OPINION
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The Journal
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013
3
VIRGINIA VIEWPOINTS
Virginia and King George are dependent on federal spending For most people the economic situation, as compared to say four years ago, is substantially improved. In 2010, unemployment in King George County was 9.2%. Statewide it was 7.0%. That’s high by Virginia standards. Today, King George’s jobless rate is 6.3% and is trending downwards. The number of foreclosures has dropped substantially. Almost to the point where no one talks about them that much anymore, and the local real estate market, if not booming, is at least picking up steam. That’s an encouraging report. However, like most discussions in economics, there is always another side to the story. A recent report showed that median income in Virginia fell by almost 7% between 2007 and 2013. That’s not too surprising. It wasn’t called the “Great Recession” for nothing. However, what’s disconcerting is that it showed no improvement in 2012 and 2013, and David S. Kerr in fact, gave every indication that it was continuing to fall. That’s not good and explains why a lot of people in the Commonwealth, while employed, are earning less, paying more, and all in all feeling squeezed. However, what raised an eyebrow was the suggestion that the reason for this fall in median income was the fall in government spending. It may not seem like the federal government is spending less, but over the past few years, various cutbacks, primarily in defense, have taken their toll. So, has sequestration. For many, this statistic raises a question. Just how dependent is Virginia on Federal money? The answer, a shock for many, particularly my more conservative friends, is that we’re heavily dependent on Uncle Sam. Nationally, Virginia, in terms of per capita expenditure, ranks number two when it comes to federal spending. Alaska is number one. Overall spending in the Commonwealth, as reported in the most recent data, which dates back to 2011, was $139 billion. In that roll up, we rank number five, beat out by such big states as California, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania. When it comes to the Commonwealth, defense is a big part of that number, well over half, while federal pensions, both military and civilian, social security, and agricultural assistance take up the rest. While government spending has grown massively over the past thirty years, federal dollars have been a major part of Virginia’s economy for over a century, and it was defense spending that led the way.
OCT. 3 - OCt. 9
The Quantico Marine Base was established in 1912. What was then called the Dahlgren Naval Proving Ground was established in 1918. Both facilities, joined by Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, grew massively during World War II. During the Cold War, and now in the War on Terror, their vital role in our local economy continues. King George isn’t the largest recipient of federal dollars in Virginia, but we’re still in the top ten counties. Overall, federal spending in King George is just shy of a billion dollars. Again, this includes salaries, pensions, and purchases. Most notably, in King George, however, over half of the federal dollars go to procurements. Most of this is for defense related acquisitions managed through Dahlgren. But there is more to federal spending than these raw numbers indicated. There is what economists refer to as the multiplier effect. Namely, that a dollar spent in the economy results in other transactions. Depending on the type of expenditure, the multiplier can be as little as two or three, or as much as seven. High tech purchases, for example, tend to generate the highest multiplier. Of course, not all of the additional transactions are local, but many are, and result in even more activity for our economy. Many businesses, seemingly with little to do with the federal government, can, thanks to the multiplier, trace their economic success back to federal expenditures and salaries. However, there is a problem with this dependence on federal money. While benefited from it, our economy, as the result of this dependence, isn’t diverse, and when federal monies are at risk, so are we. Sequestration, reductions in defense spending, and the continuing stalemate in Washington, all could have a significant impact on our local economy. Federal money, overall, is going to continue to play a dominant role in our local economy. But, in years to come, it’s going to get tighter and we’re going to feel it. You may reach David Kerr at kerr@journalpress.com
“Red lines” are drawn in blood. Jack Stevenson Can you think of any problem within the United States that could be solved with a drone strike or a cruise missile or a bombing run? Probably not, but ordnance explosions seem to be our solution for problems in the Middle East. Could we do something more civilized, more productive? We have the world’s greatest concentration of wealth, the greatest universities, and a lot of smart people. Surely, someone can come up with a better solution. If not, we should at least apply the medical motto: “Do no harm.” The United States and Russia are now working together to resolve one of the many problems that burden the Middle East, a stockpile of toxic war gas in Syria. Russia and the U.S. have worked together in the past. We Americans know about our own role in World War II. We know that we lost more than four hundred thousand soldiers. We may not know as much about the Russian contribution to Allied victory. Russia, then the U.S.S.R., lost about twenty million of their citizens. The Germans, who were then the enemy, sustained seventy percent of their casualties fighting the Russians on the
“Eastern Front.” Had it not been for the Russian sacrifice, U.S. history would be very different. More recently, the U.S. and Russia have worked together to capture the many nuclear weapons and radioactive materials that were uncontrolled after the U.S.S.R. collapsed. That quiet cooperation may be one of humanity’s most important achievements. The U.S. has its own stockpile of ultra-poisonous war gases stored at the Bluegrass Army Depot in Kentucky. A plan to construct a facility to safely decompose those nerve gases has been in progress for about twenty years. It may be another ten years before the gases are destroyed. It will also require a substantial amount of time to destroy Syria’s arsenal of war gases. Many observers expect that the Syrian government willeventuallycollapse.TheMiddleEastisstaggeringly complex and steeped in ages-old animosities and differences. If the Syrian government does collapse, no one knows who might gain control of Syria’s toxic war gases. That is a valid reason for placing those munitions under international control. There will be no shortage of people who want to sabotage the joint effort to peacefully destroy
