My Fellow Readers:
How many punches does it take for you? I’m not talking about the glancing blows that you can turn the other cheek to. Try as best we can to become like Jesus. And I’m not talking about direct bodily contact.
I don’t know about you, but I feel drunk. The punches come one after another: left, right, left, double jab to the face, upper cut to the stomach. I’m not a particularly sensitive man. Many have said the opposite. But I have limits that have been crossed.
So, breath all the way in. Exhale. Repeat two more times and take a step back. Let’s look at the battlefield together. I would like to talk about some fundamental principles and observations. I love Vermont, the harshness and beauty God bestowed on it, and the people who I’ve known here throughout my life. Vermont is free. If the newcomers want to possess it so badly, they can have it. However, I will not live under their oppression, and before I go, I will say what I need to say.
-Seth Adam Manley, Essex Junction
To the Editor:
I attended the Rally concerning Act 181 at the Statehouse on March 24th. There were many representatives from the Rural caucus in attendance to hear what the people had to Say. Many were open to hearing and in support of the rural populations plight. Thank you. Small Family Farmers representing all areas of agriculture and rural living attended and or spoke of their concerns. They are loggers, maple syrup producer, homesteaders, cow farmers, vegetable farmers, orchard owners, environmentalists and more. They are native Vermonters with a long family history as well as people that have moved here to live, raise a family and assimilate into the rural life that is Vermont.
I am a native Vermonter. My wife and I are good stewards of our land. It is our homestead. Our place in the woods. We built our home off grid in the early 90’s. Raised our three children and now live out our years here. We manage a small orchard, do maple syrup, have chickens and manage a wood lot above 1000ft elevation. There is plenty of wildlife and we plant bushes and trees every year throughout our woods to naturally attract and feed them for now and after we are gone.
We are blessed. God has given us dominion over this land to be good stewards.
Genisis 2:15, Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
Exodus 23:10, You shall cultivate the land and gather its produce.
The rural people that spoke at the rally spoke from their hearts and from knowledge attained through hard work. From generations of experience and dedication to animal husbandry, environmental concerns and making a living from the earth that they and their families take pride in. There is no better way to ensure the Vermont way of rural living than through generations of families that learn and have work the land through centuries.
With that when they speak people should listen. They know and they are telling us that Act 181 is going to destroy this way of life. It is going to financially and systematically make it impossible. I was dismayed to hear a few politicians like the one from the southwestern corner of Vermont get up and tell these hard-working Vermonters that Act 181 was good for them. The people came to be heard, and politicians should listen and learn. The people that “Do” told you the reality. The Vermont Constitution in Article 1,2 & 9 confirms our right to our private property. It is not given to us by the politicians, and it will not be taken away by them. We are better stewards of our land than people that have never stepped foot on it. Stop what you are doing now and let rural Vermonters and rural Vermont flourish. It happened for centuries without your central planning and manipulation. The small organic farmer of Vermont will still be farming and supplying the locals with good healthy produce for centuries to come after you are gone. You are not God. You are not all knowing. Support the Small Family Farmer!
-Gerald Mittica
To My Fellow Readers:
Our system of democratic elections is the fundamental cornerstone that has distinguished our nation from oppressive ones. Elections hold representatives accountable. For close to 250 years, the American Experiment has flourished thanks in large part to this aspect. It’s true that not everyone’s wishes are granted, and some people may feel oppressed. However, free and fair elections give the majority the rule and thereby reduces the oppression to the smallest amount possible.
Vermont’s Constitution itself embodies the principle:
Article 8. [Elections to be free and pure; rights of voters therein]
That all elections ought to be free and without corruption, and that all voters, having a sufficient, evident, common interest with, and attachment to the community, have a right to elect officers, and be elected into office, agreeably to the regulations made in this constitution.
[https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/constitution-of-the-state-of-vermont/]
What does our constitution mean by “free and without corruption?” As rational and intelligent people, we can think about what it might mean and what it would take to uphold:
- Democratic Voting shall be conducted, overseen, and controlled by the people at the smallest jurisdiction unit possible.
- Voting shall be conducted at a specific time, place, and with limited duration.
- Secret Ballots to prevent intimidation or reward of people who vote a certain way
- The eligibility of each voter must be satisfactorily determined
- Eligible voters should have the ability to cast their vote unhindered
- Each Eligible voter should have one, and only one, vote
- No Votes Should be Counted Until the last Vote is cast
- Once cast by a voter, the security of Ballots should be under the supervision of all interested parties at all times
- Accurate, Accountable, and Audit-able counting of the votes tallies
There is one other critical and fundamental thing required. Thomas Jefferson said it eloquently:
“. . . whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right.” (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 88) [https://www.varsitytutors.com/earlyamerica/jefferson-primer/jefferson-education-franchise]
A well-informed electorate is a whole topic on it’s own. I intend to examine that in another discussion, but here I’ll stick to the items in the bulleted list above. The actionable nuts and bolts.
The reasons these general rules are fundamentally important should be self evident: they help prevent cheating. At one time not too long ago, all of these things were implemented in Vermont law (Title 17).
What happens when elections are no longer free and without corruption? When they violate these fundamental nuts and bolts? Then we can expect that representatives will no longer be held accountable for their decisions. We can expect the government to become oppressive to more people than not.
Unfortunately, here in Vermont these fundamental principles are being violated, and we are starting to see the results. Our election laws have been watered down to remove these safeguards. At first it was gradual, with the introduction state provided services “to take the burden” off local jurisdictions. Then all at once the changes the legislature implemented were sweeping: the pandemic ushered in the universal mailed ballot and a total upheaval of fundamental democratic election principles.
-Seth Adam Manley