plan ‘v’ - vermont independent · 12/2/2014 · #calexit - california citizens’ emerging...
TRANSCRIPT
PLAN ‘V’Toward a 2nd Vermont Republic (2VR)
20%+ of
Vermonters
now support
a 2VR
PLAN ‘V’Designing a 2nd Vermont Republic (2VR)
1.Declaration 2.Blueprint 3. FAQ
byRobWilliamsPublisher,the Vermont Independent
www.vermontindependent.org
To all who champion a 2VR. You know who you are.
1. Declaration
“The gods of the Empire are not the gods of Vermont!”
WelcometoPlan‘V’.
‘V’forVermont.
Our21stcenturyvisionforlife,liberty,andthepursuitofourcollectivehappinesshereintheGreenMountainsofVermont.
Imaginepeace.
Securecivilliberties.
Smalltowns,smallfarms,andsmallbusinesses.
“HumanScale”—communitylifelivedinface-to-facecontactwithneighbors.
Awe-inspiringyetinhabitablelandscapes—mountainsandmeadows,streamsandforests,lakesandrivers—collectivelymanagedasour“commons”withenoughroomforallcreatures.
Decentralizedrenewableenergynetworkspoweredbywater,windandsunlight.
AffordablepublicfinancingforVermont’repreneurs,enterprisingfarmers,andaspiringstudents.
Healthylocallygrownfood.
Child-centeredpubliceducation.
Awell-trainedandwell-armedcitizenry,providingfor“homesteadsecurity”andthecommondefense.
Basichealthcareforall.
Democraticdebate,decentralizeddecision-making,andgovernmenttransparencyembeddedinour“townmeeting”tradition,witheveryVermontcitizenalegislator.
“Liveandletlivetolerance”forallcitizensofgoodwill,regardlessofrace,religion,caste,orcolor.
Alocalfoodrevolution—featuringsomeoftheworld’stastiestcheese,icecream,maplesyrup,organicvegetables,grass-fedmeats,andcraftbeers.
Imaginea2ndVermontRepublic(2VR),righthereintheGreenMountainsofVermont.
Tocreateour2VR,wehaveonlyoneviableoption.
VermontersmustpeaceablysecedefromtheUnitedStatesofEmpire.
The2017Vermonterpoll,conductedbytheUniversityofVermont’sCenterforRuralStudies,indicatesthatmorethan20%ofVermontersnowbelievethatthetimehascometoconsiderthecreationofa2ndVermontRepublic.
Let’slookatwhatnonviolentsecessionandthecreationofa2VRmean.
The United States and the “Problem of Empire”
“Instead of union, let us have disunion now. Instead of fusing the small, let us dismember the big. Instead of creating fewer and larger states,
let us create more and smaller ones.”
–LeopoldKohr,The Breakdown Of Nations,1957
Secession?Isn’tthatcrazy,nottomentionunconstitutional?
Quitetheopposite.SecessioniseveryAmerican’sbirthright.Secessionisthecoreprincipleattheheartofthe1776DeclarationofIndependence.19thcenturyNewEnglandersembracedsecessionasaconstitutionaloptionatthe1814HartfordConventioninConnecticut.AsAmericans,secessionisembeddedinourfoundingDNA.
An“Empire?”TheUnitedStates?Areyoumad?
Readon.
Ifyouareawake,youknowweliveinacriticaltimeforhumancivilization—peakoil,climatechange,seeminglyendlesswar,thethreatofnuclearArmageddon,andaglobalEmpirethatseemstobespiralingoutofcontrol.
Yes.TheUnitedStates.US.
“Weareamonstercountry,”observedveteranUSstatesmanGeorgeKennanin1993,“andthereisarealquestionastowhether‘bigness’inabodypoliticisnotanevilinitself,quiteasidefromthepoliciespursuedinitsname.”
Ifyouarepayingattention,youknowthatUSimperialrealitiesarewelldocumented.Hereareteninterlocking“bigpicture”problems.
1) Thefinancialsector’sdebt-drivenpredatorycapitalism,featuringaglobaleconomydrivenbyWallStreet,unaccountablemoniedinstitutionsliketheIMF,theWorldBank,andtheWTO,andthe“DeepState”imperialmatrix.
2) ThePentagon’spursuitofdestructivepolicies:“fullspectrumdominance,”geoengineeringofourskies,massiveglobalarmssales,dronewarfare,sequentialenergywars,andaggressivecreationof“failedstates”inthegreaterMiddleEastandaroundtheworld.
3) TheguttingoftheUSConstitutionandtheBillofRightsinthenameof“HomelandSecurity.”
4) ElectoralDysfunction—ourvotesasUScitizensarenolongeraccuratelycounted.
5) AmassiveOrwelliansurveillanceapparatus—thinkFacebookmeetsGooglemeetstheNSA-whichspiesonusall.
6) Abankrupttwopartypoliticalsystemthatservesonlytherichandpowerful.
7) Amassmedianetworkcontrolledbyfor-profitmultinationalcorporationsthatdistractsanddividesus.
8) AUSneo-colonial“empireofbases”—asmanyas1,000-that
seekstoexercisecontrolovertheentirePlanetandouterspace,aspace-ageexercisein“imperialoverreach.”
9) AcollectiveinabilitytofacethecivilizationalchallengesthatconfrontUS—climatechange,peakoil,andthethreatofnuclearArmageddon.
