Issue Position: Rural High Speed Internet

Issue Position

Many would like to see high-speed internet brought to local communities across Virginia, and they want the government to do it for them. While this sounds good, it represents a fundamental mis-understanding of the role of government at all levels.

In 2010 Governor Bob McDonnell was excoriated by the media for vetoing a bill that would have required mandatory hours of PE for students in Virginia's public school classrooms. Did he veto it because it was a bad idea? Absolutely not. But a conservative, Bob McDonnell, recognized that the policies to be dictated to the local schools should be decided at the local level.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Government closest to the people is the most responsive" and he was right. So to the extent that we need to spend tax dollars on on high-speed internet in our rural communities, this should be an initiative undertaken by those rural communities.

True Story:
In 1898 in order to finance the Spanish-American war, congress decided to levy a tax on the most wealthy among us. How did they determine who those wealthy people were? Anyone who owned a telephone. In 1898 a 3% tax was levied against local phone services. In 2011 they are still collecting a 3% tax that was levied to finance a war over 110 years ago.

It is important…and imperative to send a Constitutional Conservative to Richmond who understands the role of government at the appropriate level.

As it relates to high-speed internet: twenty years ago we were all on dial-up. Now, because we have allowed the free market to work, more and more people have access to the internet through their telephone provider or their cable provider, and the market will continue to work.

A government big enough to get you high-speed internet is big enough to take from you the fruits of your labor. There is a fundamental difference in people who understand the Federalist concept and the proper role and function of government at each level. I'm the Constitutional Conservative in Virginia's 22nd Senate District.

If you agree with me that government closest to the people governs best then stand with my campaign and lets take back the Virginia Senate.

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