I've been lamenting my beloved Commonwealth's newly enacted punitive fines, but maybe if more people have Tom's attitude, it won't be so darn crowded around here.

I attribute these odd new fines to the GOP's fiscal foolishness going back a decade or so to when George "Macacca Man" Allen was Governor. He went on a spending spree on prisons and, of course, opposed any efforts to raise more revenue (ie taxes). He was followed by the ludicrous Governor Jim Gilmore who ran on a No Car Tax platform. His administration nearly cost Virginia its bond rating. Fortunately Mark Warner came along and righted the ship. Virginia is now back at the top of the list of business-friendly, well managed states, which is not necessarily all to the good.

These new fines are an effort to raise highway money without having to enact responsible tax laws. While it originated in the GOP-controlled General Assembly, our Democratic Governor Tim Kaine signed off on it, so there is blame to go around.