Opinion

For opinion pieces on any topic.

Faulty Candidate Statements on VT Defend the Guard Act

by MD | Politics

I write in response to statements made by Aly Richards, candidate for VT Governor, and Ryan McLaren, candidate for VT Lt. Governor, about the Vermont Defend the Guard Act, during the 7/23 Vermont Public debates, 7/23 and 7/21 respectively. Ms. Richards said “we have to be really strategic together as we are fighting against [the] attack on democracy.” She also said this bill would put a big target on the back of the Vermont National Guard. Mr. McLaren said he’s heard no support for the bill from Guard members.

I agree that we need to be strategic. Part of that strategy is the movement for this act. A letter to Governor Scott and Vermont state legislators is circulating from Vermont National Guard veterans, their family members, and other Vermont veterans of the U.S. military. They request a proper hearing and passage of the Vermont Defend the Guard Act and give their reasons.

Helpful Info for Vermont’s State Primary Elections

by Not Signed In | Politics

Below is some helpful information for the August 11th State Primary Elections.

Absentee Ballots
Absentee ballots for these elections were mailed by request. Please make sure to follow the instructions provided with your ballot, including: 

Signing the certificate envelopeand ensuring your ballot/s are insidethe certificate envelope.
Using a black pen to mark your ballot.

My Votes for Amanda Janoo for Gov & Molly Gray for Lt Gov

by IsaacEF | Op/Ed

As we work to keep open the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Birthing Center, and our families and neighbors safe, and as we face a governor who has sold out to the White House – Remember how he handed over Vermonters’ sensitive data to the feds? – we need leaders who will stand up for us.

I invite you to join me in voting in the Democratic primary here in Vermont for Amanda Janoo for governor, and Molly Gray for lieutenant governor, on or before Tuesday, August 11. As a member of the Brattleboro Selectboard, I see how our government needs leaders who are willing to speak up for the public. I’m supporting Amanda and Molly because of their bravery and leadership at a pivotal time.

Why Hasn’t VT Congressional Delegation Saved all of our Hospitals in Vermont?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

Why hasn’t our Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Peter Welch, and U.S. Congressperson Becca Balint taken action to save all of our Hospitals in Vermont?

Why haven’t they?

Why hasn’t our Vermont Congressional Delegation brought more money to Vermont for hospitals and health care programs and other programs like housing?  Clearly, $100 million is not enough, and that’s  what recent news claims they have brought in for the entire state.  Becca Balint tags along with whatever pork Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders generate, but is reliant on them. The reason more money has not been brought into Vemront is that Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Peter Welch and Congressperson Becca Balint have not worked to repeal the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which if repealed, or even amended, could bring a fortune of federal dollars to Vermont.  Let’s talk about how that can be done!

Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority Adopts Election Recording Policy

by Not Signed In | Politics

The Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority has adopted a new policy governing photography, filming, and recording at polling places during elections.

The policy was approved during the Board’s meeting on July 16, 2026, and is intended to balance transparency in the election process with the need to maintain order at polling places and protect the confidentiality of voters’ choices. The policy was informed by Vermont State statute 17 V.S.A. § 1972.

Our Glorious Country Has Improved A Great Deal! Let Us Celebrate July 4, 2026!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

The United States of America improves constantly as a Democracy and as a home to all of us!  We have lots of reasons to celebrate July 4, 2026!

Thank God This Country Has Changed Life For the Better!  Hallelujah! The good has risen some, and its still in the oven baking!  Look at all the incredible progress our Country has made since July 4, 1776!  The U.S. Bill of Rights was enacted on  December 15, 1791.

Now, in my family history, way back in the 1600s, some of my ancestors on my family tree were deprived of their right to practice their chosen religion, and the King took 70% of their possessions and property to punish them because they refused to switch to the King’s choice of religion.  They are listed on the Magna Carta Ancestry.

Vermont Progressive Party Disavows Cris Ericson

by spoon | Politics

It is an easy mistake to assume Cris Ericson is a Progressive. She claims to be one but has never been a member of the Party and has been disavowed by the Party time and again.

It is a peculiar quirk in  Vermont election laws that allows a person to claim and run under any party affiliation they choose as long as there is not another candidate for that party listed. Ericson has been for many years tossing her name in as a Progressive wherever there was not one running. She is not a member of and has no support from the Vermont Progressive Party.

