The winds are howling, the creek is rising and the roof just sprung a leak. Normally this would be a call to action; fix the things you can and brace for those you can’t. If you hadn’t noticed pretty much everything is coming off the tracks and there is no sign of relief.
Unemployment just busted through quarter century old, double digit records; one of our own Army officers (a psychiatrist) just opened fire on his troops killing a dozen and wounding three dozen more to protest our latest war; debt piles up at a rate that, without any doubt, will bankrupt the nation; and the pandemic H1N1virus is taking down many of the very young, old or already weakened.
No jobs; wartime mutiny; bankruptcy and plague. Yup, these are tough times.
Therefore, catching a breath may no longer be an option. The electorate distrusts its politicians to such a degree that if you squint, you can actually see real civil unrest on the horizon. Firearm acquisition runs at record levels. Some town hall meetings have turned violent. Legitimate protestors have been denied basic liberties and labeled as everything from lunatics to war criminals. Election fraud has become a sport. But does this mean we just let the roof leak until the storm passes?
No. We need to take action and the bad news for our elected leadership is that even a violent nature abhors a vacuum. Who’s to say who will win where in any given election? But whatever themes, coattails or favors are in play, the system fundamentally works. New Jersey and Virginia just proved this, foreshadowing a meltdown of the liberal movement. It will be profound.
Vermont liberal leadership, largely due to incompetence, will miss the signposts again and continue the “progressive” crusade of killing businesses and jobs. They will continue to believe that being “green” is an end unto itself that justifies any irrational policy, surcharge or tax. Worst of all, they will continue to believe Vermont is immune to any of the shocks that are rocking other parts of the country and will mindlessly ignore the warnings of this site and, very recently, even those with whom they believe they share an ideology and vision for this state The elections in New Jersey and Virginia meant something. So did Tom Salmon Jr.’s decision to leave the Democratic party in Vermont, even though it had been home to his own father when he was governor of the state. The true believers will paint a landscape of safety and tranquility for a trusting electorate as the banks are cresting.
I can remember a time, just 24 months ago, when our viewpoints were perceived as the rants and the hyperbole of uncaring and selfish conservatives. I am loathe to say we were right … but proud to remind our thoughtful readership that the basic tenets of Vermont Tiger are more relevant than ever:* We cannot spend money we don’t have.
* We must endorse job-creating policies.
* We cannot allow our legislators to trade favors with the teachers’ union.
These thoughts were trivialized two years ago, marginalized one year ago and, today, are undeniable.
Let’s see what ideas prevail in the upcoming gubernatorial election and let’s see which liberals hide in the basement during the flood.
Rep. Haas and Sen. McCormack: Are you listening?
Posted by: Lazarus Long | November 13, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Lazarus,
You should have included the names of at least another 122 legislators.
Posted by: RFC | November 13, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Rep. French and Sen. MacDonald: Are you listening?
Greg Willis
Brookfield
Posted by: Greg Willis | November 13, 2009 at 05:48 PM
None of them are listening!
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck | November 14, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Senator Shumlin: We know you are not.
Posted by: Bill | November 14, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Change comes from within- time for Vermonters to change their state of residence.
Posted by: GreggB | November 14, 2009 at 02:54 PM