10) Cataboliccollapse—theMotherofallDilemmas-systemicbreakdownofacomplexcivilizationthathasoverextendeditself,aproblemthathasultimatelypossessedandconsumedeveryEmpireoverthepast10,000yearsofworldhistory.
WeUScitizensareallfeelingtheburn—ofEmpire.
Simplystated-theUnitedStatesisanEmpiresimplytoobig,toocentralized,toocorrupt,andtoomilitaristictobereformedorfixedbyanyperson,program,platform,orparty.
Nowconsiderthe2016Trumprevolution,whichhasdramaticallyacceleratedevents.
Asthe21stcenturyunfolds,twoeliteimperialfactionsarewrestlingforcontroloftheUSofEmpire’shelm.
Neoliberalpro-corporateglobalists,frontedbytheDemocraticParty,andgivenvoicebytheClintonsandObamas.
Fascistpro-corporateandfundamentalistultra-nationalists,frontedbytheRepublicanParty,andgivenvoicebyTrumpiankleptocrats,thinlydisguisedaspopulists.
BothpoliticalpartiesaredeeplycompromisedbytheDeepState,US-basedmultinationalcorporations,andtheirnetworkoffinancialallies.
Bothpoliticalpartiespursuepoliciesthatenrichthe1%attheexpenseofthe99%.
Bothpoliticalpartiespursueonlythreebankrupt“solutions”—privatization,financialization,militarization—toanyandallproblemstheyconfront.
Bothpoliticalparties,finally,seektomaintaintheimperialstatusquo,regardlessoftheconsequencesforordinarycitizenshereandabroad,ourglobalcommons,andthehealthofourplanet.
Howdoweknowthis?Thesignsareallaroundus.
Considerjustone,wellresearched.
A2014PrincetonUniversitystudy,whichbaldlyconcludedthattheUSisnowanoligarchy.
“Whenamajorityofcitizensdisagreeswitheconomicelitesand/orwithorganizedinterests,theygenerallylose.Moreover,becauseofthestrongstatus quobiasbuiltintotheUSpoliticalsystem,evenwhenfairlylargemajoritiesofAmericansfavorpolicychange,theygenerallydonotgetit,”explainMartinGilensandBenjaminPage.“WebelievethatifpolicymakingisdominatedbypowerfulbusinessorganizationsandasmallnumberofaffluentAmericans,thenAmerica’sclaimstobeingademocraticsocietyareseriouslythreatened.”
InplainEnglish?
“Thewealthyfewmovepolicy,whiletheaverageAmericanhaslittlepower.”
Theinconvenienttruth?TheUSisnowanEmpireuninterestedintheneedsandconcernsofitscitizens.
ToquotemasterUSimperialstrategistKarlRovefrom2004:
“We’reanempirenow,andwhenweact,wecreateourownreality.Andwhileyou’restudyingthatreality—judiciously,asyouwill—we’llactagain,creatingothernewrealities,whichyoucanstudytoo,andthat’showthingswillsortout.We’rehistory’sactors…andyou,allofyou,willbelefttojuststudywhatwedo.”
WhenconfrontedwiththerealityoftheUSofEmpire,thetimeforactionisnow.
Let’sexploreouroptions.
The “Problem of Empire:” Eight Options
“If the scale of the country renders it unmanageable, there are two possible responses.
One is a breakup of the nation; the other a radical decentralization of power.”
—GarAlperovitz,The New York Times,2007
Whenconfrontedwiththe“ProblemofEmpire,”wefaceseveraloptions.
Considereight.
1) DENIAL: ManychoosetoignoretheEmpireandpretendthatallisfineandwell.Clapalong,‘causeI’mhappy.
2) DETACHMENT:ManysimplytuneouttheEmpire.Letsomeoneelseworry.Iamtooburdenedwithmyownproblems.Apathy.Anomie.
3) COMPLIANCE: Manyaccepttheirfate,turnonthe“WalkingDead,”andsimplycomply.McDonaldsandNetflixbinge’ing.Wal-MartandAmazonshopping.Moviesandvideogames.Pornography.SocialMedia.Endlessdistraction.
4) IMPLOSION:Averyrealpossibility.SeethefallingofGermany’swall,thepeaceful“velvet”separationoftheCzechandSlovakrepublics,andtheSovietUnion’salmostovernightandmostlypeacefulcollapse.
5) REFORM:AfavoriteoptionofliberalDemocratic“statists”intheUSEmpirecanbefixed.Tinkeredwith.Adjusted.Ifwejustsupporttherightcandidates,voteharder,ormarchinthestreetsenough.#FeelTheBern.
6) REVOLUTION:AveryfewsuggestaviolentconfrontationwiththeEmpire.Thissurelyseemsasuicidalprospect,giventheawesomepoweroftheUStechno-fasciststate.
7) REBELLION:Moreareengagedinsustainedactsofrebellion
tochallengetheimperialstatusquo.WitnesstheDakotaAccessPipelineprotestsoffall2016,inwhich10,000protestersfromaroundtheworldtemporarilyhaltedtheconstructionofanoilpipeline.Thinkthe#OccupyWallStreetmovement,systematicallyshutdownbytheObamaadministrationoveroneweekend.Rebellionisvitalandnecessary,butitcannotbesustainedindefinitely,anditoffersnoalternativesbeyondresistancetotheimperialstatusquo.
8) SECESSION:Ourpreferredoption,inwhichwepeacefully,lawfully,andconstitutionallydetachourselvesfromtheUSofEmpireandregionallyreintegrateourselveswithneighboringstatesandprovinces.
Consideroptions#7and#8.
