The debate last night between all the democratic candidates wasn't too bad. I must say many of the answers were thoughtful, and some quite on the mark. All around everyone did well, though I thought Senator Bartlett did impress me the most and Senator Schumlin the least.
However, last nights debate in person must have been quite different in Barre than for the viewers at home. They were treated to a real spectacle.
Poor Deb Markowitz had a light right in front of her, and boy was it bright. Just about made the pink top she was wearing glow. Made her eyes look beady, and gave her a reflective face. It was downright scary at points.
I felt bad that I found the whole situation comical. It was just a perfect storm, the bright colors she was wearing, the bright light too close, and the camera that was right in front of her.
Showing posts with label Vermont Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vermont Politics. Show all posts
Friday, April 2, 2010
Monday, December 22, 2008
The State, Of The State Of Vermont
So here we are, by all accounts the U.S. has been in a recession for a year, and Vermont's fully beginning to feel the pinch. Just recently Newport, which has the highest unemployment rate in the state, lost another 50+ jobs. With budget shortfalls on the horizon things don't bode well for the Green Mountain State.
And the politicians say cut jobs, and raise taxes.
Slash spending to social programs, and use the rainy day fund.
Doesn't seem to me to be the subscription to put the green back in the mountains of Vermont!
And the politicians say cut jobs, and raise taxes.
Slash spending to social programs, and use the rainy day fund.
Doesn't seem to me to be the subscription to put the green back in the mountains of Vermont!
It's Official
Yep, I've offended Republicans, Progressives and now Democrats.
I guess it's what I get for sharing my opinion on other blogs, but to have them ALL gang up on me?
Just tried adding a different dynamic to conversations, but I guess no one wants to here it. All or nothing it seems.
Thet's what I hate about partisan politics, you're either with 100% or against.
Oh well, I guess I'll just keep to myself on my blog and people will have to drop by here for pearls of wisdom.
After all, I work for a living, and drop these pearls of wisdom for free. I may not know the complex in's and out's of state and federal taxation, but I know what fair and equitable is.
I guess it's what I get for sharing my opinion on other blogs, but to have them ALL gang up on me?
Just tried adding a different dynamic to conversations, but I guess no one wants to here it. All or nothing it seems.
Thet's what I hate about partisan politics, you're either with 100% or against.
Oh well, I guess I'll just keep to myself on my blog and people will have to drop by here for pearls of wisdom.
After all, I work for a living, and drop these pearls of wisdom for free. I may not know the complex in's and out's of state and federal taxation, but I know what fair and equitable is.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Taxes and The Modern Era
Make no mistake, I will never sugar coat my disdain for having to pay taxes. Like every good Vermonter, good American, I never really paid too much attention to them, I just did my part and paid them. I loose a good chunk of my paycheck to the Federal and State governments. Somewhere to the tune of 25% of my paycheck between the two.
Because I make so little money, and because I pay my student loans every month, these two governments reimburse me every year when I file my taxes. But this is a sign of our broken system. WHY TAKE MY MONEY ONLY TO GIVE IT BACK? Why not just take less and not reimburse me? It would be less bureacracy, and you'd need less tax money to pay for it. Makes sense to me!
In this day and age I just don't get taxes. The rich have accounts to find loopholes and get them out of paying them, the poor get their welfare and unemployment tax free, who's that leave to pay? People who work for a living, that's who.
Because I make so little money, and because I pay my student loans every month, these two governments reimburse me every year when I file my taxes. But this is a sign of our broken system. WHY TAKE MY MONEY ONLY TO GIVE IT BACK? Why not just take less and not reimburse me? It would be less bureacracy, and you'd need less tax money to pay for it. Makes sense to me!
In this day and age I just don't get taxes. The rich have accounts to find loopholes and get them out of paying them, the poor get their welfare and unemployment tax free, who's that leave to pay? People who work for a living, that's who.
Rainy Day Or Rock Bottom Fund?
Crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
So I guess I have a different opinion of what to with the State Of Vermont's Rainy Day fund. The total I've heard tossed around is like $60 million, but I could be wrong. That's a lot of money when social programs and jobs are being slashed because of budget shortfalls. Should we use up this reserve? I really don't think it's time yet.
If the state needs to dip into the fund to do some triage work, that's one thing. Options and plans are what we need most right now. Some of that money could be used, and wisely so, to keep the state, and some programs running in the interim. But I think to exhaust the fund would be a grave mistake. We have not hit rock bottom yet, and that is when we'll need the rainy day fund the most!
Maybe make a quarter to a third of the fund available for the next year, but preserve the rest intact. Our turmoil right now is a result of Vermont's broken system. How we tax, build revenue and provide money to programs and run the state needs to be overhauled. This is obvious, but no one seems to want to take the lead and provide some good foresight. This is why I say use at most only a portion of the fund as a crutch to limp us along into the next year.
We can't raise the tax burden on people already struggling to get by. At the same time I don't think we should have to bail out every jerk that's decided to live beyond their means. It's no fault of the rest of us. There has to be some sort of balance. I chose to go to college, I chose to hang that noose of of loan payments around my neck. I accept that. Other people with their expensive new cars and enormous homes need to accept they did that to themselves as well.
We as an American, and Vermont society are at an impasse. Free market capitalism has been replaced with social capitalism, as we all shoulder the burden of irresponsible people and their failed American Dreams. I've heard so many people say that they make all their payments on their mortgages, and live within their means, why not just stop paying the mortgage and get bailed out as well? I totally see their point.
So getting back to the rainy day fund, I think we need to have some foresight and look beyond the budget shortfalls of 2009, to 2010, 2011, and 2012. If we use all the money now, there will be none for the future shortfalls. As a state, Vermont needs to tighten it's belt, and reduce spending. But at the same time, address how we will fund the state of Vermont in the future as obviously what we have been doing does not, and will continue not to work.
So I guess I have a different opinion of what to with the State Of Vermont's Rainy Day fund. The total I've heard tossed around is like $60 million, but I could be wrong. That's a lot of money when social programs and jobs are being slashed because of budget shortfalls. Should we use up this reserve? I really don't think it's time yet.
If the state needs to dip into the fund to do some triage work, that's one thing. Options and plans are what we need most right now. Some of that money could be used, and wisely so, to keep the state, and some programs running in the interim. But I think to exhaust the fund would be a grave mistake. We have not hit rock bottom yet, and that is when we'll need the rainy day fund the most!
Maybe make a quarter to a third of the fund available for the next year, but preserve the rest intact. Our turmoil right now is a result of Vermont's broken system. How we tax, build revenue and provide money to programs and run the state needs to be overhauled. This is obvious, but no one seems to want to take the lead and provide some good foresight. This is why I say use at most only a portion of the fund as a crutch to limp us along into the next year.
We can't raise the tax burden on people already struggling to get by. At the same time I don't think we should have to bail out every jerk that's decided to live beyond their means. It's no fault of the rest of us. There has to be some sort of balance. I chose to go to college, I chose to hang that noose of of loan payments around my neck. I accept that. Other people with their expensive new cars and enormous homes need to accept they did that to themselves as well.
We as an American, and Vermont society are at an impasse. Free market capitalism has been replaced with social capitalism, as we all shoulder the burden of irresponsible people and their failed American Dreams. I've heard so many people say that they make all their payments on their mortgages, and live within their means, why not just stop paying the mortgage and get bailed out as well? I totally see their point.
