Doug Hoffer has just called our attention to a very interesting issues brief from the Public Assets Institute on Vermont’s education spending that dispels some of the misconceptions being promoted by Republican partisans in the current election cycle to justify Dubie’s ham-handed “plan” for education cuts.  Perhaps most immediately compelling is how the issues brief illustrates the lie in Dubie’s oft-repeated distortion of Vermont’s property tax relative to other states.  We are reminded that, unlike most other states, some school funding is a component of property tax in Vermont; and that upper income Vermonters still contribute  the smallest amount, as percentage of income, for public education.  While Act 68 has significantly reduced the burden on middle income residents by tying their contribution to income rather than property value,  Mr. Dubie’s favorite sector, the rich (whom he favors making even richer through tax breaks) still make-out like bandits when it comes to their relative contribution to public education.

And what about the claim that education costs in Vermont are “sky-rocketing?”  Not true, says the PAI; much of the increase in school spending in recent years, as in many business sectors, has been due to the significant increase in health care costs.  This is a fact that Peter Shumlin has been trying to drive home to the electorate in his pledge to achieve an equitable and affordable healthcare system for Vermont.  Furthermore, says PAI:

The growth in education spending has been declining since 2005. There was an anomalous bump in fiscal 2009, following passage of legislation that required voters in school districts with high spending growth to vote twice on the school budget. Districts anticipating that they might be subject to the two-vote requirement in fiscal 2010 may have moved certain purchases to fiscal 2009 to keep their 2010 growth below the threshold. In fiscal 2011 spending was actually lower than the previous year.*

Finally, the issues brief offers the long view that investments by the community in education strengthen the economy:

The benefits include higher personal income, employment, and tax collections and reduced crime and welfare dependence. Because education is labor intensive, such spending creates more jobs per dollar than many other sectors. The jobs resulting are direct (teachers and school staff) and also indirect (e.g., electricians who wire the school) and induced (workers at the market where school staff buy groceries).

These are commonsense arguments.  The Public Assets Institute has provided simple graphics reflecting the statistical evidence supporting the arguments.  Why isn’t this front page news in the Free Press?

It’s too serious around here lately, let’s have some fun along the lines of this pointless diary from last year.

Consider that archaic vestige of ye olde loyaly oath to the crown that we still practice: Vermont’s Voter Oath (formerly entitled the Freeman’s Oath, a name replete with offensive subtext). Remember it or not, this is the oath we all had to take when we first registered to vote in the state. It reads:

“You solemnly swear (or affirm) that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the State of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.”

So to be allowed the privilege of voting (hrumph. As if we should have to jump through an utterly pointless hoop to exercise our fundamental rights as citizens in a Democracy…but I digress…), you offer a legal oath promising that you will only vote in a way you “judge (in the) best good of (Vermont).” Now to be clear, that’s not Vermont the geographic position on a map, but Vermont as defined in the state Constitution – that document which tells us what Vermont is as a political entity.

Consider: a secessionist candidate runs on the premise that Vermont as defined in that Constitution as one of 50 states in the USA is a bad thing and should be eliminated, to be reconstituted as an entirely different entity with more-or-less the same name. In other words, the secessionist goal is to destroy Vermont as we (constitutionally) know it.

Now it seems to me that it is a naked contradiction to suggest that destroying something is conducive to its best good.

Remember – this is an official document. Vermont means something specific in its context. You don’t get to make up your own definitions of specific, legal terms in legal documents. So, does voting for a secessionist candidate by definition, therefore, break that legal oath? Would it thereby be an illegal act?

And to be clear – I’m not advocating this as a cause, just I wasn’t really concerned when I asked if the statue of the ancient greek goddess Ceres atop the State House was a violation of the establishment clause of the Constitution. This is just a mindgame, and if nothing else, makes the point that anything smacking of a “loyalty oath” should be consigned to history’s dustbin, just out of principle. Frankly, if somebody wants to use their own vote to vote in a way they judge to be the worst interest of Vermont, that’s their own business.

Has Brian got something going on? Nixon had Zeigretti and the Rat F@%kers, GeorgeH W “Poppy” Bush had Lee Atwater but what has Brian Dubie got going?

