Virginia

Chia Peanut-Lime Pita

Sophie H. (original recipe)

"Bulgur!" sounds like something you'd exclaim.

Admittedly my strongest memory of Virginia is visiting Monticello as a kid, but I've already posted about TJ, so I've got to find something new.

Your state is interesting. I think of you as an almost-Northern state, which I guess you are since the Civil War split you in two, but your history and its legacies are very Southern. I guess this is why you are Purple today. So, that is kind of fun. You are a hodge-podge. Lots of different worldviews, trying to work it out, maybe another microcosm for the United States as a whole.

I decided to look at the polls again for guidance on how to pander and of course the Economy is always at the top but digging deeper, the pollsters went pretty in-depth on the issue of education which I thought is an interesting issue given what we've observed about Virginia's Purpleness.

Honestly, I don't really care how our education system ranks against other countries in statistical measures. I think, where resources are plentiful, we do a fine enough job, could it be better? probably but this part I am OK leaving to the states to try different approaches.

My biggest issue with the education system is how we fund it. It's really inequitable to rely so heavily on property taxes. Let municipalities and states have control, but we should be funding schools federally as much as possible.

Over time I have been exposed to a lot of thinking about taxes and I have come to see the value in employing a variety of taxing mechanisms though I disagree with the current configuration. For instance, I am not a fan of property taxes in general, but I see the worth in taxing the property of the very wealthy to some limited degree. Similarly, taxing income is reasonable but not an optimal approach economically.

I think we should experiment with shifting the tax bracket upwards, that is to say, eliminate some or all of the bottom tax-paying bracket. We pay for this with a small national sales tax, which comes along with the cost of reimbursing low-income people for the sales tax (i.e., income support for the poor, or reimburse everyone a set amount according to what the poor would pay).

So we can decide to start out with a small national sales tax that lifts a certain amount of income tax burden, and we can raise it over time, phasing out income tax and phasing in sales tax, slowly, methodically, according to what we learn, what works, the popular will, until only a socially-defined "high- or highest-income Americans" pay income tax, which will be so much simpler for the rest of us and better according to economists, we experiment see what really works.

Taxes were not a topic of polling but everyone argues about taxes so this is my perspective. However, I think it's basically moving around deck chairs. Any system can be rigged for the rich, or reworked for the benefit of the many.

Sophie was not only a healthy eater, she also led a very active lifestyle and in some ways exemplifies the kind of opportunities we hope our school-age kids are getting. They say women in the suburbs are an important voting bloc in places like Virginia, so I'd imagine well-funded schools and enriching youth programming ought to be a winning political position. Especially if you have empathy for kids in communities with less property wealth. Frankly, I don't have a ton of patience for selfish people. If you want it for your kid, you should want it for every kid.

Peanut-Lime White Bean Spread

• 1 15-oz. can White Beans

• 1/4 cu. unsalted Peanut butter

• Juice of 1 Lime

• 1 clove Garlic, minced

• 1/2 tsp. fresh Ginger, grated

• 1/8 tsp. Salt

Pita Pocket

• 1/2 cu. fine Bulgur

• 3/4 cu. Water

• Dash of salt

• 1 small Carrot, grated

• 1 Scallion, chopped

• 1/4 cu. Cilantro, chopped

• 1/2 medium or 2/3 small Cucumber, chopped

• 1 1/2 tsp. Chia seeds

• Pepper

• Pitas

• Peanut-lime white bean dip

Preparation

For the peanut-lime white bean spread: In a food processor, pulse all ingredients until uniform.

Put the bulgur, water, and salt in a bowl, cover, and microwave for 3 minutes. Then let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in carrot, scallion, cilantro, cucumber, chia seeds, and pepper. Assemble pita pockets by stuffing a pita half with peanut-lime white bean spread, then bulgur mixture.

Discussion

Did I lose everyone? I pretty dramatically reworked Sophie's pita because the omission of chicken sparked a need for something to replace it. I wanted to do more than simply stuff it with chickpeas or a corporate product and call it a day, so I came up with this.

I knew the flavors would work but I was slightly nervous about getting the execution right. I think it turned out well! It's vegetarian, but would keep (little) Sophie going through all her after-school activities. I guess that was the goal.

Vermont

Virginia Middle-school kids banned from trick-or-treating

Hawaii