re: #256 Targetpractice

Living in Hampton Roads, it’s never failed to amuse me over the years hearing people dependent upon federal dollars to keep the economy running bitching about “big government.” The only thing funnier was the serious suggestions back in the 00s that VA Beach could survive on tourist dollars if the Navy ended up closing NAS Oceana and moving the jets elsewhere.

Yeah no kidding. I think that’s part of why NoVa grew more liberal and less Republican. That shit just doesn’t fly here because many people work directly with the government here and know it is a net positive for the area economically. I always delight in their derision of NoVa because NoVa is so vital to the state’s economic success and their bright red areas don’t. It’s not that I’m happy that their economy is struggling more so that the part of the state they think is awful is what helps the state succeeds. The diversity up here really is a huge positive as is the government presence.