Possum Philosophy: Richer regions of state need to fight their battle

By ROBERT CAHILL/Columnist

A few years back, I was working on a piece about the Civil War in southwestern Virginia. Fortunately, I had access to one of the world’s premier authorities on Civil War history, Dr. James I. “Bud” Robertson of Virginia Tech. Not only is he a genuine authority on this subject, he is also an extremely nice guy and has been willing to talk with me on several occasions. This time in particular, I asked Dr. Robertson how the general public in our region viewed the war. I will never forget what Dr. Robertson said, “Yes, fellows from Southwest Virginia did not hesitate to volunteer. They felt like their home was being invaded by the Union Army. But they also thought of the situation as a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.” Meaning the rich folks might blast each other with rhetoric, but for the most part it was the poor man being blasted by Minnie balls and cannons.
Well, wonder of wonders! In the time of terrible price increases on anything and everything that Joe and Jane Citizen have to buy just to keep the family going, the Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate (thanks to our wonderful senators from northern Virginia) has approved a six-cents per gallon increase in gasoline taxes. It appears, however, that the House (controlled by Republicans) will kill it. According to Media General News Service, the bill also includes raising the sales tax rate from 5 percent to 5.25 percent, raising the tax on car sales from 3 to 3.5 percent. It does have a few saving graces such as separate sales tax and fee increases for northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads area, as well as reducing the statewide sales tax on food from 2.5 to 2 percent.
However, there are other issues being considered. Gov. Tim Kaine has a proposal that includes things such as a $10 raise in car registration fees, a 1 percent hike in the auto sales tax, and an increase of 25 cents per $100 in the property seller’s tax to be used to help fund mass transit. House Republican leaders, along with some Democrats, do not want statewide tax increases, particularly any increase in the gasoline tax. What do you want to bet that many of those opposing these bills and the increases they contain are from areas other than northern Virginia and the megalopolis that now envelopes Virginia’s coast?
As I see it, it all goes back to the same thing Dr. Robertson explained to me. This battle over taxes is a “rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.”
Once again, with gas and diesel going sky-high, we hear more and more cries for increased use of mass transit. Mass transit is a good thing. It does save fuel and in areas such as NoVa, as the residents there like to call it (I wonder if they feel too special to be just Virginians and want to be considered NoVaians instead?). However, here in the beautiful Southern Highlands of Virginia, it does not work so well. Folks here are used to having to drive 30, 40, 50 miles or more one way, just to keep a job that still pays less than an equivalent one in the metropolitan areas of Virginia pays. Citizens here, for the most part, live in less densely populated neighborhoods. Many live and work on farms.
A lengthy drive to the job is worth it for the quality of life we have as rural residents. I sat on my front porch yesterday afternoon. It was warm and quiet. The birds were everywhere and I could hear them singing, Yeah, I may have to drive a good ways just to get to the grocery store, but it is worth it. The same goes for those of us who live in small towns. We know our neighbors and while we have problems, we do not have the huge crime rates the cities do.
As for the tax increases, yes, we do have transportation needs. But nothing like they have in NoVa or Hampton Roads. Yet, a large portion of the cost for any transportation improvements comes from the state’s gas tax, which, proportionally, we pay more of since we drive so much farther. I feel for my brothers and sisters in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and the D.C. area, but I believe we already do more than our share of paying. Since it appears possible to place a specific tax on these areas, then make it a good one. Don’t go with a 1 or 2 percent increase, go with 5 or 10 percent and put it on gas there as well as other revenue streams. Since they are the ones who would most benefit from mass transit, let them pay for mass transit. For once, if it is a rich man’s war, let it be a rich man’s fight.

A freelance journalist, Robert “Rocky” Cahill writes regularly for the News & Messenger. His Possum Philosophy column appears in each Saturday edition.