So getting back to the rainy day fund, I think we need to have some foresight and look beyond the budget shortfalls of 2009, to 2010, 2011, and 2012. If we use all the money now, there will be none for the future shortfalls. As a state, Vermont needs to tighten it's belt, and reduce spending. But at the same time, address how we will fund the state of Vermont in the future as obviously what we have been doing does not, and will continue not to work.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Invest In Vermont, And Vermonters!!
Crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
This started out as a comment, but I decided it was worth expanding and building upon.
I was embarrassed this week to see Jim Douglas, governor of Vermont giving testimony in Washington. It seemingly amounted to nothing more than a beggar looking for handouts. Maybe if he surrounded himself with able, qualified, intelligent, outside-of-the-box thinking people in his administration instead of this cronies, Vermont might have more options. His appearance did not make me proud to be a Vermonter, we take care of our own, and are in much better of a position to do so than the Federal government at this point.
Hopefully this will get a few others to chime in with their thoughts. If you don't learn history, you are doomed to repeat it. We've been through hard economic times before, and we need to do what we know works. It's time for the 2009 New Deal For Vermont, there is no better time to invest in Vermont and Vermonters.
Vermont has one of the best bond ratings of all the states in the union. It's time we take advantage of that to secure funds to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. Put Vermonters to work rebuilding, and preparing our state for the next 100 years. We INCREASE state goverment, the biggest employer in the state of Vermont IS already the state of Vermont.
Run with this for the short term, and turn the whole state into a massive public works project to put people to work and prepare us for the future. Put forth a massive concerted effort to rebuild our bridges, roads, and telecommunications. Also of priority would be environmental conservation projects aimed at waste and pollution reduction, recycling and reuse, controlling/eradicating invasive species, and assisting Vermont communities with growth center and economic development. From working on the facilities at state parks, to turning wastes into resources, or building new businesses, there is very little we can't do.
Today's Freeps ran with an article that 2,ooo more Vermonters just signed up for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total to more than eleven thousand receiving benefits. They may have to up the unemployment costs to businesses because here's more money going out than coming in, ad that's not going to help businesses already struggling with payrolls. We're gonna be spending the money whether we get some bang for our buck or not. Let's get these people some work to do! Vermonters are a hardy lot, and would rather do something than nothing.
This is not nearly a complete picture or plan, but it's a start. Dialogue and Yankee ingenuity can and will get us through these hard times. We all need to sit back, look at the big picture, and say what can I do to help Vermont get through this, we're in it together. Right now Vermont's future is being decided for us, let's take a stand, invest in Vermont and Vermonters!
This started out as a comment, but I decided it was worth expanding and building upon.
I was embarrassed this week to see Jim Douglas, governor of Vermont giving testimony in Washington. It seemingly amounted to nothing more than a beggar looking for handouts. Maybe if he surrounded himself with able, qualified, intelligent, outside-of-the-box thinking people in his administration instead of this cronies, Vermont might have more options. His appearance did not make me proud to be a Vermonter, we take care of our own, and are in much better of a position to do so than the Federal government at this point.
Hopefully this will get a few others to chime in with their thoughts. If you don't learn history, you are doomed to repeat it. We've been through hard economic times before, and we need to do what we know works. It's time for the 2009 New Deal For Vermont, there is no better time to invest in Vermont and Vermonters.
Vermont has one of the best bond ratings of all the states in the union. It's time we take advantage of that to secure funds to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. Put Vermonters to work rebuilding, and preparing our state for the next 100 years. We INCREASE state goverment, the biggest employer in the state of Vermont IS already the state of Vermont.
Run with this for the short term, and turn the whole state into a massive public works project to put people to work and prepare us for the future. Put forth a massive concerted effort to rebuild our bridges, roads, and telecommunications. Also of priority would be environmental conservation projects aimed at waste and pollution reduction, recycling and reuse, controlling/eradicating invasive species, and assisting Vermont communities with growth center and economic development. From working on the facilities at state parks, to turning wastes into resources, or building new businesses, there is very little we can't do.
Today's Freeps ran with an article that 2,ooo more Vermonters just signed up for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total to more than eleven thousand receiving benefits. They may have to up the unemployment costs to businesses because here's more money going out than coming in, ad that's not going to help businesses already struggling with payrolls. We're gonna be spending the money whether we get some bang for our buck or not. Let's get these people some work to do! Vermonters are a hardy lot, and would rather do something than nothing.
This is not nearly a complete picture or plan, but it's a start. Dialogue and Yankee ingenuity can and will get us through these hard times. We all need to sit back, look at the big picture, and say what can I do to help Vermont get through this, we're in it together. Right now Vermont's future is being decided for us, let's take a stand, invest in Vermont and Vermonters!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Whaap! Whaap! Whaap!
This is the sound of me beating a dead horse. Governor Douglas does a lousy job for Vermont. Jim=Jobs(FOR HIS CRONIES). How many of us are better off now, heck, even as well off as when he took office?
Douglas bashing is easy, and I'm a great fan, don't get me wrong. But how productive is this in the long run? I think this is where the Governors race this year bogged down. The democrats were able to paint Douglas in a negative light, but unable to make their candidate a better, more logical choice.
The fact is he's our Governor, unless we come up with the votes to override his veto, we have no choice but to work with him. He's going to run our state into the ground unless he gets some help. Our roads will crumble, the budget shortfalls will be huge. He needs to be met at the table with ideas, and if he chooses to reject them, that will be his undoing.
No democrat thus far has been willing to assume a true leadership role or be a leading voice in challenging the governor. Not on his failures, but with new, well thought out ideas. The person Vermont is comfortable getting behind to move our state forward, and pull Vermont out of this slump.
If this person already exists I apologize. It's just that I've never seen any media coverage of you, or heard any of the great things you say we need to do. Where are you? We could really use you........
Douglas bashing is easy, and I'm a great fan, don't get me wrong. But how productive is this in the long run? I think this is where the Governors race this year bogged down. The democrats were able to paint Douglas in a negative light, but unable to make their candidate a better, more logical choice.
The fact is he's our Governor, unless we come up with the votes to override his veto, we have no choice but to work with him. He's going to run our state into the ground unless he gets some help. Our roads will crumble, the budget shortfalls will be huge. He needs to be met at the table with ideas, and if he chooses to reject them, that will be his undoing.
No democrat thus far has been willing to assume a true leadership role or be a leading voice in challenging the governor. Not on his failures, but with new, well thought out ideas. The person Vermont is comfortable getting behind to move our state forward, and pull Vermont out of this slump.
If this person already exists I apologize. It's just that I've never seen any media coverage of you, or heard any of the great things you say we need to do. Where are you? We could really use you........
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Governor Douglas; Check Out My Qualifications To Be FPR Commissioner.......
It thoroughly amazes me what it doesn't take to get a position in the Douglas administration. You'd like to think there's a bit of professionalism, or at least the people appointed to positions of authority have some relevance to the position. The appointment of Jason Gibbs to the position of Forest, Parks, and Recreation Commissioner is a joke, a new low the Douglas administration has stooped to. His qualifications; a degree in environmental something, interest in the outdoors, and being Douglas's campaign manager. This is even worse than Neale Lunderville as Transportation Secretary.
