Vermont Libertarian Party Blog » death with dignity

Lowering the voting age gives teens a voice

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:24:00 +0000

The answer is easy as to what party supports youth rights — the Libertarian Party

Lower voting age to give teens a voice

Rutland Herald, August 10, 2006

At “alcohol summits” held this past spring in Windsor County and throughout the state, teens complained that adults did not listen seriously to their concerns. As a result, the young people argued, community leaders and police developed unrealistic and excessively harsh approaches to teen substance abuse. As we enter this most political time of the year, it is worth considering whether young people have been given the “voice” they deserve in helping to shape local and statewide policies.

In my judgment they have not, and the time has come to allow teens to participate directly in our democracy by giving them the right to vote. I propose amending Vermont law to give 16- and 17-year-olds to right to vote in state and local elections.

Giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote would serve many laudable goals. It would help instill civic awareness, encourage meaningful dialogue between adults and teenagers, and develop, perhaps, a lifetime pattern of voter participation. It would also change the nature of the political process. Currently, some candidates make an effort to address the concerns of young people. Matt Dunne’s candidacy for lieutenant governor comes immediately to mind. This proposed reform would obligate all candidates to speak to issues affecting young people and, more importantly, to speak to young people directly. Politicians would ignore youth at their peril.

One can fairly ask if 16- and 17-year-olds are mature enough to vote. We have already decided they are ready (or at least permitted) to drive, hunt, drop out of school, consent to sexual relations, become emancipated, join the work force, and be charged as adults for criminal behavior. Certainly all of these activities pose greater public risks than affording teens the right to vote. Granting the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds in state and local elections would be commensurate with and complementary to the existing responsibilities and privileges given to these teens.

Additional criticisms that could be levied against the teen vote are the likelihood that teens will simply parrot their parents and/or be heavily influenced by teachers. As to the first criticism, it is true that our home environment influences all of us and may affect how we vote. However, one rarely hears parents complaining about teens following their directives too closely. Most teens are far too independent simply to mirror the views of their parents. Regarding undue influence by teachers, one would hope that ethical educators would not overstep appropriate bounds. But even if they did, the societal benefit of a more active citizenry outweighs the risks of undue influence.

Here it is worth noting that this proposal only extends to state and local elections. The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extends voting privileges in federal elections to those 18 years old and older. Federal reform can only occur with a constitutional amendment. For information on efforts to address federal voting issues, a group called youthrights.org maintains an interesting Web site.

State reform, however, is readily accomplishable with a statutory change and logistical coordination. With tiered state and federal voting ages we create graduated voting privileges, akin to a graduated driver’s license. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds could vote first in state and local elections and then at 18 in all elections.

What party would gain an edge by this reform? It is almost impossible to say. Polls show that on certain issues such as gay marriage teens are more tolerant than adults. On the issue of substance use and abuse, the teen vote might help move us toward more intelligent drug policies based on a public health rather than a criminal justice model. Regarding fiscal, environmental, religious, and myriad other social and political issues, no one can accurately predict the impact of teen participation in the electoral process.

Teens and adults routinely complain about inadequate understanding and communication. Politicians pass laws and shape social policy in ways that affect young people profoundly. The time has come to give young people a greater voice in helping to shape those policies. And in the process, young people and adults just might start talking to each other more.

Robert L. Sand is Windsor County state’s attorney.

VTLP Releases Local Official Survey Results

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:16:00 +0000

VERMONT LIBERTARIAN PARTY RELEASES LOCAL OFFICIAL SURVEY RESULTS

Montpelier: The Vermont Libertarian Party announced the survey results of local officials for 2006. There were 12 questions ranging from eminent domain to death with dignity. Responses were received from 31 towns across Vermont.

Hardy Machia, Chairman of the Vermont Libertarian Party, stated, “The survey responses highlight the need for a state government and party that better represents the respondents’ views.

Nearly all survey respondents wanted much tougher eminent domain restrictions. Only one respondent agreed with the weak bill passed by the Vermont Legislature this year.

Seven out of ten respondents thought spending should be reduced instead of raising gas taxes. A backlash of protest and some moderate leadership in the Senate removed the gas tax increase passed by the Vermont House.

Nearly all survey respondents thought we needed major reforms in health care, but were split 40-60 on whether a single payer system or free market system was the better way to accomplish those goals.

