THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240205
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Reed
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
The country has become divided into two extremes: hardline conservatives and bleeding heart liberals and nothing in between, the Sage of 17th Street observed the other day.
One side screams that poor folks should be outlawed and the other declares that serial murderers are misunderstood misfits who need love and understanding.
The Sage was shaking his head at this state of affairs while slouched on the sunny side of a convenience store trash bin, munching a sticky bun and washing it down with scalding coffee. He had cadged his breakfast from a disapproving North End yuppie who was in a big hurry to get upwind, because Sage's personal hygiene leaves much to be desired.
As he munched, the Sage scanned the contents of day-old newspapers, which is how he keeps in touch with the pulse of his fellow citizens.
With a grimy thumb, he turned to page two in the Daily Blat, and with an equally grimy forefinger he traced the wording under a headline, which screamed, ``GOP plan would cut school lunches.'' Newt and his pals in Washington want to scrap free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts for poor kids in public schools, all in the name of budget slashing, the Sage read.
Why, the Sage wondered aloud, doesn't this zeal for budget cutting extend to the 20 percent pay raises and fat health care and retirement packages that Newt and fellow Congresspersons voted for themselves not too long ago? Surely, the Sage reasoned, the savings would more than make up for the cost of providing a cup of gruel and a crust of bread for raggedy little nippers who come to school each day with empty bellies.
Further scanning of the Blat revealed that a former Congresswoman from Ohio was being indicted by a federal grand jury for check kiting, making false statements on a financial disclosure form and lying to the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. All this was the result of an investigation into the House Bank scandal. Seems she, along with a herd of other honorables, had a hard time balancing their checkbooks.
Right next to this piece was a story declaring that Washington, D.C., the supposed crown jewel and capital of the U.S., is now broke, in the tank, $722 million in hock. Pleas to Congress for a bailout from Mayor Marion Barry, who helped get D.C. in this predicament in the first place, brought a big, fat ``Nyet.''
Another news item concerned former Interior Secretary James Watt, who is being charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. Seems another federal grand jury is investigating Watt for fraud and influence peddling at the Department of Housing and Urban Development when the Gipper held court in the White House.
Not to be outdone in the venality department here at the Beach, was a story about a Circuit Court judge upholding a jury's verdict that School Board member Charles W. Vincent violated a state ethics code on nine counts. Vincent will have to cough up an $1,800 fine and resign from the board, the judge ruled, despite Vincent's declaration of innocence. Vincent was convicted of illegally soliciting campaign funds after his election by putting the arm on architectural and engineering firms trying to do business with the school system.
Vincent and his lawyer are appealing the verdict so that he could remain on the board until a higher court decides whether to uphold the lower court's ruling. If it is upheld, Vincent would be the first public official in the city's history to be tossed out of office and the first to be hauled into court on an ethics code rap.
All of which demonstrates that the Beach can keep up with the big boys inside the Beltway any day of the week, the Sage concluded. by CNB