Letters and Responses at The Progress Report

Responses to the "Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives?" Article
Monday November 28, 2011
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I am glad to see that such a large amount of people are willing to declare their distrust of the american empire. Mr. Naylor is a man far ahead of his time saying that america is falling when few will except it. I am in corruspondence with Naylor and am hoping that we will soon see a free Vermont. To those that believe america will attack a free vermont. Think how it will look to the world when America attacks a defenseless, peaceful nation with no reason to? What will the world do? think about it. The words of Naylor "Imagine, A free Vermont" Connor Rose
--Connor W. Rose
Vermont

Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
The American Intolerable Acts
Well, we had our hope and changey election in 2008 and then our people’s election in 2010. After the 2011 congressional budget charade and state’s governor’s power grabs it is obvious that since the late 1980’s the ship of state continues to degenerate. The train of abuses against the American people, now almost as long as found in the original Declaration of Independence begs the question of if it is time to write a new one.
Some might say America is now ruled by an effete political class that has become tyrannical and is beyond dialogue or petition. They might even go so far as to argue that it is a fruitless effort to anticipate a better government from elections and begin seriously considering secession and revolution. I wonder how they would feel about the necessary course to take if Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were alive today.
(P.S. Im having a heck of a time getting this letter published in newspapers.)
--Dan
whittmand@yahoo.com

Monday, February 14, 2011
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
In general, I agree with most of the statements made with the exception of secession. They tried that back in 1861 and look what happened. About the only staple worth taking in Vermont is syrup. --Joe Bialek Ohio
The mistake the south made was to fire on Fort Sumpter and declare war on the US. A more passive approach may have worked by simply not paying taxes to the Washington DC based government and stop sending delegates to the Congress. I would like to see the entire six New England States spin off and form a new independent republic. I would call it New Providence.
--Warren C.
w1uir@aol.com

Sunday February 13, 2011
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
In general, I agree with most of the statements made with the exception of secession. They tried that back in 1861 and look what happened. About the only staple worth taking in Vermont is syrup.
--Joe Bialek
Ohio

Monday August 24, 2009
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Nine months on since the last comment; but the comments to this article have been going back to 2003. What's the news? Well, in the past year the percentage of Vermonters polled went from 8% in favour of independence, to 13%. And that in spite of the arguably 'new' administration in Washington that's so busy fixing everything... that is, everything in Afghanistan, Iraq, and all the other nations that have American military bases; hundreds of them.
--Rod Carmosino
Free Vermont

Thursday November 13, 2008
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Folks,
Not too many comments from people who actually live in Vermont as I do, and nothing recent since the Collapse started with the Financial stage.
It all sounds great; Vermont is not a military threat, it is an example, and American justice from the witch burnings through the present is fond of making examples of some, as a warning to others to fit in better. To that end, the US warehouse (in prisons) a greater percentage of the population than any other country.
Instead of a flamboyant display of independence, better to simply wait until the US itself withdraws from Vermont and other fringe areas, the endless lookalike sprawled-out suburbs collapse due to no SUV fuel (and no imported spare parts due to no more importing on credit).
Personally I believe that we'd be better off as part of Canada. That's where we get most of our electricity from anyway.
--Harvey
Vermont

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Finally......FINALLY!!!!! Words of wisdom coming from within our borders....
Clearly, the United States was founded and is controlled to this day, by criminal elements, gathered under the protection of political office, energy conglomerates, pharmaceudical companies, insurance companies and their "lobbyists".
The trick seems to have been to utilize opium, slave-trading, rum running ventures to build wealth....and then declare them all illegal, while your family maintains political power, wealth and influence over the best interests of all other citizens.
Thank God, that there are still some people between the Atlantic and the Pacific, that believe in something other than Wal-Mart, McDonalds and all of the other corporate scum that have fomented war, built up tyrannical "puppet governments" and stolen money that theyve done nothing to earn.
Please keep up the good work.
Paul Johnson
--Paul Johnson
pwj_42(at)yahoo.com

Sunday, July 1, 2007
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Can you hear me clapping from Missouri? Bravo to all who have the courage to take on the giants... remember, no matter how large, they all still must have an achilles heel!
--Anita L. Albright
anitaalbright(at)yahoo.com

