SO IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN 

"The Earth is clearly more delved into and built over than before. All of its parts are trampled, full of commerce. Fields rebuff the forest. Herds frighten off wild animals. Sands are sown, swamps are drained. Everywhere are residences, governments, and life. And this above all proves Man’s dramatic growth. We so clog the Universe that it can barely support us. As our needs increase, we struggle with each other for them, and nature fails us."

This debate about the environment versus economy has been going on a long time. The words above come from Tertullian, about 210 A. D. 

THIS IS OUR STORY, SAD BUT TRUE 

In a front-page story, the Rutland Herald wrote about the modern economy, a recent presentation of a new report on Vermont’s economy by Art Woolf and Richard Heaps, "Vermont’s Economic Competitiveness," prepared for the Vermont Ski Areas Association. Their conclusions are not surprising. The findings are similar to the thoughts of the Vermont voters in electing a Republican Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the first time in twenty-four years; Vermont must become more business friendly.

Woolf and Heaps conclude that Vermont is not business friendly. Vermonters "live with a high tax burden, semi-interfering regulations, and a crumbling infrastructure."

Governor-almost Jim Douglas has begun economic summits around the state. At his weekly press he announced three new appointments, Kevin Dorn for Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, Pat McDonald for Secretary of Transportation, and Elizabeth McLain as Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources. 

PERMIT REFORM COMETH? 

Douglas charged both Dorn and McLain with reforming the permit system, making the permitting process user-friendly, and thereby changing the culture in Montpelier. He reminded folks that Vermont's Constitution calls for duty and service, not just landing a job and occupying a desk. "We must have job creation, and preservation of the environment, with fiscal responsibility."

During Douglas's economic summit meeting in Bennington, according to an AP account, he was told that promoting Vermont just now would be a waste of "precious resources. 'As a manufacturer, I would like to go someplace else right now,' said Curt Morin. 'There is nothing to promote.' William Daily of Shaftsbury echoed that sentiment. He said that it would be 'premature' to spend money attracting new business to Vermont as long as state regulators were slow to issue environmental permits."

Douglas added an anecdote from the summit. A businesswomen rose to say that in her interaction with a state regulator, the regulator, knowing the woman was from Bennington, offered "to meet her halfway." The regulator’s idea of halfway was to meet in Waterbury! 

THE KNEEBONE IS CONNECTED TO THE.. 

Douglas also spoke of the falling revenues and the increasing Human Resources caseloads and the increasing pressure on Corrections. It will be a couple of bleak and difficult years for the legislature, having to raise revenues, reduce expenses, or both. Douglas does not encourage any new taxes or fees.

It is not just the cost of the delays in the permitting process slowing job creation and scaring off potential investors from out-of-state and expansion within the state. There are the tremendous costs of attorneys, engineers, traffic consultants, economic consultants, and so forth required by the permit process.

There are many Vermonters who for years have depended on low paying hard working jobs in manufacturing. Many will never be data entry people, premium adjusters, tellers, or other folks in the growing service sector. They are production workers. When a manufacturing company expands out-of-state instead of in Vermont, many of these production workers must rely on the state human resources agencies. Some end up in corrections.

Worse, when a manufacturer just closes up shop and moves those jobs to another state, more demands are made. While the pay is great in the "expert" business, not bad in the service business, it really stinks in many basic manufacturing businesses. How people manage their lives and provide room and board and transportation for themselves and their families on $8.50 an hour each is amazing. But they do, engaging in second and third jobs, bartering, having a garden and some farm animals, and cutting and splitting wood for heat. When they lose their basic manufacturing job, the bottom falls out and they have nowhere to turn but to the state.

If the permit process can be reformed, there will be more investment which will lead to better jobs and wages. If there is less cost in the application process, there will be more money for bonuses and benefits.

As Ronald Reagan said, a job is the best welfare system. Douglas hopes to make this happen. He does not have much time and has lots of obstacles in his path. 

TALE OF TWO CITIES 

A company is looking to expand. They are looking at sites in Vermont and New Hampshire. When they inquired about two New Hampshire sites, not only did the local development person immediately offer help, grants, free industrial land, and low cost loans, Governor Shaheen called to offer any help or information she could.

