John on Church Street

John

“Just because we be homeless, doesn’t mean we are not human…. A place to stay is a good thing. Warm. You get a room. And then a second room.”

“Yeh, man,” I said, “and then you start collecting shit.”

leg brace

“You know, you walk a lot when you are homeless. One day, for no reason my tendon burst…. I don’t use my crutches anymore, because I got to get around.”

“Didn’t this scene happen in Midnight Cowboy?”

Peter Shumlin, Governor-elect

Democracy. What democracy? I voted. So what? People vote against their interests, unless they have a reason founded on some moral issue to motivate them. Too hard to follow the issues, because you have to read papers, which, in the case of the Burlington Free Press, don’t tell you enough, or watch TV, which, in the case of WCAX, just cover what they can. No real editorial comments worth remembering. Candidates are rock stars, only interested in winning office and staying there. So, I get to vote. Then they do whatever they want without really telling you why, supporting whomever brought them to the dance, disenfranchising the rest of us.

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Papa Neutrino Builds A Raft for RTW Trip

Boat Building

Papa Neutrino’s raft is moored near the Coast Guard Station in Burlington. Planned embarkation is scheduled for November 5. When asked if a destination has been chosen, Scott said, “we intend to start here in Burlington and end here.”

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Paul at District Court in Burlington VT

Looking for Justice

Listening to NPR this AM, a interviewee said he wouldn’t vote for a particular candidate, because, “he doesn’t care about the average guy.” How about the guy on the margin? Who cares for or about him?

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Patrick Leahy for Vermont

Not saying that Senator Leahy ain’t good for Vermont. But I just don’t understand the electoral process anymore. It takes money to run campaigns for the Senate. Leahy doesn’t need money for his campaign. No way that Vermonters won’t return him to the Senate. So why would Senator Schumer give him $20,000 even though his reelection is not in jeopardy?

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Peter Shumlin Runs

Shumlin Listens

Politicians have to listen when they run. Polls predict the outcomes and rate the issues.Citizens approach, voice their likes and dislikes. Their opponents attack their ethics, experience, and motivations. And, should they be elected, they have to deal with the intricacies of an outdated legislative system and entrenched judiciary, all run and controlled by special interests. Only people who quantify their existence in terms of how much they can compromise so as not to be considered a loser and thereby be reelected would campaign honorably and hope to be elected.

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Jesse May Not Vote

I had not seen Jesse for a while, which always makes me nervous that something has happened to him or some of my other friends. He said he had stuff to do and needed to deal with the elements. He has located a brother with some help from a woman-friend who has access to the internet. The brother lives in Phoenix and has a family and a business. Jesse also said that he has a kid who lives in Boca whom he has not seen for fourteen years. “It causes me a lot of pain and sorrow.” No doubt.

“Jesse, you going to vote?”

“I don’t know if I am registered. Besides. I wouldn’t know who to vote for. None of those guys would do anything to help me would they?”