Tuesday June 5, 2007
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Before you all start sharpening your bayonets and preparing for a separation, perhaps you should read some history about the risks of disunion and separation. I strongly recommend "The Federalist Papers".
I also suggest you stop and think of how tempting of a target you will become to those looking for an Islamic state in which to get a foot hold. The manifesto itself criticizes strong military and police, what are you going to do to protect yourselves? Just pretend you will not be a prime target. Great idea, let me know how that works for you.
A childish dream of an idylic world where such actions will leave you defenseless or taken over by the U.S. to ensure the militant extremists do not. You only have two years left of Bush as president, you can survive 8 years of Bush just as I did 8 years of Clinton (and did so without childish games, whining, and foolish claims of secession).
--T Barker
Oregon
The publisher replies:
Your worldview seems to be full of fear and discouragement. From that perspective, secession must seem like a bad idea. However, many others have worldviews based on freedom of choice, independence, and embracing positive qualities for a better future. To them, your points will not sound very daunting.

Monday, June 4, 2007
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Thoreau would be proud his ideas carried into the distant future...this idea seeks to correct great ills in American society, and if successful, could even inspire similar movements by other US states. But strategically speaking, Vermont would become a power vacuum. VT would lose its "common defense" mechanism, and if invaded (or more likely, infiltrated) by bandits and other bad guys seeking asylum (like in many US Territories before they became states). And since terrorism threatens the US now more than ever before, an independent Vermont republic could become a terrorists haven...if so, Vermont would have the same standing with the US as Iran. The US Govt would have to come to Vermonts rescue (like the US shield over Western Europe since 1945) to prevent the terror from infecting the US states. "Why would anyone want to invade Vermont?" Because no matter how much we peace-loving, socially-conscious folks hate war and violence and guns, there will always be plenty of socially UNconscious people who love war and violence and toting illegal guns. So Vermont would have to spend a great deal of resources, money, and manpower (the latter of which it is short on), just to compensate for the power vacuum. The "Vermont experiment" could only work in a world free of bad guys, greed, and hate.
--Robert
robfairson(at)gmail.com

Wednesday April 12, 2006
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
This is a great new feature.
I like it.
--Warren C.
Massachusetts

Monday, April 10, 2006
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I wish we had something like this in California where I live! I suggested such to our elected officials here. Like always, my suggestions met deaf ears, blind eyes, and closed minds.
--davina
msdavinahunter(at)aol.com

Friday, March 24, 2006
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
It was spectacular. Once the Vermont Republic becomes its own nation again, my great-great-great-great-great grandfather Pengra will not have died in vain.
--Aaron schuschu
schudog112(at)aol.com

Friday October 1, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
As a decendant of original Vermonters (Wares and Downings)and a former resident of Vermont, I wholeheartedly agree with the manifesto and look forward to its inception. Beth Downing Stephens Santa Fe, NM
--Beth Stephens
bethst5@aol.com

Tuesday September 21, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I spoke to Mr. Naylor by phone last week and will be representing the Geo-Classical Liberal ideal at his conference this Nov.
http://www.vermontrepublic.org/announcements/invitation.html
--Bill Grennon
erm4you@yahoo.com

Saturday September 18, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Well put. Maybe Vermont should become a Canadian Province, if that fails. Good luck!
--Andrew Lennox
Ontario, Canada

