In my lifetime of 83 years, the American Armed Forces have been integrated to include both women and people of color. The massive structure of Jim Crow laws in the South has been dismantled.
Police forces throughout the country have been integrated. People of color and women hold elected positions at every level. Gay people are assured of equal treatment under the law in most states.
The list of dramatic changes is almost endless. The rate of change has been very fast. Many of the changes have required people to alter beliefs that were a major part of their basic tenets for centuries. Some have required changes that conflict with strongly held religious beliefs.
I am proud of what has been accomplished. There are those who see America as failing to deal with these problems effectively. I disagree. I believe that we have dealt with this kind of inequality about as effectively and rapidly as was possible.
There is more work to do. There is always more work to do. That work should be approached with a steady hand that realizes that long-term permanent change in any area takes a long time.
Pat Colt Hanover
I want to urge all voters in Tunbridge and Royalton to support Sarah Buxton for state representative. As much as I am fond of David Ainsworth, I believe when it comes to getting things done, Buxton is our go-to person. I see signs that claim she spends too much of our tax dollars and that she is too close to the Legislature. What is important is that she serves us — her constituents.
How can I say this unequivocally? She has ensured that the state honors its obligations. When contacted, she made sure that our expanded preschool grant was processed, she made sure that our early education providers received overdue funds so that they could continue their programming. She applied for and received a Promise grant that identifies resources and aid to help families with children from birth to age 5 and students get a good start on their lives. She supports universal preschool. Do not many of you have children, grandchildren and other relatives who will get better starts on their education to get them a rewarding career? Universal preschool is a plus/plus legislation. The data is in. Your family members will be better positioned for success in school and careers than many of us were. The investment today will reduce your taxes tomorrow.
Many of you are grumbling about Act 46. It’s not been one of my personal favorites either. Every school and combination of schools creates a zillion extra meetings to attend. However, imagine a scenario where your financial agent processes one or two payrolls twice a month rather than the 20 or more currently to accommodate eight different schools in the supervisory union. When it comes to efficiencies, that is the name of the game. School boards may lose some of their power, but the students will get a larger voice in decisions that affect their futures.
Please vote for Sarah Buxton. David Ainsworth wants to reduce taxes. What will we lose? How does he propose to reduce the budget while guaranteeing an encouraging future for our children?
Cynthia Powers South Royalton
The writer is a grant coordinator for the White River Valley Supervisory Union.
Too Young to Vote, but I Care
I am 12-year-old girl living in Vermont. I am very affected by this election, and I follow the news carefully. The things that I have heard Donald Trump say about women made me suddenly realize that I am part of a group that faces discrimination. I had never fully realized before how much discrimination against women there is. I never really understood how it truly used to be that people could just do anything they wanted to do to women, because of their gender.
When I grow up, I want to be able to tell my daughters that I was around when the first woman president was elected. I want to be able to tell them they can be anything they want, and know that I am not lying.
This election cycle we have a choice between a man who has allegedly taken advantage of women on many occasions, and choosing our first woman president. On Nov. 8, you will decide our identity as a nation. I can’t vote, but you can. Please make the right choice for your daughters, granddaughters and the future of our nation.
Evelyn Fleming Bradford, Vt.
Disregard Emotions, Vote for Trump
I was astounded to learn that Sen. Kelly Ayotte will cast a write-in vote for Mike Pence. In my opinion, he is an excellent candidate for vice president, but voting for anyone other than Donald Trump, or not voting at all, will help Hillary Clinton be elected.
Unscrupulous Hillary Clinton in the White House would be an irreparable great disaster for our country and the rest of the world.
Hillary Clinton is the worst presidential candidate in the history of the U.S. It is truly pathetic that our political female representatives are not endowed with brain power but are guided by female emotions.
Quas Deus vult perdere prius dementat. This means: Whom God wishes to destroy, He first makes mad.