Rebellionandsecession.
“Sofar,thelevelofdissentwithintheUShasnotreachedthepointofrebellionorsecession,”observedHuman ScaleauthorKirkpatrickSalein2010,“thanksbothtotheincreasingrepressionofdissentandescalationoffearinthenameof‘homelandsecurity,’andtothesuccessofourmodernversionofbreadandcircuses—auniquecombinationofentertainment,sports,television,internetsexandgames,consumption,drugs,liquorandreligionthateffectivelydeadensthegeneralpublicintostupor.”
ButglobalTrumpismhasprovedagame-changer,acceleratingevents,layingnakedtheEmpireasneverbefore,andawakeningUScitizensfromtheirslumber.
Witnessbuttwoemergingstories.
#Calexit-Californiacitizens’emergingreferendumplantopeaceablysecedefromtheUnitedStates,gatheringsteamintheformerBearFlagRepublic.
NewHampshire’sFreeStateProject-designedtoelectrepresentativestotheN.H.legislaturewhosupportamoreindependentanddecentralistWhiteMountainState.“LiveFreeorDie.”
HereinVermont,nowisthetimeforPlan‘V.’
Secession, Independence,
and the 1st Vermont Republic (1VR)
What’s In A Name?
“Only in Vermont was the concept of a state as a self-constituted political community fully and radically tested. In this sense, Vermont
was the only true American republic, for it alone created itself.”
—PeterSOnuf,The Origins Of The Federal Republic
TofullyunderstandourPlan‘V’proposalfora2ndVermontRepublic,wemusttravelbackintime.
WeVermontershaveauniquehistoryastheonlystateof50toself-conceiveasanindependentandsovereigncountry.
Theoriginal18thcenturyRepublicofVermont(1777-1791)wasbornoutofacomplexcontinentalstruggle,withtheBritishEmpire,indigenousAbenaki,wealthyNewYorkers,andarebelliousthirteenEnglishcoloniesallinthemix.
MostAmericans,evenintoday’sEmpire,arewellversedinthefamouslanguageofinalienablerightsfromthesecondContinentalCongress’1776DeclarationofIndependence—“life,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness.”
ManyAmericanscanstillrecitefrommemoryJefferson’sprovocativecallin1776forsecession,independence,andself-governance:“Wheneveranyformofgovernmentbecomesdestructive,itistherightofthepeopletoalterorabolishit,andtoinstitutenewgovernment,layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheirsafetyandhappiness.”
FewAmericans,however,arefamiliarwithVermonthistory.
FewAmericansknowthatevenbeforethe13EnglishcoloniessuccessfullysecededfromGreatBritainandestablishedthemselvesasanewcountryby1783treaty,ourGreenMountainancestorshadestablishedtheRepublicofVermont(1VR),completewiththeirownconstitution,auniquealchemyofself-relianceandcommunitarianism.
Here’sataste.
“Thatwewill,atalltimeshereafter,considerourselvesasafreeandindependentstate,capableofregulatingourinternalpolice,inallandeveryrespectwhatsoever,”declaredVermontersintheirJanuary15,1777declarationofindependence,“andthatthepeopleonsaidGrantshavethesoleandexclusiveandinherentrightofrulingandgoverningthemselvesinsuchamannerandformastotheirownwisdomtheyshallthinkproper.”
Revolutionary OutlawshistorianMichaelA.Bellesilesoffersthissummaryoftheuniqueandsmall“d”democratic1stVermontRepublic’s1777constitutionandgovernancestructure:
“Vermont’sconstitution[of1777]demandsattentionforthewayitliveduptoitstheoreticalassertions,creatingthemostdemocraticstructureofitstime.Itclearlyestablishedandprotectedcertainbasicrights:freedomofspeech,print,andpublicassembly,amodifiedfreedomofreligion,therighttoafairandopentrialbeforeajury,andthepeople’srighttoformnewgovernmentsastheysawfit.”
“Thestate’svoterscontrolledeverybranchofgovernment,electingthestate’sexecutiveofficersandjudges,aswellasrepresentativesoftheunicamerallegislature.”
“Vermontfailedtoinstituteaseparationofthebranchesofgovernment.ThegovernorandcouncilofVermontcouldNOTvetolegislation.”
“Tomaintaincivicparticipation,theconstitutionrequiredpubliclegislativesessionsandforbadethepassageofanybillintolawthesameyearitwasproposed,mandatingitsprintingforthepublic’sinformation.”
“AseptennialCouncilofCensorswastoreviewalllegislativeandexecutiveactstoensurethattheconstitutionwasbeingfulfilled.TheCouncilofCensorscouldamendtheconstitutionbycallingapopularlyelectedconventionallowing‘posteritythesameprivilegesofchoosinghowtheywouldbegoverned’withoutresortto‘revolutionorbloodshed.’”
Insummary,theRepublicofVermont’s18thcenturyfoundingwasanactof“radicaldemocracy,”concludesauthorAdrianKuzminskiinhisbookaboutthe“historyofpopulism,ancientandmodern.”
AndVermonters,true18thcenturypopulists,tiedtheirpoliticalexperimenttoanegalitarianeconomicculturethattriedtobalancelibertyandproperty,communityandcommons,inequalmeasure.
Here’sKuzminskiagain.
“Vermontersintheirhillswereabletoachievewidespreadownershipoflandasindependentfarmersandartisanswithoutreckoningwithanestablishedwealthyeliteincontrolofmostresources,especiallyfinancialones,andthegovernment.”
