Case Study: Addressing Public Administration as Governor of Virginia
As the Governor of Virginia, the immediacy of this culminating potential detriment must be considered. Whilst the entirety of these grievances must be examined, and the actions of this administration must be fully disclosed. Your actions have deceived the very citizenry responsible for your appointment. As you well know, my term ends in a year and a half; by precedent of Virginia’s tradition, it is clear that my next stage will be to seek a position in higher office. Therefore, the actions of this administration are a direct reflection of my authority and abilities to steward resources.
The Governor of Virginia’s position endows me with the formal power of reorganization—which will occur should these actions persist and this public conflict remain unresolved. This reorganization will not be a result of my decision, but of my duty and obligation to fulfill the oath to uphold the position of authority; elected by this constituency. The very same constituency that this administration appears to be working against. Every single one of you must consider your reason for operating within the Virginia’s political arena; namely my administration. Your actions are a direct reflection of me in the eyes of the public. Governors possess informal duties hence the formation of this administrative intervention. Thus, as the sole figure responsible for leading this political party; your actions must be examined under strict scrutiny—with zero tolerance. My gubernatorial duties are granted in both formal and informal powers that are recognized and expected by the public. Moreover, my formal duties are enumerated, and explicit.
John Locke noted similarly, “[b]ut because the laws, that are at once, and in a short time made, have a constant and lasting force, and need a perpetual execution, or an attendance thereunto; therefore it is necessary there should be a power always in being, which should see to the execution of the laws that are made, and remain in force,” (Locke, J., p. 83). In this Locke advocated the separation of powers, to preclude the very actions that has occurred within my administration. In accordance with Lockean political theory and tradition, this memo strives to engage in conflict resolution; lest an expedient revision of this administration occur. Locke adds that “[t]here is another power in every common wealth, which one may call natural, because it is that which answers to the power every man naturally had before he entered into society: for though in a common wealth the members of it are distinct persons still in reference to one another, and as such as governed by the laws of the society; yet in reference to the rest of mankind, they make one body, which is, as every member of it before was, still in the state of nature with the rest of mankind,” (Locke, J., p. 83). John Locke concludes, “[h]ence it is, that the controversies that happen between any man of the society with those that are out of it, are managed by the public; and an injury done to a member of their body, engages the whole in the reparation of it. So that under this consideration, the whole community is one body in the state of nature, in respect of all other states or persons out of its community,” (Locke, J., p. 83).
Most importantly, you know of my political worldview. Your actions defy my moral code, thus produce an immediate rejection of the source of offense. Here the New Testament serves well to facilitate cognitive revision; “[f]or there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear,” (Mark 4:22-23; NKJV). These words are from Jesus; the objective and guiding principle within this administration. But your actions do not reflect the purpose of your incumbency; nor should it be rewarded with tenured salary. The possibility of sanctions does not mean such ordinances ought to be enacted; lest weaponizing policy against the people you were appointed to serve. This administration ought not make the citizenry regret their electoral participation to elect me as governor; in the same manner my wish is to avoid regret against your appointment.
Voters remain aggrieved by the actions of these sanctions. Constituents have cited the prospect of self-enrichment apart from civic representation. This incumbent bureaucracy continues to overtly neglect Virginia’s decaying public infrastructure. The people have gotten poorer, while the salaries of many members within this bureaucracy continues to ascend. Yet none of you bear any public responsibility for these repugnant actions of depravity; instead my position as government shields any impact on your sovereignty. Whilst you usurp my authority to suit the needs of your department, the state of Virginia descends into despair. But your departments have continued to received checks, salaries, and benefits—without taking into account any conditions or prerequisites. This stops today. Now, my formal budgetary power has the power within its jurisdiction to depose every dissident from my administration back to the jobs from whence you originated. Public servants are funded by public taxes borrowed from public salaries. The keyword in the preceding sentence is “borrowed.” Without the intention of borrowing, this administration is effectively thieving the public from their own hard earned paychecks. Tyranny is unconducive to appropriate the means of governorship.
