Opinion

For opinion pieces on any topic.

The American Death Squad

by RDavis | Op/Ed

The last time I checked U.S. military murderers had killed about 40 or so presumed Venezuelan drug dealers. It is not only a shocking escalation of Trump’s mania for power, but it is also one of the more immoral and illegal actions he has taken so far.

No proof has been provided by the U.S. government of what has been in these boats they have blown up. Trump wants to play with his military toys and his lust for power knows no end. Never mind the rule of any law. Never mind due process. Who needs evidence when you are building a dictatorship and flaunting domestic and international law with abandon?

How Many Grocery Stores Will Lay-Off Employees Due To Food Stamps SNAP Cut-Off Nov. 1st?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

How many hard working people in Vermont will be laid off from their jobs November 1st because the Democrats won’t vote in favor of a Bill in the U.S. Congress that continues food stamps SNAP program benefits for the poor, but raises insurance premiums for middle class people? It’s not just people who work inside grocery stores and big box stores, truck drivers are also at risk.

What is Going On at the VT Dept. of Motor Vehicles?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

I received a letter in the mail from the VT Department of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice”.

“The registration for your 1999 CHEV SUB expires on November 30, 2025. So, I filled out all the online forms and paid for two years, $167.00 Then it instructed me to download a temporary registration.

The temporary registration cheats me out of 2 years and 3 weeks because the temporary registration says I paid up until Nov. 6, 2025.

What is the Risk of Politicians Catering to the “Middle Class”?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

What is the risk of our Vermont Congressional politicians and all of those across the United States of American voting in the United States Congress to protect the rights of the “middle class”?

The risk is that the poor could revolt.

After being a student at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont and University of Massachusetts, I wandered westward and experienced some formative years in Los Angeles.

Fiscal Shock

by RDavis | Op/Ed

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH), our small community non-profit hospital, is facing what looks like its most challenging financial situation in its 121 year history. It is frightening for the 807 employees (as of 2023 according to an August 2025 IRS 990 filing) who depend on the institution for their livelihood. The prospect of having to lose access to a local hospital would also change the lives of 40,000 people who live in Windham County.

Sadly, it is not clear what is going on at the hospital because the board of directors has not said much other than putting the CEO on leave. Hospitals are notorious for hiding their dirty laundry and BMH is no exception. I worked there on and off for about 14 years and I was always at odds with many of the higher level management team.

It Is Below Freezing Oct. 10, 2025 Where Are Homeless VT Babies Tonight?

by Cris Ericson | Opinion

A homeless unsheltered Vermont baby left outside in the cruel cold of 31°F or colder weather can die from hypothermia in as little as 15 to 45 minutes. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia because they lose heat more quickly than adults and have less body mass.

Couldn’t we charge Governor Phil Scott and the entire Vermont legislature with negligent homicide or something?

Full Moon Oct. 6, 2025!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

I think the biggest stories in the United States right now are the protests against National Guard Troops which President Donald Trump wants to send to various cities, all of which have filed lawsuits to stop deployments.

The problem, as I see it, is there is a full moon tonight, and that can get people going. How excited will protesters be during a full moon?

Who Will Be Born On The City Streets Of Vermont Homeless This Christmas?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

What are the best baby names for babies born to a homeless mother sleeping on the streets in the freezing cold in Vermont on Christmas?

According to WCAX https://www.wcax.com/2025/09/26/auditor-vermont-homeless-situation-worsening-despite-millions-invested/ Vermont taxpayers spent an average of $80 MILLION a year for the past TEN years, totalling $800 MILLION dollars, and there are still homeless people in VT.

Genocide in Gaza: Vermont’s Members of Congress Can Help Change Course

by IsaacEF | Op/Ed

On September 16 the United Nations said that the State of Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. During the past two years, this violence has directly struck the Green Mountain State. Dylan Collins, a journalist, was shot by the Israeli military on October 13, 2023, with no ensuing accountability. The following month a gunman shot three Palestinian students in Burlington. And on April 14, 2025, masked U.S. federal agents kidnapped another Vermonter, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian lawful U.S. resident. 

Many Vermonters are left asking: How can we stop our tax dollars from fueling abuse and devastation around the world, which is making us less safe and robbing our own communities of housing, food, and healthcare? 

Charlie Kirk Did Not ‘Die’ – He Was Assassinated

by PeytonE | Op/Ed

Charlie Kirk did not ‘die’. Mr. Kirk was assassinated by a single sniper shot to his jugular vein.  He was, to all who knew him, a powerhouse exemplifying freedom of speech. He would invite his audiences to debate, to talk through issues and to engage in the most peaceful activity of society: to explore truth through discourse.

