It should have become clear. Many politicians who say they pay attention to infrastructure, debt, schools, health care, safety nets and job creation are primarily focused on their re-election. The recent decades of legislative stalemate stem from party allegiance and corporate, organizational and lobbyist pressures that can inform, but also can be termed “bribes.” Not bribes that directly enrich candidates, but bribes for favorable consideration of certain issues in exchange for election money and influence. The recent PBS series on Vietnam highlighted the primacy of re-election concerns in choices made by Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy.
Limiting all federal politicians to a single term would not eliminate all such influence on new candidates, of course, but should help strengthen the focus of office holders on governing. Politicians would be more immune from party allegiance, the need to spend time and money to continue their elected careers, and would potentially focus on broader interests.
Our founding fathers debated this issue, too, so it would require constitutional amendments now. I suggest single terms of six years for president, six years for senate and four years for representative, mimicking the freedom from campaigning of our Supreme Court justices.
Andrew Taylor
Grantham
What is it about fall that is so life-affirming? It is a time of pumpkins, birds migrating, leaves turning red and gold. Take a walk through a wooded path and feel the leaves rustling beneath your feet, find a fragile spider web on a small branch, breathe in the moist, earthy fall air. Ask yourself, is this not paradise?
And then go home and turn on the radio or TV or pick up a newspaper … or don’t. It is really too much to take in: all the anger, cruelty, violence, aggression, injustice.
Where does it come from?? While there are many factors, the root causes for all this discord are found in the inner workings of our ancestral brain. Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg understood this aspect of humanity and created Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a special program of deep, compassionate communication that is used in 65 countries around the world to help people resolve their conflicts and live more peacefully.
Peggy Smith, who studied with Rosenberg and has worked internationally with educators and young people through the Seeds of Peace Program, is offering a program on Nonviolent Communication and Mindfulness Practice at the Bugbee Center in White River Junction. On Friday evening, Nov. 3, Smith will offer a free introductory program from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. She will also speak on interpersonal neurobiology and compassionate communication. No registration is required. Smith will also present a two-day program, also at the Bugbee Center, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4 and 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program will include interactive learning and discussion-based activities using nonviolent communication principles. All are welcome. There is a sliding scale fee. Register at www.lifeisrelationships.org.
Stephen Shultz
Sharon
Co-Op and Customers Share Change
The member-owners, staff and board of the Co-op Food Stores are honored to receive Windsor County Partners’ 2017 Community Spirit Award. It’s our privilege to support Windsor County Partners’ wonderful work on behalf of local youth.
The “Pennies for Change” that member-owners and non-member shoppers donate at checkout in our Co-op Food Stores contribute thousands of dollars each year to Upper Valley service programs. The cooperative spirit is the spirit of neighborliness. We invite all our neighbors to join us in gathering Pennies for Change!
Bill Craig
Board president,Hanover Consumer Co-operative Society