9 Vermont state office candidates favor secession

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

(AP) Peter Garritano thinks it's time for Vermont to call it quits with America.

The way the 54-year-old automobile salesman sees it, the "empire" is about to implode and tiny Vermont can lead the way by becoming its own independent republic. So he's running for lieutenant governor, topping a slate of secession-minded candidates seeking statewide offices this year.

"The only hope is to just say, 'Look, this isn't working for us. We want to start fresh again, with a real democracy,'" Garritano said. "I think that's the answer. Hopefully, it won't take another horrible economic breakdown to realize that the people running things don't look out for the little guy, or us, or the soldiers. It's all about profit and getting the last drops of oil on Earth and trampling people's rights."

Garritano, gubernatorial candidate Dennis P. Steele and seven candidates for state Senate seats plan to declare their candidacies Friday.

Their cause isn't new: It's the latest incarnation of a movement that's bubbled in Vermont and elsewhere for years. Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Texas all have made noise about seceding, to no avail.

Their method is: Organizers say it's the first time since the Civil War that a secession movement has fielded a slate of candidates for statewide office, although individual pro-secession candidates have run before.

Few political observers give them much hope of winning, even in a left-leaning state where the popular Republican governor's decision not to seek re-election has touched off a scramble among would-be successors, with five Democrats and a Republican in a wide-open race for the seat headed to the Nov. 2 election.

Unlikelier still is the idea that, if elected, the candidates could accomplish their goal, critics say.

"This is the triumph of hope over reality," said Garrison Nelson, a political science professor at the University of Vermont and a longtime observer of the state's political scene. "The whole movement was spawned by having George W. Bush as president. My guess is that with (Barack) Obama as president and this being Obama's second-best state, the wind has been taken out of their sails."

In fact, Obama's failure to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has fueled some of the candidates' positions.

Long on outrage about the status quo but short on details about the new order they envision, they say Vermont could establish its own Social Security system, tend to health care and maintain roads using the billions of dollars in taxes it could save by not paying federal taxes.

Steele, a U.S. Army veteran, says if elected he'll call a statewide convention to consider articles of political independence and try to get Vermont National Guard troops returned home from the wars.

But as Dartmouth College professor of government Linda Fowler says, "The problem (with secession) always is the one the framers pointed out: Governmental units that are so small end up being vulnerable to their neighbors, in all kinds of ways."

For now, the focus is on the campaign in Vermont, where the secession candidates — on a shoestring budget — plan a largely Internet-based campaign. As of Wednesday, they hadn't launched a dedicated Web site, though one is planned.

Garritano, a Shelburne independent who's never run for office before, promised his wife the campaign wouldn't cost them much money. He's sticking to that: So far, he's spent $20 on business cards.

Come November, he won't be identified as a "secession" candidate on the ballot; it will just say "independent."

"If somehow, miraculously, I got elected lieutenant governor, I'd make an effort to get back some of our rights — right to freedom of speech, freedom of association and other Constitution-Bill of Rights things that have been taken away from us," Garritano said.

Steele, a 44-year-old political neophyte from Kirby who owns Internet radio station Free Vermont Radio, says he'll take a grassroots approach to campaigning — traversing the state in a recreational vehicle with his wife, 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.

"The plan is to travel around the state with my family, try to make it a fun thing," he said. "Go out, do some live broadcasts, pound some doors and then come back to the campground with my family in the RV."

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/201...favor+secession

[Peikko 1,575]

[Darnell 8,478]

That would be so great, if Vermont seceeds, ya? (suceeds? I can't spel today )

then the VSC would move to another place, right? Maybe South Carolina ?

[mawilson 2,133]

then the VSC would move to another place, right? Maybe South Carolina ?

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Vermont has got it's head up it's own ####. I lived there for awhile. Now I live in SC. It's funny because you would think that between these two states there would be this stark contrast but, nope. PPl in VT hate outsiders, and think their sh!t doesn't stink. I had to endure how much more "progressive" VT is then other states. It the same sentiment in SC except change the "progressive" to "conservative" and after awhile it all kinda seems the same.

Don't get me wrong I love VT, It's a great state as is SC in their own respects. But both of these tiny states hardly understand, or care what the rest of America is and doesn't care to look past their own doorsteps on many different issues.

It's always these small populated states that want to secede. Let them secede. After a while when their economy collapses because the only resources they have is cheese, maple syrup, and micro brews they will be happy to rejoin the union.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Chris_Жанна

[Chris_Жанна 11]

That would be so great, if Vermont seceeds, ya? (suceeds? I can't spel today )

then the VSC would move to another place, right? Maybe South Carolina ?

Yes, Fort Sumter will be the new VSC lol

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yes, let's advocate violence against federal employees. That's one way to get the thread shut down.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Yes, let's advocate violence against federal employees. That's one way to get the thread shut down.

Thread? More like the site lol.

I take it you did not have a pleasant experience with VSC SMR?

[Krikit 1,164]

Post violating the TOS has been removed.

[Darnell 8,478]

I think South Carolina is a good choice ! Less snow than Vermont, right? So can have more federal employees show up during the winter season (which, of course, is the reason that Vermont Service Center is so frickin slow in the first place? )

Snow Sucks!

[Chris_Жанна 11]

I think South Carolina is a good choice ! Less snow than Vermont, right? So can have more federal employees show up during the winter season (which, of course, is the reason that Vermont Service Center is so frickin slow in the first place? )

Snow Sucks!

Haha perhaps, although Vermonters don't really stop for snow because it pretty much snows there always during the winter.

I remember when I first moved there I worked as an aide to ppl with developmental disabilities. It snowed about a foot and they still expected me to drive from Burlington to Georgia Center (Pretty much St. Albans where VSC is). I grew up in NY and we got snow but not like this. But snow was no excuse to miss work there.

Here in SC you're lucky if your employees don't come in to work wasted lol. I think it is best to keep it in VT.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Before we seceed we should annex the Adirondacks which should be in Vermont anyway. They are being wasted in New York! Vermont was an independent Republic for a few years before becoming a state (14th) in 1792. Many people fly the old Vermont flag (green with blue corner and 13 stars, one for each county) and there is a lot of sentiment, particularly in the north to seceed. I doubt it will ever happen. Mostly because we would lose VSC and they are the biggest employer in the county!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Before we seceed we should annex the Adirondacks which should be in Vermont anyway.

You'll have to fight for it

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Haha perhaps, although Vermonters don't really stop for snow because it pretty much snows there always during the winter.

I remember when I first moved there I worked as an aide to ppl with developmental disabilities. It snowed about a foot and they still expected me to drive from Burlington to Georgia Center (Pretty much St. Albans where VSC is). I grew up in NY and we got snow but not like this. But snow was no excuse to miss work there.

Here in SC you're lucky if your employees don't come in to work wasted lol. I think it is best to keep it in VT.

Vermonters do not stop anything for snow! We had 32" last Saturday and everything was open Monday morning. We drove up into the mountains DURING the storm to go skiing, you DO know how awesome the skiing is during a 32" powder snowstorm...right? They don't make enough snow to slow down Vermonters!!!!!!

[Chris_Жанна 11]

You'll have to fight for it

Gary and the Green Mountain Boys?

Edited January 13, 2010 by Chris_Жанна