The Case of the Missing Newspapers

Every Wednesday I deliver about 4000 copies of “The Commons”, a weekly newspaper which is familiar to most of the people reading this. 

This Wednesday, something very mysterious happened – most of the papers I delivered have disappeared.

It is as if someone was following me around and removing the papers from the racks I filled just a few minutes before.

Got any ideas?


The Declaration of Independence

I thought it might be nice to re-read the Declaration of Independence, to look again at how this country of ours began.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


Greece Should Be Taking Money Making Stock Tips from Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont!

Letter to the Editor of The Vermont Journal/The Shopper, Ludlow, Vermont,  published July 1, 2015.
“Congressman Peter Welch Gets Richer While Depriving Poor Vermonters!”

Last year

Do members of the United States Congress  get special hints telling them to  buy stock at a certain time, and then sell it, to reward them for voting a certain way on a certain Bill?


“R” rCredits For You?

What are rCredits?

The rCredits system is a cooperative mutual credit organization providing online credit card, debit card, and cash card services.

In this economy, it’s hard to find US Dollars to pay for things. With rCredits we can fund what we need, without having to depend on US Dollars. rCredits are simply a way for us to give each other credit in our local community, so that, in effect, there is more money to go around.

You can spend rCredits and be paid with rCredits just as with US Dollars.


Welch Issues Statement on Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court Decision

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Peter Welch today issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to make same-sex marriage a right in all 50 states:

“The wall of marriage discrimination in America has finally come down. The Supreme Court affirmed today what Vermonters recognized years ago — that the quality of love between two people is more important than their gender,” Congressman Welch said.


Rep. Welch Decides To Stay In Congress

When Peter Shumlin announced he wouldn’t be running for Governor again, Rep. Peter Welch announced he would consider becoming the next governor. 

He’s decided  — to run for Congress again.  Here is the statement:

…..


You Can Do It, But You Can’t Control The Reaction

I find it interesting that one of the outcomes of the shooting in Charleston appears to be the dismantling of the imagery that appealed to the shooter. Overnight, the Confederate flag is something for politicians to distance themselves from, and calls for its removal from license plates, statehouses, and other official uses are being acted upon. Long a symbol of southern pride, its days seem numbered.

Dylann Roof probably didn’t anticipate this reaction, but he accomplished it.


Sanders: Corporate America Wins Again

WASHINGTON, June 23 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed deep disappointment today after the Senate voted 60-37 to cut off debate and advance legislation that would grant President Barack Obama powers to complete a major Pacific trade accord.

“The vote today – pushed by multi-national corporations, pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street – will mean a continuation of disastrous trade policies which have cost our country millions of decent-paying jobs,” said Sanders, who voted no.

“American workers deserve a trade policy that works for them and not only for the CEOs of major multi-national corporations. We cannot continue trade policies which outsource jobs to low-wage countries overseas and lead us into a race to the bottom,” Sanders added.


The Cost of Housing

According to a recent study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition the minimum wage required for a two bedroom apartment in Vermont is $20.68/hour.

                   http://nlihc.org/oor

About 40% of the households in Brattleboro do not have that much income.


Sen. Sanders’ Statement on Charleston Church Shootings

WASHINGTON, June 18 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on the killing of nine people by a white man at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina:

“The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation. This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness. The hateful killing of nine people praying inside a church is a horrific reminder that, while we have made significant progress in advancing civil rights in this country, we are far from eradicating racism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their congregation.”

Contact: Michael Briggs: (202) 224-5141


Tools of War

The United States is effectively supplying Islamic State with tools of war. Iraqi security forces lost 2,300 Humvee armored vehicles when Islamic State overran the northern city of Mosul. Further losses by default to Islamic State include at least :

40 M1A1 main battle tanks,
74,000 machine guns,
52 M198 howitzer mobile gun systems.
1,000 additional Humvees, along with their armor upgrades, machine guns and grenade launchers.
250 Mine Resistant Armored Personnel carriers (MRAPs) Like in Keene!

plus unaccountable amounts of materiel left behind when American forces departed Iraq in 2011.


Statement of Congressman Peter Welch In Response to Governor Peter Shumlin’s Announcement That He Will Not Seek Reelection

WASHINGTON—Congressman Peter Welch (VT-AL) released the following statement in response to Governor Peter Shumlin’s announcement that he will not seek a fourth term as governor:

“Governor Shumlin has been compiling an extraordinary record of service as Vermont’s 81st governor.

“He led us through the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene, mobilizing Vermonters across the state to help one another and to rebuild Vermont to be stronger than before the storm. He was a resolute advocate for marriage equality. And, thanks to his bold leadership, the Vermont General Assembly became the first state legislature in the country to make marriage equality the law of the state.


A Presidential Candidate – Lincoln Chafee

Lincoln Chafee has heard the call and realizes it is his time, too, to run for president.

“I enjoy challenges, and today we have many facing America. Today I am formally entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president.”


Bernie Sanders To Be At Strolling of the Heifers

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS will march in the annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade in Brattleboro VT on Saturday, June 6.

The Parade starts at 10 AM sharp, up Main Street. After the parade, Sanders will speak from the Gazebo at the Brattleboro Common at approximately 11:15 AM.

Here’s Bernie in winning form at the milking contest a few years ago.