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The Declaration of Independence

2008-07-04T07:41:00.004-04:00

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which
they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Church of Keepin' it Real

2008-07-02T22:58:00.002-04:00

(Thanks to Jonas for the pictue.)

Beach Closed

2008-07-02T11:58:00.001-04:00

Oakledge Beach was closed yesterday. I'm guessing it was because of fecal content.

Political BBQ 2008

2008-06-28T17:44:00.002-04:00

The family and I are just back from the 3rd annual Political Barbecue and Hamburger Summit hosted by Philip Baruth and John Odum. Thanks to our fabulous hosts, the thing was a rockin' success once again.

The crowd size was similar to those of the last two years, even if its composition was a little different. We didn't see Charity there, and of course Bill was out of town- but most of the pillars were in attendance- Steve Benen, Jack McCullough, Jay Vos, Julie Waters, JD Ryan, Christian Avard, Neil Jensen, Linda from the Northeast Kingdom, and many many more. There was the whole Brattleboro crew including Steve and Gorty from the radio.

As for politicians, we had Anthony Pollina who genuinely seemed to remember our one meeting 19 years ago in Bernie's office. "You're still around?" he asked me. Gaye Symmington was there, and Chris Pearson... Kesha Ram showed up toward the end... Mark Larson was hanging out. Neither Ed or TJ made it, but I guess we'll forgive them. Selene wasn't there either- but not because of a birthday party as I mistakenly said in a previous post, but because she had to attend an event in another part of the state with Peter Welch. I heard her dad was there, but I didn't see him.

We brought a few of Poopsie's unbelievable grape leaf lamb dolmas which got gobbled up quickly. And the lake was relatively clean too so Poopsie, Koko, Yanna and I splashed around for a while. Poopsie ate a brat. Koko ate a hot dog and I ate a bunless burger with ketchup. Poopsie wouldn't let Philip toss the leftover watermelon, so I had to find a way to carry it home.

I love the blogger barbecue and have genuinely had a good time all three years. That's weird for me because I generally hate social events like that- but among the pols and the bloggers, I actually feel like I belong. And that's special.

Good times. Good times.

Today's Agenda

2008-06-28T07:23:00.004-04:00

Click the Radiator Picture to Stream the Station live.

Call the show this morning: (802) 861-9666

Click the BBQ Ad for Details on the today's event.

Ad by Neil Jensen and Don Shall.

(Don't Click Stephen Colbert.)

Committee Recommends Keeping Al Jazeera

2008-06-25T23:43:00.004-04:00

Per Brian Wallstin at Blurt the Burlington Telecommunications Advisory Committee and the Cable Advisory Council passed a three page joint resolution recommending that Burlington Telecom continue carrying Al Jazeera English.

Obviously that was the right decision, but now the question is- Will Burlington Telecom's general manager Chris Burns (left) listen?

*******
Update- Courtesy of Greg EplerWood, .pdf files of Tuesday's resolutions:

Recommendation Resolution re: Al Jazeera English on Burlington Telecom
and
Recommendation Resolution re: Burlington Telecom Cable Channel Carriage Policy

The City Hall Park Fountain

2008-06-25T23:08:00.003-04:00

...still sucks after all these years. More than a decade after I proposed using spoons as splashers to liven up the water streams dribbling into the putrid, stagnant water in the City Hall Park fountain, nothing has changed. The thing remains an embarrassment and an eye sore.

The fountain it replaced back in 1993 was better and spoon splashers would still be a cheap and effective remedy.

George Carlin 1937-2008

2008-06-23T08:35:00.003-04:00

The Hippy-Dippy weather calls for rain. All day.

Blurt Beats BurlingtonPol

2008-06-22T23:33:00.005-04:00

It's only 11:34pm- but I'm going to call it and go to bed. Looks like I'm going to beat Blurt again today. The score right now is BurlingtonPol-72, Blurt 68. And no cheap tricks today either. And no new posts except for this one. Blurt has two new posts up today. Both by Cathy Resmer. One on Al Jazeera covering the Al Jazeera controversy in Burlington and one on Speeder and Earl's turning 15. Tomorrow it's back to work, and back to getting only 2/3 the number of visits Blurt does. Even though tonight's victory is more legit, it isn't as sweet for some reason.

For blogging today I pretty much just tried to convince David Usher that the recent Supreme Court decision in Boumediene v. Bush was correct.

