Three big elections today. The governor's race in New Jersey. The governor's race in Virginia. A special election for House across the lake in New York. If you've been reading the press reports, you know what these elections mean, right?

 Exactly. If the Democrats lose these elections it means that Obama is all washed up, the Democratic Party might as well close down and surrender, and the Republican Party is now on top again, probably permanently.

All from three data points.

This is obviously nonsense. We are looking at three different elections, with three different sets of issues and personalities, and at least three different sets of reasons for whoever wins winning.

Let's take Virginia first, since we already know that the Republican won there. Virginia is a traditionally Republican state, and last year was the first time a Democrat won the presidential vote there since 1964. Although he was looking to succeed a Democratic governor, Creigh Deeds apparently ran a weak campaign, and wasn't able to generate the kind of turnout that Obama generated just a year ago.

 Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean told TPMDC that Deeds “just did not run the kind of campaign we'd all hoped for,” in part because he was a surprise winner of the primary.

“He had a lot of ground to make up in terms of finances,” Dean said.

So Deeds lost, but nobody is surprised by that.

Next, let's look at New Jersey, the state where I grew up. Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine is trailing challenger Chris Christie, although there are a lot of votes yet to be counted, so Corzine could stll pull it out. the AP has called the race for Christie. Still, in this race that has been personally nasty, the outcome is much more likely to be determined by who voters dislike more, Corzine or Christie.

Finally, in the NY-23 House race, a three-person race has been reduced to a two-person race, with Republican Dede Scozzafava dropping out and throwing her support to Democrat Bill Owens, leaving the conservative field to Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman. This is a district that never elects Democrats, and might not elect one this time. What we see here in microcosm, though, is the meltdown of the Republican Party, and Dede Scozzafava the latest victim of the purge of the Republican Party by the right wing extremists. Whatever happens, it doesn't look like bad news for the Democrats.

 One final note about what this means for Obama. Exit surveys have asked voters what they think of Obama's performance so far. In Virginia, 50% of the voters say they disapprove of Obama's performance and 49% saying they approve, so he's basically breaking even there. In New Jersey, underscoring the impression that the election is being decided on personalities, 58% of the voters say they approve of Obama's performance, and even 25% of them are voting against the Democratic incumbent.

So are today's elections a referendum on Obama's performance? Like other myths that have been retailed as conventional wisdom lately (read: the public has rejected the public option) this clearly appears to be false. Instead, what we see is that neither Creigh Deeds nor Jon Corzine had the unprecedented combination of personal appeal, campaign organization, and a historic move for change that Obama was able to generate to put them over the top.

Maybe it's premature to measure Obama for his coffin.

(NOTE: It should be mentioned that getting the hate crimes bill signed has been an 11-year effort in which Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has worked closely with the late Senator Edward Kennedy.  Leahy assumed chief sponsorship of the bill when Senator Kennedy became ill. –odum)

Cross posted from Beyond VSH:

Friday's New York Times covers an issue that Vermont patients' rights advocates have been trying to address for years. NAMI, a national organization that attacks the patients' rights movement and the very concept that anyone would have the right to refuse treatment by labeling mental illnesses as “brain diseases”, received almost $23 million from the drug industry in the last three years, almost three quarters of its funding.

What is true nationally is also true in Vermont. While Vermont's legislature has banned drug companies' “gifts” to doctors, if you visit NAMI-VT's annual conference on November 6 and 7 you'll see an ample array of note pads, Post-Its, clipboards, pill containers, and other drug company swag on display.

The dependency of NAMI on the drug companies is so complete that at least one advocacy group has called NAMI a Pharma front organization which, far from advocating for patient rights, has actually opposed the issuance of black box warnings for drugs with known cardiac risk factors.

In 2004, NAMI opposed the FDA issuing “black box” warnings on antidepressants about their increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in under 18-year-olds.

In 2006, despite overwhelming evidence of serious adverse cardiac events and sudden deaths caused by ADHD drugs, NAMI took the position that the “black box” warning on ADHD drugs was “premature.”

There is no question that many NAMI members are sincere, generally parents and other family members truly concerned for the impact of mental illnesses on their relatives. Nevertheless, until NAMI rejects its ties to Big Pharma it will never be a truly legitimate voice for the rights, needs, and concerns of people with mental illness.

Good news from Morrisville. According to VPR, the bullies who make Monster Energy Drink have agreed to stop hassling local heroes Rock Art for their Vermonster brew.

Vermontster president Matt Nadeau is cautious about spelling out the agreement before getting instructions from his attorney. 

But he will say that Monster has agreed to withdraw its cease and desist letter, provided that Vermontster doesn't try to break in to the ‘energy drink' market.

Here's what Rock Art says on their web page:

America You have saved
THE VERMONSTER  !!

