Opinion

For opinion pieces on any topic.

Patriotic Muslim Dad Hails Dead Son’s Participation in US Crime Against Humanity in Muslim Iraq

by jay janson | Op/Ed

DESCRIPTION:
Sen. Clinton voted for an obvious International Crime Against Humanity in Iraq. Prez Candidate Clinton features at her nominating convention a Muslin father, whose son died participating in US crime against Muslim people ranting about what a bad guy her opponent Donald Trump is, though Trump had spoken out against the illegal and criminal invasion of Iraq. Trump also faulted for non-participation in earlier genocidal crime in Vietnam.

Free Spaghetti Supper with Matt Dunne & PFFV

by ScottCMcCarty | Politics

The Professional Firefighters of Vermont (PFFV) have endorsed Matt Dunne for Governor. Matt is a lifelong resident of Hartland, Vermont. He is an experienced leader with a deep commitment to making Vermont’s economy work for all Vermonters. In addition to PFFV, he has earned the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Rights & Democracy, and the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA). 

End of the Line for Bernie Sanders

by Lise | Politics

After many months of fighting the good fight, and losing, we’ve come to the end of the line for Bernie Sanders.  He was our last best hope, but for whatever reason, people opted for the “safe,” status quo candidate Hillary Clinton.  This may have been engineered, to a large degree, by a party apparatus that opposed his candidacy — the DNC email leak last week made it clear that they were out to get him, and it’s likely the party’s animosity toward Sanders trickled down to local party people across the country.  No wonder people thought there was voter suppression and shenanigans — the Democratic party was at war with its own progressive wing.  But so be it.  

A Distillation of DOD Funding Priorities for June 2016

by DWard | Op/Ed

Even though money is an abstract and arbitrary construct, the product of which is created from nothing and therefore can be created (again, from nothing) to provide whatever we need or desire, the money people earn and work for is stolen from them to pay for the adventures of lunatics.

Yes this stolen money provides jobs but we need infrastructure upgrades and that would provide jobs too.  Why doesn’t it go to something that benefits the funders (ie: the  taxpayers?)  The likelihood of being killed by a terrorist is equal to being killed by furntiure. Yet we are allowing the money that comes from our toil to go to destructive purposes, since we (erroneously) think that the money has to come from limited revenues. This money is stolen out of the pockets of everyday workers.

Economic Hegemony Loss to China Looming! Powerful Investors Have Trump Call for an About Face

by jay janson | Op/Ed

TITLE:
Economic Hegemony Loss to China Looming! Powerful Investors Have Trump Call for an About Face
by jay janson

DESCRIPTION:
The willingness of humanity to continue to accept the white world’s profitable investments in genocide will end in 25 years when world economic power shifts from Europeans, and their descendant nations, to the six sevenths of humanity they plundered. Realizing this, leaders of 1/10th of 1% who rule America have Trump demanding investment in the US instead of in the low wage 3rd World that China will soon lead.

TEXT:
Our Sick World

Two Sides of the Coin

by KAlden | Op/Ed

I was so proud of our town last night when I saw how many people turned out for the Black Lives Matter rally and march. It was the most diverse group I’ve evr seen gathered in one place in Brattleboro; white people; black people, asian people, students, retirees, families with kids in tow, business owners, farmers, librarians…it was an impressive sight. It was a peaceful and powerful event and the police officers present seemed to understand that it was not – in any way an indictment of them but rather a unified attempt to stop the never ending violence in this country.

Reading the comments in the  article about the same event on the Reformer’s FB page this morning elicited a very differnt feeling in me. While some of the comments were positive, most were displays of blatant, in your face racism, hatred and ignorance. Many commenters called BLM a “terrorist group” like ISIS and said the rally was only meant to be anti police. Horrible cartoons and memes were posted- people seeming quite proud about openly racist and, of course, the inevitable “terrorist” cartoons about our President.

Gubernatorial Candidate Meet, Greet & Lunch

by RobertOeser | Politics

Gubernatorial Candidate Meet, Greet & Lunch

Where: Senior Meals – Gibson-Aiken Center – 207 Main St., Brattleboro, VT  05301

When: Friday, July 22, 2016 at 12 Noon

Who:  , Vermont’s former Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Irene Recovery Officer, and State Representative, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor in the upcoming .

Q&A:

Will there be lunch?

Black GIs Killing Blacks Overseas a Problem for ‘Black Lives Matter’ Leaders Betraying MLKjr

by jay janson | Op/Ed

DESCRIPTION:
Unless Martin Luther King is wrong, the movement to protect US Blacks from White people will go nowhere while Black GIs help white people kill Africans in Africa and other non-Caucasian people all around the globe. Slogan ‘Black Lives Matter’ is ignominious, humiliating, undignified, embarrassing, pleading, definitely not noble, not appropriate to repeated murdering of innocent folks and children and other inhuman behavior.

Which Four Year Show To Watch?

by cgrotke | Politics

Summer is a time for TV execs to preview fall programming. So it is in politics, too. Conventions are previews for presidencies. What shall we watch for four years? Let’s look at the choices.

Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton today, marking the official end of his campaign to become President and the beginning of his more-powerful-than-this-time-last-year campaign for major changes. This leaves us a Coke-Pepsi type of choice. Sorry, we’re out of root beer.