Sunday April 11, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Dear Sir or Madam
With this mail, I would like to draw your attention to an article about the effects of the Chernobyl disaster on people’s health. It was published in the Swiss journal Current Concerns No. 2/2004, www.currentconcerns.ch. I am a freelance journalist for this newspaper. The staff are keen to make this article available to as wide a readership as possible. If you are of the same opinion, please feel free to distribute this article in any way you feel appropriate. Please do not forget to mention Current Concerns as the source of the article. If you would like, we could also send you a printed version of the newspaper by mail.
With many thanks and my best wishes
Barbara Hug Assessment of Chernobyl Health Consequences meets with resistance Factors Influencing the Assessment of Chernobyl Health Consequences and the Contribution of International Non-governmental Organisations to Research and Treatment of Thyroid Pathologies in Belarus By E. Lengfelder(1,4,5), H. Rabes(2), H. Scherb(3), Ch. Frenzel(1,4,5) The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has repeatedly placed particular emphasis on the fact that millions of people continue to be directly affected by the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, that the acute suffering including health disorders continues, and that this disaster is a matter of global concern. Among the NIS countries, Belarus is mostly affected by the extent of radionuclide deposition, thyroid cancer incidence and many other effects. Internationally, there is an intense and controversial discussion about which health effects in the population and to what extent they are truly caused by radiation exposure and those which are attributed to radiation, but are scientifically unsound. There are serious aspects how to look at and answer these questions, and scientists and the quality of their work become a very important factor, also in achieving political goals. For the huge number of patients suffering e.g. from hypothyroidism or thyroid cancer, it is insignificant whether their disease can be scientifically attributed to radiation. Furthermore, it is also insignificant for the health system of the country, from which they expect to receive appropriate treatment. The Chernobyl accident was the largest and most severe disaster in the history of civil nuclear technology, which can and will happen again in one of the more than 400 nuclear power stations world wide, most of them being located in areas with a population density several fold greater than in the case of Chernobyl. The questions and answers concerning the particular health consequences of the accident and the possibility and effectiveness of countermeasures, are of extreme political and economical importance. There are essential interests of governments and industries internationally, e.g. to know about costs, how to inform the public, how to make preparations for catastrophe management; they need to get appropriate answers and results from scientists. Learning from the past If we do not know the past, we will not be able to understand the present and to make proper decisions for the future. This definitely applies also to the many announcements and reports on the health consequences after the Chernobyl accident that were released in particular by western governments, international bodies and the nuclear industry during the past 17 years. During the first weeks after the accident, the authorities in Moscow released several orders to keep information on the issue Chernobyl secret. Later, in July 1987 the order was given that acute and chronic diseases of liquidators (emergency workers), who were exposed to less than 50 rem, must not be attributed to the effects of ionising radiation. In 1990, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organised the International Chernobyl Project, with the participation of the European Commission, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), many countries in the West and others, to investigate and assess the radiological situation in the three affected Soviet Republics. 200 scientists from the West and 500 from USSR were sent by their governments to participate. Concerning the health impact, the IAEA team with the US Professor F. Mettler being one of the leaders concluded in 1991 that there were no health disorders, that could be attributed directly to radiation exposure. IAEA favoured psychological stress and anxiety to be the cause of health disorders observed. This information was disseminated world wide as the result of the work of so many scientists. However, in reality at this time the number of thyroid cancer cases in children in Belarus was already 30 times higher than the average in the 10 years before Chernobyl, although the absolute number of cases was low. But IAEA and other international organisations did not want to take into account the findings and reports of Belorusian and Ukrainian scientists on the marked increase in thyroid cancers. The BBC investigated and broadcast several years ago in a TV documentary that as far back as 1990, F. Mettler in the course of the International Chernobyl Project and as the scientific representative of the USA, had analysed the pathological slides of thyroid cancers of 20 ukrainian children, confirming malignancy in all cases, which in this age group could not be due to background incidence. Mettler and his colleagues suppressed this fact and stated in their reports that there was none. As a result, international organisations and the UN did not start proper assistance programmes for the people affected and valuable time was lost. Because independent scientist from NIS and from the West continued to report on the increase in thyroid cancer, while scientist working for IAEA, UNSCEAR and governments in US and Europe denied it, WHO sent the British thyroid pathologist D. Williams, the radiation biologist K. Baverstock and some other experts to the Chernobyl region. They confirmed the findings on increased thyroid cancers and the probable link to radioiodine exposure from Chernobyl. The BBC also found that resistance to the idea was strongest in America. The US government has special reason to be wary. In the fifties the Department of Energy deliberately released a cloud of iodine131 to test how well they could track a plume. This added to other contamination from weapons tests. There were large releases of radioiodine from the Hanford nuclear facility over many years. Williams confirmed the evidence that large areas of the USA had a low level exposure to radioactive iodine. Naturally, the US government is very concerned and does not wish to be put into the position of admitting that they may have caused thyroid cancers and may have to pay compensation. According to Williams and other experts in this field there is a strong wish and hope that radioiodine would not be shown to be the cause of thyroid cancer. Vested interests in the West have distorted the issue of thyroid cancer. Fear of crippling compensation claims, entrenched views of scientists and the worries of industry about bad PR had all obscured investigation, by Williams. According USA laws, the compensation claims of American citizens, who developed thyroid cancer after these releases, could add up to many billions of dollars, which the government wishes to avoid paying. International research projects on thyroid in Belarus Two international research programmes on the health effects of Chernobyl are of special interest. In the Project 'International Cooperation for post Chernobyl NIS Thyroid Tissue, Nucleic Acid and Data Banks' the USA, the European Commission on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, Japan and WHO invited Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to form a collaborative research resource. In the description of the programme goals of the study are outlined, e. g. that competition among scientific groups should be avoided, that the study of the pathology and molecular biology of thyroid cancer should include the role of isotopes of iodine and of other factors influencing cancer incidence including exposure to other carcinogens, genetic factors usw.. All data are collected in Great Britain. The decisions e. g. which research group will receive cancer material and is accepted to participate in the project, will be made by a managing committee, where the Western participating countries and Organisations have a majority. Also of great interest is the 'BelAm Project' in Belarus and 'UkrAm Project' in Ukraine. When the first compensation claims appeared in USA, the project started in 1996 in Belarus. A cohort of about 12 000 persons is supposed to be monitored for 30 years in order to see how many thyroid disorders including cancer cases would appear. Recent articles in the international press criticise the project as it would be only restricted to investigation of Belarusians while after the detection of cancer cases the treatment and aftercare would be left to the patients and to the health system in Belarus, which is not able to give all patients the appropriate treatment. The articles also highlight the fact that in the USA and Europe scientific investigations on the state of people's health are only allowed if proper medical treatment is also