Discussions about the National Guard continue to be a sort of “third rail” in Vermont politics, just as topics related to military service in general take on a peculiar hue when raised on the national stage. I don’t believe this is healthy, either for the democracy or for service members themselves; but it is indicative of a sort of dysfunction in the American family. We all know that Grandma smells funny but we don’t discuss it because, after all, it IS Grandma; and then Grandma ups-and-dies from undetected gangrene.
I’m just saying, we’ve got to get over this odd squeamishness that has recently overtaken us with regard to all things service related. In the coming decade, we’re looking at hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened men and women returning from the Middle East and being reabsorbed into our communities. A large proportion of those returning warriors were barely more than children when they enlisted, and most of their social skills and world views have been shaped by the experiences of war.
I remember reading several years ago that it was estimated that one in three of those who serve in the Middle East wars will at some time in their lives suffer a mental disability due to combat experiences. One in three! I had no idea whether that estimate had been revised up or down in the intervening years, until I found this link to a 2009 Stanford University study that pegs the number from Iraq alone to 35%! News sources have given us glimpses of a military culture infiltrated by religious zealots who take advantage of the captive consciousness that forms a command to proselytize and indoctrinate
What will this mean to the social order of America in the first half of the twenty-first century? These battle-weary soldiers will be returning to an economy that for some will be much worse than when they left it. Jobs are scarce, public services are in a choke-hold throughout most of the states. The political conversation has descended from civil debate into unbridled warfare.
This will be the first generation of battle-hardened mothers raising their own children in the U.S. This will be the first generation of children with the potential of having two parents suffering from PTSD. Are we really prepared in early education and healthcare for the challenges that this new reality (coupled with crushing economic issues) may have in store for us? We’ve gotta talk about it, as uncomfortable as it may be to do so.
Which brings me back to my particular “third rail.” I have a nagging concern over the prospect of having the civilian commander of the Vermont Guard (the governor) and the Adjutant General being brothers. Consolidating command of our civilian militia in a single family has all kinds of potential for abuse and conflict of interest. I am really rather surprised that Michael Dubie has not voluntarily resigned and that no one has yet suggested that he should step down in recognition of this fact. What are we, comatose?
Come on! Let’s not allow our deep and abiding respect for the sacrifices of Guard members to overcome our instinct for vigilant scrutiny. It’s time to have some tough conversations before we’re too deep in the soup to locate a paddle.
I, too, am uncomfortable with this family command. I don’t want to be alarmist or hyperbolic, but isn’t it straight out of any banana republic junta?
Regardless, BRING THE GUARD HOME!
http://www.bringtheguardhome.org/
Somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of our homeless are vets.
Very thoughtful, and thought-provoking.
As for this notion:
I myself have a close friend who went to Iraq as part of the VT National Guard and has returned, generally, mentally fit. That being said, I’ve had conversations with this very person where we both agreed that keeping sane in the face of the world around us is near impossible enough- to go in to a war zone and do so is near impossible.
To which I’ll add in the logic of one of my favorite theorists: to be “sane” in a world which accepts as common place- and acceptable- the degree of needless suffering, poverty, death, and destruction as the world in which we live is truly the sign of actual insanity. RD Lang- if you’re not familiar.
The subject of Vermont’s governor and national guard commander being brothers is worth the Vermont news media taking the time to explore.Ask a Dubie how they see it,get them on record.
However much of the media this past couple weeks is on fainting couch with the smelling salts decrying the “tone”of the campaign. It seems they have forgotten Dubie’s nasty campaign against Cheryl Rivers and Douglas aggressive take downs with the help of the RGA of past opponents.
One of the few references to this potential Dubie brother military/civilian conflict came indirectly and early on from former reporter Chris Graff who actually suggested it would be an advantage for Brain to use brother Michael’s guard connections to his advantage .
http://www.vermontbiz.com/arti…
The Adjutant General is elected biennially by the Legislature, meeting in joint assembly of both houses. If there is a contested election for the position, the vote is taken on a written ballot.
Michael Dubie’s two-year term as Adjutant General expires at the end of February 2011. The joint assembly to elect an Adjutant General for the term running from March 2011 to February 2013 will be held sometime in February 2011.
It would certainly be appropriate for the press to ask both Brian and Michael Dubie whether they believe Michael should not be a candidate for another term as Adjutant General if his brother is elected governor.
that this issue could backfire. There are puh-lenty of others that Doobster is handing Peter that would be far more effective to pursue.
So let’s strategerize:
Doobster’s campaign has had pretty much one note so far – Shumlin can’t be trusted. So it’s really nice Brian’s been caught in so many “misstatements” this week, Brian gave it a big shot and found out it was a boomerang that he keeps getting hit in the head with. Even his house organ, the Freeps, is backing away. So keep finding the ‘misstatements’. They come fast and furious. It looks like Brian can be trusted – to delay, to obfuscate, to whine, and, especially, “misstate”.
This week, it’ll be how much money Shummy has. That causes a slight problem for Brian – a GOPer attacking someone for being a successful businessman – used to be thin ice for ‘publicans, but now with his active courting of the tea-bagger vote, it’s all about the politics of hate and resentment. But!
Brian has been drawing a $60+K salary for the last eight years (over $500K), and Vermont has nothing to show for it – plus his collecting reserve pay and pilot pay from American Airlines, and still having time to participate in his family business – make the very strong and pretty much provable case that his salary is for far less than half-time work. And what’s his per diem – ($61 times 365? Nice chunk of change – around $22k)? That information would be interesting. Any one of these salaries would make many voters very happy.
And bottom-line, life has been good to Brian – let’s find out why he has socked away “only” $1.25M with all those income streams – federal teat, state teat, private sector. Is he hiding something? Or is he just a poor $$ manager? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Another hint – $1.25M ain’t “just folks” kinda net worth. It’s a little more than fellow reservist Paul Beaudry has put away, fer instance.
More on the Pure Vermont meme will be Brian’s next step. Cap’n Doobie, American flags on lapel pins, etc. Paint your foe as un-‘murican, like his outside handlers did in the Virginia race.
Pure Vermont is political bottom-feeding. It’s all about distrust, fear and resentment. It is quintessential Republicanism.
That doesn’t work very well for the readers of GMD, but unfortunately it does for too many Vermonters. This part will get very dirty. But Dubie’s whining and lying to get ahead is not seen as honorable or ‘manly’ by those enamored by that construct. Peter gives as good as he gets, and this will blunt the Dubie strategery. Brian comes off as a whiny, arrogant, not-too-bright stiff. He leads with his chin, and whines when he get hit. Bad form for the “Code of Honor” buffs. And he sucks up to Dumbya, an arrogant stupid cowardly frat-boy. More bad form.
Keep hitting on these Peter. You’re doing much better than I anticipated – I wish our federal delegation had one-tenth your spine.
Anyhow, it’ll be interesting!
Brian Dubie is going to win some points for his service, but the governor’s office isn’t about being Commander in Chief of the Vermont National Guard. We need a leader who will provide the best Vermont for our servicemen to come back to.
That isn’t Brian Dubie.
It might be beneficial to remind people that it was Peter Shumlin’s leadership and cooperation with the Guard that successfully brought over 700 Vermont Guardsmen back for the holidays by raising the funds for Operation Holiday Homecoming last year.