Gosplan, Southwest Virginia Style

The economic planning committee recognized the need early on for the production of great quantities of bread in order to meet the consumption demands of the citizenry. So it "planned" for huge numbers of tractors to be built, for the harvesting of wheat, to be made into bread. And the nation's farms were "collectivized" at the point of the gun in order to facilitate the plan. Orchards were destroyed, vineyards plowed under. Villages burned. Those who resisted were summarily shot.

Recognizing that bread production capacity needed to be dramatically increased, planners called for the construction of the largest bread factory in history. It was planned; it was constructed.

And the plan worked. Bread was produced in quantities the likes of which the world had never seen before. It was considered by the planners to be a living example of the power of Soviet central planning. The planners were very pleased.

Only problem was, the planners didn't factor into their calculations the need to produce trucks so that the bread being produced could be transported to market.

So, each day, tons of bread came off the assembly line and tons of bread were tossed in the field behind the factory, there to rot in the sun. For lack of transport.

But production quotas were met. And "the plan" was considered a success. Bread was plentiful.

Of course, the Soviet people starved by the millions.

But "the Gosplan," the Soviet Union's marvel of economic planning, was the important thing. According to communist "planners," rapid economic growth was called for, especially in industrial channels. So "five-year plans," including those that called for more truck production to alleviate the bottleneck at the bread factory loading docks, were churned out. One after another. And all was well.

Of course, train production wasn't factored into the plan ...

The plan ...

From today's Roanoke Times:

Franklin planners make the right call
A Franklin County developer should have sought approval for his resort before the county adopted a land-use plan.
editorial

For at least six months, Trey Park has worked on plans to build a spa and resort complex on 650 acres off Virginia 122. For even longer, Franklin County officials have worked to create a new comprehensive land-use plan to guide development through 2025.

The county's plan wasn't a secret. In fact, the public was invited to comment. Too bad Park blew that opportunity.

Had he disclosed his plans, he might have gained the county's seal of approval. Instead, the Franklin County Planning Commission in a tight vote Tuesday recommended that supervisors turn down his request for a zoning change.

The four commissioners whose votes carried were correct: A planned commercial development does not coincide with the recently adopted plan. (link)

Those seeking permission to construct a breathtaking-in-scope commercial development in Franklin County that would have produced millions in tax revenue, in job creation, in goods and services got in the way of "the recently adopted plan." So Franklin County's planning commission shot them down.

And the Times is pleased. You don't screw with the plan.

The people of Franklin County (did I mention the fact that per capita income there, according to the last census, was $19,605?) be damned.

The Soviets have nothing - nothing - on this bunch.