City in Vermont to vote on arresting Bush, Cheney

Once again a local municipality is making their voice heard on a national issue. But what makes this story different is that voters will be asked to decide whether or not the President and Vice-President should be arrested.

The Rutlan Herald reports:

Brattleboro residents will vote at town meeting on whether President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney should be indicted and arrested for war crimes, perjury or obstruction of justice if they ever step foot in Vermont.

The Brattleboro Select Board voted 3-2 Friday to put the controversial item on the Town Meeting Day warning.

According to Town Clerk Annette Cappy, organizers of the Bush-Cheney issue gathered enough signatures, and it was up to the Select Board whether Brattleboro voters would consider the issue in March.

Cappy said residents will get to vote on the matter by paper balloting March 4.

As I see it, it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to put forth resolutions and referendums that address issues that are outside of the jurisdiction of these municipalities and thus have no legitimate basis in law. Here in Sacramento, CA our city council has wasted hours of staff and meeting time passing resolutions on the War in Iraq, the Patriot Act and President Bush.

Wouldn’t this time be better spent addressing the rising tide of youth violence in our city? Or maybe they could spend a little more time figuring out how the city amassed a multi-million dollar deficit despite substantive growth in city revenues? There are so many important issues that are within their sphere of influence and control that these folks refuse to address; one wonders why they don’t clean up their own messes before throwing in their two cents on issues that are outside of their jurisdictions.

I am reminded of the old adage: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones…”

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Once again, you are looking at an issue from a skewed perspective. The local government serves as the elected representatives, and while I agree that the city representatives do have alot to deal with, they also have the biggest stage to communicate the discontent of the people they represent.

And why should't local governments take a stand on behalf of their citizens? This administration has plunged the country into an economic crisis while waging an unjust war on the backs of the sons and daughters from small towns like Battleboro. You just don't get it - peope are pissed off with the way the Administration has dumped on them.

While you are reminded that "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones…”, I am reminded that it is the responsibility of the governed to outline their greivences with their government. Remember the Declaration of Independence....? I bet if you were around then, you'd be right at home in the House of Lords or in the King's Court laughing at the colonies... and you see where that kind of attitude will get you!

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No my brotha, it is you who doesn’t get it!

We elect school board members to govern our schools. We elect sheriffs to make law enforcement decisions. We elect city council members to address issue relating to city government. We elect people to address issues that fall within a specific jurisdiction, not to use taxpayer resources to pontificate on matters which are outside of their scope of authority.

They can write opinion editorials and letters to the federal government to express their opinion. They can hold meetings and press conferences as well. But to waste taxpayer resources for political grandstanding is just wrong.

Liberals politicians think that taxpayer money belongs to them. Conservaitves believe that it belongs to the taxpayers and that it is our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

People may be “pissed”, but there are legitimate ways to express those emotions. And this ain’t it!