In Vermont, even though there was press coverage, no one from the Commerce Department called to help, no one from VIDA, no one from VEPC, no one from the governor’s office, or anywhere else. No calls came from our Congressional delegation even though they could help. The only call came from a regulatory person, who upon reading of the companies interest called to remind them that they would need a permit even though they were only occupying a building already permitted for their use. Fortunately, the regulator called to offer help in the process. 

THE OLD COUNTRY 

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, we found ourselves in England. We had read of the slowness of movement of many a city’s traffic. To experience it is another thing; an hour and a half to go from a small city center to the motorway.

We visited the Cheddar Caves. One attraction was "Jacob’s Ladder", a 224-step stairway leading to another climb up a tower to enjoy the view. Every twenty-five steps or so, they presented the tired tourist a bench for rest and a storyboard of the geological development of the area. At the 224th step, the top, they suggested that we lay a piece of paper on that step. The thickness of the paper as compared to all 224 steps would represent the entirety of man’s presence on earth.

That put our ego and self-importance in its place. But it seems that very same importance of what man has done that protects most every rock or building that man has ever placed near a road to be preserved, thus slowing traffic to a crawl.  

WHERE IS SNOWSVILLE? 

Just north of Snowsville, a family purchased an old farmstead a few weeks back. Seemingly without any permits, they quickly tore down a classic century old red barn, sold a beautiful field stone wall along Route 12 to a southern Vermont landscaper, and brought in an excavator to drain the wet areas to improve the fields for farm use. It is jolting to watch. Shouldn’t we report in somewhere about our "cooperative" rights on this property? Or does the family have the right to enjoy their new property as they see fit?

As much as we might enjoy seeing the meandering stone wall along Route 12, we are sure that it will make nice wall or patio for someone in Stratton. Perhaps it will be replaced with a split rail fence, perhaps with nothing.

As much as we enjoyed the old barn, maybe it too will be replaced with a different structure better meeting the needs of the new owners. Same too with their new hay field, less mud, more useable land. As much as we like the old, we should not become slaves to it as they have in England. This is after all the New World, where we can begin again, again and again. 

WHEN ARE YOU FIRED? 

There was a vast array of reports that Fletcher Board Member and president of Verizon Vermont, Louise McCarren, would be "stepping down." That her position was "eliminated" and that no other position was eliminated and that she was not offered another position with Verizon did not constitute being laid off or fired; she "stepped down." 

IT DOES NOT SELL HERE 

Senator Bartlett, fresh from her continued domination of Lamoille County politics with questionable tactics, distortions, and thoroughly ignoring the prevailing campaign laws which she helped to create, entered the senate pro tem race with great confidence. She once again used her tried, true, and tested tactics of misrepresentations with her colleagues.

They, being more sophisticated members of the political body, threw her out on her heels. According to the Vermont Press Bureau she tried to persuade her fellow females that only another girl could protect what they held dear, specifically rejecting the parental notification bill. Knowing how to count, she dropped out. 

THE PERFECT METAPHOR 

The Times Argus ran a photo of a Montpelier fire truck in front of the Pavillion office building with the caption in part being "the power went out (on) the 5th floor." That’s the floor of our soon to be departed Waldo and his staff. 

WHERE IS WALDO? 

Not here, not minding the store. But having a very nice run up of his presidential ambitions. Towering over Ariel Sharon, Dean can be seen in an article from the Jerusalem Post.

"Although Dean's wife, Judith Steinberg, is Jewish, this was his first visit. ...

"[Dean said] The other night on the ride to Jerusalem, my guide pointed to lights on our left and told explained that we were passing Ramallah. I was amazed by the proximity. You always get the feeling that when they talk about Ramallah that it is at least 35 miles from Jerusalem, but it's right there. I am amazed by just how small this country is."

Duh.

Read the article here: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1039001450662 

WHAT TURKEY EDITED THE FREE PRESS FRONT PAGE ON THANKSGIVING? 