Progressive Party in Vermont Has No Candidate for U.S. Congress 2026 So Please Write-in Cris Ericson

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

The Progressive party in Vermont has no candidate for U.S. Congress in the August 11, 2026 primary election.  Please write-in Cris Ericson for Representative to Congress on the Progressive Party ballot in the primary.  The Republicans have two candidates, Gerald Malloy of Weathersfield and Marc Coester of Westminster.  The Democrats have one candidate, current incumbent U.S. Congressperson Becca Balint.   There are only 3 ballots to choose from when you vote in the Primary election August 11, 2026 in Vermont, Democrat, Republican or Progressive.  Independent candidates have more time to collect and file petition signatures for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

Taking The Political Temperature Of Vermont!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

Last December, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Senator Peter Welch and U.S. Congressperson Becca Balint announced that they nominated a total of 23 young Vermonters to the U.S. Military Academies.

The U.S. Military Academies are four year college degree programs with free tuition, room and board for graduating high school students who qualify.

Now, here’s the question: How many wish they had not applied?

Can VT Match Up People Needing More Home Heating Fuel 2026-2027 With Foster Kids in Need of Homes?

by Cris Ericson | Opinion

https://dcf.vermont.gov/foster-care-inquiry – check: I would like to get an information packet -fill out: Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Well, I guess I flunked this online test of the Vermont Dept. of Children and Families because they never sent me the “information packet”.   Being honest doesn’t help.  I probably started out with something like: “do they come with home heating fuel?”  I went on to explain that I have two empty bedrooms upstairs but I am arthritic and if a child falls down, I can’t pick them up.  If a child runs into the street, I can’t chase after them. 

Brattleboro Survives Open Town Meeting

by cgrotke | Politics

Brattleboro survived Open Town Meeting. 

It looked a lot like a Representative Town meeting, but there were small differences.  Attendees were called “Voters” rather than “Representatives.”  There was no separate seating for the un-elected. People who just moved to town could participate.

The similarities were numerous. A bit of confusion about Roberts Rules? Check. Exciting explorations down rabbit holes of amendments to amendments. Check. Lasting nearly 10 hours? Check.

Brattleboro Town Meeting Dependent Care Reimbursement Forms

by Not Signed In | Politics

Dependent Care reimbursement forms for the Brattleboro Town Meeting will be available at the meeting on April 11 at Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium, near the Clerk’s table. Funds are limited and not guaranteed for everyone who makes a request. This is managed in partnership with United Way.

Brattleboro Selectboard Votes For Miniature Property Tax

by cgrotke | Rumors

Noticing that the greatest amount of development in Brattleboro in the last year were miniature properties, the Brattleboro Selectboard has decide to shift the tax burden from the voters of town to the inhabitants of the miniature properties. Voting along party lines, the measure was approved at their most recent meeting.

“We hereby resolve that property taxes will henceforth be paid only on miniature properties within the Town limits,” read the Clerk before the unanimous vote.

Reminder – Brattleboro District 9 Forum

by fidel | Politics

Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). For more information, contact Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).

You Want No Kings? Change the Tax Laws!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

NO KINGS? Then STOP MAKING KINGS! It’s our tax laws that need to be changed!

You pay taxes to the IRS and then the US Congress votes to give your hard earned tax dollars to their choice of corporations as “subsidies”. Your money is going to the choice of corporations selected by the US Congress, not to all of them, just to some of them. About 400 corporations receive the most of your tax dollars, millions or billions each. Not all corporations receive SUBSIDIES. The corporations selected by a vote of the U.S. Congress to receive subsidies are making a fortune by using your hard earned tax dollars to create products they sell internationally, but they keep all the profits for themselves and don’t give you a share. STOP MAKING KINGS!

District 3/9 Forum

by fidel | Politics

Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). At the suggestion of one of the participants at the last forum, we invite suggestions as to matters that should be scheduled for the agenda. Send your preferred topics to convenors Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).

Important Dates and Details for Brattleboro’s Open Town Meeting

by Not Signed In | Politics

During Town Meeting Day, held on March 3, 2026, Brattleboro voters discontinued Representative Town Meeting. Representative Town Meeting, which had been originally scheduled for March 21, has been canceled, and Open Town Meeting will replace it on April 11.

At Open Town Meeting, all registered voters who are present can discuss, debate, amend, and vote on the town budget and on other binding and non-binding items. Below are some helpful dates and documents to review prior to the meeting.