guaranteed, so why this should not apply to the people e. g. of Belarus? In Gomel Oblast alone, about 400 000 people who were children or adolescents at the time of the accident, have a high risk of developing thyroid cancer and deserve regular checks, and not only a group of the size necessary for the statistical significance of the interests of the USA. A new report in 2000 by the UNSCEAR committee contained an evaluation of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl accident which concludes that 'there is no evidence of a major public health impact attributable to radiation exposure fourteen years after the accident', apart from a high level of (treatable, non-fatal) thyroid cancers in children. With this exception, the report states 'there is no scientific evidence of increases in over all cancer incidence or mortality or in non-malignant disorders that could be related to radiation exposure.' The statement of UNSCEAR again ignores a large number of scientific publications on a several fold increase in thyroid cancers in adults, the large increase in non-malignant thyroid disorders and in other diseases. It should be noted that this UN committee does not consist of independently chosen or elected scientists, but only of those being sent as representatives of the governments of the 21 nations, who have a strong interest in the use of nuclear technology. And F. Mettler is still member of UNSCEAR and is still representing the interests of the US government. Activities of non-governmental organisations in Belarus In 1991, the Otto Hug Strahleninstitut - MHM, a German non-governmental medical-scientific non-profit organisation, started several long term treatment and research projects on cancer and other diseases of the thyroid in Belarus. Within the Institute, numerous experts in radiation medicine, biology and physics, statistics usw. from several universities and research centres are integrated. The cooperation with Belarus is based on long term contracts with the Health Ministry and includes several university institutions in the West. The laboratories and medical institutions in Belarus received equipment and are now continuously supplied from the German Institute to facilitate medical treatment and research. Since 1993, the project 'Thyroid Centre Gomel' (Head: L. Birjukowa) had more than 90 000 patients from this Oblast for diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases including cancer, processing over 220 000 blood analyses of thyroid parameters. The laboratory regularly participates in international quality assurance programmes. The 'Histopathological Laboratory' of the National Thyroid Centre of Belarus (Head: Prof. Demidtschik), started in 1995, was built up in cooperation with the German Institute, which besides the equipment, regularly supplies the consumables. Meanwhile, more than 7800 thyroid malignancies have been diagnosed, involving the preparation of over 40 000 pathological slides according to internationally accepted standards. Since 1993, a fruitful international scientific cooperation on pathology and the molecular genetics of thyroid cancer resulted in considerable progress in the understanding of the molecular biology of this disease and in the establishment of a tumour tissue bank. The extension of this cooperation to provide a molecular biology laboratory by the Institute is in progress. In 1997, the 'Radioiodine Therapy' project (Heads: T. Prigoschaja, L. Gamolina) started in Gomel, giving more than 2100 diagnostic and therapeutic radioiodine treatment courses to cancer patients since that time through the donation of equipment and regular delivery of radioiodine. Since 1991, the value of medical, social and scientific support of Belarus by the projects of the Otto Hug Strahleninstitut was equivalent to over 13 Million Euro. The German Association of Chernobyl Help (DVTH) is an umbrella organisation, which integrates over 80 non-governmental organisations working in the fields of social rehabilitation, medical care and many other areas in order to mitigate the situation in regions affected by Chernobyl. All these organisations and their sponsors wish to have knowledge about the real consequences of Chernobyl, and not information distorted by intentions of playing down or dramatising. Up to now, the value of support and measures, given by the member organisations of DVTH to the population in the countries affected by Chernobyl (mainly in Belarus), is equivalent to about 75 Million Euro. A considerable part of the sponsoring of the thyroid projects of the Otto Hug Strahleninstitut, independent of political and economical interests, comes and will come from this side. Look at the collective thyroid dose The reported numbers of thyroid cancer cases after Chernobyl in Belarus range from 1200 up to about 10 000. The figures are influenced by the risk assessment models used, the assignment of patients to different categories of reconstructed organ doses, the believe of some scientists that a lower radioiodine dose is ineffective in inducing cancer etc. Recently, the authors of this paper completed a study on the annual age-specific and gender-specific incidence of thyroid cancers in the Czech Republic for the years from 1976 through 1999. The study is probably the largest on this topic, because it accounts for 247 Million person-years. From 1978 through 1999 there is an age-dependant annual increase in the thyroid cancer incidence proportion of 2,1%/annum. From 1988 on, the study revealed an additional significant increase in the thyroid cancer incidence of 2,3% per year. Although the contamination levels of the Czech Republic due to the Chernobyl releases, including radioiodine, were low compared to the situation in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, resulting in low individual thyroid organ doses, it lead to a relevant collective thyroid dose of the Czech population. As in the Czech Republic improved medical surveillance and reporting after the accident in Chernobyl is unlikely to account for this increase in thyroid cancer incidence, the radioiodine from Chernobyl appears to be the real causation of this disease. This would mean that for the assessment of radioiodine associated thyroid cancers in the Chernobyl regions, one should look carefully at collective dose effects and at the group low in individual organ dose but very high in number, instead of taking parts of this group as an unexposed reference. Regarding the statement of Kofi Annan that the Chernobyl disaster is a matter of global concern, research projects by international organisations on the health consequences for the citizens and patients of NIS countries after the Chernobyl catastrophe should be made dependant on the obligation that these organisations guarantee at the same time therapy and aftercare to a substantial part of the population at risk. This approach will achieve the following objects: * The benefit for the organisations and countries in the West of getting the results of the research projects is compensated by the benefit of treatment of the people affected in the NIS. * The level of the health and treatment system in the affected areas is increased. * The extent and the costs for health protection after a catastrophe in an atomic power plant can be felt in the West and the efforts to play down the consequences are reduced. 1. Institute of Radiation Biology, University of Munich, Germany 2. Institute of Pathology, University of Munich, Germany 3. GSF-Federal Research Centre for Environment and Health, Munich 4. Otto Hug Strahleninstitut MHM, Munich 5. German Association for Chernobyl Help (DVTH), Munich-Ottobrunn Appeal for funds for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster Please help provide help Health problems among the population in the Belarus regions that were affected by the Chernobyl reactor disaster are on the increase. In particular there has been a growth in the number of cases with thyroid complaints and people suffering from thyroid cancer. In addition rising numbers of breast cancer victims among young women and people suffering from intestinal cancer have also been reported. The Otto Hug Strahleninstitut (OHSI - a German institute for radiology at the University of Munich) has been providing qualified medical treatment and care for patients with thyroid pathologies and cancer in the Gomel/Belarus region for more than ten years. Your donation will enable them to provide the people there with the necessary medical and humanitarian aid in the future. To ensure the continuation of this project, the help and financial support of responsible, caring people is required. Please help too. Otto Hug Strahleninstitut - MHM e.V. Jagdhornstrasse 52 D-81827 München Donations account for payments in Euro: Stadtsparkasse München Account Number 382 002, IBAN (International Bank Account Number) DE57 7015 0000 0000 3820 02, BIC SSKMDEMM © 2001-2004. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. Current Concerns - The monthly journal for independent thought, ethical standards and moral responsibility - English Edition of Zeit-Fragen No 2, 2004/ April 8, 2004 Current Concerns P.O. box 223 CH-8044 Zurich +41-1-350 65 50 tel +41-1-350 65 51 fax www.currentconcerns.ch This mail is for T. Naylor. I did not have his email. Greetings Barbara HUg
--B. Hug
b.hug@thurweb.ch