Virginia’s Department of Social Services
Virginia’s Department of Social Services is the principal authority on the State’s immigration services and programs. Under this Department, Virginia’s Immigrant Services assists in the support of newly arriving immigrants throughout. Virginia. As you know, this includes provisional access to comprehensive appropriations ranging from jobs, shelter, medical care, education, and ultimately the authority responsible for granting citizenship within the State, (DSS).
The Virginian Office of New Americans (ONA) Advisory Board (the same entity that advises me on ways to improve state policies and programs to support the integration of immigrants in Virginia) must produce a report that will reflect these changes. The purpose of this delegation is not to evade responsibility but distribute ad hoc autonomy. That is, empower various components of my administration in accordance to the needs of the citizens of this State. Let us not forget that it is the daily labor of Virginian citizens that puts food on our table, and will put our children through college. Yet we neglect their needs, and wonder why civic contentions arise.
The Stakeholders are awaiting progress; but has received an inversion of their intended investment. Last year in Richmond city over $16.2 Million was spent in Administrative Costs; while over $567 Million was spent on Client Benefits. Overall, an excess of $583 Million were wasted without improvement to the current state of immigration crisis that plagues this state. While the citizens of Virginia await safe communities and more domestically oriented policy initiatives, the newly arriving immigrants are granted more investment than those funding this operation. But this was not intended by stakeholder to fund foreign nationals seeking to exploit our system of welfare.
Therefore, the administration finds it within its best interest to unite against the adversary of invasive immigration—not targeting the immigrants themselves, but the means they are handled with the intention of, or once becoming, residents of this state.
Problems of Public Perception
As you are all likely aware, Virginia Office of New Americans (ONA) released a map of their acclaimed organizational process. A plethora of fallacies exist within our current structure. The problem with our current model on the surface, is the obvious deficit within our constituency. My principal reason for being in office as Governor is to fulfill the needs of Virginian citizens.
This current ineffective system has recently come under fire by the local media:
This above chart is fallacious by nearly every conceivable capacity. From any angle, the current standing system deprives the citizens of their natural rights; while neglecting the State infrastructure, and welfare programs. The result has been public disapproval across the board. Our actions seem to be only supported by non-citizens attempting to gain citizenship.
First, (1) is the fallacy of ignoratio elenchi; in that the solution asserts its positive impact to the entire environment; neglecting the views of anyone who is not a Virginian immigrant.
Second, (2) this chart facilitates the fallacy of the illicit process; in that it suggests all immigrants’ needs will be equally and indefinitely positioned in optimal manner to become taxpayers of this State. The truth is, the national government has no consistency, nor any plan for the record-level influx of immigrants this State has seen.
Third, (3) this borders dicto simpliciter, a sweeping generalization over the method of dealing with immigrants—something my administration does not need. My administration will be remembered for producing a solution to the mass influx of immigrations wreaking havoc across the communities within this State. As Virginia Governor, my work over the course of the next 547 days—including all of you within the context of my administrative umbrella—will work endlessly no matter the personal cost to correct this disbalance that has been produced.
Fourth, (4) the fallacy of false dichotomy; in that you are presenting me with one option: “Office of New Americans (ONA) flow chart.” The American Immigration Council (AIC) reports that $5.5 Billion has been spent federally on “[u]ndocumented household income;” yet the detriment to the livelihoods of our constituents persists. Devising a viable and lasting solution to our standing immigration problem will remove a burden from the State’s policy agenda; allowing greater focus on the lives of our taxpayers and visible improvements to their everyday lives. Virginian Road Maintenance requests a meager $2.87 Billion in proportion to the appropriations granted to undocumented households. But this does not represent the only problem; instead, the totality of this State’s immigration is placing this entire administration under fire. All aspects our jobs are being affected; especially any prospect for longevity or tenure for any member within this State’s government. The media has not been kind to this administration, namely in light of our recent “ambitious” immigration policy, responsible for the decline in State resources, and our current deficit.
