D for ‘Democracy’

Every week I eagerly await the publication of Seven Days, and I always look forward to seeing the cover. The October 29 paper with the cover illustrating Gov. Phil Scott’s efforts to navigate the fact that a fascist is now the leader of his political party did not disappoint. Another great cover.

I do take issue with the fact that only the MAGA side of the illustration included a “USA” sign. The blue side of this conflict dearly loves this country and is pro-USA in the same way that we are anti-fascist. We hate fascism, and we are thankful for the principles on which the USA was founded. (Even if the implementation of these principles was sorely lacking from the outset.)

Democrats and Progressives need to take back the flag and the chants of USA! USA! USA! We are on the side of democracy, the foundation of the USA.

No, Hart

[Re “Hart Says Grief, Politics Led Him to Resign Vermont Senate Seat,” November 5]: I was certainly shocked by the suggestion, from former state senator Larry Hart, that Vermont could bar anyone not born in the state from running for public office there. Such a rule has never been tried, and with good reason — it would almost certainly fail to pass legal muster. 

States are allowed to impose candidate requirements, including durational residency requirements, but such requirements have to further a compelling interest, as aptly noted in Sununu v. Stark, a 1974 challenge to New Hampshire’s seven-year residency requirement for certain offices. The compelling interests supporting durational requirements that have been consistently identified by courts and litigants alike — to ensure candidate familiarity with his constituency, to ensure voters have been exposed to the candidate and to prevent “political carpetbagging” — would also seem to be the only interests you could advance for a birth requirement. 

Reliance on the accidents of birth does nothing to actually further these interests. Just by way of illustration, such a rule would allow Carlton Fisk, born in Bellows Falls, to run for the Statehouse in 2028 if he moved here tomorrow, but House Minority Leader Patricia McCoy — born in Bridgeport, Conn., and a Vermont resident of almost 50 years — would be forever barred from office. No court is likely to conclude that such a system actually serves any compelling interests, and certainly it would not serve them in a permissibly limited way. 

These are just some of the legal issues with this absurd suggestion, and I hope no legislator wastes valuable time on it.

‘Bean’ for Babies

I just wanted to share that I love Lee Anderson’s idea of having an all-ages time for Radio Bean. I would really love to have a place I can bring my kids in the evening where they can experience some live music up close and personal! It’s tough to figure out what to do with kids all the time, especially during the dark and cold months of the year. 

Thanks for the story [“Causing a Scene: On Radio Bean’s 25th anniversary, Club Founder Lee Anderson Reflects on Its Role in Burlington — And Looks to the Future,” November 5]! Glad to know there’s still a strong music scene in Burlington. I hope to get my family out to see some music soon!

Not a Fan

I did not attend Jimmy Carr’s “comic” presentation but am puzzled by Paula Routly’s thought that ridicule of body parts could be funny [From the Publisher: “Humor Me,” November 5].

In the name of humor, words are used to degrade a female person. The C-word steals the humanity from a woman or girl and defines her by a single body part, quite similar to the coercive techniques used by human traffickers. Recent news reported a man groping the president of Mexico, a common abusive and degrading behavior that some do just because they can, although more often not in such a public way. 

We are bombarded daily from media sources by what some call “new norms” and often find ourselves asking, “Did they really just say or do what I heard or saw?” The F-word, the C-word, the N-word and others are coming at us with increasing velocity from many directions, including leadership at many levels, those who we’ve reasonably expected to be role models for decent and civil speech and behavior. Sometimes it feels like we’ve moved into a world that cannot express itself in thoughtful, respectful or funny ways. Are we to become a world in decay that is challenged to find humor without mockery and ridicule, which is often at the expense of those who are considered to be other or lesser than?   

It seems that if people will pay — sold-out house — to hear such humor, those of us who find it offensive are struggling with the “new norms.” 

‘Powerful Show’

[Re “Mourning in America: BCA Center Explores Private and Public Grief,” November 5]: In honor of my son, who would have been 36 on October 22, I attended the grief show at BCA — a fitting tribute to the profound impact that loss has on so many of us.

This art show explores the universal yet deeply personal journey of grief, resonating not just with my experience but with countless others. I strongly encourage everyone to attend this powerful show. We are fortunate to live in a city like Burlington that values the arts and provides a platform for such important expressions.

Bad Headline

The Seven Days headline is misleading on [“Sen. Sam Douglass Resigns Over Racist Chats,” October 17, online]. If you take the time to read what Douglass wrote, you will see that, while unkind and inappropriate, I don’t think it was racist. But that is the broad-brush impression you get from the Seven Days headline. That is sadly unfortunate, as is the outpouring of vile hatred this family has received.

This article appears in The Winter Preview Issue 2025.

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