The front page of the Burlington Free Press was Spin City on Thanksgiving Day. First there was the story about the $55 million flowing to Vermont and New York to clean up Lake Champlain. This was part of the $250 million Great Lakes bill signed by President Bush the day before. How does the loony-left spin a pro-environment initiative when it comes from Republicans? The headline tells all: "Vermont senators secure lake bill despite GOP grudge."

Also on the front page were juicy bits from a Washington Post article entitled "Bush to Shorten Forest Environmental Reviews." The heavily edited Free Press version was re-titled "Bush wants to cut back forest rules." They also omitted the key paragraph: "Forest Service officials, billing the proposed procedures as simpler and more efficient, said reviews would take about two years to conduct, compared with seven years now. The streamlined studies would cost about one-third less, saving the government $1 billion over 10 years, mostly in salaries and publications." 

HEADLINE OF THE WEEK 

Two in one paper in one story: "Rumors swirl around transition" and "Rumors dog transition." Only in their story and not even really there. Both were wrong. It was Thanksgiving week, normal people had other things to do. Not the Free Press headline writers though. 

PEOPLE LIKE US 

According to Nielsen Media Research, right leaning Fox News is the only cable new network with improved ratings this past year, gaining 17 percent. Meanwhile, left leaning CNN lost 31 percent and lost MSNBC lost 43 percent. 

THE REACTION 

"Liberals have had a monopoly for about 30 years and all of a sudden one or two opposition forces arise -- Washington Times, Fox News, Weekly Standard -- and all of a sudden it's a great conspiracy. This is absurd." --Charles Krauthammer, Fox News Sunday

Quoted here: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20021202.asp#1 

YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME... 

»» Harry Waltner: Social Security came into being under Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt.

Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and moved it to the General Fund allowing Congress to "borrow" and spend it on anything, including their pet "pork" projects and handouts?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which party passed a tax on Social Security?
A: The Democratic party.

Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security?
A: The Democratic Party with Vice-President Al Gore casting the deciding vote.

Q: Which party decided to give your Social Security money to immigrants?
A: That's right, the Democratic Party. Immigrants that move into this country at age 65 get SSI never having paid a dime into the system. This is costing American taxpayers millions of dollars.

ERRATUM 

»» Bev Doney: This was such a funny mistake I had to email back to you.

"The Sunday Rutland Herald/Times Argus Parade headlined television weatherman Al Roker, 'he's slimed down thanks to smart eating and Roker tells James Brady how he did it.'"

I love the English language and was immediately caught by the word "slimed" - puzzled that a person slime(d) down somewhere - you know - the gooey stuff. I even went so far as to check my huge dictionary and yep -- to become smaller is supposed to use 2 m's (slimmed). This apparently is a quote from the Rutland Herald so I guess it isn't your mistake, but I found it quite funny and thought you would get a chuckle out of it. 

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE... 

»» Annette Smith, Danby: Thanks for the mention in this week's report. I guess you missed the October 7 front page Wall Street Journal story which mentioned that Governor Who, excuse me, Governor Dean's web site once featured a photo of the mountain that Omya wants to destroy. And on October 10, Swiss Radio International covered the story "Swiss mine raises protests in Vermont," featuring me versus Omya's Chief Operating Officer from Swiss headquarters. Readers can access the stories via our web site: http://www.vce.org/

The latest in our 3-year saga against a corporation that doesn't know when to give up on a bad plan is the rumor of a large underground lake beneath the mountain Omya seeks to blast into and de-water. Word is they would have to pump out so much water, the Otter Creek couldn't handle it. This summer they pumped a few million gallons out of our common aquifer and, gee whiz, lots of us lost our water for the first time ever. Omya says it's drought.

Those of us who have spent thousands of dollars to have water over the last few months, and the horseback riding stable (a business) that had to move all their horses to New York because of no water, think it's time for Omya to stop degrading our livelihoods and devaluing our land in this rural, agricultural valley that is commonly called "one of the most beautiful places in all of Vermont." 

WHY RUN IF YOU'RE GOING TO HIDE? 

