University of Virginia Library

Calculated Risk

although it probably would
have gained him votes, he still
refused to permit ridiculous
spending just because an
election was approaching.
Scott and Byrd backed the
President; Spong voted to
override the veto and open the
federal till to build hospitals
that nobody really wanted and
could not staff even if they had
them.

That was only one vote, so
it doesn't show up on Spong's
78% figure. But it was an
important vote, and it showed
the choice that Virginians have
this year.

Spong has consistently
supported a continuation of
the governmental policies
begun by Franklin Roosevelt
and still espoused by men like
Hubert Humphrey. They see
the federal purse as the
universal solution to all social
ills, and somehow feel that if
enough federal funds can be
pumped into their localities
then (1) all the problems will
dissolve in an ocean of money,
and (2) their re-election ship
will float safely into port.

Scott's approach is less
appealing to the uninformed,
but becomes more attractive as
the utter bankruptcy of New
Deal politics becomes more
apparent. He sees the solutions
not coming from Washington
but being found in the people
and in the local area. Scott
would pull back the federal
government and lessen its
involvement in our lives.

That is the choice being
presented to the voters this
election year. Scott's candidacy is
based on the calculated risk
that the people are tired of the
old answers that have not
worked. He offers a
conservative alternative to
Spong, and all the arithmetical
hoopla about "78%" cannot
obscure that plain fact.