Hey Jim, why wasn't I in the running? Compare my qualifications to those of your new Commissioner of FPR; a degree in environmental science from a Vermont college. Six seasons of working at non-profit boys and girls camps in Vermont. Six seasons of working at a Vermont ski area. A couple terms on a town planning commission here in VT, the last as chair. Two year internship while in college with a non profit nature center whose mission centered around environmental education here in VT. Two years of being a hazardous waste operator for a Vermont solid waste district. Five years of working as an instructional assistant in Vermont schools, grades 2-8. Three seasons of working for VT state parks as a park naturalist. Two years of working customer service for the sporting goods division of a large multi-national corporation, and I'm a 31 year old lifelong Vermonter.
I point this all out not to gloat, but because even with all the cool stuff I've done, I sure as hell wouldn't consider myself qualified to be Commissioner of FPR! I don't know what to say. With all the people in Vermont who might have been qualified, he went with his campaign manager? I find it dissappointing, selfish, and a slight to the whole state of Vermont.
I think the people who run state government should have something to offer the position they occupy. More so than just being able to put a good spin on stuff. There's no good spin on Vermont State Parks needing money, because fees and leases to ski areas don't cover the cost of running the parks. There's no good spin on Vermont's forests are threatened by Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer, and Asian Longhorned Beetle in addition to the ongoing Dutch Elm, Butternut Canker, and Gypsy Moths among others.
To me it implies that Douglas doesn't really appreciate the magnitude of the position. I can only hope Gibbs surprises everyone and exceeds expectations. There's a big difference between filling a position, and excelling in it. Vermont deserves only the best.
Hey Jim, why wasn't I in the running? Compare my qualifications to those of your new Commissioner of FPR; a degree in environmental science from a Vermont college. Six seasons of working at non-profit boys and girls camps in Vermont. Six seasons of working at a Vermont ski area. A couple terms on a town planning commission here in VT, the last as chair. Two year internship while in college with a non profit nature center whose mission centered around environmental education here in VT. Two years of being a hazardous waste operator for a Vermont solid waste district. Five years of working as an instructional assistant in Vermont schools, grades 2-8. Three seasons of working for VT state parks as a park naturalist. Two years of working customer service for the sporting goods division of a large multi-national corporation, and I'm a 31 year old lifelong Vermonter.
I point this all out not to gloat, but because even with all the cool stuff I've done, I sure as hell wouldn't consider myself qualified to be Commissioner of FPR! I don't know what to say. With all the people in Vermont who might have been qualified, he went with his campaign manager? I find it dissappointing, selfish, and a slight to the whole state of Vermont.
I think the people who run state government should have something to offer the position they occupy. More so than just being able to put a good spin on stuff. There's no good spin on Vermont State Parks needing money, because fees and leases to ski areas don't cover the cost of running the parks. There's no good spin on Vermont's forests are threatened by Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer, and Asian Longhorned Beetle in addition to the ongoing Dutch Elm, Butternut Canker, and Gypsy Moths among others.
To me it implies that Douglas doesn't really appreciate the magnitude of the position. I can only hope Gibbs surprises everyone and exceeds expectations. There's a big difference between filling a position, and excelling in it. Vermont deserves only the best.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bait the Hook Douglas, Bait The Hook!!
Crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
It should be of no surprise to anyone in the Green Mountains that our state is in economic trouble. For six years Jim Douglas has been at the helm, how we again elect a captain who cannot bait his own hook? That was a very telling moment on that riverbank when Douglas's own Fish and Wildlife employee had to bait his hook for him.
Did the state employee feel that his boss was unable or unwilling to bait his own hook? Did Douglas not want to dirty himself, but just enjoy some photo-ops with a rod in hand? This is again to me a central theme in the whole Jim Douglas theory of governing Vermont.
He sets himself to look like he's doing all these great things, when really he not accomplishing anything worthwhile. If our governor does not grasp the concept of baiting a hook for himself and searching out a fish, how good will he be at attracting new business? That's indeed the very thing Vermont must do, fish for some businesses to grow here, using incentives as our bait. Incentives to relocate here, expand, and grow their business here.
Again with the fishing analogies, but we also need a governor who knows what to do when s/he's got one on the line. They need to know how to finesse the fish into the net, so we don't go home empty handed. We need to work with businesses that are already here that we've "hooked". We need to keep them here, and help them to grow here. Their successes are our successes.
That's why Jim Douglas's failure to bait his own hooks makes me question his ability to lead Vermont through these troubled times. If he needs other people to do his work for him, why are we electing him in the first place? I understand delegating responsibility and such, but this is where the governor needs to rise to a leadership role.
The next governor of Vermont needs to say it's their responsibility to find work for Vermonters and they're not gonna rest till they do. That's not the vibe I get from Douglas when he has state employees bait his hooks for him. It's more like, I have people do my work for me so if they fail, the blame doesn't fall on me, and I can point fingers elsewhere.
It should be of no surprise to anyone in the Green Mountains that our state is in economic trouble. For six years Jim Douglas has been at the helm, how we again elect a captain who cannot bait his own hook? That was a very telling moment on that riverbank when Douglas's own Fish and Wildlife employee had to bait his hook for him.
Did the state employee feel that his boss was unable or unwilling to bait his own hook? Did Douglas not want to dirty himself, but just enjoy some photo-ops with a rod in hand? This is again to me a central theme in the whole Jim Douglas theory of governing Vermont.
He sets himself to look like he's doing all these great things, when really he not accomplishing anything worthwhile. If our governor does not grasp the concept of baiting a hook for himself and searching out a fish, how good will he be at attracting new business? That's indeed the very thing Vermont must do, fish for some businesses to grow here, using incentives as our bait. Incentives to relocate here, expand, and grow their business here.
Again with the fishing analogies, but we also need a governor who knows what to do when s/he's got one on the line. They need to know how to finesse the fish into the net, so we don't go home empty handed. We need to work with businesses that are already here that we've "hooked". We need to keep them here, and help them to grow here. Their successes are our successes.
That's why Jim Douglas's failure to bait his own hooks makes me question his ability to lead Vermont through these troubled times. If he needs other people to do his work for him, why are we electing him in the first place? I understand delegating responsibility and such, but this is where the governor needs to rise to a leadership role.
The next governor of Vermont needs to say it's their responsibility to find work for Vermonters and they're not gonna rest till they do. That's not the vibe I get from Douglas when he has state employees bait his hooks for him. It's more like, I have people do my work for me so if they fail, the blame doesn't fall on me, and I can point fingers elsewhere.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Shelburne Road; Vermont’s Newest Ghost Town
Anyone driven down Route 7 from South Burlington to Shelburne lately? Not quite the thriving business district it once was, to say the very least. At least a half dozen empty buildings that haven’t been reoccupied. Noted businesses that have left include the Tuscan Sun, Sirloin Saloon, Vermont Country Kitchen, and Climb High. Roche’s Casual Furniture/Kasazza Kids made the move across the street to the old Climb High building, leaving their old venue vacant.
Is competition from the box stores in Williston leaving Shelburne Road in the dust? Does Route 7 just not have the draw to bring people like it once did? Tough saying really, but every rush hour Shelburne Road is literally clogged with cars. The people are there, they’re just not stopping to buy or eat. Why is that?
Hate to point the finger, but it didn’t seem like things were this bad before the Route 7 redo a couple years back. Maybe all those businesses were right and their worst case scenario’s have been realized? Could it be that all those traffic medians in the middle of the road did hurt business? Could it just be that the area is so known for it’s traffic that it’s just avoided in general? Or is it simply that the State of Vermont played with the traffic patterns and was too successful? After all, they were looking to lower the amount of time it took to get from one end of Shelburne road to the other, kudos to Agency of Transportation for this success.