»» Dennis C. McMahon, Burlington: I really enjoy your publication; it is very useful and insightful. I have pretty much spent my life in politics and it continues to intrigue me. 0ne of ways it does is that how some politicians and elected officials can survive by doing virtually nothing, not answering their mail, not making themselves available to their constituents, and remaining virtually invisible. I think that should change.

I think if someone is elected or appointed to public office they should be not only accessible to their constituents but advertise so. They should answer their mail, postal or e-mail, regularly publish their views either through constituent newsletters, letters to the editor, or press releases, and they should have community advisory boards of constituents to come up with solutions to pressing problems, and, more importantly, come up with imaginative ideas for public improvement. To me that kind of stuff is a bare minimum to live up to one's oath of office. I know it would be my way of doing things; otherwise I would quit. 

WADAYA MEAN "AGAIN"? 

»» Pete Chagnon, Burlington: James Jeffords wants to be a Republican again? When was he ever one? What a laugh. Thank You Jim. Did he ever think about working for Comedy Central? Thank You Jim. You have made my day. Grovel, grovel. 

PROOF'S IN THE PUDDIN' 

»» Betty M. Ferraro, Rutland: In response to Ellen Corrow's comments about getting people out to vote; I know that our efforts in Rutland County with our organized phone banks, follow-ups and courtesy calls helped get our people out to vote. Not just republicans were called either - the newly registered voters as well as previously registered voter lists were utilized. Who says Republicans don't get out to vote!! Governor-Elect Douglas is our proof, I am happy to say. 

GOPAC: DO THE MATH 

»» Allan R. Wylie, South Strafford: Ed Stokes response to your question "Can anyone dethrone Congressman Sanders?" is, as the Brits say, bang on! However, much as I dislike the idea of Bernie representing me in Congress, I am more appalled at the idea that Leaky Leahy might continue on for another six years. Bernie is only one in 435, Senator Leahy is one in a hundred and his vote counts the same as Madame Hillary's. Convincing several million New Yorkers to vote for Hillary should cost considerably more than convincing a majority of Vermonters that Senator Leahy is not interested in the national security or responsible government.

Republicans need to recognize that we can actually participate in the (potential) revolution begun in the recent election by mobilizing now to defeat him. First and foremost we need to identify a candidate. There are undoubtedly many, but Greg Parke and Brian Dube come to my mind. A candidate is important as this is one of the things which the national party uses to decide where the money goes. Money spent here is more effective than on one of those large population states especially in view of Sen. Leahy's seniority and the obvious advantages to the United States Senate in putting him out to pasture. Seems like the quarter page ad could effectively show how Vermont and the nation is not served by this dynamic duo.

As a postscript, I often wonder how Tom Daschle continues to be reelected by those doofusses in South Dakota. Then I think about those doofusses that live in Vermont and I have my answer. Maybe we could show them how its done! 

JOIN THE RANKS 

»» Charlie Bucknam, Walden: [RE: "Can anyone dethrone Congressman Sanders"] Sign me up for the Bernie Truth Squad. It is important that we start this effort right away. 

THEY LIKE US 

»» Peter T. Brooks, Underhill: Thank-You!!! There is no doubt in my mind and the minds of others that your Report played a significant, though unheralded, role in the Republican successes during the recent election. Accurate, truthful, and spin-free information is always empowering to the electorate. However, let us not drink too long from the celebratory cup less we forget that we have merely begun the journey. We must set out now so that in two years we do not find ourselves where we began. Offices won must be retained and seats lost must be recaptured. Those who chose not to vote must be informed of the impact of their non-participation, and those who did vote must be reminded of the value of their contribution. Stay on point... 

*** QUOTABLE ***

TYRANNY OF THE INBOX 

"In valedictory comments Sen. Phil Gramm warned of 'the tyranny of the inbox' - letting events determine their agenda. 'I came here with an agenda, and my agenda was not to empty that inbox. My agenda was to change the country.'" - Columnist Bob Novak 

QUESTION AUTHORITY 

"It is worth noting that the people today who so vehemently wish to sweep religion from all public spaces and institutions are also the same people who consistently oppose freedom. They want only one God -- the state, which of course they intend to run." --Charley Reese

Full editorial: http://reese.king-online.com/Reese_20021129/index.php 

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