Seldom do we get a clear example of the admonition “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. However, it is clear now that this phrase applies to the current Democrat controlled Virginia government (and for that matter America’s Democrat controlled House of Representatives). Significantly, there is always a reaction to the abuse of power, – and the greater and more obvious the abuse, the greater the reaction.
In November 2019, the voters of Virginia installed a Democrat run legislature to complement a Democrat executive. This new totally Democrat controlled State government instituted a substantial number of changes that threatened the constitutional foundation of the Commonwealth and directly attacked the rights of Virginia citizens. The reaction was predictable albeit ignored.
Initially, the Virginia citizens who valued their constitutional rights tried to reason with the Virginia government to lessen what was perceived as a severe and abusive attack on self-defense, property and due process rights. These lobbying efforts had minimal impact on the Democrats even though some of the worst bills were initially pulled. Significantly, trust in State government was damaged.
When citizen appeals to the Democrat legislature failed, the citizens approached their local governments and petitioned for sanctuary against the State’s abuse of power. Approximately one hundred Virginia counties and cities granted some form of sanctuary to their citizens and petitioned the Virginia government to exercise less draconian legislative action. The locality based citizen sanctuary petitions were largely ignored.
The next major step in combating the Democrat abuse of power was a massive rally in Richmond. Although under attack in the press and State government as a bunch of violent and illiterate goons, some 25,000 honest and law abiding Virginia citizens showed up to protest the actions of the Democrat controlled government. The rally was ignored and the abuse of political power continued. Trust in State government was lost.
Many of the counties along the Piedmont decided that there was no further reason to appeal to the Democrats in control of the State. Thus began a citizen secession movement which is now gaining in size and strength. Thanks to West Virginia’s offer to accept seceding Virginia counties, the situation is now serious. It is likely that votes to secede will take place within the next six months. (If the county vote is to secede, then the payment of State taxes and to whom becomes very interesting. It is possible that county citizens will cease paying their Virginia taxes and put the money into a county controlled escrow account until secession is decided in the courts. Notably, it is unlikely that Virginia’s courts have the ability to adjudicate tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of State tax lawsuits or tax crimes.)
Are there steps other than secession. Lawsuits against the infringement of constitutional rights will be filed. Obviously, the next election in November 2020 will be a significant test of the impact of abuse of power by the Democrats. Businesses can and will relocate out of the State or change plans to build in Virginia because of territorial uncertainties. Retirees who previously came to Virginia because of its favorable economic climate will just keep going South or Southwest. Lastly, many law enforcement officials, particularly county sheriffs, have stated that they will not enforce what they view is an unconstitutional assault on the Constitution and their neighbors. Lawlessness will become common as citizens simply ignore the abusive and unconstitutional laws.
The Democrats in charge of Virginia have failed to understand that the exercise of power is best done using a hand covered in a velvet glove and not by a hand covered by a mailed fist. America’s and Virginia’s government is still of, by and for the people. Abuse of power is not appreciated.