Fifth, (5) the Fallacy of the Negative Premise; in that the precondition that because more traditional or conservative constituents oppose these measures, greater funding should be allocated to the program, as the majority of citizen likely impart contrary views—the same views as active immigration enthusiasts and proponents of social justice. Because many citizens have voiced their opposition against our current standing policy on immigration—or “theoretical chart” for lack of a better term—is null; certain individuals within my administration have doubled-down, expressing their biases within the allocation of this State’s federal funding for interests that work against the foundational basis we have worked to form. Virginia’s population ought not be focused on immigration. The American Immigration Council records that this State “has a large immigrant population.” In fact, “[a]bout 12.6 percent of the state’s residents are foreign-born, and 6.8 percent of its U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent,” Immigrants make up 16.2 percent of Virginia's labor force and support the state’s economy in many ways.
Sixth, (6) this standing practice commits the fallacy of argumentum ad crumenam in assuming money wields power beyond a properly formulated initiative. Money alone cannot solve this problem; as a finite surplus of budget exists within this State. Therefore, it is essential that we are able to effectively allocate it to meet the needs of every citizen. While a unanimous consensus is likely impossible; our efforts ought to be best focused on the interests of the majority—id est, populist initiatives.
Seventh (7) this standing policy denies the antecedent, a fallacy whereby the solution presupposition that because immigration policy solves immigration crisis; any policy should facilitate our designated outcome objective. Rather, this policy has wasted a vast quantity of State resources with little—if any—benefit to the State’s citizens. Instead, Virginian immigration policy has discredited this administration in the public court of opinion. Yet unlike me, you are able to evade personal recognition and maintain the appearance of inculpability; conveniently evading participation in the humiliation of the governing body of this municipality.
The bottom line—these efforts are downright fallacious!
In sum, the commission of argumentum ad novitam; in assuming the age of this chart and its creators equate to some form of system conducive with innovative modern immigration policy. The result is quite the inverse; instead focusing on a prehistoric pathway to Virginian citizen. We must instead direct our focus unto the future, as the current immigration crisis demands of us. Now, a total policy revision must occur within the next eighteen months.
While the network of this administration is expansive—the result concisely offers no benefit to the constituency.
The Treasurer will be penalized and deposed from his position should he continue to allow such unnatural funding to external individuals, but neglecting our very neighbors that hold these communities together. Your job is to “[collect] revenues and [make] disbursements of state monies,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 193). As Chief Financial Officer, you have allowed Virginia to waste a great deal of resources on efforts to get our attention on the subject. Your failure to create profitable investment has forced me to the point of considering your personal impeachment. Might you be reminded that “Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner was arrested and briefly jailed in 2013 on charges of taking kickbacks and directing state bond transactions,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 193). Or “West Virginia treasurer A. James Manchin was impeached for losing $279 million in state funds through bad investments,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 193). Now is the time to act, and fix this tyrannic policy activist initiative nightmare. Your duty is “the investment of more than $3.2 trillion in state funds, including state employee pension monies and college savings plans,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 193). Yet may you be reminded that these principal investments were neglected to fund immigrants who have not specifically chosen to live in this State, but were placed here through national policy. Remember that your “signature is on the paycheck of all state employees and on citizens’ state tax refunds,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 193).
To me, you deserve a chance to immediately correct this. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in his epistle to the Roman government, “[t]herefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way,” (Romans 14:13; NKJV). Thus, this can only happen through the reallocation of funding, diverting millions from the obscure immigration standard, and reinvigorating the spirit of this municipality. Namely, His Holy Spirit, but also the spirit of patriotism and reverence for the traditions of this State that we call our home.
Constitutional Authorities
As our State’s motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis” rightly reminds us “Thus Ever to Tyrants;” we will not be remembered for tyranny; rather expanding liberty and preserving Virginian tradition. Our State flag ought to be a daily reminder that we are servants of the public. The Framers sought to invoke a lasting union within the Virginia government; under which my obligation and intent is to carry on into the posterity of this State. Paul scribes further to the churches of Galatia that “[y]ou, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other,” (Galatians 5:13-15; NIV). These are the words this administration will live by over the course of my remaining term. Together, we will watch as it improves through placing my authority as Governor of Virginia into action—clearly defining the jurisdiction of the Treasurer, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State.