Wait a minute... Blurt just got five more visitors while I've been writing. Now I'm behind by one with twelve minutes left in the day. Shit... ok eleven minutes... come on... Somebody Google Amy Tarrant or something... 11:53... one more for Blurt. Now it's Blurt-74, BurlingtonPol-72... 11:55- I can't belive I've been sitting here for half and hour. Looks like I'm going 'till midnight after all... Now I know why the victory isn't as sweet tonight... because it doesn't exist. 11:57-Time to change the headline... 11:59. Shit. At least I was right to be psyched last night.

Midnight. I lost.

Have a nice Monday.

BurlingtonPol Beats Blurt!

2008-06-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

YES!!!! YEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!! HAAAAA!

OK- Now you know what that last post was about.

My blog got more visits Saturday than the Seven Days staff blog Blurt!! Final score: BurlingtonPol- 73, Blurt- 70.

I have no chance of ever beating them on weekdays. Monday through Friday Blurt does about 33% better than me, but I noticed last Satuday that I came awefully close. This Saturday I won!

In your FACE Seven Days!!!

Go ahead, call me a dork. I'll probably never win a "Daysie" award because I just can't bring myself to go begging for votes like our two friends who win every year, so- this is it for me. This victory and when Rachel Maddow left a comment might be the two best moments of this blog's little life!

Woo Hoo!!!

Hey Look! Look over here!

2008-06-21T23:01:00.002-04:00

OK- I'm not above using cheap tricks to get to my goal. I just need a few more visits before midnight tonight. I'm hoping this fake post triggers a couple of folks with subscriptions to my RSS feed to take a look...

Kesha Ram vs. Chris Pearson

2008-06-20T09:42:00.003-04:00

Yesterday after work, the kids were climbing the walls so Poopsie and I decided to take them downtown so they could climb the rocks on Church Street instead. At Ben and Jerry's we ran into my old high school friend Bess Huddle, daughter of that writer guy David Huddle. Bess lives in Madison Wisconsin now and is working on her Doctorate in literature. She's in Burlington to get married Saturday. Congratulations Bess!

Down at City Hall Park we had a nice chat with Selene Hofer-Shall and Kesha Ram. Selene won't be making it to the blogger barbecue this year because she has to be at relative's 100th birthday party instead. Hopefully her father will be there though, with or without his magic bus, The Emerald Gypsy. He's one of the few folks I've met who agrees that fire alone wouldn't collapse a skyscraper.

Selene introduced Poopsie and me to former UVM Student Government president Kesha Ram. Kesha, we were informed, will be trying to take out Chris Pearson in a bid for the legislature. And look... she even has a website. That should be an interesting race.

Somehow we got talking about Mayor Kiss's potential vulnerability next year. Now, I'm not a Prog or a Dem- but I told Selene if the Dems really want a shot, they should run Ed Adrian. "I would LOVE to run Ed Adrian!" she said. (Heh, heh.)

Oh what else? Well, speaking of City Hall... Here's an interesting new blog by one of Bill Simmon's students. In the latest post we learn that the fountain in front of our capitol will soon be a fountain again.

Strange Blue Russert

2008-06-18T09:07:00.002-04:00

My friend Ari over at Strange Blue Planet has a good post about sitting next to Tim Russert at Rockefeller Center. Very heartfelt and genuine. Read it here.

Single Payer Universal Health Care

2008-06-15T23:07:00.003-04:00

It drives me a little insane that people try to argue against this. The whole concept of insurance is that you spread risk over a large pool. What's larger than everybody?

We are such idiots in this country when it comes to sharing. "Why should I pay if you get sick?!" Duh. Well why should I pay if your house is burning? Why don't you pull yourself up by your bootstraps and hire your own private fire fighters?

Everybody needs health insurance. Everybody should have it. We treat each other like animals in this country. Civilized people don't behave this way. We need to change. Christians should know. You don't let people die because they don't have money. But we do. 18,000 deaths per year are directly attributable to a lack of insurance.

The richest 1% owns 90% of the wealth. That is not the free market. The game is rigged. We sit like docile sheep watching rich people on TV and we think we're them, like a dog who thinks he's a human. Meanwhile we're getting our economic skulls sucked dry by bone-crushing, deficit exploding, infrastructure collapsing policy that serves nobody but a small number of Oligarkhs like Bush. People who are not patriots, hold no allegiance to this nation or its principles and are happy to sell the Crystler Building to Quatar, and our ports to the UAE.

But it's OK. Because that's just the "Free Market" working its magic, and the federal minimum wage of 5.25/hr., which adjusted for inflation is about half of what it was in 1968, is still too much communism to stomach, and so is publicly funded health insurance.

Democracy can't function like this. The middle class is almost gone. If you are what used to be middle class in this country, you're actually relatively rich. And if you think you're middle class today, you're probably a debtor holding on to your illusion, by drowning reality with cheap plastic crap and entertainment. In the few moments you're not working, that is.