But the vacant businesses? I think a couple factors are at play here. While it is easier to get from one end to the other, it certainly is harder to cross the road and get from one business to the next. Not having people crossing the road constantly does allow for better thru flow, but makes it trickier to visit the places you want. You have to consciously plan out where you’re going to start and end, and how best to navigate the flow of traffic. That’s a feat for seasoned Shelburne Road shoppers, let alone the visitors in town for the first time.
Looks like only time will tell. Will Shelburne Road become a ghost town, or return the profitable business district it once was?
Is competition from the box stores in Williston leaving Shelburne Road in the dust? Does Route 7 just not have the draw to bring people like it once did? Tough saying really, but every rush hour Shelburne Road is literally clogged with cars. The people are there, they’re just not stopping to buy or eat. Why is that?
Hate to point the finger, but it didn’t seem like things were this bad before the Route 7 redo a couple years back. Maybe all those businesses were right and their worst case scenario’s have been realized? Could it be that all those traffic medians in the middle of the road did hurt business? Could it just be that the area is so known for it’s traffic that it’s just avoided in general? Or is it simply that the State of Vermont played with the traffic patterns and was too successful? After all, they were looking to lower the amount of time it took to get from one end of Shelburne road to the other, kudos to Agency of Transportation for this success.
But the vacant businesses? I think a couple factors are at play here. While it is easier to get from one end to the other, it certainly is harder to cross the road and get from one business to the next. Not having people crossing the road constantly does allow for better thru flow, but makes it trickier to visit the places you want. You have to consciously plan out where you’re going to start and end, and how best to navigate the flow of traffic. That’s a feat for seasoned Shelburne Road shoppers, let alone the visitors in town for the first time.
Looks like only time will tell. Will Shelburne Road become a ghost town, or return the profitable business district it once was?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Waste Reduction In Vermont
The state of Vermont is going about reducing it’s solid waste output in completely the wrong way. Why crack down on Vermont Compost and Intervale Compost, two entities working hard to do the right thing and reduce the amount of trash we bury in landfills? Enforcement is not the way here, the state needs to work with responsible people trying to do the right thing. After all, where else is this waste to go but the landfill?
Yes, ok so there’s some site issues. I’m not disagreeing, but come on, suggest/help find an alternative. Food waste to compost is such a noble and worthy cause. Making a resource out of a waste, that’s what we need more of, not less. What’s the alternative? Burying it in the ground and letting future generations deal with the issue? Not that I think it’s much better than landfilling, but at least New Hampshire has kept up with technology. With modern pollution controls, they incinerate all their waste and generate electricity from it.
No landfills, plus. Electrical generation, plus. Unfortunately there is still hazardous ash left over, minus. Also some pollution that eludes the controls set in place, minus. I see it as breaking even, versus lanfilling which is just a minus. Is this what Vermont should move toward???? What options do we really have left if the state won’t let anybody do anything with waste other than landfill it?
In this case we’re not really talking about dangerous pollutants or hazardous household chemicals, its just food waste. The only problems that you can run into both relate to the site. The first is leachate of the nutrients from the compost into the groundwater. The second is animals, whether it be flies, rats, raccoons etc. Solve these two issues and you’ve got a successful waste reduction operation. Even Martha Stewart in the latest issue of her magazine uses Vermont Compost for her garden.
So please State of Vermont, work with these good people, don’t arbitrarily regulate them. Let VT compost go back and get whatever permits they need, don’t close them down. If there turns out to be issues still, then work with them to solve them. Same with the Intervale, so there’s site issues that can’t be overcome. Work with them, help them find a new site that will work, it’s in everyone’s best interest. Move forward, not backward, after all they’re just good people trying to do the right thing for everyone!.
Yes, ok so there’s some site issues. I’m not disagreeing, but come on, suggest/help find an alternative. Food waste to compost is such a noble and worthy cause. Making a resource out of a waste, that’s what we need more of, not less. What’s the alternative? Burying it in the ground and letting future generations deal with the issue? Not that I think it’s much better than landfilling, but at least New Hampshire has kept up with technology. With modern pollution controls, they incinerate all their waste and generate electricity from it.
No landfills, plus. Electrical generation, plus. Unfortunately there is still hazardous ash left over, minus. Also some pollution that eludes the controls set in place, minus. I see it as breaking even, versus lanfilling which is just a minus. Is this what Vermont should move toward???? What options do we really have left if the state won’t let anybody do anything with waste other than landfill it?
In this case we’re not really talking about dangerous pollutants or hazardous household chemicals, its just food waste. The only problems that you can run into both relate to the site. The first is leachate of the nutrients from the compost into the groundwater. The second is animals, whether it be flies, rats, raccoons etc. Solve these two issues and you’ve got a successful waste reduction operation. Even Martha Stewart in the latest issue of her magazine uses Vermont Compost for her garden.
So please State of Vermont, work with these good people, don’t arbitrarily regulate them. Let VT compost go back and get whatever permits they need, don’t close them down. If there turns out to be issues still, then work with them to solve them. Same with the Intervale, so there’s site issues that can’t be overcome. Work with them, help them find a new site that will work, it’s in everyone’s best interest. Move forward, not backward, after all they’re just good people trying to do the right thing for everyone!.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Douglas; Politicizing Tragedy For Political Gain
There is something the Governor of our state of Vermont is really good at. It’s taking a very unfortunate occurance and turning it into political gain. In a small state like ours, big news like our first amber alert had everybody concerned. Everyone watched, everyone waited, what would be the missing girls fate?
Then a disappearance turns into one families horror, and a statewide travesty. A convicted sexual predator, was released into the public on probation by our department of corrections. Released after completing the sex offender treatment program, where he was a “model inmate” and hailed as a success. Apparently the program doesn’t work, after his release he reportedly begins molesting a nine year old, and within a couple years effectively stalked and hunted his own niece. The abrupt and tragic end to her life is a testament to the failure of our state corrections and sex offender treatment program.
Here we are in an election year and a hot button issue lands in Governor Douglas’s lap. So what does he do, he picks it up and runs with it. Now he’s talking about civil confinement, the death penalty, and even chemical castration. Do I disagree, hell no!! This is one of the few instances where I actually agree with the governor. I don’t think we can ever go far enough with regards to protecting our kids.
However, there is nothing I hate worse than people who use tragedies for political gain. This is exactly the card Douglas is playing now. He is not calling a special session of the legislature because ““If I thought for a minute that the legislative leaders would embrace a serious package of reforms that we have talked about this afternoon, I’d have them here tomorrow,” Douglas replied. “Their past action does not give me a lot of confidence that in the aggregate they are prepared to take these steps.”” (BFP 7/11/08)
This is playing politics pure and simple. If the legislature were to meet, and pass the reforms he talks about, than the issue would go away. But this is an election year, and he can’t let it go away. He needs to keep beating this drum right thru November so he can sound tough on crime and make the Democratic legislature sound weak on crime. If the legislature is weak on crime, than his opponent who led that legislature is also weak on crime. It’s the forked tongue that Douglas speaks with that spews a whole lot of BS.
Governor Douglas, get off your butt and call a special session or get off the high horse. Take steps now to solve this obviously important issue before another kid gets hurt. Otherwise the failure here won’t just be corrections released someone who was a danger to the public. It will be a failure of the governor to protect the people, and more importantly kids, of his state.