Anna Konopka New London
Vote for Kasich
Here we go again! Aside from her other shortcomings, Hillary Clinton now has been exposed as a sneak. Is this what we want for president? To represent womanhood?
We need to expose this today! In Bloomberg News and “The Gray Lady,” the New York Times.
We must get our fellow citizens to write in their vote for John Kasich of Ohio. Don’t waste a minute! Collectively write in John Kasich 36 million times.
George Degelmann Claremont
Oppose Tax Increases
Hartford residents and businesses who have motor vehicles have noticed an increase in registration fees, driver’s license renewal fees and higher fees for inspections. Local Rep. Gabrielle Lucke, a Democrat, voted to raise your fees. The impact of higher fees is like a tax increase on low-income families and businesses with multiple vehicles. Here in Hartford, there are electricians, plumbers, excavators and trucking companies with employees who are under enough pressure without additional taxes.
Hartford cannot afford Rep. Gabrielle Lucke, as she continues to vote for nearly every tax increase her party pushes.
Daniel Hillard Hartford
The writer is the Hartford Republican Town Committee chair.
Supporting John Tuthill
To the Editor:
Voters in Charlestown, Acworth, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster and Washington are especially fortunate this election year because one of their most experienced local public servants is a candidate to represent them in the New Hampshire Legislature.
For several years, John Tuthill has served as a member of the Acworth Selectboard and Conservation Commission, and as Acworth’s representative to the Sullivan County Regional Refuse Disposal District and the state Legislature. He is skilled as a sensitive and responsive listener, an advocate for the needs of fellow citizens, a respected and well-connected former member of the state General Court, and for those of us who know him personally, a good, reliable friend. Tuthill’s knowledge of the social and political realities of these times is comprehensive. His willingness to represent citizens of these towns is a gift to us all. The most effective way we can assure our voices are heard in Concord for the next two years is to choose John Tuthill as our representative to the New Hampshire Legislature.
Bill Gallagher Cornish
The people of Hartford/White River District 4-2 are most fortunate to have Kevin Christie as their state representative.
Mr. Christie is honest, hard-working and kind. He was so willing to help me with an issue even though I live in another town, stating that all Vermonters are his people so it doesn’t matter where they live. I had a problem with the several state agencies that affected my ability to stay at home, pay for full-time caregivers and not go broke. Mr. Christie advocated for me, spoke with my legal representative and his supervisor and the other agencies to obtain home health care funding I was promised and then had taken away.
As an elderly woman of 94, I required home care after a stroke left me with partial paralysis on my right side along with the effects of polio on my left side. As a result of poor case management, I was unable to have more than three hours of home care per day. Mr. Christie’s intervention helped me to get the necessary time that had been allowed me; now I have eight hours of care daily, and I am not going to lose my home paying for the adequate care I need.
I am urging the people of District 4-2 in Hartford to re-elect this generous man, to return him to Montpelier where he can continue to work “for his people.”
Helen Rulon Bethel
Disgusted at the Media
To say that I am disgusted with how our media has treated this election would be a gross understatement. The bias against Donald Trump and the cheerleading for Hillary Clinton has millions of us deplorables, can I say, “up in arms,” or is that too inflammatory? The deviousness and dirty tricks of Clinton puts Nixon to shame. Project Veritas exposed that and not one word on that from this newspaper. One knows if it was a Republican, there would have been continuing coverage. And you wonder why so many are angry at the press these days?
There’s a litany of op-eds from The Washington Post every day in the Valley News. I get the Post online and I’ve never seen such slant. We are, as a country, sliding into an abyss and the establishment insists everything is OK.
Our kids are being schooled in a leftist, socialist doctrine and while many parents seem to agree on this, there are many who either don’t know what to do about it or are not involved enough in their children’s education.
Our national debt has doubled under President Obama to $20 trillion. No one seems to care. This threatens our monetary system and will explode on us when interest rates rise. Interest on the debt will blow a huge hole in our budget. No one seems to care.