Can we get a little bit of a clue in this country. Can we wake up, please? We've reached a critical mass of stupidity wherein elections can be stolen, a war can be waged based on blatant lies and used as a cover for the largest grift in history, all at the expense of ourselves and our posterity. These are not the blessings of liberty we're passing on here people.

But still we have people sewing up their own wounds and dying on the street because Americans love to point fingers and feel superior until we ourselves fall, as anyone can, and then we drown in shame and helplessness. Looking down your nose at others when your up does nothing to help society. Turning inward in shame and self-pity when your down does nothing to help society.

So listen. I'm getting pissed. Here's what I want. And this is an order. I want federal single-payer universal health insurance in this county by this afternoon. You got me? This afternoon. You do your part to make this happen today, right now. Or you are about to enter a world of pain.

A world of pain.

The Evidence Against Al Jazeea

2008-06-13T12:39:00.003-04:00

Channel 3 reports that at Wednesday's public forum on Burlington Telecom and Al Jazeera, Jamie Zeppernick of the Defenders Council of Vermont commented that Al Jazeera "does incite murder. It incites hatred and it incites violence."

This is quite a claim, so I wrote to Mr. Zeppernick and asked if he had any evidence. Here is his reply:

"Good day,

I have offered only a fractional amount of evidence at our events on the 9th and 10th of June. Further evidence is readily accessible from doing your own objective research on the issue. An exploration of the public record using a broad spectrum of resources will provide you with the best results.

Thank you and please let me know if you have further questions about our organization.

best,
Jamie Zeppernick"

Charge or Release. It's the American Way.

2008-06-12T21:40:00.004-04:00

Thank you Supreme Court. The opinion written by Justice Kennedy.

"We hold that petitioners may invoke the fundamental procedural protections of habaes corpus. The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times. Liberty and security can be reconciled within the framework of the law. The framers decided that habaus corpus, a right of first importance, must be part of that framework, a part of that law."

Voting to protect America: Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens. (Hang in there Stevens!)

Voting against the American Way: John G. Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. (Boo! Hisss!)

If you don't think Habaes Corpus is important, you're an idiot. Habaes protects you too. It would be a nice world if we could just trust one person with absolute power, but history has shown that always leads to tyrrany. And tyranny is terrorism's rich uncle.

Al Jazeera public meeting 6:30pm

2008-06-11T14:28:00.003-04:00

I don't think I'm going to make it there. Too many unpaid bills piling up at my house, including Burlington Telcom's, which I haven't paid since this whole Al Jazeera thing erupted. I'd like to call it a protest, but the truth is I'm just kinda broke right now. Another economic stimulus check would be nice.

Plus I ran into Richard Donnelly last week in City Hall Park and he said they we're going to keep the channel. I asked him if that whole "contract" issue was basically baloney, and I think he said no. You gotta hand it to those marketing people. I shook his hand, said he was a good sport and continued on my way.

Anyway here are the details for all you freedom fighters who want to attend. The copy is lifted straight out of the 7D article linked to in my preceding post. I've been a lazy blogger lately...

The public forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hauke Conference Room at Champlain College, Maple and Willard Streets, Burlington. Members of the public will be asked to limit their comments to under three minutes.

******
Update-

Richard Donnelly adds this update (by email rather than my preferred method, comment):

"Just to clarify one point, the final decision to keep the station on the air has not been made. I don't know how long that will take or what the contract negotiations will yield. BUT it is staying on the lineup in the meantime while this process takes place."

******

Al Jazeera Reporter Speaks Out

2008-06-10T12:07:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest fine reporting from Seven Days Ken Picard. More to come...

Madonna & Gogol Bordello

2008-06-09T20:35:00.003-04:00

This is from Live Earth London.

Obama Wins Democratic Nomination

2008-06-03T23:01:00.003-04:00

Obama will be the Democratic nominee for president.

10 Second Blog Post

2008-05-29T06:35:00.002-04:00

*According to BlogNetNews, BurlingtonPol is now ranked as the 11th most influential blog in VT.

*According to BloggaPedia, BurlingtonPol is gay.

And in other Burlington news...

CCV Blog
Monkeys with Wings
Artist Karen Dawson
New North Ender

Thanks for reading BurlingtonPol.com. Visit often!

Yeserday's Burlington Telecom Meeting

2008-05-28T06:23:00.005-04:00

I stopped by City Hall yesterday to get a flavor for the joint meeting of the Burlington Telecom Advisory and the Citizens Advisory Committees. I almost crashed into Rabbi Glazier who was walking out of the building just as I was coming in.