Then a disappearance turns into one families horror, and a statewide travesty. A convicted sexual predator, was released into the public on probation by our department of corrections. Released after completing the sex offender treatment program, where he was a “model inmate” and hailed as a success. Apparently the program doesn’t work, after his release he reportedly begins molesting a nine year old, and within a couple years effectively stalked and hunted his own niece. The abrupt and tragic end to her life is a testament to the failure of our state corrections and sex offender treatment program.
Here we are in an election year and a hot button issue lands in Governor Douglas’s lap. So what does he do, he picks it up and runs with it. Now he’s talking about civil confinement, the death penalty, and even chemical castration. Do I disagree, hell no!! This is one of the few instances where I actually agree with the governor. I don’t think we can ever go far enough with regards to protecting our kids.
However, there is nothing I hate worse than people who use tragedies for political gain. This is exactly the card Douglas is playing now. He is not calling a special session of the legislature because ““If I thought for a minute that the legislative leaders would embrace a serious package of reforms that we have talked about this afternoon, I’d have them here tomorrow,” Douglas replied. “Their past action does not give me a lot of confidence that in the aggregate they are prepared to take these steps.”” (BFP 7/11/08)
This is playing politics pure and simple. If the legislature were to meet, and pass the reforms he talks about, than the issue would go away. But this is an election year, and he can’t let it go away. He needs to keep beating this drum right thru November so he can sound tough on crime and make the Democratic legislature sound weak on crime. If the legislature is weak on crime, than his opponent who led that legislature is also weak on crime. It’s the forked tongue that Douglas speaks with that spews a whole lot of BS.
Governor Douglas, get off your butt and call a special session or get off the high horse. Take steps now to solve this obviously important issue before another kid gets hurt. Otherwise the failure here won’t just be corrections released someone who was a danger to the public. It will be a failure of the governor to protect the people, and more importantly kids, of his state.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Responsible Growth For Vermont’s Future
So here Vermont stands, at the edge of an uncertain future, like looking out over a gorge. Will our state falter and fall into the abyss of economic disparity? Be washed away in the currents of time? Or will we build a bridge to get our state across to solid ground?
Forget the rest of the country, right now I’m just worrying about Vermont, and Vermonters. We need to look back at history, and see what’s worked. Modify it for current times and employ new strategies. I conceptualize a cross somewhere between “Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” and a “New Deal”.
We need to work to get less people relying on government assistance. We need to inspire people to work, and give them meaningful work to accomplish. We need to drastically reduce Vermont’s unemployment rate while working toward a goal of full employ. We need to make Vermont work, for working Vermonters.
The problem with new strategies and programs is the need to create bureaucracy to administer them. The largest employer in the state of Vermont, is The State of Vermont. A lot of people seem to have problems with this, I personally don’t. I don’t foresee private enterprise jumping in to save Vermont, so state government will have to do!
The fingers of state government have worked their way into all our lives through taxes, education, transportation etc. It’s time those fingers were used to massage the lives of the citizenry instead of keeping them in a death grip. Vermont state government needs to present Vermonters with one thing; opportunity. Opportunity to deduct from their tax burden, and help out fellow Vermonters. Opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Opportunity to have a viable future in the state of Vermont.
There’s no way I can lay all this out in one post, but here’s my main idea, a Vermont Works Progress Administration that coordinates with the needs of Vermont State Government. Put Vermonters to work to reduce the overall tax burden, and also provide goods and services to improve the quality of life of Vermonters. Yes, this means less contracting between government and private enterprise, and yes, this does sound a bit like communism. As long as the end justifies the means, so be it.
How will we pay for the new administration? My favorite part, simple; roll back the bonuses that Governor Douglas gave to the administration, and roll back the last raise our legislators voted to give themselves. Desperate times, desperate measures, and I don’t think the people who serve the state of Vermont should be getting pay increases while those who pay for those increases see their own paychecks decrease!
State sponsored food bank farms to supply fresh food to help the poverty stricken. Require people receiving state assistance to put in a couple hours, they can bring the kids, no need for daycare! Prisoners can start all the plants in greenhouses at the prisons. Even better if we can get the correction officers union to negotiate and allow some prisoners to work in fields.
State sponsored School Lunch farms. Great project for kids who are off all summer. Maybe even give the parents a tax break for the hours their kids work? Grow certain crops for canning or freezing for the school year. Beans would work great, broccoli, potatoes. The added bonus would be the kids are growing their own food, and would have a much greater appreciation for where their lunches come from. A variation could be groups of kids who go out berry picking etc. and freeze them for school use.
Town growth centers. This is an idea that’s been kicking around our state for awhile but hasn’t gotten the boost it needs. The idea is to concentrate growth in designated areas of towns. What better time to create infrastructure than when people need work? Why not put people to work creating sewer systems in a designated growth center in each town, and allow towns to grow their tax base?
Coupled with the town growth centers we need to attract and grow small businesses throughout the state. Ideally situating these businesses within the growth centers of various towns. We need to spread the work out all around the state instead of concentrating it in Chittenden County. Less people commuting means less gas usage, less pollution, and more money staying within local economies. There is no real need for a large percentage of the inhabitants of the state to commute to the same county to work.
Forget the rest of the country, right now I’m just worrying about Vermont, and Vermonters. We need to look back at history, and see what’s worked. Modify it for current times and employ new strategies. I conceptualize a cross somewhere between “Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” and a “New Deal”.
We need to work to get less people relying on government assistance. We need to inspire people to work, and give them meaningful work to accomplish. We need to drastically reduce Vermont’s unemployment rate while working toward a goal of full employ. We need to make Vermont work, for working Vermonters.
The problem with new strategies and programs is the need to create bureaucracy to administer them. The largest employer in the state of Vermont, is The State of Vermont. A lot of people seem to have problems with this, I personally don’t. I don’t foresee private enterprise jumping in to save Vermont, so state government will have to do!
The fingers of state government have worked their way into all our lives through taxes, education, transportation etc. It’s time those fingers were used to massage the lives of the citizenry instead of keeping them in a death grip. Vermont state government needs to present Vermonters with one thing; opportunity. Opportunity to deduct from their tax burden, and help out fellow Vermonters. Opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Opportunity to have a viable future in the state of Vermont.
There’s no way I can lay all this out in one post, but here’s my main idea, a Vermont Works Progress Administration that coordinates with the needs of Vermont State Government. Put Vermonters to work to reduce the overall tax burden, and also provide goods and services to improve the quality of life of Vermonters. Yes, this means less contracting between government and private enterprise, and yes, this does sound a bit like communism. As long as the end justifies the means, so be it.
How will we pay for the new administration? My favorite part, simple; roll back the bonuses that Governor Douglas gave to the administration, and roll back the last raise our legislators voted to give themselves. Desperate times, desperate measures, and I don’t think the people who serve the state of Vermont should be getting pay increases while those who pay for those increases see their own paychecks decrease!
State sponsored food bank farms to supply fresh food to help the poverty stricken. Require people receiving state assistance to put in a couple hours, they can bring the kids, no need for daycare! Prisoners can start all the plants in greenhouses at the prisons. Even better if we can get the correction officers union to negotiate and allow some prisoners to work in fields.