The new Democratic Party is more interested in unisex toilets than our well-being. No one seems to care. Young people are told this is the new norm. You will not have the same opportunities as your parents. You must adjust to “global” conditions. No one seems to care.
Illegal immigration in many parts of the country is having disastrous effects. No one seems to care. We need a businessman in the White House now, not a corrupt, lifelong politician. Our very survival as a republic hangs in the balance. Please, young people, consider carefully. It’s your future at stake here. We older folks can ride this out — you will not.
Greg Bogdanich Lyme
Trump Is No Role Model
To the voters who still want to elect Donald Trump president, I ask, “Do you respect your mother, grandmothers, sisters and aunts, and do you care about how your daughters will be treated?”
If so, you may consider, as do I, President Obama the best role model we have seen recently. He demonstrates exemplary behavior toward the women and girls in his family, toward all women and girls, and indeed toward everyone, whether he identifies with them or not.
The measure of an admirable leader is how he treats people who can do nothing for him.
Michael Whitman Lyme
Sue Minter’s business as governor will be putting the interests of the average Vermonter at the top of her agenda, what about Phil Scott? Early on in the campaign, an article in Burlington’s Seven Days newspaper stated: “For the past 15 years, Phil Scott has served as a state senator and lieutenant governor while simultaneously running DuBois Construction, a Middlesex excavation business he co-owns. During that time, DuBois did $3.79 million worth of business with the state — an average of $252,335 a year.”
National Republican talking points have defined Scott’s campaign, and budget cuts to pay for tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy would threaten family programs, public safety and opiate addiction service here in Vermont. Sue Minter will be a governor who puts Vermont’s interests first, not the policies pushed by national Republican backers who have been supporting his campaign and paying for the onslaught of negative Scott TV ads. Sue Minter’s only business will be as your governor for Vermont.
Paul ReganSouth Woodstock
The writer is chairman of the Woodstock Democratic Town Committee.
Hartford’s Charter Issue Is Back
A message for Hartford residents: When you enter the voting booth on Tuesday, you will notice a familiar item up for vote — changes to the town charter.
You may recall that last March Hartford residents voted for charter changes to add a 1 percent local option tax and a change to a full Australian ballot form of voting on the budgets. Although those changes were passed by residents, the state Legislature, which must vote to approve town charter changes, deemed that procedurally they were not properly done.
You will have a copy of the charter itself and the specific language being changed so that you can be fully informed when casting your decision.
Rebecca White, on behalf of the Hartford Selectboard and School Board Hartford
I’ve worked with Alison Clarkson for the last five years in the Vermont House and have found her to be one of the most hard-working, informed and devoted representatives in Vermont. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I could rely on her to keep me informed about the more complex and significant financial issues facing the state — issues she is impressively well-versed in. Her years of experience amount to a level of expertise that is indispensable for understanding and solving the challenges Vermont faces, and she will be a powerful voice for Windsor County in the Senate.
Rep. Teo Zagar D-Barnard
About Those Bank Taxes
Just a few thoughts and questions about Vermont gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter’s plan for the state to pay for two years of college for Vermont residents by increasing the tax on out-of-state banks.
First, why do politicians think it is OK to keep increasing taxes on businesses as though it will not impact the residents? Businesses don’t really pay taxes, they pass it on to the consumer in the form of higher prices for products and services.
What is an out-of-state bank? The franchise tax is paid on deposits in all Vermont bank offices; not offices outside of the state. These banks are already paying franchise taxes, paying local and state taxes, donating significant money and time in support of local nonprofit organizations and projects, and employing Vermont residents. If there really is a long-term benefit of this program, shouldn’t all businesses pay to support it, not just out-of-state banks?
Is this really where the focus by our new governor should be? Or would we be better off trying to create a more positive, supportive and attractive environment for our businesses so that we can create and bring to the state more jobs for our young people to remain in Vermont?
