Change in the Valley

By Nelson Grave
Published: August 27, 2008

Am I the only one who’s noticed changes taking place in the Valley? I see changes occurring in politics, characteristics and scenery.
Closet Democrats are no longer afraid to acknowledge their party affiliation or what motivates them to run. After the 2006 national midterm election, local Democratic-leaning voters, candidates and sympathizers still hesitated to step up and out.
Prior to the 2006 elections, if a Valley candidate wasn’t a Republican but wanted to serve, he or she ran as an Independent. When nationally known, law-and-order Republicans began succumbing to power, scandal and corruption, even local Republican wanna-bes changed party affiliations.
One of the best-known politicians in this part of Virginia, U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, switched from Republican to Independent. Virginia voters, like national voters, were and are tired and fed up with power-hungry, scandal-driven national Republicans.
In 2008, Democratic candidates seemingly came and are coming out of the woodwork. Of course, by and large, Democratic candidates are still a rarity in Augusta and Rockingham counties and in Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro.
Not even 6th District U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte is immune from competition. Democrat Sam Rasoul is vying for Goodlatte’s seat. Though Rasoul stands little chance of beating Goodlatte, “Vote for Rasoul” signs are appearing in more and more yards and along roads.
The character of the Valley is changing, too. At one time, not that long ago, if someone thought of opening a store that sold adult toys, books or movies, he or she would immediately know “not here.”
Despite the prosecution of Staunton’s After Hours Video and store owner Rick Krial and his employee for selling pornography, clearly there are customers who want his products. Like the trial that ended in a split decision – guilty of one charge, not guilty of the other – it appears that Staunton and other local residents are just as conflicted as the jury was.
Judging by letters to the editor at local papers, residents aren’t all of one voice. Not everyone cares for only G- and PG-rated movies.
I see no difference between the laws limiting the purchase of alcohol or those that restrict the purchase of X-, MA- and XXX-rated movies.
To purchase alcohol, the buyer must be of legal age (21 years old) and have a desire for the product. The same criteria restrict the purchase of pornography, as long as underage children aren’t featured in the products. Haven’t we been down this road before? Years ago, from 1920 to 1933, the road was named Prohibition. Will the road heading out of Staunton lead to the U.S. Supreme Court?
Finally, there’s the scenery. With the high cost of fuel and low to non-existent immigrant workers, our roads and highways are trashy and overgrown. On the plus side of the high price of gas and diesel fuel, there appears to be less tractor-trailer and tourist traffic on Interstate 81.
Nelson Graves, Western Virginia director of the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, writes a weekly column for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .