Have values? That’ll cost you $64

My wife and I own a Prius. We bought it back in 2007 with money that we earned in a business we owned and ran. We felt an efficient hybrid was a smart way to go.

Now, Gov. Bob McDonnell wants us to pay $64 for our convictions. Should the state enforce odometer readings to ensure that other, non-hybrids are using the roads as much as he assumes ours is, or would that be government intrusion?

In addition, we do not own an $835,000 home that we can rent to friends or, as is in the governor’s case, an employee. We do not know a single corporate executive willing to give either my wife or me large checks or gifts. Instead of a Rolex, I wear a Timex. A small jewelry business here in Floyd changed the battery in it for free because, well, I suppose in part because those are small-town values.

What are McDonnell’s values? While it has always been difficult to tell exactly, lately it is approaching impossible. He does take a nice haircut, though, I’ll give him that.

ROB NEUKIRCH
FLOYD

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