Politics

Politics section

A Deadly Game

by RDavis | Politics

October 1, 2025 may go down in history as the date that the United States form of government officially collapsed. As I write this, we are almost six weeks into the government shutdown. People are already beginning to suffer and things will only get worse if this does not end soon.

The Republicans (Trump) are saying that there is nothing to negotiate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has shut down the House and he shows no sign of being eager to do anything to help the American people. The Democrats are holding fast until the Republicans are willing to talk about health insurance and Medicaid cuts.

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.”

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…

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:

Update on the “Free Mahmoud Khalil” Story, Vermonters Protested His Arrest in March 2025

by Cris Ericson | Politics

There were a number of stories in Vermont about Vermonters rallying and/or protesting the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil for being a Pro-Palestinian Activist.

Here is an update on the whole entire huge, enormous situation, which has grown and expanded exponentially because President Trump’s Administration will tolerate foreign students only if they keep their mouths shut.

More Than 2500 At Brattleboro’s No Kings Day

by cgrotke | Politics
brattleboro no kings day

More than 2500 turned out to protest today in Brattleboro. The number was according to a speaker at the stage at the common, and was probably an undercount, as people were still arriving. Indeed, Brattleboro was filled with people today. Cars filled side streets and church parking lots. Church bells were ringing out. There were people marching, chanting, singing, playing music and holding their signs and flags up as they marched.

Apply Insurance Law To ICE & Immigration & Protests & Deportations!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

Date: June 10, 2025 Watching ICE immigration protests on YouTube at https://youtube.com/watch?v=G2mPQ4qShoM hosted by Steve Lookner who may be a regular guy sitting in his garage in Massachusetts and arranging for people he knows to send him “Live” protest footage. There are big protests in Los Angeles, New York City, and maybe Charlotte, North Carolina, etc.

Debate Today May 14, 2025 in U.S. House on Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump

by Cris Ericson | Politics

After debate on H.R. 2243, the House will begin debate on H.Res. 352.
After debate on H.Res. 352, the House is expected to recess.
At approximately 5:00 p.m., the House will take a second series of votes on the Motion to Table H.Res. 353 – Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors, passage of H.R. 2243, and adoption of H.Res. 353 – under suspension of the Rules.

Brattleboro District 9 Forum

by fidel | Politics

District 9 residents in Brattleboro are cordially invited to attend a forum to express their opinions about the revised budget prepared for a special Representative Town Meeting (RTM); the new budget is intended to replace an earlier version that was voted down by RTM and will, if approved, guide spending in the next fiscal year which begins 1 July.

The forum will be held in the Community Room (third floor) of the Brooks Memorial Library at 7 pm on Wednesday 14 May. RTM members from District 9 are encouraged to attend to hear their constituents’ opinions.

Disconnected

by RDavis | Politics

Elected politicians, on all the levels, and the people who support government on a daily basis often have nothing in common. There are no requirements to run for office except for age in some instances. It is one of the great elements of democracy and, for better or worse, we end up with people in power who may have no understanding of how government works. If they have enough money they can win office and once they are in it is hard to get rid of them, That is also what democracy is about.

As we lose our democracy on a national level this disconnect could not be clearer. Trump and Musk have no interest in learning what all the people do who actually do the work of our government. If they even had a shred of interest in trying to understand how government agencies work they might have somehow found a little bit of common sense and talked to all these people and asked them how they might be more efficient.

Proposed Bill To Improve Tourism In Vermont During 2025 Summer of Stock Market Crisis

by Cris Ericson | Politics

Any citizen can draft a proposed bill in Vermont, but only members of the Vermont General Assembly (the House of Representatives and the Senate) can introduce it for consideration.

The Vermont citizen needs to pray that any member of the House or Senate will be willing to introduce the bill.

It is proving to be a concerning statistic that in cities across the United States of America where homeless unsheltered people live, in view of tourists who cringe in sympathy, that this upsets tourists so much that they are now avoiding places where homeless people are suffering in plain sight.

Open Letter to Governor Scott Regarding Homelessness

by Norsehorse | Politics

Dear Governor Scott,

State of Vermont

It boggles the mind how your administration can be so deliberately indifferent and uncaring when it comes to those who are being or already have been evicted from the Vermont Hotel/Motel Program without those persons having anywhere else safe and secure to go inside, day or night.

The rationale used by your administration for not allowing everyone to stay in the program who are currently eligible as well as clearly in need and most vulnerable does not wash, nor does it pass the straight face test, either.

The fact is that it actually costs much more in terms of fiscal (read: funding), human, medical and other social related matters to do nothing for those the state could and should be assisting more humanely.

Brattleboro Needs Responsible Budgeting—Not a More-than-12% Tax Hike and Deferred Maintenance

by IsaacEF | Politics

The Selectboard’s proposed budget raises property taxes by more than 12% and defers expenses—setting residents up for even higher taxes down the road. And over the past several months the Selectboard has chosen to deplete Town funds to hire new positions and cover new expenses. Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Finance Committee recently issued a clear warning: The Selectboard must take a more responsible approach to budgeting. I agree. We need longer term financial planning and political courage for responsible budgeting, and the Selectboard and Representative Town Meeting can help us get there.

The Selectboard placed an opinion poll on the March 4th ballot regarding the 2% of the Town budget allocated for human services. But there’s another 98% we need to consider. That’s where the biggest opportunities are for savings.The Selectboard should have taken the Finance Committee’s recommendations seriously. The committee exists to advise Representative Town Meeting members—the ultimate deciders on the budget. To increase the chances of the budget passing, the Selectboard should carefully consider the Finance Committee’s guidance.The Finance Committee expressed concern about the lack of a long-term financial plan and called on the Selectboard to direct the town manager to present a list of potential staff cuts for the coming budget and to identify cuts and deferrals that will likely reappear a year from now when we are considering the following year’s budget. The outgoing Selectboard chose not to implement any of these recommendations.

Declaration of Independence From the Arbitrary Rule of Tyrant Elon Musk

by Cris Ericson | Politics

I HEREBY DECLARE A NEW 2025
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
FROM the ARBITRARY RULE OF TYRANT ELON MUSK, advisor to President Donald Trump
Declaration of Independence from all orders, usurpations of our tax dollars, directives and firings and threats by Elon Musk!

WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America declare that
when in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.