We should examine in what ways this legislature has “shielded” children from danger.
by Kolby LaMarche
Paternalism, a term often bandied about in right-wing, or more conservative, discussions on governance and societal norms.
It’s the idea that a paternal figure, whether it be the state, an institution, or an individual, knows what’s best for the collective and acts accordingly, sometimes even if it means overriding personal liberty or autonomy.
Vermont, unsurprisingly, has a weird relationship with this concept. And the state’s youth may suffer for it.
Save the kids…
S.18, a bill aimed at banning flavored tobacco products and e-liquids, recently caused a heated debate in the House. While the motivations behind S.18 may appear noble, insert ‘for the kids’ messaging, the bill’s passage has sparked controversy, particularly among members of the black community.
Representative Saudia LaMont, a Democrat and one of only two black members of the House, delivered an impressive and passionate speech against S.18, highlighting the bill’s disproportionate, paternal, restrictions on marginalized communities.
LaMont raised valid concerns about the underlying implications of banning menthol products, suggesting that such measures could be perceived as overtly, and overly, paternalistic and discriminatory against one particular racial group, with LaMont saying the bill essentially asserts:
Black people and LGBTQ+ people are not intelligent enough to come up with our own decisions and articulate their own vices with autonomy.
LaMont voted no.
Nonetheless, S.18 passed the House, with some Democrats joining Republicans in voting “no”.
Whether you believe the state needs to infringe on your autonomy in order to save the children, or if you are concerned about the projected cost of the bill ($7 to $14 million, annually), we should all examine, even further, in what ways this legislature has “shielded” children from danger.
It’s the hypocrisy for me. It’s the saying that one demographic has the right to do something and the other doesn’t. It’s the over-policing under the false premise of protecting the children…. I will say, much to my dismay, in the very perverse ways this body has used the word ‘equity’ while at the same time dehumanizing Black and LGBTQ adults.
Rep. LaMont
Save the kids, yet…
As recently reported by Vermont Daily Chronicle, state law allows the online sale of alcoholic beverages – and underage drinkers are taking advantage.
Intended to allow online sales of beer and alcohol, Vermont law opened the floodgates to a wave of illicit online alcohol purchases. According to The Department of Liquor and Lottery’s Direct-to-Consumer Shipping Pilot Compliance Program, out of 116 attempted online purchases, 40 shipments made their way to investigators, with a staggering 80% of recipients not being carded upon delivery.
Even more concerning, two deliveries were handed directly to minors without any ID checks. All 40 deliveries were, in some way, completed unlawfully.
Save the kids, yet give them alcohol.
Save the kids, yet, again…
On January 11, 2024, House Democrats passed H.72, which will provide $2 million for two “safe” injection sites, one in Burlington and another in southern Vermont.
Burning Sky has previously covered injection sites.
However, since then, Republican lawmakers have raised a serious concern: there are no age restrictions to use the injection site, there is no contact structure for the families of minors, and there are no mandated reporters on-site.
In 2017, then-current United States Attorney for Vermont, Christina Nolan, warned in a statement “[Safe injection sites] would also threaten to undercut existing and future prevention initiatives by sending exactly the wrong message to children in Vermont: the government will help you use heroin.”
Save the kids, yet allow them to use safe injection sites.
Save the kids, yet, again…again…
Oh boy.
Agree or not on the issue of medically transitioning (genital reconstruction surgery, chest surgery, and Testosterone treatments, for example), but numerous scientifically developed nations are uneasy.
For them, saving the children means halting the medical transitionings. Nations such as the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
In Vermont, however, those treatments, for children covered by Medicaid, are free. And Vermont has been encouraging children and their families to come from across the nation to receive their care, ‘safely’ here.
If the legislature were serious about protecting the health of children then, really, this should be a top-level priority.
Not to shame or somehow hurt these trans children, but to take away that which is going to be damaging to their health – like flavored nicotine products.
Save the kids, yet allow them to sterilize themselves.
Burning Sky is dedicated to providing critique and commentary on the issues of the day from an unapologetic perspective, fueling change in the heart of Vermont. Authored by Kolby LaMarche every Saturday.
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Categories: Commentary, Legislation, State Government
“It’s the hypocrisy for me. It’s the saying that one demographic has the right to do something and the other doesn’t.” So affirmative action IS hypocrisy, got it. As are reparations. Good to see a Democrat finally acknowledging this, albeit unknowingly.
“Save the kids, yet…”
-Eliminate all laws in Vermont which would protect kids in the womb.
-Vilify pregnancy resource centers which support moms and dads and their kids with free services.
-Criminalize physicians and pharmacists who would prescribe the abortion pill reversal regimen to moms who change their mind about killing their preborn kids.
Saudia Lamont supports abortion which affects all demographics, but disproportionately targets black and minority preborn kids.
Yes. Hypocrisy.
Most paternalistic legislation has the opposite outcome of what they SAY it intends to do. When you ask them about the unintended consequences of legislation they have passed, they will refer you to the original intention of the bill and think they have provided you with a satisfactory answer. H.89 (Act 14) 2023 shields the gender drugs and surgery industry at the expense of children and youth. S.18 flavored tobacco and e fluids ban – youth will turn to cigarettes and marijuana. “Safe injection sites”; free access to contraception in public secondary schools – all alleged to protect minors from natural consequences of their actions – yeah, right. H.819, not taken up in the “Health Care” committee this year, intends to require mental health screening for depression, anxiety, and suicidality school aged children. It is lost on them that their social policies cause our youth to have mental illness. Most legislators are working for the medical industrial complex, referring to them as “stakeholders”. We The People are not considered stakeholders by the people we elect.
Saving the children was one of the go to lines of Nancy Pelosi every time she wanted to pass some bs bill that would further the taking away of our constitutional rights. Just like this Commiecrat legislature did with the unconstitutional 72 hour waiting period to purchase a firearm law that King Nikki Scott the 1st Eunuch King of Castrati signed into law.
yet they wanted to make it easier for minorities to become drug dealers of pot, why, because they weren’t smart enough to become plumbers, doctors and electricians? Yet the state took control of our children’s sexuality, because we weren’t smart enough to teach our children? We allow illegal aliens to vote in Vermont, because they aren’t smart enough to enter legally?
Some people are highly skilled in arguing for what they want, while completely dancing around the truth and any form of wisdom.
It would be nice if laws augmented the natural laws, drugs and alcohol are not the answer. Instead, they foster society to become the tidy bowl man and swirl into the sewer, wondering the whole time, why is my life so difficult…..