OUCH...

From the editor's friends: James Dwinell, the fearless editor of this newsletter, fell off a horse earlier this week and is now in Gifford Memorial Hospital, bruised and suffering numerous broken bones. He is in good spirits, however, and directed the compilation of this abbreviated issue of the DPR from a prone position.

If you send email to the editor, please do not expect a reply for a week or two. Letters to the editor sent by replying to this message will be saved and will appear in a future issue.

Due to impaired typing, driving, and newspaper-holding abilities, the next issue of the DPR may not appear for several weeks. 

THE PHOENIX RISES

The Vermont GOP executive committee and Republican county chairs met on Tuesday in Montpelier to discuss recent party events, and according to participants, the meeting was extraordinarily "substantive, passionate, and informative."

On hand was Governor Jim Douglas. When was the last time a Republican governor attended an executive committee and county chair meeting? No one could recall. Jim Douglas lent an air of commitment and authority and responsibility to the meeting where participants aired concerns, and talked of misinformation and frustration. At the conclusion, however, it was reported that there were no dissenting voices on the recent changes - that is, the resignation of Chairman Joe Acinapura.

They did appoint a rules committee, though, to decide how the party should handle the change in the interim. Should there be a special vote for the new chairman, for example?

One source told the DPR that the governor is committed to the party, the process, and electing other Republicans. People were thrilled about that.

One final note: Dr. Bill Minsinger, a participant in the meeting, was paged during the proceedings to return to Gifford Memorial Hospital. It seems someone had fallen off a horse and was in the operating room waiting for him. 

NO ACT 250 REFORM?

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy is discussing permit reform this week. On the table is the plan passed by the House (H.175) that includes a version of the Senate's local permit reform plan and the Governor's plan for Act 250 reform.

Committee Chair Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) told WCAX-TV early this week that her committee "is really trying to focus on Chapter 117 - local permitting..." and might not bother to tackle changes to Act 250.

On Wednesday, however, the Senate apparently felt compelled to act in the face of charges that they are being "obstructionist foot-draggers" on Act 250 reform. To counter such charges, they rolled out an Act 250 "reform" plan that specifically protects and even facilitates participation in the permit process by special interest groups with political agendas -- exactly the opposite of what everyone from the Governor on down is asking for.

President Pro Tempore Peter Welch, who served on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Law Foundation before being appointed to the Senate by Howard Dean, assured critics that he is "open-minded" and willing to make changes to "simplify" the new Senate plan.

The Conservation Law Foundation must be delighted. 

WALDO'S PUSH-POLL

Vermont Democrats criticized Ed Flanagan last year for allegedly conducting a "push poll" --a telephone campaign masquerading as a poll but actually designed to spread negative information about a political opponent. Back then, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz declared, "There's no place in Vermont for push-polling."

Nevertheless, Howard Dean is now using push poll tactics in Iowa. According to the current issue of U.S. News, Dean is "testing his attack message." Dean's "phone attack" asks voters if they have concerns about young John Edwards' "lack of experience," Dick Gephardt's "alliance with Bush" on key issues, and Kerry's "vote to support the war in Iraq."

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/030512/whispers/12whisplead.htm

MORE FIGHTING DIRTY

The Boston Globe announced it was beginning an investigation of presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry's personal life and his inconsistent voting record. Coincidentally, Kerry campaign workers were calling around Vermont talking to former Howard Dean insiders not employed by the presidential campaign to try to get the dirt on the former governor. 

DORTA'S DISTORTIONS

Newspapers did not report that Angelo Dorta was reelected President of the Vermont NEA over the weekend, perhaps because the teacher's labor union did not issue a press release about it. Yet Dorta made the papers anyway; he was the author of Monday's "My Turn" the Burlington Free Press. His commentary was notable for its statistical creativity.

He states, for example, that the average teacher salary in Vermont is $40,518, adding, "Average Vermont personal income ranks about the same." Actually, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that Vermonters made an average of $29,567 in 2002, about $1,400 less than the national average. The Vermont Department of Taxes pegs Vermont's median adjusted gross personal income in 2001 at $27,694 and median FAMILY income at $47,295.50 (2002 data not yet available). These figures do not take into account medical and retirement benefits nor the length of the work year.

Dorta also wrote, "If overall Vermont school costs are at or near the top of national comparisons, so are the achievement levels of Vermont students. No state scored statistically higher in the National Assessment of Educational Progress than Vermont 4th graders in mathematics and science. Vermont 8th grade scores were exceeded by only two states in mathematics and by only one state in science."

