May 3, 2003

By Jim Beers

jimbeers7@earthlink.net

Our Constitution, which was signed in 1787, not only established three branches of the Federal government; it specifically limited Federal authorities and placed the remaining day-to-day jurisdiction over citizens at the State level.

In 1988 the Congress condemned and "Took" a large piece of land slated for development next to the US National Park Manassas Battlefield. Inserted in that legislation to condemn and buy the land was a little noticed authorization to Study The Feasibility of building a bypass around the Park to close the two state highways (29 & 234) that bisect the Park.

This Feasibility Study has been going on clandestinely for 14 years and only recently have the drivers and taxpayers of this part of Virginia realized the cost and horrendous impact that closing the roads will have.

Taxpayers throughout the Nation are likewise becoming more aware of the initial and continuing costs of such dreams of the National Park Service and their zealous supporters -- both to national taxes and to the escalating costs and access impediments to visitors of these national landmarks, 'managed' by the National Park Service.

In the meantime the Feasibility Study is a Federals-only affair, with no serious consideration to the wise and practical alternative of leaving the roads open and Park access more available to all, minimizing the tax burden on local and national taxpayers, and enabling the commuting needs of Northern Virginia.

Indeed, the planners and Park surrogates claim a "Federal mandate to close the roads," which is a lie.

The National Park Service and the Federal 'planners' are nowhere to be found for a concerned public because they 'can't influence' the Study.

Like King George and his Parliament 228 years ago, a remote and unresponsive central government has decreed a harmful and disruptive mandate on powerless subjects for reasons of their own.

It was exactly to avoid this that the Founding Fathers placed day-to-day jurisdiction at the State level of government.

Up until only recently, national taxpayers and local citizens opposed to this Federal arrogance have had nowhere to turn but to small groups and isolated letter writers such as yours truly.

Ask the question, who will represent us?

The Virginia Highway folks are not on the Study and have to "work" with Federal Highway folks to "get" Federal money.

National politicians are nowhere to be found, because they fear a backlash from vocal Park advocates.

Additionally, they claim that they thought the bypass would be IN the Park -- and wouldn't ruin homes and increase fuel use, commuting times, tax needs, and reduce the time commuters can spend with their families.

Enter the guys the Founding Fathers had in mind in 1787.

Virginia State Senator Ken Cuccinelli and Virginia State Delegate Tim Hugo have stepped to the plate and represented Virginians and ultimately taxpayers all across this great Nation.

They have spoken to US Representative Frank Wolf.

They have organized meetings with Virginia Highway officials that, while not "involved" and wary of controversy, explained the matter; and they have tried to get other state politicians like Michael Frey to do the right thing.

The roads are state roads, the Park lies in Virginia, and the resources for which the Park was established are not jeopardized by those roads.

Widened roads and better access points would be a boon to both road users and visitors.

Our Virginia politicians, from the Governor on down, must defend our rights and our concerns, or we are as powerless as Boston tea drinkers in 1776.

We should all thank these two knowledgeable Virginia politicians. We should tell other Virginia politicians and our Federal Representatives -- and even our US Senators -- that a Feasibility Study is just that, and that the Feasible Alternative is keeping the roads open and even, something the Federal Park and Highway people will never do without pressure -- expanding the two roads and improving Park entry points to benefit both drivers and visitors.