We cling to the idea that Vermont campaigns are different but could Dubie’s green shirted supporters or, although unlikely, his campaign manager Cory Bliss have taken a page from those days or maybe the more recent exploits of conservative Republican activist James O’Keefe?  

Saturday the Bennington Banner reports a man dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit sporting a fake swastika tattoo claiming to be named “Horton” (an obvious reference to Lee Atwater’s infamous Willie Horton ad) showed up a Shumlin rally. The man carried a sign saying “Convicts for Shumlin”. The Dubie campaign for several weeks has been fear mongering and making questionable at best and perhaps false arguments against Shumlin’s  proposed plans for the corrections department .  

The man in the prison outfit, who identified himself as "John Horton," claimed to be an ex-con who had served time for possessing "a small amount" of marijuana. However, he also was in attendance at a campaign event several weeks ago for GOP gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie at the Bennington County GOP headquarters on South Street.

“Horton,” who appears to be Kurtis Stevens in a profile on the social network Website Facebook, claimed he was a supporter of Shumlin’s because Shumlin, the Senate president pro tem, would release inmates early.

Peter Shumlin spoke briefly with “Horton” at Democratic headquarters after speaking to supporters at the rally.

Dubie campaign officials denied any knowledge of any of this disturbing performance.

Interestingly though there is a connection to the Bennington GOP in another stunt at this event.  

A second man parked a large camper outfitted with Dubie signs directly in front of the Bennington County Democratic headquarters for several minutes shortly before Shumlin's event. He also has been present at previous Dubie events in Bennington.  

The camper is owned by Kirby Wright, who also owns the building housing the Bennington County GOP headquarters.

( – promoted by Jack McCullough)

When: 6:30pm, Sunday, October 17, 2010

Where: VFW Hall, Pleasant Street, Morrisville

What: The Vermont Workers Center – Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign, Vermont Early Educators United – UPV/AFT, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living are organizing 15 “People’s Forums” around Vermont with state legislative candidates from the local area. The forums will have three sections:

1. Healthcare: Developing a healthcare system that works for everyone

2. Early Education: Affordable childcare, access to quality early education and raising the standards in the profession.

3. The Economy: Access to jobs and the impact of cuts to public services on Vermonters.

Local members from the sponsoring organizations will present on each issue area and candidates will field questions. There will be snacks and refreshments.  

Remaining Forums in this statewide series:

Oct. 18: Middlebury, www.workerscenter.org/oct18forum

Oct. 19: Barre, www.workerscenter.org/oct19forumbarre

Oct. 19: Bennington, www.workerscenter.org/oct19forumbennington

Oct. 20: Newport, www.workerscenter.org/oct20forum

Oct. 21: Burlington, www.workerscenter.org/oct21forum

Oct. 25: Randolph, www.workerscenter.org/oct25forum

Oct. 26: Williston, www.workerscenter.org/oct26forum

Once again, Frank Rich hits the nail on the head about the Tea Party and Conservative wingnuts.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10…  Win or lose, we are in in for tough times AFTER the election”

Don’t expect the extremism and violence in our politics to subside magically after Election Day – no matter what the results. If Tea Party candidates triumph, they’ll be emboldened. If they lose, the anger and bitterness will grow. The only development that can change this equation is a decisive rescue from our prolonged economic crisis. Not for the first time in history – and not just American history – fear itself is at the root of a rabid outbreak of populist rage against government, minorities and conspiratorial “elites.”

So far neither party has offered a comprehensive antidote to our economic pain. The Democrats have fallen short, and the cynics leading the G.O.P. haven’t so much as tried.

It’s frightening to think that all those guns and ammo bought by conservatives since Obama took office are still out there.  Tough times ahead.

A couple wonderful supporters have arranged a little gathering next Sunday:

I am excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to two fine fellows running for state office! Please see the attached invitation and mark your calendars! Both Mike McCarthy, State Senate candidate and Todd Pritsky, State House candidate Fletcher, Fairfield, St Albans Town, are looking forward to meeting you and discussing your concerns about Vermont.

