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Follow us on Twitter @PWCtimes Gainesville / Prince William Times | October 31, 2018
To heal our divisions: Vote, listen and look for common ground In one week, voters go to the polls to vote in the midterm elections. You’ve read the news, seen the ads, and, hopefully, many of you are planning to vote, if you have not done so already by absentee. No matter what your political persuasion, voting is a civic duty. It is one of the characteristics of this nation that make it unique and envied. Citizens of many nations strive to have the opportunity that is our birthright. Not only are you voting for Senate and House seats, there are also ballot measures to be decided, underlying the need for all to get to the polls and make their voices heard. It is an empty action to complain about our laws and lawmakers if one hasn’t taken the time to cast a ballot. Many would argue just going to the polls is not enough, and they are right. An uneducated vote is often a wasted vote. Prep yourself. Read up on the ballot measures. Read pros and cons from all sides. Even if your inclination is to vote straight ticket, take some time to research your decisions. Our newspaper’s in-depth interviews with many of the candidates
Rep. Rob Wittman: My stance on health care Last week, this publication attempted to describe my position on health care. However, they got it wrong and I feel the need to set the record straight. They are correct in that I have voted to repeal or amend the Affordable Care Act. Why? I was there when Nancy Pelosi stood at the front of the House
and coverage of debates are available on Fauquier.com. On the front page of today’s edition is a checklist of five hot-button issues asked of all the candidates. It serves to point out that on many of the issues, the parties are divided as ever when it comes to their positions. What’s worse, last week’s horrific violence, including the heartbreaking synagogue shootings and the pipe bombs that were mailed – but, thankfully, never exploded – to high-profile critics of President Donald Trump are yet more evidence of our country’s deep ideological divide. Is this who we are as a people, so driven by our political intolerance that we act out in violence or fan the flames of hatred? We believe this not to be true. We believe these actions are outliers. Recent studies show that tribalism in political thought is driven by a small percentage of the population on the extreme edges of the political spectrum. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, trying to make sense of it all, trying to vote for the right people and issues based on our personal
belief systems. Yet we interact on a daily basis, in all walks of life -- in business, education, school athletics and more – with people with whom we disagree. Our circles, our workplaces, even our families, are a likely a mix of liberals, conservatives, progressives and populists. We may differ in our religions, our worldviews and our ideas about the solutions to our nation’s problems, but we must do so with civility. It simply isn’t feasible to live in a silo insulated from others. In the
end, it is our differences that give our country strength. So left, right, or somewhere in between, please take advantage of the gift so many fought to win and preserve for us: Vote. Then go one step further. Listen with patience, tolerance and an open mind to those who vote differently. In these divided times, while condemning political violence of all kinds, we must try to understand each other and find common ground.
Chamber and told us we had to vote for the law to know what’s in it. That bill passed without a single vote from House Republicans, and the law has been a failure from the beginning. Although I didn’t, and still do not, support the ACA I have long supported several principles included in it; actually, before they were included in the ACA. Those provisions include protecting coverage for those with
pre-existing conditions, allowing young people to stay on a parent’s plan and eliminating lifetime caps for insurance coverage. I have met with countless constituents, providers, and administrators across the 1st Congressional District and they have told me how the ACA has failed to deliver on its promises to lower costs, increase access to care, and expand choice. We need a health care system that
empowers individuals and families to make decisions for themselves based on what best fits their needs, wants, and budget. I support a path forward for repealing and replacing the ACA with patient-provider centered reforms that expand choices for consumers, increase access to care, and reduce health care costs.
For thoughtful government – the way it used to be – vote for Kaine Do you regret the loss of civility in politics today? Do you wonder what happened to the “art of compromise” that enabled politicians to actually pass meaningful legislation? Do you yearn for the past history of people like former President Ronald Reagan and former House Speaker Tip O’Neill who could each preach the “party” line to the press and then hash out a real compromise over a phone call? Boy, I sure do! That’s why I write this letter in support of Tim Kaine, our incumbent senator now running for re-election in Virginia. I could tell you that he works hard every day to make good jobs, health care and education available to all Virginians. Tim’s focus is on how to unite our commonwealth and help grow our economy; give Virginians more health-care options for less money; and protect us from
threats at home and abroad. Yes, he does do all of that, and much more; but if you vote Democrat, you already know that, and, if you are a voting Republican, it’s worth knowing. Well, how about this? A vote for Tim is a vote in the direction of civil discourse, of working compromise, of decency and compassion for one’s fellow humans. A vote for his opponent, Mr. Stewart, is a vote for the ongoing reckless, hateful, reality show government we have today. Perhaps it’s best if one forgets, for the sake of this election, whether one is a “D” or an “R” and votes for the candidate based on deliberative, thoughtful government; the way it used to be! Wouldn’t that be great? GEORGE OHRSTROM
Berryville
REP. ROB WITTMAN (VA-01)
‘Fed up’ after 11 years with Corey Stewart I’m a life-long Virginian who moved to Prince William County in 2007, when Corey Stewart became chairman of our board of supervisors. As a political independent, I’m fed up with the misleading campaign rhetoric, empty promises and divisive scare tactics that Corey Stewart – and some other candidates from both major parties – use to try to hide problems with their character, lack of accomplishments or failed leadership. As a result of Chairman Stewart’s failed leadership, Prince William County has the most overcrowded classrooms in all of Virginia, some of the most congested roads in the nation, increasing crime, an inadequate commercial tax base, massive county debt and other major problems. And our problems are getting worse. Stewart has chosen to sacrifice our quality of life to satisfy his own self-interest in election campaign con-
tributions from new home developers and related special interest groups. Details about these and other countywide problems, including the source of our facts, are in “The REAL 2018 State of Prince William County,” published on the Citizens Alliance of Prince William website (www.citizensallianceofprincewilliam.org). I founded this nonpartisan organization almost two years ago to fight out-of-control rezoning and new home development, raise awareness of our county’s problems and encourage citizens to begin to fix them by electing new county supervisors in 2019. This satisfies what I feel to be my obligation to expose what I’ve learned during 11 years of experience with Corey Stewart. Please vote on Nov. 6 for the future of your family and Virginia. DOUG WIDENER
Gainesville