State sponsored School Lunch farms. Great project for kids who are off all summer. Maybe even give the parents a tax break for the hours their kids work? Grow certain crops for canning or freezing for the school year. Beans would work great, broccoli, potatoes. The added bonus would be the kids are growing their own food, and would have a much greater appreciation for where their lunches come from. A variation could be groups of kids who go out berry picking etc. and freeze them for school use.
Town growth centers. This is an idea that’s been kicking around our state for awhile but hasn’t gotten the boost it needs. The idea is to concentrate growth in designated areas of towns. What better time to create infrastructure than when people need work? Why not put people to work creating sewer systems in a designated growth center in each town, and allow towns to grow their tax base?
Coupled with the town growth centers we need to attract and grow small businesses throughout the state. Ideally situating these businesses within the growth centers of various towns. We need to spread the work out all around the state instead of concentrating it in Chittenden County. Less people commuting means less gas usage, less pollution, and more money staying within local economies. There is no real need for a large percentage of the inhabitants of the state to commute to the same county to work.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Vermont; A State Without A Plan
I’m not very optimistic about Vermont’s economic future. According to Douglas’s latest, Vermont’s economic strength is in it’s “diversity”. That’s a crock of crap, the biggest load of BS that’s ever been heaped upon our state. Diversity?
We’re so reliant on tourists to pump up our economy it’s ridiculous. No wonder we have no tax base and have to tax peoples property. Driven around Vermont lately? We’re a state of tourist trap after tourist trap, just about every road you take. Can’t really blame people, it’s where the money is. None of us certainly have any.
We’ve got artisan and specialty businesses galore, but how many people do they employ? A couple at a whack. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great, but we need employers who hire a lot of people. We need employers who pay decent livable wages to Vermonters. This is where Vermont is absolutely not competitive. We’ve got a lot of educated, hardworking people who’ve had to settle for less.
How many employers are there in the thousand plus employee range? Not including the state of Vermont, you’ve got what IBM, maybe Lockheed Martin? Face it the only industry we have is our huge dairy farms, and who do they employ? Mexican immigrants with questionable legal status, because they can’t find anyone else to work for housing and pathetic wages.
Smart directed growth is what Vermont needs, spread evenly throughout the state. Not a bunch more service jobs that pay ridiculously low wages and force people to live paycheck to paycheck. This direction starts from the top. No, we don’t need all sorts of industry pumping pollutants into our air, water and soils, but we need something. The governor should be seeking out environmentally responsible businesses to bring into the state.
Better yet, look to accommodate local businesses and their growth needs. Help businesses that employ Vermonters to grow. Look at Unilever, opening a Ben & Jerry’s out west, look at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, setting up shop in Tennessee. We can’t even keep Vermont companies in Vermont let alone attract new ones!
The buck stops at the Governors office. That’s where the direction of our state comes from. Instead of taking credit for everyone elses work, and blaming failures on the legislature, we need a governor who can deliver. We need someone who can not only keep jobs in Vermont but deliver us new ones. After all the governor is not a spiritual figure head like the Pope. The governor needs to do more than make appearances, and wave to crowds. They need to do the work of the state, and work damn hard at it!
We’re so reliant on tourists to pump up our economy it’s ridiculous. No wonder we have no tax base and have to tax peoples property. Driven around Vermont lately? We’re a state of tourist trap after tourist trap, just about every road you take. Can’t really blame people, it’s where the money is. None of us certainly have any.
We’ve got artisan and specialty businesses galore, but how many people do they employ? A couple at a whack. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great, but we need employers who hire a lot of people. We need employers who pay decent livable wages to Vermonters. This is where Vermont is absolutely not competitive. We’ve got a lot of educated, hardworking people who’ve had to settle for less.
How many employers are there in the thousand plus employee range? Not including the state of Vermont, you’ve got what IBM, maybe Lockheed Martin? Face it the only industry we have is our huge dairy farms, and who do they employ? Mexican immigrants with questionable legal status, because they can’t find anyone else to work for housing and pathetic wages.
Smart directed growth is what Vermont needs, spread evenly throughout the state. Not a bunch more service jobs that pay ridiculously low wages and force people to live paycheck to paycheck. This direction starts from the top. No, we don’t need all sorts of industry pumping pollutants into our air, water and soils, but we need something. The governor should be seeking out environmentally responsible businesses to bring into the state.
Better yet, look to accommodate local businesses and their growth needs. Help businesses that employ Vermonters to grow. Look at Unilever, opening a Ben & Jerry’s out west, look at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, setting up shop in Tennessee. We can’t even keep Vermont companies in Vermont let alone attract new ones!
The buck stops at the Governors office. That’s where the direction of our state comes from. Instead of taking credit for everyone elses work, and blaming failures on the legislature, we need a governor who can deliver. We need someone who can not only keep jobs in Vermont but deliver us new ones. After all the governor is not a spiritual figure head like the Pope. The governor needs to do more than make appearances, and wave to crowds. They need to do the work of the state, and work damn hard at it!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Grand Isle Drawbridge Part II
This is the letter the Islander paper couldn't print because it was "more than one letter on the same topic".
Dear Editor,
I’m very thankful to VTran’s Secretary Neale Lunderville and Senator Dick Mazza for answering the questions I posed. It was refreshing to see government officials take time to inform the Grand Isle County community about what is going on with their drawbridge. I sincerely hope this openness and dialogue continue into the future.
I was glad to hear “there are no plans at this time, so there is nothing as of yet to report.” This means with things in the early stages, there is plenty of opportunity to involve the islands community in the planning process. After all, who knows their bridge better than the residents of Grand Isle County? County residents see beyond the structure of the bridge, to all that it represents and could be.
I personally feel that if there is to be a reconstruction, some sort of handicapped fishing access would be a good addition. With the little access road on the north side this would not be a far stretch, and surely help some good folks out. I’m sure Island residents have other insightful ideas of what could be done to the drawbridge during reconstruction. That’s why VTrans needs to have their engineers and planners hear Islanders speak before planning begins. Then good ideas can be incorporated into the plans from the start, not worked out as revisions, or worse too late.
The next ten to twenty years leave plenty of time to involve the residents of Grand Isle County in the future of their bridge. Engaging communities is what democracy is all about. I implore all members of the Grand Isle County community to contact VTrans immediately, and ask them to sponsor meetings for public input prior to planning. Talk to your governor, neighbors, selectboard members, and state representatives. Contact Secretary Lunderville and Senator Mazza, and hold them to their pledge that “as engineers concept what might be next for this bridge, Islanders and their local government officials will certainly be involved.”
Best regards,
Jason M. Brisson
North Hero, VT
Dear Editor,
I’m very thankful to VTran’s Secretary Neale Lunderville and Senator Dick Mazza for answering the questions I posed. It was refreshing to see government officials take time to inform the Grand Isle County community about what is going on with their drawbridge. I sincerely hope this openness and dialogue continue into the future.
I was glad to hear “there are no plans at this time, so there is nothing as of yet to report.” This means with things in the early stages, there is plenty of opportunity to involve the islands community in the planning process. After all, who knows their bridge better than the residents of Grand Isle County? County residents see beyond the structure of the bridge, to all that it represents and could be.
I personally feel that if there is to be a reconstruction, some sort of handicapped fishing access would be a good addition. With the little access road on the north side this would not be a far stretch, and surely help some good folks out. I’m sure Island residents have other insightful ideas of what could be done to the drawbridge during reconstruction. That’s why VTrans needs to have their engineers and planners hear Islanders speak before planning begins. Then good ideas can be incorporated into the plans from the start, not worked out as revisions, or worse too late.
