All Entries in the "Op-ed" Category
Opinion: Historic day in Montpelier and Washington, D.C.
By Sen. Alison Clarkson Windsor District Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark: One, unusually quiet, orderly, historic but subdued; The other noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our […]
Op-ed: Town Clerks are heroes of Election Day
By Jim Condos Vermont Secretary of State As Vermonters we should be proud. The November General Election saw Vermonters voting in record numbers, exercising our civic duty both safely and securely during circumstances that are anything but ordinary. Much of the conversation nationally is focused on the results of the election. I think it’s equally […]
Op-ed: Rep. Bock on wrap up of legislative session Covid funding, Global Warming Act, cannabis marketplace
By Tom Bock The Vermont House of Representatives passed its final bills and adjourned on Friday, Sept. 25. This concluded an historic 2-year session in which Covd-19 tested our state, causing numerous disruptions, including the closure of Vermont’s State House. The main purpose of the final session, which began on Aug. 25, was to finalize […]
Op-ed: One Drop Passing as white, denying your identity
By James Michael Brodie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC “You see, unfortunately, I am not black. There are lots of different kinds of blood in our family. But here in the United States, the word ‘Negro’ is used to mean anyone who has any Negro blood at all in his veins. In Africa, the word is […]
Op-ed: Individual actions save local businesses
By Tim Roper I’ve heard and read quite a bit recently about how the town of Chester is killing small business through onerous regulation and thought this might be a good place to share some thoughts from my perspective in that regard. I’m writing here as a citizen of Chester and a small business owner, […]
Op-ed: Why are you mad?
By James Michael Brodie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC A few days ago, a white gentleman responded to one of my posts with a series of profanity laden insults. When another poster pointed out his bigotry, he responded by declaring himself a “proud racist,” before adding in a few more expletives. A quick look at postings […]
Rep. Bock: State moving Covid money into areas of need
By Rep. Tom Bock The last day that I and my fellow Vermont House colleagues set foot in the House Chamber was Friday, March 13. Since then, for more than three months, the 150-member House has conducted business from our homes, with Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson insisting we continue to wear proper business […]
Op-ed: Why are you ‘white?’
By James Michael Brodie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC I recently posed a question to my friends on Facebook who identify as white: “Do you know how you came to be called white? Do you know why?” Those who responded shared their experiences of living in white skin, but none could cite the source of those […]
Op-ed: My alma mater needs to teach about racism
By Cheyénne Prescott I was raised in the town of Chester, population slightly more than 3,000. From the 2nd grade to the 12th, I’ve been a part of this tight-knit, corner of Vermont. Some of my earliest childhood memories took place on the wooden play structure at Chester-Andover Elementary School. My “crew” and I would […]
Op-ed: Seeking racial equity in Vermont
By Sen. Alison Clarkson This week’s New Yorker magazine cover “This Side Up,” illustrates an upside down world, capturing an aspect of how many are feeling right now. Our U.S. government has failed to adequately prepare and protect its citizens from a global pandemic – and our public safety officers, whose job is to protect […]
Op-ed: Racism is white America’s problem
Editor’s note: This column is reprinted with permission by the author, James Michael Brodie, an old friend and colleague of mine from Baltimore, Md. — Cynthia Prairie. By James Michael Brodie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC It should be evident by now that people like the white woman who called the police on a black man […]
Sen. McCormack: Right ideas, wrong applicaton
By Sen. Dick McCormack The pandemic, its economic fallout and the resulting social and personal stresses all beg for analysis. What’s going on? What are proper responses? What mistakes are being made? What fundamental problems are exposed? I’m grateful for the informed, insightful, indeed wise communications I’ve been getting from concerned citizens. It’s gratifying when […]
Sen. Clarkson: Vermont’s housing problem is a health problem
By Sen. Alison Clarkson The Covid-19 crisis is challenging all of us, but it is particularly challenging for those already at risk in Vermont. “Stay Home, Stay Safe” assumes two things – that you have a home and that it is safe. Sadly, for too many Vermonters this is not the case. And so Vermont’s […]
Commentary: How to help a domestic abuse survivor during the Covid-19 crisis
By the Women’s Freedom Center If you’ve been out to run essential errands, you’ve already felt the eerie absence of almost everyone else. Grocery stores, drugstores and drive-up restaurants provide not just necessities now, but also our few remaining live contacts outside the home. They’re a welcome sight to anyone, but imagine how vital they […]
Op-ed: Rep. Bock on aid for small businesses
By Rep. Tom Bock The Covid-19 pandemic is unlike any crisis Vermont has faced. This is a very stressful time for neighbors, as public safety measures have closed many of the businesses and institutions we rely on. I am committed to working with the Scott administration and our congressional delegation to make sure our community […]
Commentary: Managing stress under Covid-19
By Richard W. Root II, Ed.D., ABP Twin State Psychological Services New reports about Covid-19 are becoming more widespread and can be stressful to deal with. Here are some tips to help you manage stress, put news reports in perspective and maintain a positive outlook. Keep things in perspective. Take a deep breath and remind […]
Op-Ed: Legislators look for ways to address crisis
By Sen. Alison Clarkson We are all adjusting to our new COVID-19 normal. The legislature has just finished its first week working remotely on Vermont’s response to this crisis. Each committee is addressing ways to respond to the anxieties and uncertainties we are all facing. This crisis is affecting almost every aspect of our lives, […]
Op-ed: Trust in government depends on transparency Sunshine Week spotlights the importance of access to public information
By Jim Condos Secretary of State Trust in government is at an all-time low. As you can see playing out before our eyes in the news today, integrity is at a premium in times of crisis. Truth and transparency are necessary to effective leadership. In Vermont, we take great pride in having a government that […]
Rep. Bock: Of two important bills, Scott vetoes one, takes no action yet on the other
By Rep. Tom Bock On the very first day of the 2020 session, Democratic leaders renewed their pledge to continue their work to strengthen the economy and make Vermont more affordable for working families. We are feeling the pinch of a shrinking workforce and an aging population. Currently in the state, there are about 55,000 […]
Sen. Clarkson: Census matters to Vermonters
By Sen. Alison Clarkson The Census matters. Two legislative committees were reminded last week of how important the data gleaned from it is for every state. Each decade since 1790 the U.S. Census Bureau has conducted an every household survey collecting data about our country’s people and the places they live. It is the leading […]