“Vermontcameintoexistencefromthegroundup,whollyonthelocallevel,farmbyfarm,andtownbytown—almostatextbookcaseofafreesocietyfoundedinastateofnature.”
“Vermonterswereabletorealizethepopulistvision,reconcilingfreedomandpropertyinalocallyrootedradicaldemocracy.”
Insum,18thcenturyVermont’spopulistapproachtobothpoliticalandeconomiclifeprovidedthefoundationsforthe1stVermontRepublic(1VR).
Here’sthe1VRcreationstoryinanutshell.
“DuringthefourteenyearsbetweenVermont’sDeclarationofIndependence(January15,1777)anditsacceptanceintotheunion(March4,1791),”writesJimHogueinMost Likely To Secede,“Vermontconvenedanelectedassembly,adoptedaconstitution,coineditsownmoney,operatedapostalservice,conductedmilitaryoperations
anddiplomaticrelationsandtrade,recruitedandcommandeditsownmilitia,andwroteitsownlawsinalegislatureelectedattownmeeting.”
Soundsliketheblueprintfora2ndVermontRepublic(2VR).
Onelastvoicefromthepast.
InMarch1791,after14yearsasanindependentcountry,VermontersmettoconsiderthequestionofwhethertheindependentVermontrepublicshouldjointhenewUnitedStates.Aftermuchdebate,themajorityofVermonterspresentcasttheirvotesinfavorofunion.
OnefarmerfromthetownofNorwich,DanielBuck,casthisvoteinopposition,androsetospeakfromthefloor.Hisremarksareworthquotingatlengthas21stcenturyVermonterslookaheadtowardsthecollapseoftheU.S.ofEmpire.
“Itisnecessarytoconsidertheoriginalcauseofallgovernment,”BuckexplainedtohisfellowVermontersinspring1791.
“Governmentisformedby‘compact’inorder‘foramantoenjoytheblessingsofsociety,securityofhisperson,libertyandproperty.’”
“Toformacompactcreatingagovernment,‘eachindividualofthecommunitymustnecessarilysacrificeapartofhisnaturalliberty,hisinterests,andhisprivileges,soastocoincidewiththecommoninterestsofthewhole;yetthissacrificemustbeinsomemeasureproportionaltothediversityofinteresttobefoundintheseveralpartsofthecommunity—thatthesacrificeoftheindividualsofasmallcommunitymustbelessthanthoseofalargeone,wheretheinterestmustbesupposedmorediverse.’”
“Vermonthasa‘uniformityofinterest,’ithas‘nomercantileorlandedinterest,’‘lordandtenantwerenotknown.’”
“Theaffairsofgovernmentweremanaged,asitwere,undertheeyeofthepeople,andthemachinewassosmallthateveryonecouldlookandseehowthewheelsmoved,andforthisreasonitwasobservable,thatthepeoplewereallpoliticians.”
“Intheunion,Vermontwould‘wouldbeboundtotheinterestsoftheunion’withitsgreaterandclashinginterests.”
“Afewwouldbenefit,but‘thisnumbermustbebutsmall,whileontheotherhandtheaffairsofgovernmentbeingatsucharemovefromtheeyeofthepeople,theycouldhavenoknowledgeoftheirtransactions,andwouldnaturallydegenerateintoastateofignorance.’”
“Allextensivegovernmentshaveanaturaltendencytodestroythatequalityamongthepeople,whichwasnecessarytokeeponepartofmankindfromoppressingtheother.”
Propheticwords,Mr.Buck.Propheticwords.
“Thepeoplewereallpoliticians,”and“themachinewassosmallthateveryonecouldlookandseehowthewheelsmoved.”
Small“d”populistparticipatorydemocracyfusedwithVermont’repreneurialism.
“SmallisBeautiful”hereintheGreenMountains.
Plan‘V.’
2. Blueprint
“All power to Vermont in its effort to distinguish itself from the US as a whole, and to pursue in its own way
the cultivation of its own tradition.”
—GeorgeKennan,May1,2002lettertothe2VR
AstheUSofEmpirelumbersintothe21stcentury,Vermontershavemanagedtopreservemuchofourcultureofentrepreneurialism,directdemocracy,egalitarianism,politicalindependence,andnonviolence.
Wecelebrateourtownmeetingtradition,ouruniquehistoryasanindependentrepublic(1VR)beforejoiningtheUnitedStates,andourpioneering“freedomandunity”spiritandcultureof“liveandletlive”tolerancethatlivesonhereinourGreenMountaincommunitiestoday.
Sincethe18thcentury,ourGreenMountaintowns,farms,andbusinesseshaveservedaslaboratoriesforforward-thinkingideasandinnovativesolutions.
Witheachpassingday,moreandmore21stcenturyVermontersmaybereadytorolluptheirsleevesandworkfora2ndVermontRepublic.
NowitistimeforPlan‘V.’
ResilienceandResistance.
SovereigntyandSecession.
Hereisablueprint—presentedastwelveinterdependentinitiatives.
1) FINANCE:EstablishaVermontPublicBankorequivalentfinancingmechanismstopromoteexpandedaccesstocredit,supportforentrepreneurialinitiatives,learningopportunities,andjobcreationforVermonters.
2) FUEL: PoweraVermont-widedecentralizedtown-by-townnetworkedelectricitygridbyharvestingrenewableenergyfrom
participatingVermontbusinessesandresidences,andaggressivelypromotepublictransportationalternativestothecurrentfossilfuelstatusquo.
