Should Virginians support Wisconsin Goveror Scott Walker or the government union workers in the standoff in Madison? As an ardent free market capitalist, I know I should back Governor Walker, however as a fiercely loyal Virginian, I hestiate, just a little.
While Virginia legislators can pat themselves on the back for the comparitively competitive state of the Virginia economy, the reality is that as the northern-most right to work state in the Union combined with anti-tax executive leadership from Governors Wilder, Allen, and Gilmore that mitigated profligate general assembly spending, Virginia's economy has grown sharply in boom times while weathering recessions better than most states and certainly better than all of our union-based bretheren to the north. So, while my free market instincts suggest that I should fully support Governor Walker and his attempts to reign in budget-busting union costs and benefits, I pause when I think that Virginia's future economic success might be less assured if Wisconsin and other union states emancipate themselves from the shackles of union servitude. While I know that Governors Walker, Christie, and Daniels are on the right side of the issue, the loyal Virginian in me recognizes the local value in the success of the unionized government workers and the transient mercinary protesters throwing a 50,000 strong temper tantrum.
The reality is, the situation is a win-win for Virginia. If Governor Walker prevails, it is a triumph for the free market. Virginia and other right to work states will have to up the ante to create an even better business envornment for investment capital that rightly seeks the highest returns with the least risk. If the Union protestors prevail, then Virginia will continue to enjoy a structural market advantage over our neighbors to the north. If Virginia wins either way, I guess we can just sit back and enjoy the show
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Spring Cleaning of the Mind
Every year for about the last ten years I have approached December with the same goal...hang on to my training regimen just enough so that we when the time starts to really kick up the workout intensity in March/April I am not starting from scratch. Every year that has been the objective...and every year I have started a new training routine after 90-100 days of "workouts" that include holiday meals, duck blind food, and krispy kremes. Each year the first 3-4 weeks of training are a little more brutal than the last. I ran last week for the first time in 2011...it was not pretty. I ran again today...still not pretty. I have at least 3 weeks of this before things start to get better.
I checked the "totals" on the runner's GPS my wife gave me a few years ago. It shows a total of 1,672 miles. That is essentially running from my house to Denver. Do you know how many of those miles I ran with an iPod or a training partner? Zero. An appropriate response to that would might be "that's not normal" - no argument here. Another response might be "you are not normal" again, difficult to argue that point.
I think the biggest reason I don't run with an iPod or a companion is that I like the solitude of a solo run. I find that time out for a run, especially and hour plus run, is one of great mental clarity. Alone with your thoughts and the input of the surrounding environment plodding by creates a great environment to think, ponder, and suppose. I think a lot about my family, I think about my work, I think about politics and world events, I think UVa football. I think about blog posts I can write. I am not sure what it is about a run that make for such a good thinking environment for me, but I feel like I clear out a lot of mental clutter when I run. Maybe good food that is bad for me is not the only thing that builds up during my annual exercise hiatus...I think a lot of mental clutter builds up too...clutter that needs to be cleaned out like my garage every spring.
Tomorrow's run will be under an hour for sure, and will not be a think of beauty by any measure, but it will be another step in the spring cleaning of the mind. I am kind of looking forward to it now...a little.
I checked the "totals" on the runner's GPS my wife gave me a few years ago. It shows a total of 1,672 miles. That is essentially running from my house to Denver. Do you know how many of those miles I ran with an iPod or a training partner? Zero. An appropriate response to that would might be "that's not normal" - no argument here. Another response might be "you are not normal" again, difficult to argue that point.
I think the biggest reason I don't run with an iPod or a companion is that I like the solitude of a solo run. I find that time out for a run, especially and hour plus run, is one of great mental clarity. Alone with your thoughts and the input of the surrounding environment plodding by creates a great environment to think, ponder, and suppose. I think a lot about my family, I think about my work, I think about politics and world events, I think UVa football. I think about blog posts I can write. I am not sure what it is about a run that make for such a good thinking environment for me, but I feel like I clear out a lot of mental clutter when I run. Maybe good food that is bad for me is not the only thing that builds up during my annual exercise hiatus...I think a lot of mental clutter builds up too...clutter that needs to be cleaned out like my garage every spring.
Tomorrow's run will be under an hour for sure, and will not be a think of beauty by any measure, but it will be another step in the spring cleaning of the mind. I am kind of looking forward to it now...a little.
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