By Todd Smyth: The “Public Option” for healthcare insurance was a distraction, promoted several years ago by the insurance industry, to keep people from supporting a single-payer system. Pres. Barack Obama actually dropped his support for a public option in…
Category: Social Issues
A very busy mother, but not too busy to care
By Kathi R. Levin and Liz Walker There is a common saying that if you need something done, find a person who is already busy to do it. That can truly be said of long time Centreville resident and active…
Lawmaker behind successful drive to abolish death penalty in NH speaks in Reston on Oct. 5
By Paul O’Shea: The leader of New Hampshire’s successful drive to abolish the death penalty – making it the 21st state to do so — will deliver the keynote at the annual luncheon of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death…
Ice cream in the service of equality
By Susan Laume: Lucky Clifton residents on Monday, Sept. 16, got an opportunity to sample free ice cream and show their support for Virginian ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Clifton was just one stop in an ice cream truck…
Asian-Americans may be key to turning Virginia blue in November
As the largest minority in Fairfax County, Asian-Americans are a major focus of outreach activity for the local Democratic Party, which faces a critical election on Nov. 5 to determine the control of the state assembly. Today Republicans hold one-vote…
New NAACP president says Dems are wrong to take black votes for granted
By Brad Swanson: Sean Perryman has only been president of the Fairfax County NAACP for a month, but he already has his priorities clear. “My plan is to focus on fewer issues, but go deeper,” he said. The top three…
New Virginia Latino Caucus leader aims to counter rising tide of fear
By Brad Swanson: Ricardo Alfaro is a man on a mission. As the newly elected president of the Latino Democratic Caucus in Virginia, he has crafted an ambitious workplan to expand the group’s reach and counter the rising tide of…
New program teaches students grassroots organizing
It’s never too early to begin grassroots organizing. That is the concept behind an innovative program at Sully District Democratic Committee that enables students to organize and participate in political events in their own community. Gun violence, unsurprisingly, is one…
Award-winning Reston farmers marketeer loves the gig, even after two decades
By Brad Swanson: What motivates a man to spend more than two decades – and counting – as a volunteer running a farmers market? In the case of John Lovaas, a manager of the award-winning Reston Farmers Market, the answer…
“Gun Reform Now” demand protesters at NRA vigil
An estimated 300 protesters showed up Tuesday evening, Aug. 5, to protest gun violence — and especially last weekend’s devastating attacks in El Paso and Dayton — at the headquarters of the NRA in Fairfax. There was a candle lighting…
Ibraheem Samirah: My protest energized people
By Brad Swanson: One week after disrupting a speech by Pres. Trump, although the headlines have faded from national news media, Ibraheem Samirah feels vindicated – and ready for more action. In an interview with The Blue View, the Virginia…
Fighting to stay together, not break apart
By Brandon Thurner: In today’s heated political atmosphere, Americans need to learn from successful married couples how to “fight in a way to preserve the union,” and to avoid demonizing each other. This message was delivered by prominent sociologist and…
Meeting the challenge of affordable housing in Fairfax County
By Jerry Poje: Fairfax County’s future is on the line. As we saw in part I of this series, high housing costs are forcing lower income families, young adults and seniors to migrate out of our region. This cripples our…
Personal testimony of gun violence fails to heal rift at Leesburg roundtable
By Susan Laume: On the eve of a special state legislative session on gun violence, a roundtable in Leesburg hosted by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D- 33) on July 7 revealed the deep divide among the public on this critical…