So please join us, Sunday – October 24th – 3:30 – Sunrise Cafe, for some homemade cookies, a good cup of coffee and a guaranteed great conversation!

Any questions feel free to contact Kelly @ k2s2@together.net or 644-2606.

Come on, people: COOKIES!  Anyway, please RSVP by the 21st, or you'll be getting yet another phonecall from me…

todd

PS–Mike's got a Facebook page.  Go become a fan!

WHAT:   MASSIVE HONK & WAVE ! !

WHO:  YOU and ALL YOUR COOL FRIENDS & FAMILY ! !

WHEN:    

FRIDAY   OCT 22  3:30 – 5:30

FRIDAY   OCT 29  3:30 – 5:30

MONDAY   NOV 1  3:30 – 5:30

WHERE:   EXIT 19  –  ST ALBANS, VT

COME HELP SUPPORT PETER SHUMLIN AND OUR

FRANKLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES !!

WHY:  BECAUSE  IT MATTERS !!!!

2 TO 6 HOURS OF YOUR TIME COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!!

BELIEVE IT !!

CALL KELLY @ 644-2606

AND SAY “YES” !!

signs will be available

dress warm – !!

(Apologies for the formatting–this is an email I got from a Democratic supporter of mine.  I will be there supporting Peter…will you?)

Is anyone else sick and tired of the speeding ticket story? When the largest and therefore most influential newspaper in our moderate to left-leaning state belongs to Gannett Press, can we expect anything else?  Jim Douglas can thank his multiple terms of office largely to the oxymoronic “Free” Press.  Argue as they might that the Freeps is a “local” newspaper, the fact remains that a vast out-of-state corporate empire with a right-leaning agenda controls our front page news.

We can take polls and make projections; we can extrapolate how the “independents” will break; but on November 2, the outcome may well depend on the perpetual “undecideds,” many of whom tell persuasion callers quite frankly that they’ll make-up their minds as they enter the voting booth.  It’s not difficult to guess that those voters will abdicate their responsibility for an informed decision to the front page that they glance at as they drink their morning coffee.

You won’t get much front-page real estate dedicated to Brian Dubie’s whopper about the non-violent offenders’ list, a true character barometer if ever there was one; but you will get a week’s worth of front-page speculation on Shumlin’s paid and uncontested speeding ticket!

For all the posturing superior that print journalists do as they stand proudly at the bow of their sinking ship, with independent papers largely a thing of the past and unbiased news coverage a myth there is little to be smug about.  

I’m not out to berate anyone here, but there’s something I’ve got to say, and if people take offense at it, I’m fine with that.

I’ve seen some statements here over the past week which boil down to “I can’t believe these poll results!  It looks like [Dubie/Salmon/Scott] will win this thing.  How the hell can that happen?”

The answer to that question is actually quite simple: it will happen if you let it.  The outcomes of elections are not determined by politicians.  They are not determined by polls.  They are determined by votes.  

So here’s my question to the naysayers and those who are afraid that Dubie will win this thing: what are you going to do about it?  What steps will you be taking over the next few weeks to help keep Dubie out of the Governor’s office?  What will you do to support Doug Hoffer?

There’s a lot going on that you can do.

We have choices here, and we can approach this from a position of fear.  Or we can work towards changing things.  

What’s your choice?  

Like most readers, I love books, bookstores, and especially independent bookstores.

Over the years, when I've visited family in Washington, D.C., I've enjoyed visiting Politics and Prose, my sister-in-law's neighborhood bookstore. It's a great place, airy, with a great selection of books. Even if you've never been there you may know about them from the frequent broadcasts on Book TV of nationally known authors reading from their books.

This week we learned that Carla Cohen, one of the long-time co-owners of Politics and Prose, has died. During an era when superstore chains, the Internet and the economy led to the closing of thousands of independent stores, Politics and Prose expanded from a crowded storefront with less than 2,000 square feet to a two-story haven with more than 10,000 square feet, including a downstairs cafe.

If you can't make it to the memorial service at the store when it's scheduled, go out to your local independent bookstore and buy a book in her memory.