Opinion

For opinion pieces on any topic.

What Is A Homeowner Suppose To Do?

by RLElkins | Opinion

2012 will be remembered as an extraordinarily difficult year for Brattleboro residents. Since January the Vermont Legislature has voted out of committee to increase the state education tax rate by five cents; to increase the gas tax by two cents with another eight cent increase in the future; and to tax any drink containing sugar at one cent per ounce that will add thirty-three cents to the price of a liter.

At the local level property owners will be hit with a projected utility budget deficit of $600,000; the annual increase in the water and sewer rates for the new treatment plant; the increase in property taxes for the new fire and police station; the increase in the town operating budget; the increase in the town school budget; and the increase in the BUHS budget. Adding to the taxpayer’s misery is a town grand list that has flat-lined.

What is a homeowner suppose to do?

Representative Welch Introduces Two Bills to Boost Vermont Maple Industry

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 19, 2013) – With maple season in full swing, Rep. Peter Welch is pushing two bills to promote Vermont’s maple industry and make sugaring operations more energy efficient.

“Maple syrup and those who produce it are part of the fabric of Vermont,” Welch said. “Their trade goes back generations and is an important part of our economy as well as a key defining characteristic of our state brand. These investments in the maple industry will ensure it remains a strong part of Vermont’s economy and identity for generations to come.”

District 1 Caucuses Coming

by orionbk 1984 | Politics

TO ALL DISTRICT I REPS AND VOTERS:

Thanks to 5 new folks – Steve Cormier, Peter Diamondstone, Paula Melton, Lynn Russell, and Eric Strickland — who showed up last night to volunteer their services as Town Meeting Members for I year, and to 10 sitting reps who showed up to appoint them, District 1 now is only 4 slots away instead of 9 from its allotted representation. To remedy that shortfall [and contrary to last night’s announcement], District 1 will
again caucus at Academy School at 6:15 pm, Wednesday, March 20 – and if need be, at 8 a.m., March 23, in the BUHS gym, NE corner [enter gym, turn right], before TM begins at 8.30.

Spread the word, recruit your friends and show up to send our district into the meeting with its full representation.

Master Plan Planning Master

by RLElkins | Rumors

“My name is Dorman D. Dorsinc. I have been appointed by the Vermont Legislature as the new Master Plan Planning Master for the State of Vermont. My planning qualifications include a PhD in Early Childhood Recidivism. My thesis was entitled: Born in Diapers – Die in Diapers – What Happens In Between? I am here in Brattleboro today at the request of the Vermont League of Uninformed Voters to mandate a new master plan planning master mandate mandating the residents of Brattleboro to support, fund, and implement by June 30, 2013.”

The Economy of Love

by JohnWilmerding | Economics

This short TED talk (choose “Read More” below, then click the ‘RUN” button in the middle to start the video) might be of interest to community members who wish to save the River Garden for our use as a community. Would you like to be part of a new non-profit organization whose purpose is to run the River Garden as a community venue? Please be in touch with me if you would: John Wilmerding, 219 High Street, Apartment #201, Brattleboro, VT 05301-6073 — 802-254-2826 — wilmerding@myfairpoint.net

Again, choose “Read More” below, then click the ‘RUN” button in the middle to start the video … thanks!

Lending a Helping Hannaford – Suggestions for the Checkout Lane

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Hannaford has made corporate decisions that play out in strange ways at the checkout aisle.

Having shopped for nearly half a century (and with a grandfather in the grocery business), when I’m ready to check out I put my groceries on the belt in easy bagging order. Heavy things, cans, bottles, and boxes go first, then the smaller, lighter things such as parsley or garlic.  A cashier could simply scan and pop it into the bag. We worked as a team to keep things moving along.

Not too long ago, I realized cashiers were scanning and piling all groceries to the other side without bagging anything. Only after all items had been scanned would any bagging occur. It was taking almost twice as long.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Member Recruitment

by Not Signed In | Politics

Brattleboro Town Meeting Members of Districts 1, 2 and 3 will meet on Wednesday, March 20 to accept nominations to fill town meeting member vacancies. Appointments are for one year. District 1has four vacancies, District 2 has two vacancies and District 3 has three vacancies. Anyone interested in being considered for these positions should be present at Academy School on Wednesday, March 20, at 6:15PM to meet with their district prior to the Town School District’s 6:30 p.m. pre-town meeting information session at the same location. If you are not able to attend but wish to be considered for a position, call the town clerk’s office at 251-8129, prior to the meeting.

Sanders Statement on VA Claims Backlog

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, March 13 – Here is the prepared opening statement by Chairman Bernie Sanders at a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing today into the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs:

During the last several weeks, the Veterans’ Affairs Committees in the House and the Senate held four hearings with veterans’ organizations. During their testimony, the leaders of the veterans’ organizations raised a number of concerns, but I think it’s fair to say that the No. 1 issue they raised is the very significant backlog that we have in processing claims for our veterans. I believe that is the No. 1 issue and that is why the first hearing the committee is holding under my leadership is addressing this issue.

Constitutional Amendment Sponsors Renew Push to Undo Citizens United

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, March 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that allowed unrestricted, secret campaign spending by corporations and billionaires. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) filed the “Democracy is for People” amendment in the House.