Oh please! This is sort of like being one of many students to earn a "Pass" on a pass-fail test, and then telling everyone that nobody scored higher than you did.

Of the 40 or so jurisdictions that participated in the NAEP, 17 others had 4th grade math scores that were not statistically different from Vermont's. Each of the 17 could make exactly the same claim that Dorta made. Thirteen others could say the same about their 4th grade science scores; 8 and 11 jurisdictions could claim the same about their 8th grade math and science scores. All these data are on the web. For an example, see the 4th grade math scores here: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/results/statecompare-g4.asp

In the face of such statistical abuse, can Vermonters really trust anything the education labor union says? 

BUCHANAN EDITOR REPS MOATS?

It looks like Pulitzer Prize-winning Rutland Herald editorialist David Moats has signed a book deal. According to a publishing newsletter, Moats' first nonfiction book, "Civil Wars: Gay Marriage in America," will be published by Harcourt in spring 2004. The newsletter lists Fredi Friedman as responsible for the deal. Who is Ms. Friedman? Could she be the same Fredi Friedman that Pat Buchanan referred to as "my editor Fredi Friedman" in the preface to his Regnery-published book "A Republic, Not an Empire"? Can we all say "irony" together now? 

RUSH LIMBAUGH ON THE BARRE MADRASA

Rush Limbaugh is getting a lot of his material from Vermont lately. Last month it was high school kids allegedly throwing pebbles at a member of the National Guard. Last week it was the Montpelier City Council's 5-1 vote to remove US Flags from the city's streets. This week Rush has been talking about an AP article criticizing Barre Town police officer John Mott for covertly photographing disrespectful and insulting displays in a Barre high school classroom. The radio pundit wants to know why all the heat is on the photographer and not on the school for selectively encouraging grossly uncivil and disrespectful expressions of ignorance rather than informed academic discussion.

Read Rush Limbaugh's commentary and see some of the actual photos here: http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_050703/content/truth_detector.guest.html

EVEN MORE ON THE GOP

»» Robert Maynard, Williston: Clyde Moore of Burlington claims, "The first major group that the Republican Party attracts is the well paid businessmen and owners that would like to be given free reign to do what they want with the businesses, the property, and their employees. This group seems to believe the best government is the government that allows the rich to get as rich as possible at the expense of the poor. They seem to desire pure capitalism. Social programs would be done away with -only at least handed over to the church to take care of."

The above is an inaccurate caricature of the "Classical Liberal" political philosophy of limited government that most of America's founders held. The notion that such a philosophy is primarily held by "well paid businessmen and owners" is an inaccurate, tired cliche that, unfortunately, some never tire of parroting. There are many of us who hold to such a view because we believe that this philosophy is the one most compatible with human thriving, for both the rich and the poor.

I grew up in a trailer park in Milton in a lower income family. What we lacked in material goods we made up for with the traditional Vermont spirit of self-reliance, independence and a reverence for family and community. Over the years I have grown heart-broken over the loss of these values and see the bureaucratic welfare state as the primary culprit.

It begins with political demagogues dividing neighbors into "Haves" and "Have-Nots" and trying to convince the "Have-Nots" that they are too incompetent to meet their own needs and their better off neighbors are greedy selfish to care. Their only salvation lies in a political solution. This "solution" means that the hard earned resources of one section of society is confiscated and sent to the state or federal government. Once there, it trickles down through a labyrinth of bureaucratic layers until some small fraction actually gets to someone in need. Far worse than gross inefficiency, this is the destruction of the aforementioned values. Self-reliance and independence are destroyed as well as any sense of community. When the government takes resources by force, from one group of citizens and gives to another, it creates distrust, resentment and envy. Instead of voluntarily giving of their resources out of compassion, coercive wealth transfers generate resentment on the part of the successful. Instead of receiving an act of generosity with gratitude, the less successful feel entitled to the fruits of others' labors and are filled with envy. The end result is a war of all against all which makes it highly unlikely that the less fortunate will ever receive the most important thing that the more fortunate can give them. That is the lesson in what it takes to be successful, something which is not likely to be learned from a government bureaucrat impersonally administering a social program. In the long run, the only ones who benefit from this "divide and conquer" approach are the self appointed "saviors".

Due to the above mentioned observations, I have become a devoted proponent of the limited government philosophy of "Classical Liberalism" (known today as "libertarianism"). I have also noticed that big business owners are often far from proponents of limited government in that many are more than willing to lobby the government for subsidies, or to engage in anti-trust lawsuits against other businesses that they cannot compete with. It is an insult to the Jeffersonian tradition of limited government and a thriving "Civil Society" to merely write it all off as greed on the part of the wealthy.