I Bought Snowballparty.org But Haven’t Found 4 People in 10 Towns Yet To Start A Minor Political Party!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

I bought the domain! http://snowballparty.org but I haven’t found 4 people in each of 10 Vermont towns to start a new minor political party yet. I started writing a platform. If you agree with it, please contact me Cris Ericson crisericson9@gmail.com

I’m still trying to get a straight answer from the Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division about how to legally start a new minor political party in VT.

On The Way To a Meeting

by RobertOeser | Politics

On the way to a meeting …

To the Editor: On the way to a meeting, I encountered a 90-year-old retired businessman.

We talked about shoes and he talked about the past and what he hoped to do today.

I winced when the conversation turned to current politics and when he praised President Trump’s agendas. We disagreed. However, we continued to talk. We seemed to agree on two issues: that monopolies in the telecommunications sector is a negative; and, that government oversight of the health insurance industry is a benefit to the people. We need more of these types of conversations and interactions.

17 V.S.A. Political Party Organization Law Does Not Make Sense to a Registered Voter in Ludlow, VT

by Cris Ericson | Politics

A Vermont registered voter in Ludlow, Vermont asked me why I am asking people to start a new minor political party with me while I am not stating a platform, and I said 17 V.S.A. says you organize the party in September of an odd numbered year and make the platform in an even numbered year. That made no sense to him at all so he would not join.

“17 V.S.A. § 2319. Party conventions for platforms:
On or before the fourth Tuesday in September in each even-numbered year, upon the call of the chair of the State committee of the party, a party platform convention of each organized political party shall be held to make and adopt the platform of the party.”

Going Deeper into RTM and Democracy

by spoon | Op/Ed

Responding to comments to my post about RTM on Sept 17th:

Since last read comments remain most in mind I shall respond first to the statement that you “could buy the argument that RTM members were more informed if about 140 attended Selectboard meetings.” First, it isn’t clear if you are saying that all 140 should attend all 25 or so meetings each year or some members attend some. The next obvious question is: how many SB meetings should be required of voters choosing to attend an Open mtg? How would we ascertain this in either case? But we should put this aside because it gets into enactment details before we have a goal to act upon. There is a deeper implied issue. Should there be any qualifications at all?

It’s Political Party Organization Time in Vermont! Start Making Potato Salad!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

It’s political party organization time in Vermont, because Title 17 Vermont Statutes requires parties to organize in September of odd numbered years. For example, 17 V.S.A. Section 2302 (a) The chair of the State committee of a party shall set a date for members of the party to meet in caucus in their respective towns. The date shall be between September 10 and September 30, inclusive, in each odd-numbered year. (b) At least 14 days before the date set for the caucuses…

Is Democracy Best Served By An Open or Representative Town Meeting?

by spoon | Op/Ed

In the first part of this examination of RTM and democracy it was demonstrated that RTM is in fact more representative now than it has ever been. In this part we compare direct democracy to representative democracy in the context of RTM. Open town meeting versus representative town meeting.

Virtually the entire body of literature on the subject of political democracy agrees on one thing. Direct democracy is ideal but it only works in a small body (say 10 to 15). This is because everyone can participate directly. Everyone can speak. Every view can be heard. But in larger bodies, all agree, democracy is better achieved through representation because, given the fact that only a limited number of people can participate systems and standards can be set up to enrich the quality of participation.  Serious representatives working in a sound and democratic meeting structure will produce decisions close if not the same as those in a direct democracy. Even in a group of ten decisions will likely not represent the views of every member. A perfect decision, 100% agreement, is rarely achieved. Democracy simply tries to get as close as possible.

Is Representative Town Meeting Really Representative?

by spoon | Op/Ed

I have called Brattleboro home for the last 37 years, most of which I have been quite civically and socially engaged. Until now I had never heard the claim that Representative Town Meeting was not representative. Has something changed? I’ve given this a lot of thought and done some investigation. Resources include my complete set of Town Reports to 1992 and scattered editions stretching back to 1974. Town Reports contain the agendas and minutes of every meeting as well as the names of all Representatives, elected officials and a rich history of each year.

When my tenure as an RTM member began in the late 90s about two-thirds of the membership were upper middle aged, male, white property and  business owners and professionals. Of the latter they were typically lawyers, finance people, landlords and such. Many of the other third were their wives. On the rare occasion, back then, when a couple did not vote the same way a mirthful chuckle would ripple through the crowd. Most of the decisions in those days were decided by votes in the order of  130 to 10.  There was unity!  

Former Lt Gov Zuckerman Discussing State Politics

by spoon | Politics

A Community Conversation with Former Lt. Governor David Zuckerman
Sunday, July 20th – 3:00pm at 118 Elliot Street
Brattleboro, VT

Join David Zuckerman and community leaders for a powerful community gathering to reflect on the past year’s political landscape and explore ways to move forward together.

Topics will include: