Bastions of Rampant Socialism
To the Editor:
I read with great interest the March 5 Forum letter, The Taxing Ways of Vermont. As a resident of Vermonts neighbor to the east, I was stuck by the similarities between the behavior that has been driving Vermont into ruin and what is becoming the increasingly socialistic behavior of New Hampshire.
Its really, really easy for voters to decide that their interests need immediate government attention ... read dollars, but there aint no such thing as a free lunch. When we spend, someone has to pay the bills. As just one example, in my town we are seeing horrifyingly rising spending on a small and shrinking (not to mention virtually incompetent) school system. While the town government struggles (quite successfully) to maintain an affordable level of services, the school board thinks millions and millions of dollars for dollars for things like a school theater (maybe math and writing instead?) should be a priority. Unfortunately, the School Boards con job on the voters got passed last year, and now were beginning to see the real cost of its manipulation. Even strong school supporters are beginning to regret their decision. New Hampshire used to be a fiscally responsible, conservatively focused state. Increasingly, we seem to becoming yet another bastion for rampant socialism, and headed down the same disastrous slope as our neighbors to the west. Too bad, because we will pay a fearsome price, just as Vermont is now facing.
Andrew Van Abs
Canaan
My Statement About the Co-op
To the Editor:
A quote attributed to me in the Valley News last Friday did not accurately reflect what I said (Members Critical of Co-op Firings Run for Seats on Board, March 13): that is, that the Hanover Co-ops board of directors took our commitment to re-evaluate our treatment of staff policy so strongly that we devoted a lot of time and effort to it. We promised to look into it, and we did. The revisions to the policy are designed to reflect the corrective, rather than disciplinary, approach of our human resources department.
Also, although the allegation of terminations due to union organizing was raised again in the article, the Co-ops response that was reported did not mention that the Co-op has publicly stated that its board and management have never and will never interfere with our employees right to form or join a union if they so choose.
See the original post here:
Forum, March 20: Bastions of Rampant Socialism; My Statement About the Co-op; Low Wages Are Not Always Bad