In 1816, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.” Notice that Jefferson was referring to a citizen’s own property — not that of someone else. Our nation was young in 1816, but Jefferson’s principle remains.
Today we have no zoning in Tazewell County. If I wish to allow energy companies to erect a commercial wind farm on my property on East River Mountain, that is my right, so long as the project receives various state and federal approvals.
Yet other citizens want to tell me how I can manage my property. So they have asked the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors to limit — perhaps outlaw — tall structures on ridgelines.
You see, for whatever reason they don’t wish to see wind turbines, and they want Tazewell County to take care of their problem for them. Never mind the significant economic benefits to the county — and to me and my family — or the jobs that will be created. And never mind that a tall structures ordinance without prior zoning could be unconstitutional in Virginia.
But most of all, never mind that Jefferson said we have an equal right to manage our own property, with the implication that we don’t have the right to manage that of Sue, Joe or Nick.
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Chambers
Bluefield, Va.
Peer pressure influencing rep’s health care votes
I am a concerned West Virginia citizen, upset with the import of the article written in the Monday (Nov. 9) issue of this paper, concerning U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall voting in favor of H.R. 3200. He states in this article that the people in his district believe, “that health care and its insurance costs are out of whack,” thus the reason he voted for this bill.
I really do not believe U.S. Rep. Rahall is as unknowledgeable concerning solutions to our health care previously introduced in Congress, such as tort reform, lifting state bans on competition for health insurance companies that would lower costs, and other means. Why are our legislators ignoring actual reform to mandate government-controlled health insurance that promises extra costs and less coverage for the working class?
I believe extreme liberalism has invaded Capitol Hill, and intense peer pressure is influencing our federal representatives to vote against their constituents’ convictions. West Virginians, I call on you to remember this outrage on election day.
Rev. William E. Jones Sr.
Princeton
Letters to the Editor
November 20, 2009
Remember Jefferson in wind debate
- Letters to the Editor
-
- Veterans deserve government support
- Bring gospel concert back to festival
- Respect the wishes of the PVHS seniors
- Judd vote was in protest of Obama
- Issues, not race, led to votes for Judd
- What’s next for Raleigh?
- Commandments ‘our reverence to God’
- No reason for PVHS graduation uproar
- Keep all commandments in place
- Shameful debate ruining graduation
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
