Time To Leave the Party
In an article explaining why he ended his 44-year membership in the GOP, Daniel Pipes, who served in five presidential administrations, quoted Republican donor Michael K. Vlock describing Donald Trump as “an ignorant, amoral, dishonest and manipulative, misogynistic, philandering, hyper-litigious, isolationist, protectionist blowhard.” I’m sure that Mr. Vlock kept his list so brief out of concern for word economy. That said, I would like to add just one word — superficial. Trump is the classic superficial thinker — his mind is all surface and no depth. Essential mental attributes such as subtlety, nuance, doubt and reflection are simply beyond his skill set. Donald Trump is not worthy — on any level — to be the next president of the United States.
Henry Billings
Lebanon
Lessons From a Convention
For those of us who had the patience, or the stomach, to view segments of the Republican convention in Cleveland, among the panoply of things that came across clearly and darkly was that merely whispering the phrase “politically correct,” was enough to provoke delegates into paroxysms of wrath, as if the phrase was conjured up by Lucifer himself.
Attaching such tags as “lying,” or “crooked” to political opponents, or attacking a challenger’s father or wife with baseless innuendo, however, is not trivial, nor has it much to do with something being or not being politically correct.
As for that other mantra of the Trump coronation –– “telling it like it is” — blurting out stuff thoughtlessly that has absolutely nothing to do with reality and is tinged with vitriol does not constitute telling anything as it is; it is blather, pure and simple. What we’re dealing with is, in fact, crude and mean-spirited — the kind of stuff a puerile lout would unleash at a playground, or a grown-up lout would at a convention.
Tom Brody
Lebanon
A Bigger Menace
At the Democratic National Convention, Bernie Sanders opened his remarks by clearly stating that his campaign was not about himself, but was about the political revolution that was born out of his campaign — and will be alive and well after all votes are counted in November.
Sanders is clearly not a prisoner of his own ego. He said his campaign has been about the influence of money in politics, immigration reform, health care as a right, a living wage for all who work, criminal-justice reform, quality schools for all, partnerships between police and local communities, and affordable college. He implored his diehard “Bernie or Bust” supporters to consider looking at themselves in the mirror before they fracture the Democratic Party and allow the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to, among other things, end the weak gun controls we have; repeal Obamacare, leaving 20 million without health insurance; nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will repeal Roe v. Wade, setting back family planning and abortion rights by 75 years; increase the proliferation of nuclear weapons; abandon our NATO agreements; and even ask foreign adversaries to commit espionage against U.S. interests. I have lived during times when women died in alleyways from blood loss and infection after botched illegal abortions; lynchings were never investigated; colleges had admission quotas for religious minorities and refused to admit racial minorities; disabled people were left to languish in lives of desperation; people with alternative sexual preferences were preyed upon with no laws to protect them; workers were legally abused by employers; and minority communities were left to rot.
It is true that the Democratic primary was a sham and a hoax, and Hillary Clinton is a very flawed candidate. If Bernie or Bust supporters are really listening to Bernie’s message, it is that we have a bigger menace to worry about in this election, a menace that could destroy all the progress since Reconstruction that so many died for. Follow his courageous example and let go of your personal egos as he has done, and do all that you can to stop the decay and destruction that would occur if Donald Trump is allowed to become our next president.
Steven Librot
Norwich
Choices for Vt. Senate
Sen. Dick McCormack, of Bethel, will get the first of my three votes out of the four choices I will have on the Democratic ballot for Windsor County Senate in Vermont’s statewide primary Aug. 9. More than ever, it will be essential to have the experienced leadership of Dick McCormack for the 2017-2018 legislative session, which will begin in January 2017 with a new governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house and president pro-tem of the Senate.
Registered Vermonters can vote at their town clerk’s office any time before Aug. 9. When I vote, my remaining Windsor County Senate votes will be for the two candidates with proven legislative records: Sen. Alice Nitka, of Ludlow, and Rep. Alison Clarkson, of Woodstock.
Whatever your choices, remember to vote in this important primary by, or on, Aug. 9.
Ann Seibert
Norwich
Same Time, Next Year
I am writing this letter to inform everyone who planned to attend “The Annual Abenaki and Indigenous People’s Honoring Day,” which has been taking place every August at Lyman Point Park since 2011, that this year we unhappily had to make the decision to cancel the event due to planning difficulties. Unfortunately, too many of the key participants were not going to be able to attend due to unexpected conflicts.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause people, especially the schoolchildren that I have been inviting all year who were excited to come and meet the Abenaki People and learn more about them.
We expect that by next year these difficulties will be distant memories, and this wonderful occasion that is enjoyed by so many people will again be celebrated.
So be on the lookout in August 2017 for posters and announcements from the Hartford Historical Society, the Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and The Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions about the Abenaki barbecue, potluck, traditional basket-making demonstrations, bead working and herbal wisdom activities. There will be drummers, stories and the sharing of the Abenaki traditions and culture. Hope to see you then.
Martha Knapp
Museum Director
Hartford Historical Society
Big Development Will Fail
An Open Letter to David Hall, New Vista Foundation: Mr. Hall, I don’t know if you monitor what we at the Stop the New Vista group say on Facebook, but I thought I’d save you some trouble and let you know your neighbors here in the four towns do not want your development, nor will we ever want it.
It is a nightmare for us, the opposite of why we choose to live here. You leave us no choice but to resist. Of course, it is not a fair fight; you have millions of dollars to hire lawyers and acquire more land; we are ordinary people with ordinary lives who love this place. You may manage to get it built, but it will not work, and it will fall to ruins. The only thing it will stand for is folly, and do you really want that?
I say this, speaking only for myself, that if you put aside this scheme and choose to live here among us, you would certainly be welcomed as a neighbor. In Vermont, that means something special.
Theodore Jeremenko
Sharon
Why Add Complexity?
A recent executive order now mandates that any federal agency that provides online access to a customer’s personal information must use multifactor authentication. Social Security, in its infinite witlessness, is adding a new hurdle this August: if one does not have a text-enabled cell phone (or just doesn’t want to provide the cell number) he or she won’t be able to access the “my Social Security” account. Why must the multifactor agent be limited to telephony? Couldn’t the device be an email address? Banks have allowed a choice of devices in online verification for ages. One final point: many folk who depend on Social Security don’t exactly fit the geek stereotype. So wouldn’t you expect that group to be given more — rather than fewer — options?
Kevin Leveret
White River Junction