Virginia Tomorrow

MEMO 

TO:  Speaker Bill Howell, Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, Minority Leader Ward Armstrong

 Cc:  Associated hacks, flacks, lap-dogs and water-toters

 FROM:  Yr. Pal

 Gentlemen:

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the summer.  We’re getting good rain out this way.  My garden is doing well.

It is sorta an average garden, with Republican potatoes and squash and Democratic beans and corn. 

I used to segregate my garden, with Democrats on one end and Republicans on the other.  And, of course, I’d plant the shiftless, wishy-washy Independents-cabbages, onions, okra and sugar peas-in the middle.

They did all right like that.  About like usual.  Good enough.  There was the usual carping back and forth-the corn would get a little mouthy every spring-but nothing out of the ordinary.

This year I decided to do things a little differently.  I think it was that terrible plague of bipartisanship that swept the country.  I was going to spray for it, but it got away from me before I could.  I decided to just join in. 

You know me:  go along to get along.

I desegregated my garden!

I did! 

I forced the Democrats and the Republicans together in the garden.  I made them Republican potatoes grow side-by-side with them Democratic beans. 

They didn’t really like it at first.  They pouted and snuffled and carried on.   I mean, what self-respecting potato really wants to get to know a bean?

But guess what?  The garden flourished!

Which brings me to the reason for this note:  desegregate the seating in the House of Delegates. 

How in the hell do you expect us to believe you’re working together when, by design, you can’t even sit together?

Desegregate the seating in committees and on the floor.

This simple move would have a salubrious effect on the governance of Virginia

I know what I’m talking about.  I’ve seen it in the garden.

Hey, you never know-those turnips in the Senate might even take note!

 Barnie Day is a banker in Stuart, Virginia