3) FOOD:GrowVermont’sdiverseworkinglandscapebylegalizinghempandcannabis,makecreditavailablethroughpublicfinancemechanismsforyoungagri’preneursinterestedinexpandingVermont’sagriculturalopportunities,andpromotepermaculturetechniquesformoreresilientGreenMountaincommunities.
4) EDUCATION:Promotepersonalizedlearningplans(PLPs)foreveryyoungVermonter,andcreatea“communiversity”ineveryVermonthighschoolsupportingcitizen-taughtcoursesinself-reliance,self-improvement,communityresilience,Vermont’repreneurialism,andcivicparticipation.Supportpublicly-fundededucationforallVermontcitizensthrough12thgrade,andaffordablepubliccollegeandgraduateschooleducation.
5) GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY:CombinenewdigitaltoolswithtraditionalVermont“townmeeting”democracytocreatemoreopen,participatoryandtransparentgovernanceatthelocalandstatelevel.
6) ELECTION INTEGRITY:Protectandexpandthetime-honoredVermonttowntraditionofvotingthroughhand-countedpaperballotsinfullpublicviewbylocalboardsofcivilauthority.
7) SURVEILLANCE-FREE CITIZENRY:ChampionlegislationbanningallformsofcorporateandstateelectronicsurveillanceinVermont,includingtheuseofspydronesandtheillegalmonitoringofVermonters’privateelectroniccorrespondence(includingbutnotlimitedtoemail,textandphonemessages),aswellasexploreencryptionoptionsfortheprotectionandprivacyofallVermontcitizens’electronicinformation.
8) PUBLIC ELECTION FINANCING:Support“rankchoicevoting”forelections,outlawprivatecampaigncontributions,anddedicateanannual2dollarsperVermonterstotwoseparatepublictrustelection
accounts—onemaintainedbythecounty($1)andtheotherbythestate($1)—withthefundbeingdividedintoequalpartsforeacheligiblecandidaterunningforpublicoffice,ensuringthatelectionsarepoweredbyideas,ratherthanmoney.
9) HOMESTEAD SECURITY:SupportVermont’straditionofhuntersafetybypromotingregular,accessibleandappropriatetrainingandsafeuseoffirearmsforVermont’scitizenry.
10) COMMONS CREATION: AdvocatethecreationandmaintenanceofaVermont“Commons”toprotectallthatweVermontersshareincommon:ourair,ourwater,ourland,andourproperty,bothindividualandcommunal.
11) ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY:AffirmthatVermont’snaturalenvironmentisthebasisoftheuniquehighqualitylifeweenjoy,andprotecttheintegrityofournaturalcommunities,ecosystems,waters,climate,air,landandsoils,plants,andwildlife.Championthe“precautionaryprinciple”toguidedevelopmentdecisions,fullyfundprotectionandrestorationmeasuresalreadyenacted.
12) “SANCTUARY NATION”:Protectcivillibertiesandpromote“liveandletlive”toleranceforallhard-workingVermontcitizensandguestsofgoodwill,regardlessofrace,gender,caste,creed,orreligiousaffiliation.
ThebeautyofPlan‘V’?
Itisalreadyunderway.
WitheverynewsolarpanelandwindturbineVermontersdeploy.
WitheveryVermontresidenceandbusinessthatharvestsitsownenergyandfeedsitbacktoadecentralizednetworkedenergygrid.
WitheveryVermontpublicschoolthatconvertsitsheatingsystemfromimportedfuelstockstomorelocalbiomassenergy.
WitheveryacreofabandoneddairyfarmlandVermontersreclaimand
re-planttocreateatrulydiverseworkinglandscape,includinghempand(soon)cannabis.
WitheveryfinancialtransactionthatshiftsVermontinvestmentsoutofcorporatecommercialbanksfrom“away”andintolocal,Vermont-focusedentrepreneurialinvestmentopportunities.
Witheveryweeklyschoolboard,selectboard,andzoningboardmeeting.
Witheveryannualtownmeetingfeaturingface-to-facedialogue,debateanddiscussionamongstVermontneighborsaboutourcollectivefuture.
WitheverypublicdiscussionineverycommitteeroomamongcitizenlegislatorsandVermontcitizensattheVermontstatehouse—the“People’sHouse.”
Plan‘V’canformthefoundationfora2ndVermontrepublic,anda2VRcanhelprecreatetheU.S.ofEmpireasanewre-confederatedregionalUNtiedStatesofAmerica.
Soliftyourglassestoa2ndVermontrepublic,andjoinwithusinproclaiming:
“ThegodsofVermontarenotthegodsoftheEmpire!”
3. FAQ
“I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all, because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared
themselves to serve others. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the union and support of our institutions should
languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.”
—U.S.President(andVermonter)CalvinCoolidge,Sept.21,1928
Q. What is the 2nd Vermont Republic (2VR)?
A. Firstfoundedin2004,the2ndVermontRepublic(2VR)isanopensourcenonpartisannetworkofcitizenVermont’repeneursseekingtopeaceablysecedefromthe“deepstate”imperialismoftheU.S.government,thedominationandcorruptionofthenationalpoliticalprocessbyUS-basedtransnationalcorporations,andtheeconomicmonopoliesanddysfunctionalconcentrationsofwealththatarehallmarksofneoliberalismandcorporateglobalizationaspracticedbythesame.
Q. What is the 2nd Vermont Republic’s (2VR) mission?
2VRiscommittedtorestoringVermonttoitsstatusasanindependentrepublic,asitwasfrom1777-1791,freeingVermonterstopursuelife,libertyandhappinessunimpededbythedemandsofarapaciousanddisintegratingUSofEmpire.Weembrace“FreedomandUnity,”Vermont’scommunitarianstatemotto,aswellasVermont’sunofficialcreedof“liveandletlive”tolerance.WeopposebothEmpirebuildingandstate-sponsoredinstitutionalracisminallofitsforms,Whilewewelcomedialoguewithdecentralistorganizations,wedonotaffiliatewithanyothersecessionmovementthatpromotesracism,xenophobia,orintolerance,suchastheLeagueoftheSouth(LOS)orItaly’sNorthernLeague(tonamebuttwo).
Q. How many Vermonters support the creation of a 2nd Vermont Republic (2VR)?
The2017Vermonterpoll,conductedbytheUniversityofVermont’sCenterforRuralStudies,indicatesthatmorethan20%ofVermontersnowbelievethatthetimehascometoconsiderthecreationofa2ndVermontRepublic(2VR).
Q. What is the Vermont Independent?
Firstfoundedin2005asVermont Commons: Voices of Independence, the Vermont IndependentisamultimedianewsforumforexploringtheideaofVermontindependence–political,economic,social,andspiritual.Wearesolutions-oriented,non-partisan,andinterestedinpromotingongoingandvigorousdebateaboutamoreresilientfuturefortheonceandfuturerepublicofVermont.Weareunaffiliatedwithanyotherorganizationormedia,andinterestedinallpointsofview.Readmoreatwww.vermontindependent.org.
Q. What is the Vermont Independent’s mission?
The Vermont Independent publishesarticles,interviewsandopinionwrittenbycitizenVermont’repreneursdoingthegoodworkrequiredofusonawidevarietyoffronts–finance,fuel,food,agriculture,governance,artsandmedia,andbeyond.Someofourwritersadvocatenonviolentsecessionandothersdonot.Allofourwritersarefiercechampionsoflocalismanddecentralization.Ourvisionarythinkersarehelpingusimagineamoresustainableandself-reliantVermontfutureintowhichwecaninvestourtime,energy,andfinancialandspiritualresourcesastheUSofEmpiremovesintocataboliccollapse.
Q. What is the Vermont Independent’s approach?
Wehaveeightcorefoundationalingredients: 1) VERMONT COMMONS-FOCUSED:Wearedeeplyinterestedinthisplacecalled“Vermont,”andwepublishcontentfocusedonourcommonwealth,allthatweVermontersshareincommon—ourair,our
water,ourland,andoursharedeconomicandpoliticalresourcesanddestiny.
2) MULTI-MEDIA/MODAL: Werecognizethatindividualslearnandsharestoriesinavarietyofways,and“news”isnoexception.Weembraceawidevarietyof“news”story-sharingplatforms:traditional/analogprint,electronic“print,”socialmedia(Facebook,Twitter,andInstagram—eachwithitsownglobalcommunitiesanduniqueprosandcons),digitalvideo,and(soon)audiopodcasting.
3) CIVICALLY MINDED: Weprovidepublishingspaceswhichareindependentofbothstateandcommercialinfluence,spacesthat20thcenturyphilosopherJurgenHabermascalled,collectively“thepublicsphere.”ImagineaVermont-focused21stcenturyelectronicmultimediacoffeehouseorpub.That’sus.
4) SUBJECTIVE:Wehaveaclear,consistent,andtransparentpointofview—resistance,resilience,andgreaterindependenceforour21stcenturyVermontcommunities.(Togetwonkyforasec—“Objectivity”withacapitalOdoesnotexistandneverhasexisted.Rather,wesuggestthathighquality“news”hasSIXingredients:informationthatisa)recent,b)relevant,c)reliable,d)multi-perspectival,e)historicallyandhegemonicallycontextualized,andf)inclusiveofclearly-sourcedmultiplepointsofview.
5) NON-PARTISAN: Wesupportnospecificpoliticalparty,platform,person,orprogram,butratherendorsewhatwecallPlan‘V,’aseriesofoverlappinginitiativesformakingmoreVermontmoreresilientinouremerging21stcentury,basedonourconversationswithforward-thinkingVermonterssince2005.
6) COLLABORATIVE: WeseekandenjoymutuallysupportivepartnershipswithotherVermontindividualsandorganizations.Forexample,weworkwitha)UniversityofVermont’sCenterforRuralStudiesonstatewidepolling,b)theVermontcommunitycabletelevisioncommunitytoproduceanddeployour“Plan‘V’-TV”televisionprogram,c)Vermont-baseddocumentaryfilmmakers(wecurrentlyhave2Vermontindependencedocumentariesinproduction),andd)variouscollegeanduniversityclassroomsofstudentsinterestedinproducingVermont-focusedcontentaspartoftheiremerging
interestinindependentmulti-mediajournalism.Wealsoteachawidevarietyofcriticalmedialiteracyeducationandjournalismtools,conceptsandapproachesattheUniversityofVermont,andsharethemforfreeunderourCreativeCommonslicense.
7) ENTREPRENEURIAL: Weareconstantlyinnovatingandseekingcreativewaystomoveforwardourefforts,fundingourworkthroughone-timeandregulardonors,2VR/VImerchandisesales,forward-thinkingphilanthropicindividualsandorganizations,crowd-fundingandothercreativemeans.
8) EDUCATIONAL: Weapproachourcontentproductionthroughacriticalmedialiteracylens,inconjunctionwithorganizationsliketheActionCoalitionforMediaEducation.