Monday March 8, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Your article is very interesting, and I think it could be a good idea. However, I do not think you have fully taken into account the power we have as U.S. Citizens. Although I myself have often thought of just giving up and leaving the country, there is no place left on Earth that is free from U.S. influance. And if I left, then I would no longer ahve any power in the U.S. government. We often fool ourselves into thinking that we have no power, but in truth, we Do have a voice in our government. If everyone who siad they wanted to leave the country got togeather and settled on a collective plan for action to redirect our government (or even simply voted in all elections, not just the presidential) that would be an immense amount of power. Political leaders would have to listen. In conclusion, although I too, often want to leave the country, I will stay and fight to make it better. The U.S. still has some good points left to her, and I am not willing to abandon her yet.
--Heather Taylor-Wilockx
Michigan

Friday March 5, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
It is amazing that I was just thinking similar thougths myself. What an exciting idea.
Vermont may at this time have the best chance of initiating a real action in this direction, but I think every State in the 'Union' should seriously consider doing the same thing.
Who would you nominate for president, Bernie Sanders or Howard Dean?
If the US congress cannot or will not stem the tide of globalization and destruction of the american economy through insane "free trade" agreements, we may have no choice as people but to revert back to the Sovereign Power of our Individual states for our own self defence and repudiate the rules that are being imposed on us by the WTO.
It is a perfectly legitimate and legal course of action for the people in any state to take and can be done, non violently.
Succession from the Union should be possible if it has become necessary. Succession does not have to mean civil war between the states that wish to succeed and those who do not, as long as it is done with out attacking federal property, like Fort Sumpter.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed. Many of those Republics are now independent countries again. The USA may be ripe for the same thing to happen.
I would like to see the entire six New England States do the same thing, either individually as a block. We could all reform a new alliance later or join Canada.
A serious effort to do this would really wake up the idiots in DC. Something would definitly have to change. I would love to see such a convention happen and a vote put to the Vermont Legislature.
One thing to consider though, that there would be very great economic and cultural consequences.
Being a Sate situated on the Border of Canada would make it a more feasable thing to do, because Vermont could become part of the Canadian economy.
--Warren, in Massachusetts
w1uir@aol.com

