Virginia is not for lovers!
Richmond, Virginia was the seat of the Confederate States of America. But, even before 1861, the economy of Virginia and the Southern States was based on the labor of slaves and good money was invested in their purchase. Slave holders had an economic interest in defending their property! Virginia had a tradition of strong government and the Constitution of the Confederate States did not reflect the classical liberalism of Adam Smith and David Ricardo.
Even in mid-19th century Virginia believed in strong government.
For that reason, I am amused by promotion of the Commonwealth of Virginia today with the slogan “Virginia is for Lovers.”
The meaning of that phrase lies only in the imagination of the marketing firm retained to promote Virginia as a place where “lovers” should what?
Copulate? One activity they cannot do is wager on thoroughbred horses at Colonial Downs.
Thirty years ago when I moved to Virginia, personal income taxes were low, relative to taxes in the District of Columbia. That was when a tradition of limited government was dominant in the State.
In 2014, Virginia with a population of 8,132,000 million residents had 107,885 public employees. New York with a population of 19,660,000 million residents had 222,965 public employees. Virginia’s population is 41% less than New York’s but has 82 public employees per 10,000 in population compared to 92 per resident as New York State.
Do the comparisons yourself, based on this list published by the U.S. Census Bureau for 2014 or this independent analysis.
Public Employees by State:
AL Total 78,120
AK Total 25,068
AZ Total 65,846
AR Total 57,095
CA Total 333,083
CO Total 57,780
CT Total 53,662
DE Total 23,249
FL Total 159,008
GA Total 116,251
HI Total 52,434
ID Total 20,270
IL Total 102,078
IN Total 74,507
IA Total 40,053
KS Total 44,041
KY Total 74,615
LA Total 68,801
ME Total 18,602
MD Total 78,023
MA Total 88,601
MI Total 113,140
MN Total 68,042
MS Total 51,670
MO Total 78,298
MT Total 16,877
NE Total 26,733
NV Total 24,524
NH Total 14,694
NJ Total 130,261
NM Total 41,263
NY Total 222,965
NC Total 126,735
ND Total 15,747
OH Total 109,085
OK Total 88,527
OR Total 57,826
PA Total 140,760
RI Total 17,073
SC Total 70,754
SD Total 12,774
TN Total 70,425
TX Total 278,324
UT Total 46,059
VA Total 107,885
WA Total 99,079
WV Total 36,579
WI Total 58,052
WY Total 12,361
From Harry Byrd (1925) to George Allen (1994), Virginia’s Governors restrained the tendency to grow the administrative state and raise Virginia State taxes. From Jim Gilmore (1998) and forward, however, citizens of Virginia experienced increases in taxes to the degree that it is now clear, Virginia is not for lovers.
Virginia is for Americans who love government. 
If you agree, and want to let your neighbors know that taxation in Virginia is becoming as bad as taxes in the big governments in DC and Maryland, then purchase a bumper sticker from American Academy of Distance Learning by clicking here. Each purchase conveys a tax deduction of $5.00 each. Buy ten and claim a $50 tax deduction in 2020.
