ones I had hoped for one candidate to win, at least the other guy won.

In conclusion, I’m looking forward to November. Rah rah rah. Goooo Republicans!

Jim