Vermonters to vote on Iraq War

[cyn2]

Published on Saturday, February 26, 2005 by the Boston Globe
For Many Vermonters, Iraq is on the Ballot
Towns to Vote on Antiwar Resolution

by Sarah Schweitzer

Vermont's town meetings next week will offer the nation one of the first popular referendums on the Iraq war.

In one-fifth of the state's 251 towns, residents on Tuesday will be asked to vote on a resolution that calls upon President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq and urges the state's elected leaders to reconsider the use of Vermont's National Guard in the war.

By utilizing the time-honored format of New England town meetings, often seen as incubators of democracy, antiwar activists hope to express what they say is a deeply rooted and widening opposition to the war.

The state has borne a heavy burden from the Iraq conflict. Vermont has the second-highest per capita rate of reservists called to active duty, after Hawaii. It has also suffered a high casualty rate: 11 service members, from a state with a population of 621,394, have died during active duty.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0226-02.htm

[cobaindrain]

1. this is a good idea

I hope it catches on elsewhere

[eleny]

2. Thom Hartmann's radio program should be interestng this week!

[FloridaPat]

3. This didn't help the Patriot Act . It's still here. Lots of communities

voted against it.

[4morewars]

6. Yes, BUT...

at least they did something ! They didn't just stand bye and let this BS go on. The towns and cities that have passed these resolutions DO NOT have to cooperate with federal authorities when they come to harass it's citizens.

It has to start somewhere, and waiting for someone else to "fix" it didn't work in nazi germany, and probably won't work here either !

[K-W]

8. You lose 100% of the battles you don't fight. EOM

[democrank]

4. Vermonters are known for speaking their minds.

At the very least, we`ll raise an important issue and have the opportunity to speak out. Vermont has been hard hit by Bush`s elective invasion and not everyone up here looks the other way and pretends that war is peace.

[havocmom]

7. I GOTTA go to Vermont someday!

Love those Vermont boys, Dr. Dean & Havocdad! They are SOOOO smart, practical and sexy ;)

[FloridaPat]

9. I've been there once. It's one of the most beautiful states in the Union.

Every corner you turn is another picture post card. Didn't get to meet too many of the people though

[4morewars]

5. Look Here !

Check out this site:

http://www.ips-dc.org/citiesforpeace/

I will be doing this here in my town, starting Wednesday at our Democratic club.

Here's the site for doing the same thing with the patriot act:

http://www.icujp.org/repeal.shtml

Which I will also try to do in my town.