(Promoted as part of our policy of promoting commentary and thoughts from major candidates for statewide political office in Vermont. – promoted by JulieWaters)

While not of my political party, Coolidge’s most famous speech about Vermont still rings true today, perhaps now more than ever.  

“Vermont is a state I love.

I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney,

Killington, Mansfield and Equinox

Without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me.

It was here that I first saw the light of day;

Here I receive my bride;

Here my dead lie,

pillowed on the loving breast of our everlasting hills.

I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys,

Her scenery and invigorating climate,

but most of all because of her indomitable people.

They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves

to serve others.

If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the union

and support of our institutions should languish,

It could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people

Of this brave little state of Vermont.”

This is an open thread

In Congress, July 4, 1776.

A Declaration

By the Representatives of the

United states of America,

In general Congress assembled.

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.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness–That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Per today’s Rutland Herald:

Gov. James Douglas’ deputy chief of staff announced Friday that she will step down at the end of the month to join one of Vermont’s top contract lobbying firms.

Heidi Tringe will join the Montpelier lobbying group MacLean, Meehan and Rice, LLC….

One of that company’s clients?  Entergy Nuclear.

or “What is a modern day, cheap labor, borrow and spend ‘servative to do?”

The following is a recent quote from one time Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson:

In [Reagan’s] diary books, I’m proudly mentioned many times. He was a dear friend, and a total realist as to politics.

I didn’t come to this commission to raise taxes. That’s the myth. But I’ll tell ya, they’ve got to be on the table and they are on the table. So I’ll get my share of crap on that one.

But let’s just disengage ourselves from the myth that Ronald Reagan never raised taxes. He did. And here are four big ones. So I hope this will clear the air for some of the groups today.

(Reagan Raised Taxes At Least 7 Times, Including the Biggest Corporate Tax Hike Ever, Pensito Review, 07/02/10)

We really don’t need all those heads exploding in the streets this weekend … let’s keep that for fireworks. So just keep this all hush hush until Monday … ‘kay?

A little more below …

In an April 6th, 2010 post at the blog capitalgainsandgames (link from the above referenced article) one time Reagan economic aide and H.W. Bush administration treasury official puts the count at $275.3 billion in tax cuts and $132.7 billion in tax increases.

So that $142.6 billion tax cut difference compares favorably to about $2 trillion increase in national debt (source: US Treasury) in exactly what way?

Oh, that’s right … it was all part of a set of policies that make it possible for a multi-millionaire to arbitrarily destroy the take home wages of hard working Americans.

Hey, did I say thanks Ronnie?

(PS. still waiting for that floor of the House apology from weasel welch for the damage he helped his radical right wing buddies in congress do to ACORN.)

When the Vermont Department of Health (DOH) does the heavy lifting, Entergy’s Vermont Yankee plant doesn’t have to lift a finger.  

STRONTIUM 90 FOUND IN MORE FISH according to the DOH website late Friday afternoon.

New fish samples taken from the Connecticut River on April 23 and analyzed by Vermont Yankee’s contract laboratory have tested positive for strontium-90 (Sr-90).

Concentrations of Sr-90 detected in the inedible portions of these fish are in the range of what would be expected as a result of fallout from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s, and the Chernobyl release in 1986.

Specifically, the laboratory results for Sr-90 were 70 pCi/kg from fish taken near the plant in the Vernon Pool, and 100 pCi/kg from fish taken about 5 miles upstream, near the Route 9 bridge as it crosses the river north of Brattleboro. A New York study found background levels of Sr-90 in fish to be in the range of 120 to 360 pCi/kg

But of course, according to DOH, Strontium 90, which has not been found in fish in the CT River until recently is not due to the recent tritium and strontium leak from the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor, but is due to old 1950’s bomb testing and the 1982 Chernobyl reactor accident.  

How convenient that

Vermont Yankee reported these latest test results to the Health Department on June 30.

and DOH was able to post it on their website late on the afternoon prior to one of the region’s biggest holidays… NEWS DUMP.

Want the truth about fish?  Ask David Dean River Steward for the Connecticut River Watershed Council.

It has already been a tough week for Vermont Yankee and Entergy, maybe that is why DOH took care of new piece of disturbing news.  

The first bad news for Entergy and Vermont Yankee was detailed by VPR’S John Dillon in Regulators Question Underwater Cables At Vermont Yankee notes that

Federal inspectors have called attention to a new potential safety problem at Vermont Yankee.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant has electric cables that are frequently submerged in water. That raises the possibility they could short-circuit and disable safety systems.

VPR’s John Dillon has more:

(Dillon) The NRC flagged the issue of the electric cables in a May 10 inspection report. The document says Entergy Vermont Yankee has allowed cables that control safety systems to be continually submerged in underground trenches.

The problem is the cables are not designed to be soaked in water. The NRC said this could cause the cables to degrade and fail. The report said – quote – “this finding is more than minor because if left uncorrected, the performance deficiency has the potential to lead to a more significant safety concern.”

Dillon is not just talking about reliability issues, but he is talking about the dreaded word safety concern.

The second shoe to drop for Entergy involves a submittal to the Public Service Board docket by the environmental advocacy group Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) against the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant

claiming the facility has violated the state’s latest groundwater public trust law.