Support for Death with Dignity and treating marijuana like alcohol both had strong support, with over 80 percent supporting both these reforms.

Zero respondents thought our school system was working great. Getting out of No Child Left Behind received majority support, as did, public and private school choice, limiting spending to the rate of inflation, and shifting funding to an income tax instead of the controversial Act 68 & 68 property tax distribution.

Seven out of ten respondents thought Vermont’s state budget should be 4 billion dollars or less, with a quarter of respondents believing spending should be rolled back to 2002 levels, 3.3 billion. The Governor and Legislature passed a budget that was a 400 million in excess of 2005′s budget of four billion.

The open-ended question on the biggest issue facing their town revealed that education funding is still a top priority for many towns, followed by roads.

The Vermont Libertarian Party has been active in Vermont politics for over 30 years. Vermont Libertarians have served in local office throughout the state. The National Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 and is the third largest political party in the United States. Millions of Americans have voted for Libertarian Party candidates in past elections throughout the country. Libertarians believe the answer to America’s political problems is the same commitment to freedom that earned America its greatness: a free-market economy and the abundance and prosperity it brings, a dedication to individual liberties and personal freedom, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade.

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April 2006 Newsletter

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 09:59:00 +0000

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VERMONT LIBERTARIAN NEWS
April 3, 2006

Sponsored by The Vermont Libertarian Party

http://www.vtlp.org

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. From the Chair
$73, Blog, Convention Speakers
2. Convention Schedule
3. Libertarians call on the Legislature to act on Death with Dignity bill
4. Vermont has Highest State Tax Burden in Country
5. Columnist Cal Thomas says “it’s time strong third party”
6. Calendar of Events
Apr 22, 10 M: State Committee Mtg, City Hall, Montpelier
Apr 29, 9:30AM-4PM: State Convention, Montpelier
7. Donate, Volunteer, Run for Office
8. Unsubscribe

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1. FROM THE CHAIR

Thanks to many generous supporters our 10/10/10 fund raiser is wrapping
up on April 15th. We raised another $1000 last month – putting us within
$73 of reaching our goal of $10,000. If all our readers could donate a
dollar, it would put us easily over the top. You can use PayPal to donate -
in the right hand column at http://www.vtlp.org/

When you visit http://www.vtlp.org, you will notice that we now have a
blog. Just under Upcoming Events is the Recent News section. Here you
will find something new just about every day. (If you know about RSS
feeds, then you can watch our blog at feed://www.vtlp.org/feeds/.)

Later this month:

Come celebrate with like minded Vermonters on April 29 at the Capital
Plaza in Montpelier at the Vermont Libertarian Party state convention.
We have a great line up of speakers.

Ethan Allen travels through time to add some revolutionary gusto to
the party.
Rob Williams, editor of “Vermont Commons”, a monthly newspaper
and multimedia forum championing Vermont independence ? political, economic,
social, and spiritual.
Martin Harris of Vermont Citizens for Property Rights
James Dwinell, publisher of the weekly e-mail Dwinell Report.
Professor Frank Bryan is one of Vermont best known political writers
and humorists. Author of Real Democracy, The Vermont Papers, Real Vermonters
Don’t Milk Goats, Vermont Quiz Book, and many others.

http://www.vtlp.org/main/vtlp-convention.asp

Hardy Machia

Chair, Vermont Libertarian Party

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2. CONVENTION SCHEDULE

Vermont Libertarian Party Convention 2006

Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center

100 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont

Saturday, April 29, 8:30 a.m. ? 4 p.m.

FOR RESERVATIONS OR MORE CONVENTION INFORMATION CONTACT:
SCOTT BERKEY AT 802-728-6211 OR BERKEYSCOTT@HOTMAIL.COM
Online Reservation Form
(http://www.vtlp.org/main/vtlp-convention.asp)

MORNING SESSION
8:30 a.m. Registration Opens
9:30 a.m. Chair?s Welcome, Recognition of VIP?s
10:00 a.m. Introduction of Attending Vendors
10:15 a.m. Nomination of Delegates to the National Convention
10:30 a.m. Adoption of Campaign 2006 Platform
12:00 p.m. Break

AFTERNOON SESSION
12:30 p.m. Luncheon (Reservations Required)
Ethan Allen travels through time to speak
2:00 p.m. Guest Speakers (Tickets Required $10)
Rob Williams, Vermont Commons/Second Vermont Republic
Martin Harris, Citizens for Property Rights
James Dwinell, Dwinell Political Report
3:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker: ?Frank Bryan
4:00 p.m. Social Hour

Lunch: Seating for lunch is by reservation only. Reservation may be
placed with Scott Berkey by calling (802) 728-6211, emailing
berkeyscott@hotmail.com?or through our online reservation form
(http://www.vtlp.org/main/vtlp-convention.asp). The price is $25 per
person if paid in advance and $30 if paid on the day of the convention.
The ticket for the speakers is included in the cost of lunch.
A vegetarian option is available.

