You first, legislators – I have a suggestion for every climate and social justice warrior seeking to transform Vermonters’ daily lives:
You first.
For every bill or proposal you want to force on Vermonters, the first step must be for you to comply immediately, even before the law is passed. Lead the way!
Don’t want any gas or diesel vehicles on VT roads? You must immediately stop using any that you own and you must be prohibited from traveling in any. Including public transportation.
Don’t want any gas or propane stoves in Vermont? You must immediately stop using any in your home or apartment. You cannot dine anywhere the food is prepared using a gas or propane stove, flat plate or oven. You cannot heat your home with any fossil fuel product.
Don’t want any law-abiding Vermonter to own or possess any type of gun for protection, hunting or sporting use?
You must immediately remove every gun in your possession and you must refuse protection from any armed guards or security.
You want to force EVs on Vermonters who can’t afford them? You buy one today. You use it exclusively. Regardless of the purchase price or time to charge. Regardless of the cost or availability to charge it where you live or work.
You use it when it’s -30 and you are stuck on the Interstate or some back road because a squall or ice has made the road unsafe to travel. And as you watch the charge dwindle to zero and you freeze your butt off, remember you are Saving the Planet.
You want equity in Vermont schools? Tell your children they are hate-filled racists and keep them in poverty. Only feed them minimally. No new clothes. They must be punished and pay reparations to people they never harmed.
While you’re at it, you explain to every member of the BIPOC community why you think they are incapable of thinking for themselves and getting an education that will lead to a productive life.
You want to legalize destroying life in the Womb? Start with yourself, your wife or daughter. Send them to anyone who claims to be an abortion provider. That is the law you created. Joe the Mechanic can hang up a shingle claiming he is now an abortion provider. He is exempt from any criminal responsibility regardless of any injury or death he causes. You wrote special protections for that. Destroy your child or grandchild first.
You want genetic males in women’s sports and locker rooms? Put them in with your daughter or granddaughter first. If the outcome is that she has zero chance to ever win again, who really cares ? If she is subjected to sexual harassment, who cares?
Diversity and inclusion above all, right? – Jim Sexton, Essex Junction
Colleges libraries closing: O, the humanities – the changes are currently underway. There’s the new library web presence at https://libraries.vsc.edu/home. It is promoting exactly what Mr. Grewal is advocating and insisting is going to happen, like it or not. All of this was put in motion back in 2020 when the system began to restructure. The information and warning were there, we were not paying attention, perhaps because we were distracted by certain global events that we are still living in the thrall of.
State College Libraries have rescaled and retooled multiple times in the recent decades. In my heart of hearts, this time, it is different. Humanities materials are the ones that will be gutted and eventually the courses, too, as interest spirals downward without access to materials of the sort that often inspire a reader who is seeking to understand their world. Stack browsing with its thrill of serendipity and discovery will be a thing of the past. People are not flocking to the humanities majors, but the studies are profoundly important for exploring what it means to be human, and to provide balance and justice in a world where it is claimed “science” is supreme.
In my experience, humanities sources are primarily book print format, in the stacks, the spaces that will be repurposed. These are not materials that are commonly digitized. They will not be available in full format in digital databases; digitizing is an extremely expensive process subject to policies and budgets, i.e. marketing, of the companies providing the service. Common library subject fields associated with the humanities are: arts, history, literature and children’s books, philosophy, religion, fairy tales, mythology, music, and social sciences. And apparently, where will the librarians be? They have the skills and training to track down the newly obscure materials students will need and want, and the materials will not necessarily be “free” to acquire, check out and renew; what you want and need in print could be in a distant library, and perhaps accessible via mail, yes, old fashioned brick and mortar delivery, with time constraints depending on demand. Even digital copies are limited and costly to source, curate, and print, any other implication is just false.
When the humanities dry up, voices from across the ages become less accessible and eventually disappear to the bowels of the archive until a future generation discovers them anew. Can the people of the world wait that long? Mr. Gerwal, perhaps you and your board could take a break and browse the stacks for humanity’s sake, please. – Joanne R Bertrand, Lyndonville,
Retired School Librarian
Dollar devaluation looms – The US dollar took a hit in Davos when Saudi Arabia informed everyone they would accept other currencies for purchasing oil. National media ignored this as did President Biden. The US dollar (USD) has been the world’s most frequently used currency for trade since it became the reserved currency worldwide in 1879.
The Wall Street Journal predicted the Saudi’s would move away from exclusively using the USD for trade. They noted the kingdom was frustrated with President Biden and his administration, and it was looking to focus trade with Asian markets, mainly China. Market analysts are saying the USD domination world over is fading and countries like Russia, China and Saudi Arabia’s goal are now undermining the supremacy of the USD.
As China achieves its goal of global/economic dominance and its currency strengthens it could become the world reserve currency. China then could call our debt. We’d have to devalue the USD thereby spiking inflation that will affect our purchasing power. Basic necessities we’re accustomed to would be unaffordable. The increased ads citing gold and silver as a way to preserve wealth today are foretelling.
Strong economic growth, credible political leadership and sound fiscal policy will restore the USD. The Congressional debate extending the debt limit is a start and managing federal spending would restore economic confidence. Earning trust and leading politically with our allies and undeveloped countries to counter China dominance is absolutely necessary. – Frank Mazur, South Burlington