16

Political Issues/Comments / Re: Health Care Back Up Plan Announced

« on: November 10, 2013, 12:07:33 AM »

Not good news for VT.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/09/these-2-state-health-exchanges-are-in-worse-shap-2.aspx

17

Announcements / Re: Looking For Dog Sitters & Car Pool Information

« on: October 10, 2013, 02:27:14 AM »

I have used Sheri from The Pet Fairy - http://thepetfairyvt.com/.  Great service and she's right here in Fairfax.

18

General Discussion / Re: Beaver Pond

« on: September 05, 2013, 09:41:14 PM »

There was one on Cambridge Road in Westford.  If you are traveling from the Westford Common it's on the left about half a mile past Covey Road.  Very easy to see from the road.

19

Current News & Events / Re: A Few Fairfax MArathon Participants

« on: May 31, 2013, 02:01:19 AM »

Susan Castro and Erin Bancroft, both of Fairfax, also completed the marathon.  Erin has been writing a blog for RunVermont as a first time marathoner.  You can read it here - http://www.runvermont.org/therundown/category/this-rookies-ramblings-2013/page/3/  Congrats to those who ran in the marathon and relay!  It was cold and wet but still a good time.

20

Political Issues/Comments / Re: S 32 (The Vermont Bill Against Guns)

« on: January 21, 2013, 09:56:53 AM »

Thanks, you too!

21

Political Issues/Comments / Re: S 32 (The Vermont Bill Against Guns)

« on: January 21, 2013, 08:49:48 AM »

Thor,

You need to work on your reading comprehension.  I wrote what I meant.  I see no point in discussing the issue further with you simply because you refuse to see any side of the issue but your own, not because you will not agree with me.  You throw around words like unconstitutional, fascism, tyranny and socialism without really understanding what they mean.  If people really think that the US is moving towards a fascist/tyrannical/socialist government then they should educate themselves.

22

Political Issues/Comments / Re: S 32 (The Vermont Bill Against Guns)

« on: January 20, 2013, 12:51:05 AM »

I'm done since you can't see any side of the issue but your own.  So much for engaging in conversation.

23

Political Issues/Comments / Re: S 32 (The Vermont Bill Against Guns)

« on: January 19, 2013, 08:51:08 PM »

Thor,

1)In case you were not aware the 23 points that I listed are the recommendations/executive actions that President Obama has put forth in response to the current political discussion on gun control.  These are what I was referring to when I asked where our 2nd Amendment rights were being infringed upon.  If you read them carefully you will see that there is no infringing taking place.  I understand "shall not be infringed."  So, referring back to my original question...please tell me how these are infringing on 2nd Amendment rights.

2) Wow a point we can agree on.

3)There is not a possible shortage of doctors but a rather a possible shortage of primary care physicians.  And the Affordable Care Act is not the primary cause of this shortage.  Like many issues there are other factors to this.  Some of these factors are an aging population and new doctors becoming specialists instead of primary care physicians.

4)  I do not live in a utopian society but I also don't live in the fantasy land of "man theory" where guns solve all the problems.  Armed officers in schools can help but are not the answer.  We already have proof of this.  In Columbine, CO there was a police officer at the high school and 2 more arrived within 3 minutes of the beginning of the attack.  These 3 officers exchanged gunfire with the attackers and did not stop them.  In fact they did not even injure them.  The good guys were there in this instance, had guns and were unable to stop the situation.  I will concede that armed officers are a deterrent but they are not the only answer.

5) The NRA is not a lead by rational people and therefore cannot be relied upon to offer reasonable answers.  Don't agree with me, then please see this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miSjgv1MH7s.  Now read this - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/4-pinocchios-for-a-slashing-nra-ad-on-security-at-sidwell-friends-school/2013/01/16/95b2127a-6032-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_blog.html?fb_ref=sm_btn_fb  The fact that the NRA will not consider any gun control at all means that they can't see the whole issue.  How can they be involved in the discussion when they can't act from an unbiased position.  And people on both sides of the debate are compared to Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini, et al.  This is extreme and inaccurate.