»» Laura Brueckner, Waterbury Center: You've been writing about the GOP. A few observations: Governor Douglas meets behind closed doors with corporations as did Dean; Douglas plays the shuffle the taxes game without the media being able to figure out that our taxes are dramatically increasing, as did Dean; lots o' talk about permit reform - like Dean nothing happens; Douglas continues the drug pricing program debacle started by Dean; Douglas continues the Act 60/71 taxes that focus taxes on family real estate, a Dean program with most of those responsible rewarded with high paying jobs, and Douglas continues both; Dean rammed through the Champion Land Deal and Douglas upholds it - it is hard to tell that Dean is gone.

The GOP supported and never distanced itself from nor really condemned Jim Jeffords. The GOP of Vermont continually allows Jeffords to use the GOP for his photo ops. To a casual observer the GOP still supports Jeffords though he did more harm to the party than any other single person.

The GOP and women is another story. While the Democrats continue to make women dependent on government, the GOP needs to reinforce the image of the independent woman. Support wages that enable women to be fully independent of government. The GOP needs a campaign selling women once again on the idea they are equal and can take care of themselves and their families and do not need government subsidized housing, day care, health care, etc. I know this conflicts with GOP aide to business but it is the only way to regain any female support!

»» John P. Compton, Greensboro: Vermont's socialism imposed 6 years ago by judicial tyranny, has a hidden lining that threatens much more than Vermonters' wallets and Vermonters' children and grandchildren's piggy banks.

"Act 60" is a little-brother to the much larger and more profound national disgrace that was created by "U.S. Supreme Court-approved" federal judicial tyranny: Roe v. Wade.

With each passing day, our nation watches as the "benefits" of fabricated anti-Creator-influenced "liberty" and "freedom" take hold in our nation's classrooms, colleges, universities, town meetings, state houses, newspapers, etc. - and as our nation's children are indoctrinated with two major tenets of secular humanism ( http://www.garymcleod.org/humanist.htm ) But should we be surprised? The wounding of Our Constitution in 1973 set the stage for such actions -- and now the Roe/Wadian "rights" are kicking-in on a state level.

There is a direct connection between "Act 60", gay "rights" and abortion "rights": that's why we sing about it: http://www.vmcrecords.com/lyrics.html 

LAWYER NEEDED

»» Bob Hardy, Vergennes: The feedback from those who do not reside here but who have substantial investments along the lake, is that the proposed two tiered property tax rate on homes MAY BE unconstitutional and they are -- to put it mildly -- incensed. Some will vote with their feet and others will fight this law in the courts all the way to the top Federal levels -- all of which will take time, which brings me to the point. There is an association in the environs of Addison County contiguous to Otter Creek and beyond named the Lakefront Taxpayers Association (whose logo is a bull's eye with arrows sticking out of it). We had a great President, Bob Bowen, former General Counsel of Connecticut BC/BS who had a great house on the Lake but just recently sold it because he could not abide the appraisal situation, the pending reappraisal and the Act 60 mess. So we need a new President whose qualifications would be: retired lawyer who believes in fairness, who loves to joust with the entrenched juris activists and would like to become pro bono president of the Lakefront Taxpayers Association. You know any such person? Let me know please. 

ECONOMICS 101 FOR LEGISLATORS

»» Rob Towle, Rutland City: In response to the loss of Talc business to the Chinese.... Every business has a budget. Revenue minus expenses equals profit. Profit is the determining factor that keeps your doors open or not. If a Vermont Company is undercut by pricing from a Martian firm, it can be surmised that the Martian firm's expenses are lower so therefore the savings are passed along to the consumer in lower pricing or operating costs. Higher costs such as additional tax burdens unfairly kills our businesses and makes them move to other countries that "Get It". "It" should be defined as Jobs.

Other costs such as meaningless increases to the minimum wages also are a major part of the problem. Employees that perform generally are rewarded in Wages and Benefits or before too long the employee will go elsewhere. Business owners only have so many Payroll dollars to spend before the profit is gone and if the cost of payroll is mandated to increase, the owners will have no choice but to reduce the number of employees or reduce or eliminate benefits. Is this worth the extra $20 gross that is reported to go into the check of the working poor. This $20 will not reach the employee because most of it is already confiscated by the taxes that will be levied against it so who is the increase really for? The answer is Unions that have contracts stipulating that automatic increase will occur when the Minimum Wage is raised or otherwise known as COLA. When will Government get out of trying to run businesses and actually start helping businesses to create jobs like they were elected to do? 