Syria’s gas munitions - people who prefer military solutions for all problems in the Middle East. But the United States has not proved that using its vast military capability to kill people in the Middle East with “stand-off weapons” provides a good solution to any problem. Enforcing a “red line” threat would be bloody and would kill or wound both the innocent and the guilty. Two thousand years ago, the Roman government became annoyed with its Jewish population. They slaughtered the Jews in Jerusalem and reduced the city to ashes and rubble. The Roman Empire vanished long ago, but the Jewish people survive and thrive. The bellicose contingent among our government officials might want to remember that outcome as they attempt to impose their wisdom on the Muslim Middle East. Jack Stevenson says: I am retired. I served two years in Vietnam as an infantry officer, retired from military service, and worked three years as a U.S. Civil Service employee. I also worked in Egypt as an employee of the former Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Currently, I read history, follow issues important to Americans, and write
Letter to the Editor To the Editor: Re: Nonpartisan group Sept. 4 letter by its president, Warren Veazey. Warren Veazey may very well be a pure, upstanding citizen, yet, while his angry rant hopefully made him feel better, I just hope this politically inspired stew pot-stirring doesn’t result in more harm than good. Besides, it used to be one was known and held in high regard by the company one kept, but today, sadly, it’s who can be thrown “Under the bus” and the bigger the name of the individual or group, the better. But, it’s not fair to cast dispersions at something you’re mad about, even if some truth abides in them, as it can land one in unpleasantries for longer than one wants or is warranted. Perhaps our King George County is somewhat “small and rural” to some; however, being raised here in the 50s and 60s, going to the old Potomac School, and graduating from the old downtown KG High School, there’s a stark difference from then to now as the high school had the Future Farmers of America organization, which today, like shop, probably doesn’t exist, and Dahlgren downtown has a traffic light. We’re no longer the booming boonies. Nonetheless, Veazey’s attack on Larry Kyle’s writing a letter because he served on the KG Electoral Board, reminds me as a Democrat writing a letter criticizing then Pres. Bill Clinton whereby I got attacked by fellow Democrats who felt I had committed some major sin despite the fact of living in America that’s supposedly “Home of the Brave, Land of the Free,” or so I was taught.
Concludingly, John Donne, I believe, wrote, “No man is an island” and Tip O’Neil said, “All politics is local”. So, lay off the parties, whatever their stripe. Besides, no one is perfect, no party, no corporation, not even governments for, like religion, the human thread that binds us all is relationship. Hence, We the People get exactly what we get, due to the quality of who we elect, plus the time we spend being involved and making those who serve us here, state and national, accountable. Finally, the real problem/concern most likely is not really party politics affecting the local estate, but fearing the potential of the good old boy network being made important in influence, money and power.
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ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 It’s never too late to get healthy, Aries. Find time for some exercise and replace some calorie-laden foods with fruits and vegetables. You will appreciate having an extra hop in your step. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, a week of passion and romance awaits you and your special someone. Everything you do draws the attention of others. So make it work to your advantage. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, it can be challenging to get your head wrapped around certain tasks. Somehow you will manage to pull everything together and get everything accomplished. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, maintain your focus in the coming week no matter how difficult that proves to be. Personal concerns may have you reeling, but your heightened focus will serve you well. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, you may have something on your mind, but now is not the time to share such concerns. Do your best to solve a problem on your own, but rely on the advice of others if need be. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, do your best to avoid being let down by the negative attitudes of others. Friends or
coworkers may just be in a bad mood, but that does not mean you need to be. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, a little extra concentration will find you tackling your workload with time to spare. Commit your time now and enjoy the time to take things slow later in the week. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, signficant changes are afoot and you are not quite sure how to prioritize your goals. Enjoy the change, but make use of down time to reestablish your priorities. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, though a pressing issue in your relationship may seem like it needs immediate attention, you have a lot of time to work through any issues. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, your normally conservative approach won’t work this week. You have to take a couple of chances, or you won’t accomplish much of anything. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, you have only a few days to learn some new procedures at work. It is natural to feel nervous, but put aside those feelings and concentrate on the tasks at hand. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, don’t worry too much about an upcoming change around the office. You’re in position to benefit from some restructuring.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CLUES ACROSS 4. Eilat Airport 1. 1st, 2nd & 3rd in baseball 5. Visualize 6. Sew up a hawk’s eyes 6. A young pig 10. N’Djamena is the capital 7. Wyatt __, OK Corral 14. Be a connector 8. Point one point S of due E 15. To accustom 9. Those who give freely 17. Cornflower 10. Small slice of meat, especially veal 19. Former CIA 11. Dislike intensely 20. Bark sharply 12. Egyptian sun God 21. Actress Barkin 13. Animal lair 22. Cathode-ray tube 16. Dutch flowers 23. Shallowest Great Lake 18. A Greek harp 24. Surface of a plane figure 22. O. Twist’s author’s initials 26. Bird of prey 23. Periods of time 29. A large number 24. __ Claus 31. Chums 25. Actress Lupino 32. Express pleasure 27. Green regions of desert 34. Capital of Yemen 28. Any competition 35. Sanctify 29. Salem, MA, teachers college 37. Hyperbolic cosecant 30. Container for display 38. Central Standard Time 31. Ink writing implement 39. Seed of the legume family 33. Hogshead (abbr.) 40. Drove in golf 35. As much as one can eat 41. Without difficulty 36. Puts in a horizontal position 43. Without (French) 37. Cotangent (abbr.) 45. Politicians (informal) 39. Vitamin H 46. Not happy 42. Book hinges 47. Spiritual being 43. Voiced musical sounds 49. Male child 44. In the year of Our Lord 50. The cry made by sheep 46. Japanese entertainment firm 53. Handheld image enlarger 47. Comedian Carvey 57. Inventiveness 48. Bird reproductive bodies 58. Column style 49. Rests on a chair 59. Impudence 50. River border 60. 33 1/3 records 51. Largest continent 61. Berkeley’s sister city 52. Plural of ascus CLUES DOWN 53. Prefix for ill 1. Lymph node plague swelling 54. Small bark 2. Freshwater duck genus 55. Geographic Information System 3. Dog attacks 56. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano See classified page for answers
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