Editor’s note: This oped is by Renée Carpenter. She lives in East Montpelier and is the host of “Tuesday Mornings: News, Media Review and Commentary” on WGDR (91.1 FM-Plainfield).
What “Challenges” does is to change the framework of discussion from how we take care of Vermont citizens, protect the environment, and balance the budget to many conversations that will do none of the above.
The very programs and permitting processes that protect the environment and various human service programs will be undermined if “Challenges” moves forward.
Naomi Klein’s book The Shock Doctrine describes the political strategies similar to those of the Douglas Administration: Use a time of perceived crisis to push “unpopular” programs through. Conversations with several well-placed community members (whom I deeply respect) reveal the skill with which the Douglas Administration has used this media in ways that—in fact—are not in the best interest of the Vermont public.
If we asked most Vermonters if we want to see elders die for lack of medical transportation, the delivery of meals, social contact, etc…; or children and families hungry and homeless, or people with various needs suffer; or if we want to see much of Vermont look like Chittenden County or southern NH or New Jersey—how many people do you know that feel that way?” And yet, the facts will be revealed that the very programs and permitting processes that protect the environment and various human service programs will be undermined if “Challenges” moves forward. Aldous Huxley wrote, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” This is a non-partisan issue!
For the Times Argus to call the Public Assets Institute “left leaning” rather than identifying it a non-partisan public policy institute that “supports democracy by helping Vermonters understand and keep informed about what their government is doing, especially how it is raising and spending money and using other public assets,” is to allow our local media to be a tool of propaganda for the administration in power. Why are Democrats allowing a lame-duck governor so much power in the face of what we all have to lose? And why do we—caring, thinking Vermont citizens—allow the media to shut down our critical thinking capacities. One person pointed to the “Cognitive Dissonances” of the majority of Vermonters. I say we have the thinking capacity and compassion to see through the political fog and urge our lawmakers to do what’s right.
Governor Douglas said himself (cited recently in the Times Argus) that if “Challenges” doesn’t go through, the only choice is to raise taxes. So, let’s raise taxes on those who can afford to pay a little more. Richard Snelling, a Republican governor, enacted his moral responsibility to the people of Vermont by implementing a short-term three-tired income tax structure that allowed Vermont to meet its obligations to its citizens by continuing necessary services while balancing the budget. We have gained more millionaires in Vermont in the past five years than in any other time period. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1902-32) said, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” Again I must ask, “Why are Democrats refusing to meet their moral obligations to raise necessary revenues to serve the public who elected them?” It’s time we told them to Stop Playing politics with our lives!
Matt Dunne recently wrote, “At a time when Vermonters are struggling, government should be focused on moving forward together with new ideas and fresh initiatives that will create jobs and get our economy moving. Instead, the Douglas administration has taken reckless advantage of our financial crisis by using the Challenges for Change initiative as a vehicle to advance its own conservative agenda. They are trying to impose radical changes with minimal input from the public and asking the Legislature to make these changes in a matter of weeks.
“Communities are holding emergency meetings to determine how to fight the introduction of super-sized school boards. Planning commissions are poring over thick documents to find the policies slipped into this initiative that fundamentally change how we protect the environment, while vulnerable populations are pushing back against massive funding cuts. And with very short notice, entire programs with successful track records of creating jobs, like the Sustainable Jobs Fund, have been targeted to have their state funding zeroed out.”
Vermont Natural Resource Council echoes the above (as did most agencies and advocates at last week’s public hearing), “This proposal is an opportunistic attempt by the Douglas Administration … under the guise of more efficient economic development programs. Lawmakers are poised to go along with this, so it’s urgent they hear from people” like us.
We, the people of Vermont, must be heard before it is too late. H-792, the 82-page implementation bill known as “Challenges for Change” will be discussed later this afternoon at the statehouse. (It can be found online at: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Bills/Intro/H-792.pdf)
If we care about smart planning in Vermont, if you care about your home, neighbors, children, families, elders…. please contact your Representative(s) and Senator(s) TODAY.
Because they will be discussing this today, please leave a message at the Sgt-at-Arms office at 802-828-2228 to speak with your state legislators right now.
Renée Carpenter lives in East Montpelier and is the host of “Tuesday Mornings: News, Media Review and Commentary” on WGDR (91.1 FM-Plainfield)
