The 9 most terrifying words in the English language
2023-03-19
Dear friend,
I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
I thought I'd try saying that out loud as an elected leader. According to Ronald Reagan, the second President of my life, those are the nine most terrifying words in the English language.
I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
What's so scary about that?
It doesn't seem so bad when I look around me in Halifax. I drove to Montpelier Monday evening as heavy flakes began to come down. I drove home from Montpelier last night with my mouth agape at the trees and lines still hanging over the roads.
And yet the roads were open, thanks to our local and state crews. On Green River I drove home in a convoy of 22 line workers' trucks on their way to dinner in Wilmington. The power was on for most people. Our schools reopened. Healthcare and essential services went on without a blip. Our public safety officers and our correctional officers did what they do, 365/24.7.
It was a stressful week, but as I drove home I reflected on how safe I feel in Vermont. I feel grateful for all the parts and members of our community, including our government and taxpayer-funded services and regulations that pull together to make Vermont work for all of us when 30"–40" of heavy snow lands.
I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
The nine most terrifying words? I can think of far worse. Did Ronald Reagan have a bad experience with a plow truck when he was a kid? Did he hate 24/7 E.R. and EMS the way some people hate clowns? Didn't like his kindergarten teacher? Did he dislike the police?
We can all find some or many things to dislike about our government. But it's the one thing in this country that belongs and serves all of us. That government is the sum of a lot of Vermonters and Americans working hard on your behalf.
In my professional capacity, I received exciting news on Tuesday. I was appointed by Speaker Krowinski to the Legislative Committee on Judicial Rules. This House-Senate committee (four each Reps and Senators) reviews the wording of rules related to matters of the judiciary. Rules are the more specific and operational language by which laws are enacted. It looks to be a fun committee assignment, in addition to my day-to-day House Corrections & Institutions.
As your Representative, here's something I want to do to help your voice be represented.
I want to encourage and help you to write a letter to someone in Montpelier:
[Any legislator]
115 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633
Legislators get a lot of mail. On a day-to-day basis most of it is bulk mail sent to us by advocacy groups, a.k.a. special interests.
Why should they get all our attention?
Bulk mail at the Legislature is like bulk mail at home -- easy to recycle without giving a second thought.
On the other hand, a note from a constituent telling me they support a bill or an issue, telling their story?
That carries more weight.
A letter, whether handwritten or printed out, can touch someone like nothing else.
Will it make a difference on a bill you care about? Who knows. But in my experience, a letter in which I speak my mind always feels good to send. And that has to make a difference somewhere in the universe.
Suggestions:
Write to your Rep or Senator or Governor about any bill or issue you care about.
Write to the sponsor of a bill you like to thank them and share your story of what you support it.
Write to the Chair or Vice-Chair of the committee of jurisdiction to encourage action on a bill or issue.
Search for your legislator, bill, or any keyword here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/
My son wrote a letter to our Governor this evening that I will hand-deliver to his office on Tuesday. (Any guesses which bill he supports? Hint: “there oughta be a law”).
If you want to save the stamp, I would be proud to hand-deliver your letter to anyone in the State House. It doesn't matter what issue, or whether we agree -- I want to support your voice. Email me or look for an upcoming office hours time.