Inside the auditorium it was a packed house. I listened to several speakers, most of whom spoke in favor of keeping Al Jazeera. Applause indicated a mostly pro-free speech audience, as well.

*Councilor Decelles spoke against keeping Al Jazeera on Burlington Telecom, citing veterans who live in Ward Seven. In a moment of muddled logic, he said he would never subscribe to Burlington Telecom because of them. Actually, Paul will never subscribe because he doesn't believe in the city owning a telecom company, whether they have Al Jazeera or not.

*Several speakers including James Vos reminded the committee that Al Jazeera has a large audience in Israel.

*One lady reminded counciler Decelles that veterans fought for our freedoms, including freedom of speech.

*Owen Mulligan said it was pathetic that BT no longer takes cash payments.

*One man in orthodox Jewish clothes questioned how some can say Al Jazeera is free to Burlington Telecom when they don't have a contract hammered out.

*One lady said if Al Jazeera goes, she will cancel her BT subscription.

*And so on. And so forth.

I went home and turned on Burlington Telecom channel 317 and saw the meeting wrap up on live TV.

Note: I am intentionally conflating Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English. Unlike Bill Simmon I think it's better to conflate them than it is to parse them.

Burlington Telecom Meeting 4pm Today.

2008-05-27T06:20:00.003-04:00

A joint meeting of the Burlington Telecom Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Council will be held today (May 27, 2008) at 4:00pm in Burlington City Hall Auditorium to discuss whether to keep or censor Al Jazeera.

I work until 4:30pm. Unless there's an emergency, I'll be there right after that. 4:00pm is a poor time for an important public meeting if you work, but show up if you can.

According to Seven Days. Al Jazeera will be there to cover the meeting. Free speech is an interesting topic for people everywhere.

Yesterday we remembered those who died for this nation. This nation exists because of a set of ideals, and the struggle to realize those ideals is always going on.

Radio Deli III

2008-05-26T23:47:00.001-04:00

Radio Deli III: Another picture II.

I did an interview with Radio Deli owners Pam Scanlon and Michael Niederer about a month ago. I still haven't written it up yet, but here's another picture to look at while you wait.

Related:
Athena Consulting
Pine and Pearl Neighbors
The old Manno and Condon Radio Deli Website

Kiss Steps In

2008-05-21T21:22:00.004-04:00

Burlington Telecom Drops Al Jazeera III: Bob Kiss Steps In

Nothing will excuse the fact that thus far Ben Pacy has seen zero punishment for breaking into the Ward Seven ballot box, but in the great scheme of Jack Horkheimer's universe- there may be things the mayor does which could be as redemptive as the thrice-broken seals were abhorrent.

According to Seven Days,

"Community backlash from the story prompted Kiss to ask the Burlington Telecom Advisory Committee (BTAC) to take up the issue at its next meeting, scheduled for May 27 at 4 p.m. in Contois Auditorium. BT’s Cable Advisory Council will also participate and may take public
comments.
Neither advisory committee was notified of BT’s decision before it became known. Burns didn’t return calls and an email seeking comment..."

No quote in the piece from silent Bob. Just Joe Reinert, but whatever. This is a good and encouraging development. And good on Picard for the coverage.

Democrats should not attack the mayor for stepping in. He's doing the right thing. A fledgling city department is veering off course and the mayor is responsible . So is the city council.

The Republicans may not philosophically agree with the city owning a telecom utility, but at least they understand it for what it is. Burlington Telecom is a political entity. There's no getting around that. I think that's great. Some people don't and believe all telecom utilities should be commercial or private. That's a debate we can have. But if the Dems try to accuse the mayor of politicizing what the Progs and the Republicans already know is political anyway, they run the risk of appearing out of touch and/or disingenuous. I hope they don't go there.

The fact is, this is a city department. There are oversight committees and there are processes. Burns cancelled the channel unilaterally without telling the oversight committees. That's un-democratic. This is a democracy, and Burlington Telecom is a public utility. If you want to infringe on someone's first amendment rights, you at least have to go through due process.

And don't forget the freedom of speech. And the freedom of choice. Nobody is forcing anyone to watch anything. If you don't like Al Jazeera English, don't order it in your cable package. Or get the package and block the channel. Or cancel your subscription if it means that much to you, but please keep your edicts off my remote. Don't try to tell me what I can and can't watch.

So if the mayor doesn't want to fire Ben Pacy or Jonathon Leopold, maybe he could fire Chris Burns. It would help his re-election chances alot if mayor Kiss would fire somebody.

Is there any way we can get Tim Nulty back?