Tag: Bacon’s Rebellion
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Yes Virginia, There Is a GreenTech Automotive

Last December, James Bacon trod gingerly when discussing the report by Ryan Nobles implying some kind of chicanery in Terry McAuliffe's description of the dealings with the Commonwealth. Instead of jumping on the disparaging McAuliffe inference in Nobles' report ala National Review Online, Bacon analyzed the statements by McAuliffe less literally and the prospects with more balance.
According to a spokeswoman from VEDP, the agency never officially was given the opportunity to bid or not bid on his project."We did not receive enough information to respond to GreenTech's business proposal that was received in 2009," said Suzane West, the Communications Manager for VEDP. - Ryan Nobles, Richmond's NBC 12
In the context of the usual opportunities to court industry, this one demanded immediate attention from the VEDP. That is just not the way government operates unless the skids are greased. Well before McAuliffe was a player in GreenTech Automotive, Mississippi was in contention; maybe already had stolen the march. GreenTech extended Virginia a courtesy that was not returned. While Mississippi was paving the highway to Tunica, Virginia built roadblocks. There was no compelling reason or really any way for GreenTech to build a case that could overcome VEDP's criticisms of its plan. The skepticism and risk analysis were not unwarranted. But Bacon's own bottom line was appropriate:
"Let's hope that the business prospects for GreenTech will be sufficiently clear by next year that we can make an informed judgment of McAuliffe's gubernatorial timber." - James A. Bacon
Two Superb Articles by Peter Galuszka at Bacon’s Rebellion

The "Streamlining" article explains how Bob McDonnell "likes the idea of government streamlining because it fits his political philosophy of promoting limited government," but also how there isn't much room for efficiency gains in Virginia state government, as "previous Democratic Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine did a pretty good job running the state."
Galuszka's other recent article, The "Cooch" and Academic Freedom, argues that Ken Cuccinelli's assault on academic freedom in Virginia "conjures up some very ugly moments in American history." According to Galuszka, "[Cuccinelli's] move is reminiscent of the church putting Galileo under house arrest for saying the planets move around the sun instead of the earth." Given this situation, Galuszka asks, "Why would an honest researcher want to work with Virginia universities if his or her work is going to be challenged by the likes of Cuccinelli and he or she will have to pay all of those lawyers fees to fund the Grand Inquisitor's witch hunts through their emails?" Good question, and great article, by Peter Galuszka!