Clinton has been laying somewhat low, presumably preparing for the convention and general campaign. It’s certainly hers to lose. She’s got more money, she’s been through the election cycle many times before and has the connections and “ground game” to pull it off. The Clinton network has reach and power.

Sanders Defends Vermont’s GMO Labeling Law

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, July 6 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday said legislation that could soon come to the floor of the U.S. Senate would undermine efforts in states around the country to help Americans stay informed about what goes into their food.

“The American people have a right to know what they’re eating,” Sanders said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. “That is why states like Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and Alaska have adopted laws to label goods containing GMOs and why many other states are interested and on the path to do that.”

Celebrate 260 Years Profitable Genocide – African Slaves Native Americans Mexicans Filipinos etc.

by jay janson | Op/Ed

DESCRIPTION:

Independence Holiday in the USA becomes a time when citizens tend to reflect on the nations two hundred forty year history. It is a history typical of six European empires in the areas of genocide and plunder. US genocides perpetrated after 1945 will be prosecuted once economic power shifts to a China led plundered world. A plethora of lawsuits for restitution will make past illegal wars woefully unprofitable.

VT Democratic Party Violates Their Own Platform By Excluding Candidates!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

One look at Robert Oeser’s list of gubernatorial candidate forums and you can find out that there is one candidate who has been excluded: Cris Ericson was excluded because she doesn’t have a $400,000. campaign account, PROVING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN VERMONT IS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN PLATFORM!

Look at the ballot! Cris Ericson for U.S. Senator: Patrick Leahy refuses to participate in a forum or debate with her. Cris Ericson for Governor: Sue Minter, Matt Dunne, and Peter Galbraith have conspired to exclude her from debates and forums. Not one of them is a true Democrat! Not one of them embraces real Democracy!

Links to Help you Decide & Vote in the August Primary [Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast List]

by RobertOeser | Politics

​Vermont Candidates On Community Health: Gubernatorial Forum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6l9CrZPrE

​Southern Vermont economy gets eye of gubernatorial hopefuls
https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/28/southern-vermont-economy-gets-eye-of-gubernatorial-hopefuls/

VT Governor’s Candidate Forum – Brattleboro American Legion 6/28/16
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6_5-l8Ego​

On line: VPR Meet the Candidates page
http://digital.vpr.net/post/meet-candidates-governor-vermont#stream/0

Absentee Voting Starts Friday June 24th? Yikes! I’m On The Ballot, And Who Knows Who I Am?

by Cris Ericson | Politics

Absentee voting starts Friday June 24th? Yikes! I’m on the ballot, and who knows who I am?

The majority of media have blasted across Vermont that there are only 3 Democratic Party candidates for governor – NOT true! There are 5! If you want to see all five Democratic Party candidates for governor of Vermont for the very first time together, then please attend the Democratic Party debate tomorrow, Thursday, June 23rd being held at the Congregational Church, 77 Main Street, Springfield, Vermont starting at 6 PM for socializing with everyone, with the debating starting at 7 PM.

This is the first time you will see me with the other candidates, and as of today, June 22nd, I have NEVER met any of them. I was certified by the Secretary of State Election Division on May 3rd, and now over 6 weeks later, ONE DAY before absentee voting starts, I’m finally included in one candidate forum with all of the other Democratic Party candidates.

Pre-Convention Politics

by cgrotke | Politics

The latest twist in the presidential campaign season comes primarily on the GOP side, with regular, traditional GOP members freaking out about Trump as their nominee. So much so that delegates to the Republican convention are being given a nod and wink to, if they want, maybe, perhaps, just change their support come convention time. (But not you Democrats! Stay in line!)

Others are reporting push polls testing Paul Ryan and Kasich against Clinton. President Ryan?

Clinton, meanwhile, has called for those under FBI investigation to not be allowed to purchase handguns. This comes while she is under investigation by the FBI.

IRS Scam

by tomaidh | Rumors

There’s a very scary scam going around purporting to be from the IRS.

A very threatening robocall promises that very bad things will happen to you if you don’t call their number immediately.

It’s all BS. The IRS doesn’t work this way.

They can be every bit as nasty and scary, but they will contact you directly, not via a robocall.

Nimby-Pimby

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

It’s very easy to fear that which you don’t know (or highly misunderstand). And the average person knows very little about drugs and addiction. Part of this is by design. The very lucrative “war on drugs” would have never happened if people were better informed. TPTB filled us full of fear about drugs and druggies, and Presto! Unlimited funding!

This has left a deep scar upon society which destroyed lives and persists today.

One consequence is the morbid fear felt by most of the populace about drug treatment and the people undergoing it.

Bernie and the Revolution

by Lise | Politics

All along, Bernie Sanders has been telling us that he is seeking
nothing less than “a political revolution” — a complete change in the
way America operates with regard to its people and the world.  As it
turns out, he’s not the only one. Over 25 million people cast a vote for
change in the recent primaries on both sides of the political spectrum,
or about 65% of voters.  How individuals define “change” differs from
right to left, but in the end, both sides are united in their
disenchantment with the current state of government and the continued
unravelling of their hopes and dreams.