Directions: The Capitol Plaza is located at 100 State Street in
Montpelier. Exit 8 off I-89, merge onto Memorial Drive. At second stop
light take a left onto Bailey Avenue. At intersection take right onto
State Street. Vermont State House is on your left, 1/2 block on the
Right is Capitol Plaza Hotel. The phone number is (802) 223-5252.

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3. Libertarians call on the Legislature to act on Death with Dignity
bill

March 13, Libertarian Party chair Hardy Machia spoke out in support of
death with dignity legislation that would allow people to retain the
right to make their end-of-life decisions themselves.

Libertarian Party State Chair Hardy Machia said, “Freedom starts with
the individual, and each individual is the owner of his own mind, body,
and spirit. The Death with Dignity bill respects this fundamental right
by allowing individuals to make decisions about how they want to live
their lives, and how they want to end their lives. We call on the
legislature to act on the death with dignity bill [H.168] this session.”

The Libertarian Party looks with approval on Oregon’s eight-year-old
assisted-suicide law that allows doctors to help terminally ill patients
who wish to end their lives. The Party disagrees with the Bush
administration’s argument against the Oregon law, that that hastening
death with medication violates federal drug provisions. Libertarians
believe that no federal or state provisions should truncate the
fundamental right of human beings over their own lives and bodies.

Libertarians agree with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision rendered
in Gonzales v. Oregon that upheld Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act by a
vote of 6-3. “It is time for Vermont to pass similar legislation to take
a more libertarian approach to matters that are so intimate and personal
to our people,” Machia said.

The Death with Dignity bill [H.168] is currently in the House Human
Services Committee.

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4. Vermont has Highest State Tax Burden in Country

Burlington, Vermont — March 31, 2006

A new report says Vermonters pay more state taxes than people from any
other state.

According to the federal report released Friday, overall state taxation
rose from $1.8 billion to $2.4 billion in one year. That’s an increase
of 33%.

That pushes the per capita tax burden to $3,600, the highest state tax
burden in the country, but the numbers do not paint an entirely accurate
picture.

The new federal report is misleading. It turns out that Vermonters state
tax burden is not as bad as reported, but then again, as one expert made
very clear, Vermonters are still among the highest taxed in the country.

“One of the things that the Census Bureau did was this year was change
its methodology,” said Art Woolf, University of Vermont Professor of
Economics.

Woolf says it is the Census Bureau decision to include Vermont property
tax payments that accounts for the misleading impression that Vermonters
are paying the highest state taxes per person.

“So Vermont’s zoomed up in the rankings because it used to be that a lot
of property taxes were seen as a local tax, part of it was a state tax
and now they’ve just taken the entire property tax and put it in the
state tax which is why we’re number one in the nation in total state
taxes per capita,” explained Woolf.

Woolf points out that while state taxes may not be as burdensome as
indicated in the new report, Vermonters nevertheless remain among the
highest taxed citizens in the nation, especially individuals and
families that make income over 60-thousand dollars.

“Well we are highly taxed. We’re one of the top ten states in the
country in terms of our total taxes as a percent of the income we earn,”
said Woolf.

Maine residents pay the highest overall taxes in the nation, while New
Hampshire residents, by far, according to Art Woolf, have the lightest
overall tax burden per person.

Brian Joyce – Channel 3 News

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=4710624

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5. Columnist Cal Thomas says “it’s time strong third party, or failing
that, another revolution”

The following editorial appeared in the Burlington Freepress. Cal Thomas
joins Alan Greenspan and others in calling for a strong third party.

Spending obscenities

By Cal Thomas

Mar 21, 2006

Not so long ago, in a country that now seems far, far away, Ronald
Reagan told the nation: “we don’t have deficits because people are taxed
too little. We have deficits because big government spends too much.”

