independence Washington DC has lost all moral authority over Vermont. We need to exert our rights as a sovereign state. What would a politically independent Vermont look like? What could Vermont do if we spent our annual share of the cost of US military overstretch, $1.5 Billion, to build the local economy instead?
We must also recognize that the US national political system is either broken beyond repair, or corrupt to the core. Either way, we need to strengthen Vermont to weather the storms ahead of us and consider all our options to increase our political and economic independence. Peak Oil, Climate Change and the turbulent economy will bring us tremendous challenges. We need bold leadership based on Vermont’s values, Vermont’s resources and Vermont’s opportunities.
For example: Vermont legalized industrial hemp a few years ago, contingent upon the federal government changing its policy which makes this agricultural/industrial resource illegal. But in reality, according to the US Constitution, the federal government can only regulate Vermont hemp production if Vermont decides to export it to the other states. No Child Left Behind is another example: there is no mention of any federal control over education in the US Constitution. These and other questions need to be on the agenda in Montpelier.
I am running as an Independent, because I believe that Vermont needs to leave the national agendas of the left and right behind, and focus on the real issues that are important to us. I have no membership or affiliation with any political organization, although I have contributed to and worked with non-profits focused on decentralization, renewable energy and local food economies.
I believe in conserving resources by putting them to good use (vs. locking them away) and building local economies with sustainable business practices. I am fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. I believe in fiscal responsibility and social responsibility, and I don’t see these values as mutually exclusive. I believe that private enterprise can and will create the solutions we need, with the right policy.
I believe that government decentralization, business sustainability and personal responsibility should be the three guiding principles of Vermont’s 21st century.
1. Government Decentralization: “Small is beautiful. Small is sustainable. Vermont can take back its Constitutional powers as a small and independent state, and we can build a sustainable future. For example, I support restructuring and shrinking Vermont’s government and reducing our state-tax-burdens by transferring social-service and educational programs to the responsibility of counties and towns. Counties and towns can decide their own needs and the tax-levels to support those needs.”
2. Business Sustainability: “We need to move aggressively toward sustainable energy and food independence as a state, with business incentives that encourage sustainable practices and progressive, productive workplace culture. This will create tens of thousands of jobs and give us a rock-solid foundation for our economy, but it will require some long term investments. This simply makes good business sense. Vermont is the perfect place to show the world what a “green economy” looks like. Private enterprise guided by sustainablity-focused policy is our best and only hope for a sustainable Vermont."
3. Personal Responsibility: “Look around, the world seems a mess. What are you doing to fix it? JKF said it right, but we need to "ask what you can do for Vermont.” Vermont’s communities take care of themselves pretty well, and people band together when someone is in need. Vermont towns don’t need central state or federal governments taxing them and telling them how to run their schools or support their community goals. We each need to take responsibility and stop relying on "someone else" to save us, and our communities needs to band together to weather the tough economic storms ahead of us.”
The sad truth is that regardless of which national party is in power, the corruption of Washington D.C. pushes us toward bigger centralized government, unsustainable economic systems, increasing dependency and war.
What can we do about this? Business as usual and cross our fingers? Well, now I have a more interesting question: What would an independent Vermont need to look like, hypothetically, if the other states agreed to let Vermont peacefully secede while maintaining trade relations? Or, what would Vermont look like if we exercised our sovereignty and said "No" to unconstitutional federal policies?
The answer is: an independent Vermont would look just like it looks today. Vermont has no tax-benefit by being part of the US, it's a wash. And the federal deficits to fund perpetual wars and corporate bailouts are crushing our economy, so in terms of economics, Vermont would be better off as an independent state assuming we could do so peacefully while maintaining trade with North America and the rest of the world.
Of course secession sounds extreme and it may be impossible. All I'm saying is that Vermont needs to exercise its rights as a State to make its own decisions.
The idea of smaller, decentralized government is not so radical. And it's clear that the federal government has grown hopelessly huge, corrupt and dysfunctional. I'm not saying "secede tomorrow," I'm saying let's start acting like a real, Constitutional state and consider all of our options for a stronger Vermont.
The bottom line is that simply thinking like an independent state will help us put important structural issues on the table so we can improve our economy and get more control over Vermont's future.
I don't have all the answers, but I believe our first and most important step is to start asking the right questions with an independent mind.
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