Kerr: The year that was

In the 1960’s David Frost, the famous English commentator and newsman, hosted a show in Britain called “This is the week that was.” It was popular and helped Frost develop a following both in Britain and in America. However, on a much a smaller scale I would like to offer a slightly modified version of his approach and call this column, “the year that was.”

Nationally it was all about the economy. Unemployment stayed high and growth was sluggish. However, here in Virginia, and in Stafford, the situation was far better. Unemployment in Virginia was 6.2 percent in November, one of the lowest in the nation, and in Stafford the most recent data showed a jobless rate of 5.2 percent. That’s one of the lowest rates in Virginia.   

In 2011 Virginia did something that only four other states have managed to do. We ended the year with a surplus. Biting good Democratic nails let me give the legislature and the governor a nod for doing so well at managing the budget. But I won’t stop there. Stafford County did the same. It wasn’t easy, but last year the county even managed to cut the tax rates a little. I can’t think of any local government that has been able to do that.

Politically, 2011 was the year of the Republicans. The Democrats, who just a few years ago held a majority on the Stafford CountyBoard of Supervisors, start 2012 without a single member. Although it is the oldest political organization in the county, the Stafford Democratic Party, until it finds its voice again, and I think it will, remains on life support. Statewide the GOP took back the State Senate and managed to add seats to what is already a super majority in the House of Delegates.

Since I’ve lived in Stafford we’ve had blizzards and hurricanes. Now, added to the list is an earthquake. Sure, the ground has shuddered before, but this was a real honest to goodness quake. A farmer friend of mine in King George said the first indication that something was up was when first his dog, then his horses and then his cattle became agitated. He had no idea what was scaring them. Then, about two minutes later the quake hit. In Washington, D.C. the quake so damaged the Washington Monument, one of my favorite landmarks, that it could easily take more than $20 million to fix it.

Further from home American soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen were fighting, as they have been for almost a decade in far away places. U.S. troops are leaving Iraq, but the war in Afghanistan is still hot. Many of these men and women are our neighbors or the children of our neighbors. I think about this fact a lot. Time Magazine proclaimed “the protestor” as their person of the year for 2011. That’s their prerogative. As for my choice, I’ll take one of those brave men and women, who by their own choice are out there trying to keep the peace in these far off reaches, any day of the week.

David S. Kerr is a Stafford resident and a former member of the Stafford County School Board. Contact him at info@Staffordcountysun.com.