He uttered those words in a year when Democrats controlled the House
(the body in which spending legislation originates) and the national
debt, according to the Bureau of Public Debt, was $2.3 trillion.

Last week, a Republican Senate voted to raise the debt ceiling to nearly
$9 trillion. Senators quickly passed a record $2.8 trillion budget. What
would Reagan say now? He said then, “the federal deficit is outrageous.
For years I’ve asked that we stop pushing onto our children the excesses
of our government.” He called for a balanced budget amendment to the
Constitution and labeled the budget process a “sorry spectacle.” That
Republicans are outspending the most reckless 1980s Democrat (and 1960s
Great Society Democrats and 1940s FDR Democrats) is the sorriest
spectacle of all.

The Senate vote increased the debt ceiling for the fourth time in five
years. The statutory debt limit has now risen by more than $3 trillion
since President Bush took office. That any Republican majority could
preside over such fiscally irresponsible spending ought to be grounds
for revoking their party membership.

This is mostly about politics, not terrorism. Republicans fear that only
gobs of money will endear them to voters in sufficient numbers to
re-elect their increasingly precarious majority. Why should Republicans
be re-elected when one of the major reasons the GOP exists is to reduce
the size and cost of government and free more people to do for
themselves instead of restricting their liberties through costly and
overreaching big government?

Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, rightly blamed
out-of-control spending on his colleagues’ political nervousness: “They
want to go and say they are helping people, but we are not helping
people when we are selling out their future.”

DeMint might have added that it doesn’t help people to cause them to
rely on and pay for ever-expanding government. Such a policy stifles
initiative and personal responsibility and discourages incentive. It
goes against the “Puritan ethic” that was one of America’s foundational
principles.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, observed, “This budget
could be the final nail in our coffin if we don’t watch it.” Graham said
Republican spending habits are demoralizing voters: “I don’t think we
properly understand the keys to our electoral success.”

Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, defended spending an
additional $7 billion for health and education programs, claiming those
areas have lacked money in recent years. Is he kidding? The Bush
administration has sired the biggest new entitlement program in history
- a prescription drug benefit for the elderly. And let’s not forget “No
Child Left Behind,” which massively increased federal education spending
when there is no evidence of a connection between money and academic
achievement.

Perhaps the real culprit is not Congress, but us. The Pew Research
Center poll of March 14 found that only 55 percent of Americans rate the
deficit as a “top priority.” That contrasts with the 1990s when the
deficit resonated more strongly with voters. As long as we are willing
to take the money in exchange for our votes, politicians will give it to
us. This must change, not only because we are in debt up to our
eyeballs, but also because many of the note holders are, or might
become, our enemies.

Means testing for all government programs and term limits for Congress
are the answer to never-ending debt, but neither is likely to happen.

Reagan said his favorite president was Calvin Coolidge. In 1923, when
Coolidge was vice president, he said, “After order and liberty, economy
is one of the highest essentials of a free government.”

Coolidge left the presidency with a surplus. So did Bill Clinton. That a
Republican Congress and administration are engaging in such promiscuous
spending is obscene. If voting in Democrats -who in the past engaged in
deficit spending – punishes Republicans, little will change. What to do?

Maybe it’s time for a strong third party, or failing that, another
revolution.

Cal Thomas is the co-author of Blinded By Might.

Find this story at: http://www.townhall.com/opinion/column/calthomas/2006/03/21/190629.html

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6. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 22 (10AM – Saturday): VTLP State Committee Meeting at City Hall in
Montpelier. Use the back door, go up stairs, Memorial Room
is on right.

April 29 (9:30AM-4PM): VTLP State Convention. Capital Plaza Hotel, Montpelier.

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7. DONATE, VOLUNTEER, RUN FOR OFFICE

To make a contribution to the Vermont Libertarian Party or to sign

your friends up for the newsletter, visit us on the web at

http://www.vtlp.org.

If you are interested in volunteering or running for office, then

contact Hardy Machia at chair@vtlp.org.

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8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / SUBMIT AN ARTICLE

For information or to submit news, letters, or articles, contact

Hardy Machia, Chair, Vermont Libertarian Party, chair@vtlp.org,

(802) 372-9512.

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The VERMONT LIBERTARIAN NEWS is a publication of the Vermont Libertarian