Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Orleck, who is a retired pharmacist and lawyer. He served as an assistant attorney general under Vermont Attorney General Jerome Diamond.
[I] rarely put stock in Jon Margolis’ opinions, but he is right about the Gov. Phil Scott likely being re-elected. I think he is wrong, however, when he says the Democrats are “floundering” and that “Scott is in control.”
Most dogs are loyal to those who feed them and treat them well, but there are some dogs who bite the hand that feeds them. Gov. Scott has this characteristic of such a bad dog and was willing to leave his loyal base to embrace the schemes and ideals of his Democratic masters for small treats of promised support in exchange for allowing himself to be led around like a dog on a short leash. These Democrats only want power and control, and this managed attack dog they own that is willing upon command to openly flout his party’s national leader on illegal immigration policy and other important issues will help them keep them.
What a gift Gov. Phil Scott is to the Democrats! A Republican governor who is loyal to their deep desires for personal gain fueled by tax dreams of great wealth and control gained through the selling of an addicting drug on Vermont street corners under a scheme they call “tax and regulate.” There will be tax revenue but there will be costs associated with legalization that will far outstrip this money coming in and there will be no real regulation. Study Colorado’s experiment in doing this and that will become clear. Their high potency THC marijuana problems are monumental and while they tout the revenue, why then are they facing a half-billion-dollar deficit in the upcoming year and cutting many key programs? Where is all that money going? I think you know! Now, cities like Pueblo was once — but no longer — the sixth most desirable city in the United States to live, is a city overrun with marijuana businesses and many who are homeless, who have come only to do marijuana. The influx of such people has diminished this city that is now an unsafe and undesirable place to live that many wish to flee. Look closely, because Vermont will soon look much the same.
Just as the Vermont governor ignored his own commission and all the factually based opponents in signing H.511 (legalization of marijuana for recreational use) so will he cave when the Legislature moves to inflict full commercialism on our citizens, making Vermont a drug mecca rather than a place to come for a family vacation.
Who is Gov. Scott anyway? Some say he is a Republican and indeed he did run under that party’s banner. In thought and action, however, he appears to be a Democrat in sheep’s clothing. Why would the liberal-progressive Dems want to run another candidate when they have Phil Scott doing their bidding and accomplishing their purposes better than they could themselves? It is time for all caring citizens to put labels aside and vote only for those who are doing the right thing for Vermont and its people. We all must better analyze the office-seekers and vote only for those who are interested in properly representing the people and not special interests like the marijuana industry.
To the older loyal Democrats, they need to wake up and realize that those in power in Vermont are not their father’s Democrats. They are aliens who have co-opted their once great party, the party of John F. Kennedy. I am a lifelong Republican, but I say to others of my party that they should look for a replacement for Phil Scott in the upcoming August primary. To continue to return these aliens to office will eventually destroy us and our state. Our property values will eventually plummet. Our children will be injured, and many will die as the result of their actions. The pure “Vermont brand” will be damaged and all that is associated with it. Doing nothing is not an option if we choose to live and prosper in a safe and secure Vermont we call home.