Wednesday March 3, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
What will be the policy of the 'Republic of Vermont' regarding immigration? Will you accept immigrants from the USA and other countries after your seccession?
--Richard Dudley
Alabama, USA

Wednesday March 3, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I fully endorse any attempt by the citizens of this state to seceed from the United States. As stated in the manifesto, the reckless foreign policy pursued by this country only jeopordizes the safety of its citizens and therefore we as Vermonters have no other choice than to seceed. I was born in this state and have spent all but 1.5 years of my 23 on this earth here and as a result have always identified myself as a Vermonter first. I would like nothing more than to declare myself a citizen of the Independent Republic of Vermont.
--Michael Devine
mdevine1@zoo.uvm.edu

Wednesday March 3, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I like the idea, and I sincerely hope that the proponents of it are willing to face violence for what they want. As history has repeadedtly shown, the US government does not tolerate people who would break away from it (the Civil War being perhaps the greatest example). Let them keep and bear arms for their survival. I wish them luck, and would love to be a part
--Jonathan McGlumphy
jmcglump@verizon.net

Tuesday March 2, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
This represents what is lacking in society. The manifesto is an act of true RESPONSIBILITY!
I found this site after reading Thomas Naylor's article in the February issue of UTNE. I have been sharing the article all around town. Unfortunately, I do not live in Vermont. I am in the capitol of the state with a PREDATOR who is our "acting" govenor. While we do get some wonderful weather, the tradeoff appears to be a total lack of social responsibility. I will follow your progress with great interest.
--Leah Levine
leahll@yahoo.com