6)  The discussion on gun control on the state level in VT is going to be in early February at the State House.  I think the date is Feb 7.  It remains to be seen how rational this discussion is.

7)  Yes.

So as a law abiding citizen you would like to own what ever you feel is necessary to make yourself feel safer.  Just remember that since this stuff is available to you then the bad guys will have it too.  You might want to join NPM and get the biggest, baddest gun out there.

Isn't it possible, just possible, that if magazine sizes were restricted it might reduce the carnage in mass shootings?  You stated that you teach your kids to attack an attacker when the attacker is reloading.  Would it be better to wait for 30 or 100 bullets to finish firing before attacking or how about waiting until just 5 or 10 have been fired?

I am not in favor of banning guns.  Enforce the laws on the books, have better mental healthcare and maybe just maybe have some sort of gun control.

NPM - If someone plays violent video games and translates that into reality because they have become numb to the violence then that person has other issues.  A violent video game or movie does not make someone go out and be violent.  This is akin to blaming music for violence, drug abuse and sex (look up the Parents Music Resource Center and the "Filthy Fifteen").  Not having a job does affect your mental health but wouldn't having a solid mental health system to turn to help your handle your issues?  Go ahead and buy the biggest, baddest gun out there - one might be the 500 Smith & Wesson .50 caliber Magnum (http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/1277336) .  If you prefer rifles you could get the ASquare Hannibal 557 Tyrannosaur (http://www.gizmag.com/the-most-powerful-sporting-rifle-in-the-world/9051/).  These ones are pretty big so you might want to practice...even if you're already a pretty damn good shot.

24

Political Issues/Comments / Re: S 32 (The Vermont Bill Against Guns)

« on: January 19, 2013, 02:31:55 AM »

Here's some fun for you.  Check out this link and see if you can guess who said all these things - http://aattp.org/7-famous-quotes-from-a-tyrannical-gun-grabbing-dictator/.

Please tell me how any of these 23 actions are infringing on our 2nd Amendment rights:
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

Now is the time to have a RATIONAL discussion on this topic (S 32 is not rational).  Saying things like "They are making an attempt to begin breaking down the 2nd Amendment, a piece at a time. And I know that you are all smart enough to know that once the 2nd Amendment goes, the rest are doomed to follow like dominos." is not rational and does not aid in the discussion.  There can and needs to be reasonable steps taken to find a way that mass shootings do not occur with the frequency that happen in this country.  There are a number of things that need to be looked at including, but not limited to, gun control, quality mental health care and enforcement of the current laws.

25

Current News & Events / Re: Petition For Funding For Bookmobile

« on: January 11, 2013, 03:33:11 AM »

I think the bookmobile is a good service to the town.  Perhaps coordinating with the people who operate the bookmobile would allow it to visit day care centers instead of just parking at the school.  I don't remember the exact wording of the petition but I think the amount needed was about $5200.

26

Current News & Events / Re: Photos from the Georogia Mountain Wind Project

« on: November 17, 2012, 05:58:44 AM »

Solar panels on the new town hall is not a bad idea.  They could power the town hall and possibly put back into the grid.  Good idea Skippy!

27

General Discussion / Re: Do we have a Town "Dump"?

« on: October 25, 2012, 09:59:21 PM »

You can use the Chittenden Solid Waste Drop-off in Milton.  There is a guide on their website for what they take and if there are fees.  http://www.cswd.net/

28

Current News & Events / Re: Two Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes:

« on: October 19, 2012, 10:21:18 PM »

For the lower cost solution the town would be putting that $335K into a building that it does not own.  I think that is a waste.  If the town is going to spend the money why not put it into a building that will be owned by the town.  The one item I don't agree with the the cost of the land - $105K an acre.  I think that price is steep.  That being said I still think the town should move forward on this.

29

Current News & Events / Re: "Important Meetings on the new Town Office"

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:00:43 PM »

Here is a link to some info that was posted previously on the site - http://www.vtgrandpa.com/forum/index.php?topic=13643.0

30

General Discussion / Re: Fletcher Road Speed Limits

« on: August 02, 2012, 02:47:28 AM »

Where can the speed study be found?