News-Record.com Staff Blogs: Letters to the Editor: Tyrants enforce union to hold power and profit: Tyrants enforce union to hold power and profit

Tyrants enforce union to hold power and profit

Recently, Peter Fessel criticized the Vermont secessionists (letter, June 24) and stated that one foundation of his political philosophy is that "our union is indivisible." Reworded, his philosophy is: "We are all enslaved to one another."

Apparently Fessel abhors the American Revolution, which was secession from Great Britain. Or perhaps he admires it but somehow believes, contradictorily, that Vermonters have no right of secession from America as Americans had a right of secession from Great Britain.

In any case, he repudiates some of the founding ideas of this country, which are that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that when government becomes destructive of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.

I ask Mr. Fessel: Of what value is a union held together only by the point of a gun? Would a marriage held together in like manner be desirable? Only tyrants value such unions because it means, for them, power and profit from those whom they shackle to themselves.

Should Vermont actually secede, I hope that Fessel, at least, will not, like Lincoln, demand the murder of those with whom he desires union.

Paul Elledge
Greensboro

Posted by News & Record on July 2, 2007 3:00 AM | Permalink

Comments (8)

What's all this Vermont sucession stuff ?

Posted by James D. Rockefeller | July 2, 2007 5:03 AM

JDR � Based on the various info on the web, it seems the Vermont secession is for the most part a publicity stunt of a group called the Second Vermont Republic (It was founded by a retired Duke Professor if that tells you anything). It seems to exist mostly to bring attention to Vermont�s dissatisfaction with the direction of the U.S. Govt. the last six years. The movement has attracted something of a cult following in Vermont where a poll says that 13% actually supported it. However, apparently no one really takes it seriously or thinks it likely to happen.

Many conservative pundits give it tongue in cheek support for obvious reasons. I think the reason you hear about it here in the south occasionally is because of the bitterness of some over the failure of the secession in the �war of northern aggression�.

Posted by LastVOR | July 2, 2007 9:30 AM

Wonder if that retired Duke Professor is one of the guys who supported Nifong against the students?

Posted by THE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE | July 2, 2007 9:32 AM

LastVOR,

Actually, the people that I have seen that are supporting this movement basically could best be described as socialists. Vermont is very far left politically. Even Bernie Sanders who represents the state is a socialist. Those disaffected people should just head north to Canada. They would likely fit better, politically, there.

Posted by Oak Ridge Runner | July 2, 2007 9:50 AM

ORR � apparently some of both. Below, I think, is a summation or their �Manifesto�.

http://www.vermontrepublic.org/issues_essays/thomas_naylors_writings/the_manifesto

This seems to be part of a 112 page book. If anyone is so inclined to read it here is the Amozon link.

http://www.amazon.com/Vermont-Manifesto-Second-Republic/dp/1413413099

Tell me how it turns out.

Posted by LastVOR | July 2, 2007 10:22 AM

I'm not sure I'd really care either way. I mean, whether they succeed in seceding, we blow them up, or they stay a part of the Union.

Never been much of a fan of Ben & Jerry's ice cream anyway.

Posted by nitpicker | July 2, 2007 12:01 PM

Nit,
Vermont is one our prettiest states. Mountains reminded Gehorg Von Trapp so much of his beloved Austria that he left and settled in the area called Stowe. I've stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge and it is still run by a family member. They show a film on the "real Maria" and folks, she didn't look like Julie Andrews!!
Anyway, Vermont is so beautiful that you will be driving down a road and all of a sudden a waterfall appears off to the side. Or a quaint covered bridge or farm. A lot more there than Ben & Jerry. Sign ordinances keep the landscape pristine and visually appealing. Worth a visit, if you ever get the chance.

Posted by THE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE | July 2, 2007 2:22 PM

Hey Paul-

I sent in a reply to your reply yesterday.

If it is not published within two weeks from today I will post it here.

You are sure to enjoy it.

Your Truly,

Posted by Peter Fessel | July 4, 2007 6:40 AM

Tyrants enforce union to hold power and profit

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