Saturday February 7, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
naylor writes with a keen eye for the future while additionally heeding the limitations of the present situation (ie. ultra-centralized nodes of control) as he takes stock of Vermonts options. Bravo, though i would like to see a far more in-depth proposal, replete with "contingency plans" and chock full of DOD-esque insideese!
--Honus Wagner
Massachusetts

Friday January 30, 2004
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
There is a book called "A Pattern Language". It deals mainly with architecture, but there is much more to it. This book is where I first learned of the concept of "right size" (my term). The USA is too large. It is an artificial, unnatural construct that will increasingly fail to live up to our positive expectations. The dissolution of the USSR was a right and natural coarse. The same, if we are lucky, will happen here. If not, woe be unto us. We are already seeing the consequences of our gigantism. We are the world bully, and most don't even realize it. There are other manifestations of which we are not even aware. The world hates us and we as a country will never be able to understand it. Things will get worse.
I have been thinking about Canada a lot lately, in consideration of the likely result of the upcoming presidential contest. This seems a better solution. What better way to send a message to Washington.
I love Vermont. I have been thinking about moving there for years. Expect me soon after the election. Leave a light on.
--gene
sc

Saturday November 22, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
If the system is flawed remove it or remove ourselves from it.
--Randall Besch
nightgaunt@graffiti.net

Thursday November 20, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
95% perfect. The techno-phobia invites comparisons to the unibomber - but that's the only flaw in this superb little summary of America's plight.
--Andrew Walsh
walsha2000@hotmail.com

Wednesday April 2, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
I'm not a Vermonter but I'm certainly with you, 100%, in SPirit. I was born in the super fascist 'common-wealth' of Penn-Sylvania but got out of that 'stae' early on.
I wish it were possible for me to join up with you personally on the field of battle and retake this once great republic of ours. I can encourage you, though, that you are most assuredly right and on the path that will free us all from the techno-fascism that has befallen us oer the dark night of the past 100 years.
Bravo Vermonters and your Manifesto which is, indeed, worthy of becoming 'creed.'
"Tempora mutantor, nos et mutantur in illis."
--rolland alba
vaxen@military.com

Friday March 21, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Beautifully stated. I’m with you all the way.
--

Tuesday February 11, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Great idea, and I wholeheartedly support your movement. Be sure to check out the Pacific Northwest’s equvalent, the Cascadian National Party, at www.cnp-cascadia.org. It may be of interest to note that the CNP supports a policy of supporting other democratic peaceful secession groups, if their own goal is reached.
--

Monday February 3, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
This rules! It may only be a joke now but it’s brilliantly written the similiaty to the Communist minifesto is a bad choice in my opinion but it is nevertheless a great state
--Alex
spectreofme@aol.com

Friday January 31, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Its a promise and a delight... this new possible consciousness of the Earth:Love and Poetry.
--
--dany de culla

Wednesday January 29, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Naylor makes several intelligent and realistic points about the state of affairs in the United States today. I hope he is joking about the secession however, for several reasons. In today’s government, when it does control so much of our lives, I don’t even think it is possible to seceed and if it was how would Vermont defend itself from the possible backlash of the rest of the American people, since it admittedly has no military bases and wants to demilitarize.Despite these details, I think more Americains should start thinking this way because our centralized government has gotten out of control.
--Claire Sevigny
starrynightprojection@hotmail.

Wednesday January 29, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
Inflammatory for sure, but I can’t disagree with the overall sentiment. I’m trying to hang on here in Nyack, NY, one of the few bastions of civility and village life in the NY/metro area. Vermont has long been my fallback once I decide I can’t take it anymore. That time is rapidly approaching I think. Can I apply for assylum?
--Sean Burn
loonery@optonline.net

Tuesday January 21, 2003
Concerning the Do Citizens Have a Right to Control Their Own Lives? article:
An anti-historic manifesto. Not by peace but by civil war would be possible the realization of such a dream. But after the secession what? An "independent" State of Vermont? An "independent" State of Texas?.
--
--Alfonso Romero.

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