Q. Is the 2VR in contact with other U.S.-based secession efforts like #Calexit and the New Hampshire’s Free State Project?
Loosely.Everydecentralistandsecessionmovementhasitsownuniquebrandofpolitics,and,aswe’vedemonstratedhere,Vermonthasitsownuniquehistory.
Q. Does 2VR support the creation of a Vermont independent political party?
Notatthistime.Instead,wechampionanopensourcenonpartisannetworkforallVermontersofgoodwill,anetworkthatdialogueswithourelectedlegislators.WebelievethattheUnitedStatesisnolongerarepublicgovernedbyitscitizens,butanEmpirethatisimmoralandessentiallyungovernable.Webelievethatasovereignstate’srighttononviolentlysecede,firstchampionedintheUnitedStatesbythecitizensof19thcenturyNewEngland,isarightthatdemandsre-explorationinthe21stcentury.Webelievethat,workinginconcertwithourneighborsandtherestoftheworld,Vermontmaybetterbeabletofeed,power,educateandcareforitscitizensasanindependent21stcenturycommonwealththanasoneoffiftystateswithintheUSEmpire.Politicalpartiesarebutoneofmanywaystoachievethesegoals.
Q. Why does 2VR want Vermont to peaceably secede from the United States?
TheUnitedStateshasbecomemilitarily,agriculturally,politically,economically,culturally,andenvironmentallyunsustainable.USforeignpolicyisbasedonthedoctrineoffull-spectrumdominance,whichisimmoral,illegal,unconstitutional,andextravagantlyexpensive.USagriculturalmonocultureisdependentuponunpredictableandprivatelyownedgeneticallymodifiedlifeforms.USpoliticsisentirelycapturedbycorporatespecialintereststhatdefendtheirincumbentprivilegeatallcosts.TheUSiseconomicallydependentuponthepixelwealthofthefinanceindustrywhichcreatesasimulacrumofproductivityandvalueoutofthinairbyissuingandrepackagingdebtandthenmakingbetsonit,tothedetrimentofinvestmentinrealproduction,innovationandprogress.
USenvironmentalregulationssupportandencouragepollutersandplacenovalueonourCommons:ourair,ourwater,oursoil,andtheothersharedresourcesourcommunitiesholddear.
Q. Why does 2VR think Vermont can do better as an independent republic?
Firstandforemost,thegovernmentofanindependentVermontwillbeabletorespondtotheneedsanddesiresofitscitizensbetterthanitcanifVermontremainsapartoftheUSEmpire.BecauseitisdependentupontheUSimperialmachineforitslivelihood,Vermontsuffersgreatlyfromblatantinstitutionalcapturebyoutsidecorporatespecialinterests.CitizensofVermontdonotgetacompleteandfairvettingofideasregardingthehighestandbestuseofourgovernmentandtreasure,becausewearelimitedbythenarrowmenuofoptionsservedupbythefederalgovernmentandtheircorporatepartners.Thismenuofoptionsincludes:prosecutingillegalresourcewars,subsidizingtheplanet-destroyingfossilfuelindustryandagriculturalIndustry,andallowingWallStreet,incollusionwithbothmajorpoliticalparties,tosiphonawaythewealthoftheUS.Thisinstitutionalcapturelimitsafullandhonestdiscussionabouthowgovernmentcanbestserveitscitizens.
Secondly,theUnitedStateshasbecomeanEmpiresufferingfromimperialoverstretch,andhasbecomeunsustainablepolitically,economically,agriculturally,socially,culturally,andenvironmentally.Vermontfindsitincreasinglydifficulttoprotectitselffromthedebilitatingeffectsofbigbusiness,bigagriculture,bigmarkets,andbiggovernment.
Third,theUSgovernmenthaslostitsmoralauthoritybecausebothpoliticalparties—theDemocratsandtheRepublicans—areowned,operated,andcontrolledbyWallStreetandtheDeepState.
Fourth,USforeignpolicyisbasedonthedoctrineoffull-spectrumdominance,andisillegal,unconstitutional,andinviolationoftheUnitedNationscharter.
Fifth,aslongasVermontremainsintheUnitedStates,ourcitizensfacecurtailedcivilliberties,corporatedomination,revocationofthesocialcontract,andalloftheotherchallengesthataccompanyanEmpirethatiscollapsing.
Q. Could Vermont survive economically as an independent republic?
Unquestionably.Vermonthasplentifulhydroresourceswithwhichtogenerateelectricalpower,arichstockofforestryproductswithwhichtobuild,andaproductiveandinnovativeagriculturalcommunitythatcanfeedallofuswithplentyleftovertosharewithourfriendsacrossborders.Vermontersareexceptionallyentrepreneurial,creativeandwelleducated.AnindependentVermontwouldnotneedtobeself-sufficient(thoughwecouldbe),butratherwouldbeamoreempoweredtradingpartnerwithourregionalneighbors,includingQuebecandtherestofCanada.
Consideringtheworldasawhole,oftheroughly200independentnation-statesintheworld,50ofthemhaveasmallerpopulationthanVermont’s620,000.FiveofthetenrichestcountriesintheworldasmeasuredbypercapitaincomearesmallerthanVermont:Liechtenstein,Iceland,Luxembourg,Bermuda,andCaymanIslands.Independencedoesnotmeaneconomicorpoliticalisolation.More
than600Vermontfirmsexportnearly24percentofthestate’sgrossproduct.Weseenoreasonwhythisshouldchangeafterindependence.