Barry McCabe West Hartford
Maybe you have not heard, but there are candidates from other than the Democratic and Republican parties this presidential election cycle. While I may be being a bit sarcastic, one would never get that impression judging from the domination of the news by these two parties.
While this winner/loser mentality may make for great political and media theater, it is bringing this country to a state of confrontation that surpasses that of the Vietnam war and possibly approaching the greatest schism that this country has ever seen, the Civil War. It has become such a flashpoint that the election is not even discussed in circles where relationships are important, such as families, friends and the workplace. This breakdown in communication makes the confrontation even worse as valid ideas and points of view are not shared, preventing the attainment of a compromise that will be needed after the election.
Considering the challenges that we as a nation, and planet, are facing, we need to restore the art of consensus-building and developing solutions that include opinions from multiple philosophies.
One possible way to do this is to learn more about the third-party options so that we, the electorate, can form our own opinions about the platforms they present, despite the information drought that we are currently in regarding the solutions they present, let alone their existence.
If nothing else, the inclusion of third-party candidates may prevent a national divorce and enable us to reopen lines of communication. The result could be one that reflects the increasing racial, professional, financial, educational and religious diversity that makes our country the world’s largest democratic (small d) incubator.
Maybe take some time out from this Super Bowl election and help support a third-party candidate. Consider taking a long-game approach. The country that you save may be your own.
Bart Guetti West Lebanon
As a lifelong Democrat, I have a guilty secret. In 1972 I did not vote for either President Nixon or Sen. George McGovern. For the life of me, I can’t remember why I didn’t vote for the senator, but I do remember that this “protest vote” was easier to make since it was clear that this good man was going to lose.
My friends who voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 had a much more difficult decision that turned out to have much greater consequences. And speaking of votes that have consequences, a number of pro-Europe Britons have lamented that they would have voted against Brexit but didn’t think it was necessary because opinion polls indicated that Brexit would easily be defeated. They are living with the consequences.
The moral of the story is that votes count and failing to vote can count just as much. Defeating Donald Trump is important. Critically important. As Bill Clinton quipped during his recent visit to Hanover, “If you don’t want someone to drive the truck off a cliff, don’t give him the keys.”
John Chamberlin Hanover
A Moratorium on F-35 Jets
Gov. Peter Shumlin and our representatives in Washington have touted the F-35 jets that are slated to come to Burlington Airport as a boon for the local economy. Yet the noise levels they will create far outweigh any benefits, and the number of new jobs to be created is debatable. Many in the surrounding towns have voiced opposition, and the Air Force itself predicts that property values in the Burlington area can be expected to fall. A U.S. District Court judge decided against local opposition to the jets in August.
I’d like to hear what Sue Minter thinks of the process that led to this decision, in view of her support for local input on wind farms and other development. The sound of an F-35 overhead will make wind turbines seem like purring kittens by comparison. Is it too late to call for a moratorium, and rethink the priorities of our cities and those who live in them?
Peter Thompson Post Mills
Unconstitutional Delay
The failure of the current Senate to act on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court was unconstitutional. Studying the text of the U.S. Constitution for another reason, I’ve just reread the text of Article II, Section 2. Under this provision, members of the Senate have an obligation to provide their “Advice and Consent” to the president who has made a nomination to the Supreme Court. The relevant text reads:
The president “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court …”
This means that a specific president nominates a candidate, the Senate gives advice and consent, and — with that consent — the same president “shall appoint” a Supreme Court Justice.
The plain meaning is that the advice and consent of the Senate on the “nomination” of Judge Garland is to the sitting president, Barack Obama.
The refusal to give advice and consent to President Obama’s nomination of Judge Garland by current Republican senators was based on the claim that this action should be taken by senators who take office in January 2017. Because by that time a new president will have been elected, this refusal was a blatantly partisan refusal to act as explicitly required by the Constitution.
To enforce the Constitution and deny the Republican Party any possible benefit from inaction that is illegal, citizens throughout the U.S. should refuse to vote for any GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Roger Masters Hanover