, according to the Brattleboro Reformer

In a testimony filed with the state’s Public Service Board today, the Vermont Natural Resources Council asserts the tritium leak at the Vernon-based nuclear station breaches a 2008 act approved by the Legislature declaring groundwater is a public trust resource.

“Every Vermonter owns Vermont’s groundwater,” said Jon Groveman, the VNRC water program co-director.

“If Vermont Yankee is claiming they have not violated Vermont law because the groundwater they have polluted has not spread to drinking water wells off their property, they are wrong,” he said.

Third, it was announced today that NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko may visit Vermont Yankee in July according to the Rutland Herald.

NRC spokesperson Neil Sheehan said

it is not unusual for Jaczko and other NRC commissioners to visit nuclear plants, troubled or otherwise, but it coincides with some of the more troubled months of Vermont Yankee’s history, since a radioactive leak of tritium and other radioactive isotopes was confirmed in January.

“The chairman and Commissioners visit nuclear power plants all the time. It affords them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with specific sites and, on occasion, meet with stakeholders to hear their concerns,” Sheehan said in an e-mail.

No wonder Vermont Yankee did not want to let all the press know about more contaminated fish and needed some DOH help with the NEWS DUMP.  Hope folks along the Connecticut River aren’t planning any fish fries for the holiday weekend.  Best to throw them back.

Peter Shumlin gets his first constituency group endorsement, breaking rival Doug Racine’s streak. This from Teamsters Local 597:

Burlington, Vt –  Teamsters Local 597 today announced its endorsement of Peter Shumlin as the Democratic Candidate to run for Governor of Vermont.

Peter has been a longtime supporter of Local 597 and other labor organizations throughout his years in public service.

Most recently, Peter assisted Local 597 in having comprehensive legislative reform regarding the misclassification of employees in Vermont.

When the Addison Bridge construction was announced and the Teamsters were working towards a Project Labor Agreement to protect Vermont workers from being displaced on the project Peter went above and beyond.  Rather then simply accepting the Douglas/Dubie Administrations rejection of a PLA on a project, Peter required hearings on the issue.  Due to Peter’s leadership, the Teamsters were able to negotiate a PLA on this project directly with the contractor who awarded the job.   Peter supports employee free choice legislation and assisted Local 597 in our efforts to achieve this important legislation.

Press release continues below the fold.

 

Peter also helped Local 597 secure a neutrality agreement with one of the Local Unions current bargaining unit employees to help the Local Union organize the non-union locations operated by the employer.

Over the years I have personally appreciated Peter Shumlin’s leadership as he is a straight-forward politician.   With Peter, you always know where you stand and that’s the kind of leadership we need in order to tackle the tough challenges that face Vermont.  Peter has a record of getting tough things done while considering working Vermonters lives and livelihoods.

As the Principal Officer of Local 597 here in the State of Vermont I am proud to throw the support of 1000 Teamster members and retiree’s of Local 597 behind Peter’s campaign to become the Democratic candidate that will be elected as the next Governor of this great State.

Jim Leddy has a great op-ed piece in today's Free Press about Vermont's neglect of the State Hospital. As Leddy points out, when there is a problem with something really important, like the Lake Champlain Bridge, Vermont takes action.

Six years later: no new hospital, several failed efforts to regain federal approval and still no federal funds. In these dire times with many cuts in state programs and services, the continuing loss of these funds will cost the state of Vermont an additional $9.7 million in the next fiscal year, on top of the millions lost over the past six years.

It is hard to imagine that seriously ill patients with any other illnesses would have, as their only option, care in a dilapidated facility that does not meet federal standards. It is unfathomable to imagine that these patients and their families, not to mention their communities, would tolerate, much less accept, such conditions in any other Vermont hospital.

So what about the State Hospital? After six years, two suicides, and repeated failed inspections, does Vermont really give a rat's ass?

At a job I once held, I once made the mistake of revealing a piece of information to a co-worker that I didn’t realize her manager hadn’t told her yet.   When I realized what had happened, I initiated something I called “Operation STFU,” which basically boiled down to two rules:

1. don’t say anything that you don’t absolutely know you need to say


2. even when you have to say something, don’t say anything stupid

I’m not sure whether or not Operation STFU was successful.  I was eventually fired from that job, but I learned a lot from the experience too, and know a lot more about when not to say anything, to the point where I think I might want to offer seminars for people like CVPS Attorney Dale Rocheleau, who not only asked a question that might come across as, shall we say, patronizing and absurd, but did so in writing:

“Since smoking is a lifestyle choice, rather than a necessity, should an energy assistance program exclude applicants that choose to smoke?”

…and…

“… wouldn’t a participant that smokes be likely to use some or all of the energy cost savings to purchase cigarettes?”

Perhaps the Salmon campaign is looking for a spokesperson?

You may have heard about the faux pas committed by the lawyer for Central Vermont Public Service this week. We were all over it her, pointing out the arrogance and insensitivity of this position.

By now they've issued their insincere apology, but the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say, is still out there.

First off, here are the objectionable questions:

5. Mr. Howat refers to several health and safety benefits of fewer disconnections, health consequences of disconnections, expenditure choices between medial care and utility bills, child health impacts and advantages of energy assistance programs.