Biblically, this reminds me of the book of Zechariah, specifically Chapter 8. As Scripture states “[t]hese are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD,” (Zechariah 8:16-17 ESV). Every single one of you that sits in a position of leadership within this administration understands the sincerity of my faith, and its use as an objective point of reference in guiding this administration. You have broken a sacred covenant by disobeying the majoritarian consensus agreed upon within this administration—lest it be imposed through Executive force. You are supposed to be mature. You are supposed to be cognizant. You are supposed to be diligent. But instead, you have been utterly selfish; undermining the public and integrity of Virginia on a fundamental level. Rather than take hasty actions or end this entire program altogether; we must redress our position of selfishness; and look to Christ for an example of how men should conduct themselves. For those of you who are irreligious or another faith, you are no less a man than any other individual within this administration. But you ought to know the basis of my existence relies upon my ability to formulate this administration in a Christ-like manner. Thus, you ought to obey my instructions when you are told to reel back from the profuse funding of immigration and focus on the infrastructure of this State. You owe it to the people; and me.
Moreover, the Old Testament gives us an inspirational motivation for the function of this public administration. As it is scribed by Moses, “[a]nd I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him,” (Deuteronomy 1:16; ESV). The Old Testament decrees that immigrants are the be treated equally as man and his brother. This has not been the case within this administration. Instead the immigrants have been spoiled with tax dollars; whilst the foundation of traditional Virginia (that is its infrastructure and civic morale) has begun to welt under the self interest of my subordinates. This ends today. Moreover, the Old Testament decrees; “[y]ou shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. [This administration ought to take note here] And [if] the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17; ESV). As my writing indicated earlier, everything we need for this administration to thrive can be found in Scripture. For God says “[a]nd I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do,” (Deuteronomy 1:18; ESV). Those who doubt the sincerity of my position ought to question the nature of your own ambition; and the outcome objective of the totality of your existence. For now, abide by the jurisdiction of this administration.
The Virginia Constitution clearly states “[t]hat all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised,” (Law). Under Article V Section 1 of Virginia’s Constitution “[t]he chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor,” (Law). As the Code of Virginia’ § 40.1-11.1 denotes that “[i]t shall be unlawful and constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor for any employer or any person acting as an agent for an employer, or any person who, for a fee, refers an alien who cannot provide documents indicating that he or she is legally eligible for employment in the United States for employment,” (Law). Every member within this administration ought to ask themselves the purpose of this Code, and the benefits of its adherence. To expedite this process, the answer is the benefit of Virginia’s citizenry.
Conclusion
The solution here is clear. Rather than disembody the entire administration and weed out the offending perpetrators, we must unite forces as one centralized body of efficient authority that guides the people of the State of Virginia through the difficult economy that plagues our communities. Now, the people need more than a public image of leadership; they need the results of leadership over any successful theories. Time has run out for conceptualization, instead the hour urges the members of this administration to converge on the prospect of prosperity, and work to revitalize the morale of Virginia citizens. Your actions and interests mean more to the people of Virginia than you may realize.
Bibliography
AIC. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Immigrants in Virginia - American Immigration Council. https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/virginia/
Bowman, A. et al. (2018). State and Local Government. Cengage Publishing.
DSS. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Office of New Americans. Virginia Department of Social Services. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/ona/
DSS. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Virginia Department of Social Services Annual Profile Report. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/ldss_profile/finance/index.html
Law. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Constitution of Virginia. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/library/constitution/constitution.pdf
Law. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Constitution of Virginia. Article V. Executive. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article5/section1/
Law. (Accessed on September 11th, 2024). Code of Virginia. § 40.1-11.1. Employment of illegal immigrants. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter1/section40.1-11.1/
Locke, J. (1994). Second Treatise of Government. Generic NL Freebook Publisher.