The next ten to twenty years leave plenty of time to involve the residents of Grand Isle County in the future of their bridge. Engaging communities is what democracy is all about. I implore all members of the Grand Isle County community to contact VTrans immediately, and ask them to sponsor meetings for public input prior to planning. Talk to your governor, neighbors, selectboard members, and state representatives. Contact Secretary Lunderville and Senator Mazza, and hold them to their pledge that “as engineers concept what might be next for this bridge, Islanders and their local government officials will certainly be involved.”
Best regards,
Jason M. Brisson
North Hero, VT
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Must've Struck A Nerve Somewhere
Crossposted @ http://www.greenmountaindaily.com/
This letter was in response to a previous post/letter to editor by yours truly about the Grand Isle Drawbridge. It was in the local Islander paper. Must've struck a nerve if I elicited a response from Neale Lunderville, Douglas's Campaign Manager, I mean The Secretary of Transportation. Even more interesting that Senator Mazza a democrat also put his name on the letter. Don't worry boy's, you'll have my response coming your way soon enough!
"To the Editor,
Work to rehabilitate the North Hero/Grand Isle Draw bridge is now complete. On behalf of everyone involved, we want to thank Islanders for their patience and cooperation during the past several months as crews worked on this important project.
We also want to thank Jason Brisson for his kind words in a recent letter to the editor regarding the men and women who worked on the bridge. Their efforts were indeed exemplary. Unfortunately the letter distorted the process by which the Agency of Transportation will plan future bridge work, and we would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
Throughout the process that led to the recent emergency repair, the local Select Boards and town managers were kept in the loop. Agency of Transportation engineers offered to travel to the islands to meet with selectmen during public meetings, but the boards instead elected to be kept abreast through phone calls, letters and e-mails. There was always a standing offer to attend a public meeting if selectmen believed that necessary.
Mr. Brisson's letter asked what's next? He then questioned why he has yet to hear about future bridge repairs, and why there have been no public meetings to inform Islanders about the Agency's plans.
The answer is simple: there are no plans at this time so there is nothing as of yet to report. The rehabilitation that was just completed will keep traffic moving safely over this important bridge for the next decade or two.
VTran's staff put significant time and resources into the bridge rehabilitation that was just completed. The work was done during one of the most difficult winters in memory and completed in time for the upcoming nautical season. The paint is barely dry. As engineers concept what might be next for this bridge, Islanders and their local government officials will certainly be involved.
Neale Lunderville,
Secretary Agency of Transportation
Dick Mazza,
Senator Grand Isle"
This letter was in response to a previous post/letter to editor by yours truly about the Grand Isle Drawbridge. It was in the local Islander paper. Must've struck a nerve if I elicited a response from Neale Lunderville, Douglas's Campaign Manager, I mean The Secretary of Transportation. Even more interesting that Senator Mazza a democrat also put his name on the letter. Don't worry boy's, you'll have my response coming your way soon enough!
"To the Editor,
Work to rehabilitate the North Hero/Grand Isle Draw bridge is now complete. On behalf of everyone involved, we want to thank Islanders for their patience and cooperation during the past several months as crews worked on this important project.
We also want to thank Jason Brisson for his kind words in a recent letter to the editor regarding the men and women who worked on the bridge. Their efforts were indeed exemplary. Unfortunately the letter distorted the process by which the Agency of Transportation will plan future bridge work, and we would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
Throughout the process that led to the recent emergency repair, the local Select Boards and town managers were kept in the loop. Agency of Transportation engineers offered to travel to the islands to meet with selectmen during public meetings, but the boards instead elected to be kept abreast through phone calls, letters and e-mails. There was always a standing offer to attend a public meeting if selectmen believed that necessary.
Mr. Brisson's letter asked what's next? He then questioned why he has yet to hear about future bridge repairs, and why there have been no public meetings to inform Islanders about the Agency's plans.
The answer is simple: there are no plans at this time so there is nothing as of yet to report. The rehabilitation that was just completed will keep traffic moving safely over this important bridge for the next decade or two.
VTran's staff put significant time and resources into the bridge rehabilitation that was just completed. The work was done during one of the most difficult winters in memory and completed in time for the upcoming nautical season. The paint is barely dry. As engineers concept what might be next for this bridge, Islanders and their local government officials will certainly be involved.
Neale Lunderville,
Secretary Agency of Transportation
Dick Mazza,
Senator Grand Isle"
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Perennial Loser Or Vermont's Great Hope?
crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
So I talk a lot of crap about Pollina running for governor against Douglas. This will be my last swipe until November when I post a big I told you so. Yep, 6 months of no Pollina bashing from me. Why? I actually like the guy, I'd even go so far as to describe myself a fan. I love everything that Pollina stands for, his heart is in the right place. He's the Bernie Sanders of Middlesex. However, because I like the guy, it makes me one of his biggest and most vocal critics.
I voted for Pollina to help make a point in 2000, and again in 2002. Where did it get me? I feel like my vote was wasted. I'd even go so far as to say counterproductive in 2002. I feel like I was burned by Pollina, for giving me false hope. Hope that he would get elected. Hope that all the great things he talked about would really make a difference when he got into office. Hope that he would help make Vermont a better place.
Perceptions are everything in politics. Pollina is a great speaker, but he needs to up the energy and charisma. He has a great, and good natured personality, but he needs to share it more with people. Show his vulnerable side, his hobbies, what he does for fun. He needs to relate more to your average working Vermonter. He needs to relay the message that he is the best choice because he will affect positively Vermonter's lives when they vote for him.
Going beyond that though, he needs to run an effective campaign. Progressives are good at running Chittenden County campaigns, but haven't really grasped the concept of a Vermont campaign. The Republicans and Democrats are much better equiped, and entrenched. The heart of a Vermont campaign lies within the county caucuses and town committees. In the small towns of Vermont everyone knows who's voting which way and why. That's where campaigns are really won and lost.
You can run all the TV ads and radio spots you want. But until neighbors begin talking to neighbors about Pollina and how good he'd be for Vermont, its all for nothing. Until people see their fellow townsfolk going door to door, knocking. Unless they're convinced that Pollina is a safe person to entrust their hopes and dreams to, he's a risk, a liability. He is as yet untested in statewide office.
Pollina is not just the underdog, he has three strikes already against him in the eyes of Vermonters. He lost the bid for congress as a Democrat to Jim Jeffords in 1984. In 2000 he was the candidate that was neither for or against civil unions, a safe place to be. In 2002 his last bid for statewide office, he was the spoiler candidate that gave us Dubie as Lt. Governor. That's a tough history to overcome, three times a loser doesn't inspire confidence the fourth time around.
So when I criticize Anthony Pollina, it's not because I don't think he'd be good for Vermont. It's not because I don't like him or his politics. It's because I'm afraid to build up hope again. I'm afraid that he won't run a Vermont campaign, and bring his message to the "you can't get there from here" villages and hamlets scattered throughout the Green Mountains.
So I talk a lot of crap about Pollina running for governor against Douglas. This will be my last swipe until November when I post a big I told you so. Yep, 6 months of no Pollina bashing from me. Why? I actually like the guy, I'd even go so far as to describe myself a fan. I love everything that Pollina stands for, his heart is in the right place. He's the Bernie Sanders of Middlesex. However, because I like the guy, it makes me one of his biggest and most vocal critics.