The 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission undermined democracy by opening the campaign spending floodgates. Already nine states including Vermont and more than 300 cities and towns have passed resolutions calling for the ruling to be overturned.

Sanders: Budget Cuts Hurting Vermonters

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., March 11 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, held a news conference today to discuss the impact of federal budget cuts on Vermont.

Sanders was joined by Steve Geller, executive director of Southeastern Vermont Community Action, and Marianne Miller, Head Start director at Central Vermont Community Action Council. They spoke about the impact of across-the-board spending cuts that kicked in on March 1 and will total more than $1 trillion over the next decade, including $85 billion by this Sept. 30.

Tyrannosaurus Spenditall Rex

by RLElkins | Rumors

Evolution

The Brattleboro Tyrannosaurus Spenditall Rex is descended from the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Often times they are referred to by taxpayers as Ovis Aries. For many years they have had a deep and entrenched place in Brattleboro history as they live their lives leisurely gazing on the hillsides they can not afford to own counting other people’s money. As a species on the verge of fiscal extinction, Tyrannosaurus Spenditalls have minimal hearing and are very sensitive to noise when they are told to herd together and be quiet. They tend to be very docile but become excited when appropriating money they do not have. Their life expectancy varies, however, some Tyrannosaurus Spenditalls want older Tyrannosaurus Spenditalls to voluntarily check out early to free up more single payer health care funds for all of the precious young Tyrannosaurus Spenditalls in Vermont who are unemployable and beyond useless.

Peter Shumlin (D) for President 2016 or Rand Paul (R) for President 2016?

by crisericson | Politics

It’s  time for Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (Democrat) and Rand Paul (Republican) to start facing off for the 2016 Presidential Race!

Both Rand Paul and Peter Shumlin have each spoken to some extent about marijuana legalization.

The problem is that the First Drone Strikes in the United States could  be from the United Nations attacking marijuana fields.

United Nations thinks it can stop Marijuana Legalization in the USA by the same means they use to control Afghanistan.

River Garden – Request for Your Assistance

by RobertOeser | Op/Ed

Please note that the following message and was sent to Representative Town Meeting Members today. If you are a Town Meeting Representative, please accept my apologies for seeing this message twice. If you concur that amending Article 21 to require continued operation of the River Garden while ownership issues are resolved with oversight from Town Meeting, please reach out to Town Meeting Members in your District.

What Did Dick DeGray Say On “The Radio”?

by DonInGuilford | Politics

At Guilford Town Meeting someone referred to Mr. DeGray having commented on the Guilford Middle School issue “on the radio.”  Since I wanted to speak on the school issue I decided not to rise and ask the person for more info, because that would have counted as my “turn” to speak.  But I was wondering if anyone can tell me about that radio program (WTSA or WKVT I presume?)  

Do the stations have an archive of programs?  I’d like to review whatever comments Brattleboro’s Selectboard Chair made on that occasion.  I would guess it was an elaboration on his amenndment to the BUHS budget that passed at the district annual meeing on Feb. 12.

Sanders Statement on CIA Director

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, March 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued the following statement on his vote not to confirm John Brennan to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency:

“While we must aggressively pursue international terrorists and all of those who would do us harm, we must do it in a way that protects the Constitution and the civil liberties which make us proud to be Americans. With regard to the use of drones and other methods employed by the Central Intelligence Agency, I am not convinced that Mr. Brennan is adequately sensitive to the important balancing act required to make protecting our civil liberties an integral part of ensuring our national security.”

Contact: Michael Briggs (202) 224-5141

Patient Choice at End of Life

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

The following is an article that I wrote a couple weeks ago. I should have sent it to iBrattleboro immediately but didn’t. My apologies for that. But here it is.

This week (the week of Feb 16) the Senate passed what is referred to s.77. Make no mistake – what we passed was not S.77. S.77 was a well thought out bill modeled after the Oregon law that allows a competent adult with a terminal illness the ability to have control at the end of his life. Many objected because they felt that no one should take his own life and this was condoning suicide. Some objected because they felt there were not enough safeguards for the disability community, that it discriminated against those who had lost the ability to self-administer the drug, and that it did not put enough emphasis on palliative care.

Doing as Silence Dogood Did

by spinoza | Op/Ed

The world of words is full of material of uncertain authorship, some venerated as Gospel- literally.  I mean literally literally. The Bible is a work of anonymous scribes, much of it clearly apocryphal. Yet it’s not only cited as a source for our morals and laws, it’s referenced on legal tender, used on the witness stand as a goad against lying, and hauled out at the inaugural podium- divine proxy for winners to swear by.

It was claimed by one writer on this site that an opinion was null and void because the handle used was not authentic, not declarative enough. The charge of coward was brought forth more than once.

Official Brattleboro March 2013 Vote Results

by cgrotke | Politics

The official numbers, courtesy of the Town Clerk’s office, are below and displayed as follows:

Candidate, District 1 votes,  District 2 votes,  District 3 votes,  Total votes

MODERATOR, 1 YEAR

Douglas Cox 239 232 290 761

Lawrin Crispe 278 254 247 779

Brattleboro March 2013 Election Results

by cgrotke | Politics

Below are the unofficial vote results for the March 2013 Election in Brattleboro. Final vote counts and voting by district will available soon and we’ll get it here for you to analyze.

Moderator

Douglas Cox  – 761

Lawrin Crispe – 779