ODE TO 43

»» Gregory Thayer, Alderman, Rutland City: I just wanted to write an open letter; maybe it's thinking a loud. I am so proud of my President that I want to share my feelings with all of you. George W. Bush, or as his father calls him, 43, is a man of his word and has demonstrated his belief in his "compassionate conservatism" policy.

As Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Military, 43, has made some hard decisions to free the World and the innocent people of Iraq from the brutal regime of Saddam. There is no longer any torture or mistreatment of the Iraqi people. The human rights violations of the former regime are monumental, and being documented as more serious every day. Now that the good people of Iraq can finally speak freely and without fear of retribution or torture, we are learning more about his ways then any American could ever be exposed too.

It was time for straight, tuff-talk and promises to be kept. If President Clinton had done his job as Commander-In-Chief, then maybe the horrific events if September 11th wouldn't have happened. His act-alike, the former Colorado senator Gary Hart, commissioned a terrorist study for President Clinton which found that America would be attacked on it's own soil in 12 to 18 months, but Clinton did nothing.

President 43 means what he says, and does what he says. Now that the Iraqi people are free we must work with them to rebuild their historic Biblical country so that Iraq can become a productive member of the international community, similar to the Marshal Plan after WW II where we helped rebuild Europe.

The next debate needs to be about the United Nations. The UN has demonstrated itself as being a passive organization that doesn't want to stand up and be accountable. When the UN puts counties like Iraq (under it's former regime), Libya and Syria in charge of human rights, arms control and other important committees, that doesn't sit well with me nor can I respect the UN. I do not subscribe to the UN's "One World Order" talk or their global government.

In conclusion, I want to personally thank our troops and their families. Your sacrifices are insurmountable. My heart goes out to you all. GOD Bless our troops and their families. GOD Bless America! 

LET THE CONSERVATIVES IN THE BIG TENT
by Captain America 

The "big tent" -- that phrase is often used to describe the open, tolerant, willing-to-compromise-on-social-issues attitude that many associate with Republican moderates.

Let's take a look at that attitude as it relates to several social issues and Republican conservatives, starting with abortion: Extremely conservative Republicans WOULD like to see Roe v. Wade overturned. But those probably represent a handful at most in the legislature.

Other conservatives have worked for compromise, for middle-ground issues like bans on partial birth abortion, or the even more moderate issue of parental notification - ensuring that parents are notified when their under-age daughters seek an abortion. That's hardly extremist.

In other words, the conservatives have not said "my way or the highway." Instead, they've looked for compromise, like moderates have on other issues.

How about civil unions? Once again, there are some conservatives who worked for repeal of the civil unions law, but many more worked to push through the compromise reciprocal benefits law.

And what about the issue of school choice? Yes, vouchers are on the table every year, championed by conservatives, but it was a group of conservatives working with others in the party who successfully passed a PUBLIC school choice bill last year in the House. Yet another instance where conservatives said "okay, we'll look for compromises we all can support."

Despite their willingness to work for middle-ground solutions, conservatives are often treated like pariahs by some in the party, convenient to triangulate against come election time. ("Sure, I'm a Republican, but I'm not one of THEM.") The conservatives are portrayed as absolutists who want to take away abortion rights, bash gays, and destroy the public schools. In reality, the absolutists are the ones who refuse to compromise from the other end of that political spectrum.

Ironically, this strategy of avoiding the social issues and the people who champion them leaves Republicans standing for little else except low taxes and more jobs. That's not to say those aren't important issues. They are. But when the party becomes ONLY about those issues, it is easily caricatured as a party made up of folks who care only about money, and not about broader political philosophies, such as support for life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

If there is truly a big tent in the Republican party, it has to let in the conservatives, and defend them as the reasonable people most of them really are. 

GOT THE GIMMIES? 

The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole our relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of a sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America.... The Federal Government must and shall quit this business of relief. -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, State of the Union Address, 1935 

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/fr32/speeches/su35fdr.htm 

UNION + MONOPOLY = TROUBLE 

"Unions don't resist performance pay in competitive industries--automobile manufacture, for example--because they know they have to survive in the marketplace to keep their jobs and higher pay encourages better performance. It is unions in protected monopolies that are the problem, for their members do not have to improve to survive.

"The reason our public education system is failing our children is that monopolies don't work. Insulated from competitive pressures--with a guaranteed student body and annual income--school-board, state administrative and union bureaucracies govern the educational system." --Pete du Pont, The Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2003

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110003445 

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