I voted for Pollina to help make a point in 2000, and again in 2002. Where did it get me? I feel like my vote was wasted. I'd even go so far as to say counterproductive in 2002. I feel like I was burned by Pollina, for giving me false hope. Hope that he would get elected. Hope that all the great things he talked about would really make a difference when he got into office. Hope that he would help make Vermont a better place.
Perceptions are everything in politics. Pollina is a great speaker, but he needs to up the energy and charisma. He has a great, and good natured personality, but he needs to share it more with people. Show his vulnerable side, his hobbies, what he does for fun. He needs to relate more to your average working Vermonter. He needs to relay the message that he is the best choice because he will affect positively Vermonter's lives when they vote for him.
Going beyond that though, he needs to run an effective campaign. Progressives are good at running Chittenden County campaigns, but haven't really grasped the concept of a Vermont campaign. The Republicans and Democrats are much better equiped, and entrenched. The heart of a Vermont campaign lies within the county caucuses and town committees. In the small towns of Vermont everyone knows who's voting which way and why. That's where campaigns are really won and lost.
You can run all the TV ads and radio spots you want. But until neighbors begin talking to neighbors about Pollina and how good he'd be for Vermont, its all for nothing. Until people see their fellow townsfolk going door to door, knocking. Unless they're convinced that Pollina is a safe person to entrust their hopes and dreams to, he's a risk, a liability. He is as yet untested in statewide office.
Pollina is not just the underdog, he has three strikes already against him in the eyes of Vermonters. He lost the bid for congress as a Democrat to Jim Jeffords in 1984. In 2000 he was the candidate that was neither for or against civil unions, a safe place to be. In 2002 his last bid for statewide office, he was the spoiler candidate that gave us Dubie as Lt. Governor. That's a tough history to overcome, three times a loser doesn't inspire confidence the fourth time around.
So when I criticize Anthony Pollina, it's not because I don't think he'd be good for Vermont. It's not because I don't like him or his politics. It's because I'm afraid to build up hope again. I'm afraid that he won't run a Vermont campaign, and bring his message to the "you can't get there from here" villages and hamlets scattered throughout the Green Mountains.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Letter To Editor About Grand Isle Drawbridge
crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
So the long anticipated, short-term fix to the Grand Isle Drawbridge has been completed. Where once traffic traveled over rust, the metal is bare and bright. No longer do Islanders traveling north and south have to worry about dropping through into the lake. VTrans did a good job of facilitating a solution, but most of the credit belongs to Engineers Construction Inc.
The workers from ECI were diligent in their work in spite of all sorts of adverse weather conditions, from rain, wind, snow, and extreme cold to a mini ice storm. After the ice they had to break the whole bridge free, before restarting their work. All the while, cars trooped north and south only a few feet away. That crew certainly worked hard for the money they earned.
Now that this chapter has closed in the story of our drawbridge, I wonder what the next one holds. After all, this is still only a temporary fix, and I have yet to hear what the state plans to do next. For that matter has anyone in the Islands heard anything? Of course not!
There have been no public meetings on the future of the bridge. The state and VTrans are having their little meetings down in Montpelier, behind closed doors, without any input from islanders. It's apparent that they only care to do what they want, not what we want. Where is our senator, where are our representatives?
Islanders please let you voices be heard! Talk to Senator Mazza, and Representatives Trombley and Johnson, voice your concerns. Don't stop there! Contact the governor, VTrans, your local selectboard, your neighbors! Islanders need to be heard on a subject near and dear to their hearts, their drawbridge, our input is important!!
So the long anticipated, short-term fix to the Grand Isle Drawbridge has been completed. Where once traffic traveled over rust, the metal is bare and bright. No longer do Islanders traveling north and south have to worry about dropping through into the lake. VTrans did a good job of facilitating a solution, but most of the credit belongs to Engineers Construction Inc.
The workers from ECI were diligent in their work in spite of all sorts of adverse weather conditions, from rain, wind, snow, and extreme cold to a mini ice storm. After the ice they had to break the whole bridge free, before restarting their work. All the while, cars trooped north and south only a few feet away. That crew certainly worked hard for the money they earned.
Now that this chapter has closed in the story of our drawbridge, I wonder what the next one holds. After all, this is still only a temporary fix, and I have yet to hear what the state plans to do next. For that matter has anyone in the Islands heard anything? Of course not!
There have been no public meetings on the future of the bridge. The state and VTrans are having their little meetings down in Montpelier, behind closed doors, without any input from islanders. It's apparent that they only care to do what they want, not what we want. Where is our senator, where are our representatives?
Islanders please let you voices be heard! Talk to Senator Mazza, and Representatives Trombley and Johnson, voice your concerns. Don't stop there! Contact the governor, VTrans, your local selectboard, your neighbors! Islanders need to be heard on a subject near and dear to their hearts, their drawbridge, our input is important!!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Why Is Jim Douglas Such A Bad Governor?
crossposted @ www.greenmountaindaily.com
I'll tell you why, what's the single most greatest thing Jim Douglas has done attaining the governorship? (Cue crickets chirping) Anything? Anyone? That's right, Douglas's greatest accomplishment thus far has been to continually fly under the radar and avoid any real issues.
Talk, now this is something that Douglas is good at! Talk about affordability, talk about lowering taxes. Has he helped make any of it happen? He talks and talks, and finds a whole host of reasons to blame his inability to do something on everybody else.
How about the people he surrounds himself with? Cronies. So far three of his appointments to the Fish and Wildlife board have had to resign for breaking fish and game laws, some example to set. Then there's Lunderville, the Governors campaign manager turned Secretary of Transportation. How about the Secretary of Agriculture, former WCAX reporter Anson Tebbits?
Our current governor has made a profession of sitting on the fence, while shooting down either side. He won't come swinging on any real issues of substance because he's afraid he might alienate voters. The problem in this day and age, is Vermont needs a governor who stands up for us. Douglas however, chooses to sit behind his desk.
We need a governor who's not afraid to make themself unpopular. Someone who will take on real issues of substance and reach out to help working Vermonters. That will never be Jim Douglas! He spends to much time being afraid of his own shadow to ever be an effective governor.
I'll tell you why, what's the single most greatest thing Jim Douglas has done attaining the governorship? (Cue crickets chirping) Anything? Anyone? That's right, Douglas's greatest accomplishment thus far has been to continually fly under the radar and avoid any real issues.
Talk, now this is something that Douglas is good at! Talk about affordability, talk about lowering taxes. Has he helped make any of it happen? He talks and talks, and finds a whole host of reasons to blame his inability to do something on everybody else.
How about the people he surrounds himself with? Cronies. So far three of his appointments to the Fish and Wildlife board have had to resign for breaking fish and game laws, some example to set. Then there's Lunderville, the Governors campaign manager turned Secretary of Transportation. How about the Secretary of Agriculture, former WCAX reporter Anson Tebbits?
Our current governor has made a profession of sitting on the fence, while shooting down either side. He won't come swinging on any real issues of substance because he's afraid he might alienate voters. The problem in this day and age, is Vermont needs a governor who stands up for us. Douglas however, chooses to sit behind his desk.
We need a governor who's not afraid to make themself unpopular. Someone who will take on real issues of substance and reach out to help working Vermonters. That will never be Jim Douglas! He spends to much time being afraid of his own shadow to ever be an effective governor.
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