Nye Joins Cantor in the Panderocracy
Congressman Nye joins the shameless “Support the Troops” chorus of Cantor and all who proffer use of the HOV lanes as honor for service rather than offering substantive support by calling for an end to the waste of American blood and treasure in foreign misadventures. Cower behind the troops, again.
Beyond the fact that this is part and parcel of establishing a separate military class and walking away from the concept of the citizen-soldier, it is idiotic; it is unenforceable; it rewards personnel whose only sacrifice has been a paper cut when opening their paychecks. It gives short shrift to civilian members of DoD. But nice stab at reaching out to the same people Palin abuses. It is a modern day Napoleonic ribbon.
“Traffic congestion is a serious problem in Hampton Roads, and our HOV lanes are often under-utilized,” Nye said. “This legislation will help ease traffic for everyone in the region, and make sure our military and emergency response personnel get where they need to go.” – Glenn Nye
Contrast that with Cantor’s statement on the same “issue“:
“Virginia is home to nearly 120,000 members of the Armed Forces and countless law enforcement officials who make their way to work each day in service to our nation and to keep us safe. This small measure allows the Commonwealth to alleviate traffic while also making the commute for these brave individuals much more expedient. Motorists need relief from traffic congestion, and this common-sense step will help to ease that burden. It is a win for motorists, a win for families, and a win for the men and women of our armed forces and law enforcement officials who keep us safe.” – Eric Cantor
A similar initiative was pushed by Delegate Chris Stolle (R-Virginia Beach) in the Virginia Assembly this year. Not a single member of the Assembly had the fortitude to call it what it is: a meaningless gesture that will make the HOV lanes equally congested and destroy any incentive to carpool for un-uniformed personnel. But shucks, HOV lanes are a needless restriction on our freedom anyhow. And, HOV lanes are not enumerated in the Constitution.
The good news for anyone who owns a uniform: you get a free pass to use the HOV lanes. There is no way to enforce this exception without a roadblock halting traffic in the lanes. That should make sales at the army surplus stores soar. So in a way, I suppose it is an economic stimulus. I may even open a shop just short of the lanes and sell uniforms; choose your service and rank.
Congratulations to Eric Cantor and the Republicans for the coming successful subversion of the HOV concept. Shame on anyone who thinks this is anything else because it accomplishes nothing else.
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July 29th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Brilliant strategy by Nye to get his name out there and grab some headlines from…. who is his opponent again?
July 31st, 2010 at 4:38 am
Perhaps it is a play to indicate that Nye is capable of introducing legislation that will make it to the floor that can’t be accomplished by the minority whip? It is a good bipartisan issue that undoubtedly would pass. Unfortunately, Cantor’s grandstanding and arm twisting attitudes make his submissions dead-on-arrival. For a supposed freshman representative to usurp a seasoned one places a significant feather in Nye’s cap.
July 31st, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Greetings from Ohio.
@Dan Sullivan,
Good to see you posting again.
I do not think it would be that hard to enforce. Does the vehicle have an active duty DOD sticker on it if there is only one occupant? If it does not, pull them over. Sure, there could be some abuse by family members driving the car, but no more abuse then we already see w/ family members using handicapped parking even when the handicapped family member is sitting back home.
I understand your concerns about subverting the intention of the HOV concept, but that pure concept was already subverted by allowing single occupant hybrids and/or alternative fueled vehicles to use them in many areas of our nation. You do oppose this exception as well don’t you, or are you selective in your allowance of exceptions?
As a truck driver, I support BOTH exceptions. I am not allowed in the HOV lanes and I would like to see as much of the traffic blocking the lanes I can use over in the lanes I can’t use (grin). I also think rewarding those who help us to lessen our dependence on foreign oil/lessen their personal carbon footprint as well as those who voluntarily raise their right hand and wear an active duty uniform is desirable.
I also think your statement “it rewards personnel whose only sacrifice has been a paper cut when opening their paychecks” is true in only a slim minority of cases. Large numbers of the crews of the ships based at NOB Norfolk commute each day. The majority of those serving on shore duty have already completed one tour of duty at a sea command or somewhere overseas. Sure, there are the lucky few that are assigned to a CONUS (Contiguous United States) shore command for their 1st tour of duty but this is the exception rather then the rule. As for DOD civilians getting the short shrift there is nothing stopping them from resigning from their civilian jobs and enlisting if they think the active duty folks are getting such a better deal. I don’t think many of them will do so, do you? I’d be willing to bet that most of them realize they are, in most instances, paid more for less sacrifice then your average active duty service member.
I applaud my Congressman Glenn Nye for his support of this proposal. Hopefully this is one measure that can achieve broad bipartisan support. Now, how about trying to get those active duty folks a pay raise? I might be unusual, but I would be willing to see my taxes go up to pay for it.
Go Blue Dog Democrat Glenn Nye Go!
August 1st, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Nye has been do disappointing on so many levels it is hard to describe, I honestly don’t know why any honest thinking liberal would vote for someone who seems to have zero backbone whatsoever.
When has Nye done anything or cast a single vote that was not politically expedient?
August 1st, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Seems like Nye is doing everything he can to get his name out there and pick up votes. He has people knocking on doors saying that he’s an independent, and is obviously trying to please everyone he can. So, he’s reaching out to the military, trying to pick up votes there. He’s trying to sway everyone else by saying that his independent voice is what this area needs. Independent voice? So he’s not running as a Democrat? As a die hard blue leader? Nope, he’s running as the make sure everyone likes me candidate, and that really worries me.
Ok, will that independent voice be voting for Nanci Pelosi? You can’t tell me that this guy is going to go rogue and not vote for her.
Also, if he’s so pro military, who’s voice was he using when he voted to get rid of don’t ask don’t tell policy. I’m not against gays serving, but as a former military member, and active member of the military community, I can tell you that it is not something folks are ready for.Not saying that it’s right, but it is what it is.
Regardless of what happens with the HOV lanes, we need new blood in Congress. Nye is going to go out of his way to please the masses, and that’s not leadership.
August 8th, 2010 at 6:15 am
Glenn Nye did more for the military and veterans in his first four months in office then his predecessor did in her entire four years in office. This action by Glenn is just another example of his support for the military. It is not unusual, it is typical.
As for the end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell? I am retired Navy and I am not certain that saying the military is not ready for it is accurate. The Pentagon is trying to conduct a survey on the issue having sent out questionnaires to several hundred thousand active duty service members and evidently they’re having trouble motivating these service members to respond. Response is not mandatory (perhaps that was a mistake) and evidently the overwhelming majority could care less one way or the other because they are not even taking the time necessary to fill out the survey to get their voices heard. I know that opposition was strong back when I served, but there is another generation now serving. I know that my kid’s generation are more open to the idea of gay marriage then my generation, so I guess they also have less of a problem serving alongside gays in uniform as well.