Introduction

Last week I attended the Virginia Statewide Legal Aid Conference in Williamsburg.  My father helped found the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, Inc., I'm now on their Board of Directors; Susan is managing attorney for the Roanoke Office of Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc., and I've worked with legal aid my entire career. So I really felt at home with everyone even though I'm in private practice.

I attended many of the seminars and learned a lot. But I was struck by a common theme running through the meetings:  the problems that existed for the poor simply because Virginia, as a government, either didn't care or couldn't see the wisdom of helping poor people. Everyone there had a story to tell; I've got a few of my own. 

So, I decided to start a blog and OPEN it up for war stories anyone has about how Virginia wants to tramp on the poor.  The stories can run from Medicaid stupidity, the cruel joke of Auxiliary Grants, to the General Assembly's obstinate stupidity in regulating payday and title lenders. 

Nothing is sacred -- you can email a story to me at 'story@virginiahatesthepoor.com' and assuming I think it's appropriate it will get posted.  All stories will post anonymously UNLESS you specifically want your name used.