Q. Describe the steps necessary for Vermont to become an independent republic.
Firstthingsfirst.WemustestablishthedesireforVermontindependencebyprovidingasteadystreamofreliableinformationtoVermontcitizens,andsupportinginitiativesthatstrengthenVermontsovereignty,ratherthanpromotingdependenceontheUSofEmpire.
Example#1.IfVermontcanformapublicbankthatallowsordinaryVermonterstoreapthefinancialbenefits,VermonterswillhaveonelesslogisticalandpsychologicaltietoWallStreetandtheEmpireitenables.
Example#2.IfVermontcanpasseducationalreformthatimprovesourchildren’seducationalexperiencewithoutfederaleducationalmandatesandoppressivestandardizedtestingschedules,thenVermontcutsanotherpsychologicaltiewithU.S.imperialdictates.
Alongtheway,Vermontwillreacha“tippingpoint”andrealizethatitdoesn’tneedtheUSofEmpireto“solve”itsproblems.
Q. Does this mean nonviolent secession for Vermont?
Ultimately,yes.
Q. But isn’t secession unconstitutional?
No.AsThomasJeffersonwroteinthe1776DeclarationofIndependence,“Wheneveranyformofgovernmentbecomesdestructive,itistherightofthepeopletoalterorabolishit,andtoinstituteanewgovernment.”Justasagrouphasarighttoform,so,too,doesithavearighttodisband,tosubdivideitself,ortowithdrawfromalargerunit.TheUSConstitutiondoesnotforbidsecession.Accordingtothetenthamendment,thatwhichisnot
expresslyprohibitedbytheConstitutionisallowed.Allstateshaveaconstitutionalrighttosecede,andsecessioniseveryAmerican’sbirthright.19thcenturyNewEnglandwasthefirstregionofthenewUnitedStatestoconsidernonviolentsecessioninresponsetoaggressiveU.S.expansionism,decadesbeforesouthernstatesseizeduponsecessiontotryandpreservearetrograderace-basedsystemofslavery.
Q. Does the 2VR want to take over the government of Vermont?
No.Thecitizensofthe2ndVermontRepublicwilldecidehowwegovernourselves.UnliketheFreeStateProjectinNewHampshire,ouraimisnottotakeoverthegovernment.Forthatreason,the2ndVermontRepublictakesnoofficialpositiononissuessuchasabortion,gaymarriage,schoolprayer,orlegalizingmarijuana.TheseareissuesforthecitizensofVermonttoconsider.
Q. So how would Vermonters govern themselves in a 2VR?
Vermonthasaperfectlygoodstateconstitutionandalongtraditionof“townmeeting”anddirectcitizendemocracyuponwhichtobuild.Asastartingplace,wesuggestathoroughreviewofFrankBryanandJohnMcClaughry’s1989bookThe Vermont Papers: Recreating Democracy On A Human Scale(ChelseaGreenPublishing),inwhichtheauthors,bothwell-studiedVermonters,callontheVermontstategovernmenttofundastrategicstudyexploringhowtodevolvepowerfromtheMontpelierstatecapitaltoa“shiresystem,”inwhichVermontreconfiguresitsinternalpoliticalboundariesalongpopulationandbioregionallinestomaximizecitizenparticipationintheaffairsofgovernment.(ThomasJeffersonproposedasimilarsystemknownas“wardrepublics,”writingin1816that“thetruefoundationofrepublicangovernmentistheequalrightofeverycitizeninhispersonandproperty,andintheirmanagement.”)The Vermont Paperslaysoutgoals,astrategy,andatimelineforre-creatingVermont’spoliticallifeundertheshiresystem—nowseemslikeagoodtimetorevisitthisproposal.Our2012bookMost Likely To Secedemayalsobeofuse.
Q. Is Vermont independence politically feasible?
Yes.Ultimately,Vermontindependenceisaquestionofpoliticalwill.IsthewillofVermont’scitizensforindependencestrongenoughtoovercomethewilloftheUSgovernmenttopreventVermontersfromachievingtheirgoal?
Q. For Vermont independence to be successful, what are the necessary political steps?
TheVermontlegislaturemustbepersuadedtoauthorizeaconventionofthepeopletovoteonrescindingthepetitionforstatehoodapprovedbytheVermontAssemblyinJanuary1791andratifiedonMarch4,1791.Tobecredible,thevoteshouldpassbyatleastatwo-thirdsmajority.ArticlesofSecessionshouldthenbesubmittedtotheUSPresident,SecretaryofState,PresidentoftheSenate,andSpeakeroftheHouse.DiplomaticrecognitionshouldbesoughtfromCanada,Quebec,Mexico,England,France,andtheUnitedNations.Andthenthemomentoftruth—Vermontwouldstartbehavinglikeanindependentnation-state.Seeourpetitionathttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/920/793/343/convene-a-2027-state-convention-for-vermont-independence/
Q. What if 2VR and the Vermont independence movement fails?
Vermontwillcontinuetoprovideacommunitarianalternativetothedehumanizedmassproduction,massconsumption,andnarcissisticlifestylethatpervadesmuchoftheUnitedStates.Vermontissmaller,morerural,moredemocratic,lessviolent,lesscommercial,moreegalitarian,andmoreindependentthanmoststates.
Q. How can I support a 2VR?
Visitourwebsite—www.vermontindependent.org—foracompletelistofresourcesandinitiatives.Wewelcomeyoursupport,ideas,andinvolvement.