Your voice has caused corporate america to rethink its position

POWER to the PEOPLE
POWER belongs to the people

 Given that one or two of us around GMD have been known to sample an adult beverage, this is great news for the locals, and another victory over the big corporations.

We can think of no more appropriate way to celebrate than to go out and hoist a Vermonster at your nearest local pub.

In related news, the manufacturers of  Monster energy drink sugar/caffeine punch have also agreed to drop cease and desist letters directed to employment placement service Monster.com, the Green Monster at Fenway Park, and the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie was unavailable for comment.

Cross-posted from Beyond VSH:

UPDATE: This story was also covered in today's Burlington Free Press. “In an entry on the blog “Green Mountain Daily,” McCullough wrote . . .”

Picture this: you're scooped up out of your apartment and taken against your will to the Vermont State Hospital. Waterbury. You've heard of it before, but now you're there. You don't know anybody there, you have to eat and drink whatever food they serve you, and you're stuck in the building twenty-four hours a day.

Eventually you start doing what they want you to do, mainly taking meds, and they give you off-ward rights. One of those rights, which is built into a lot of patients' treatment plans, is the right to go to the Canteen. It's not fancy, but maybe you can get some potato chips or order a sandwich or a burger; maybe you'll listen to the juke box or watch cable news on TV; maybe you just want to be off the ward for a little while. Believe it or not, the Canteen is so important it's written into Vermont statutes.

The superintendents of the Vermont State Hospital and the Training School may conduct a canteen or commissary, which shall be accessible to patients, students, employees and visitors of the state hospital and training school at designated hours and shall be operated by employees of the hospital and the school. A revolving fund for this purpose is authorized. The salary of an employee of the hospital or training school shall be charged against the canteen fund. Proceeds from sales may be used for operation of the canteen and the benefit of the patients, students and employees of the hospital or training school under the direction of the superintendents and subject to the approval of the commissioner. All balances of such funds remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in such fund for use during the succeeding fiscal year. An annual report of the status of the funds shall be submitted to the commissioner.

A lot of people say that the Canteen is the best, or the only good thing about the State Hospital.

Now they're closing it down. Employees learned Tuesday that as part of the state's budget-cutting project the Canteen will be closed down in about a month. It enables the state to cut three full-time positions.

The only problem is, what do you do if you're stuck in the Hospital and you don't want to spend all day every day, including all your meals and snacks, on your ward? I know patients at VSH who basically get no time off the wards except the time they spend going to the Canteen. It may be the best part of their day. Forget about whether it's therapeutic, and I think it is, because it's just about the only chance to spend time integrated in the larger community, it's the best part of their day that the state is taking away.

I guess if the state has to cut, there are only so many chances to take something away from people who have nothing.

It's hard to use the totally crummy web page of the Randolph Herald. Still, they slipped in this little tidbit from Phil Scott in this week's online edition:

In Randolph, Sen. Scott Says He's Likely To Run

Washington County Sen. Phil Scott, in Randolph Center Monday for VTC’s “burn-building” groundbreaking ceremony, edged closer than ever toward announcing that he will be a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010. “I’m leaning toward it,” he told The Herald as he was caught walking away after the event.

If true, this adds to the Lite Gov field. It also potentially changes the dynamics for the Washington County State Senate race.

More as this story develops.

The Milken Family Foundation announced its annual educator awards today, and Vermont's winner was Tom Sabo, who teaches biology and environmental studies at Montpelier High School. If you follow the link you'll see pictures of the greenhouse and gardens that Tom has been responsible for. Both of my kids knew him in school, and this is a great recognition, well deserved.

Tom Sabo

Teacher
2009

Montpelier High School
Montpelier, VT
Subject(s) Taught: Biology/Life Science
Grade(s): 9-12

At the time of the Award, Tom Sabo was:

Teacher
Montpelier High School
Montpelier, VT
Subject(s) Taught: Biology/Life Science
Grade(s): 9-12

Biographical Information:

Tom Sabo teaches a very popular AP Biology class at Montpelier High School in Montpelier, VT, taken by 10 to 20 percent of the student body each semester. Rather than studying photosynthesis only through textbooks, Sabo takes students into the school's organic garden to witness it in nature. The garden is also the brainchild of Sabo and his commitment to sustainability and healthy living. Both Sabo's biology class and his class titled, Sustainable Growing, study the environmental impacts of our current lifestyles on biology and ecosystems. These classes have touched so many students at Montpelier High, they have bonded together to purchase rainforest land to offset their environmental impact. Sabo has inspired students personally as well as professionally. This past year 23 percent of seniors said that they now want to pursue careers in science. Sabo and students also put their studies to practical use for the benefit of the community. Sabo enlists about one-hundred students each semester to tend to the school's organic garden where they grow vegetables and fruits. Sabo also worked with the school to build a greenhouse that is funded by student outreach projects. The food grown in the garden is used for Sabo's lesson plans and as hearty meals in the school cafeteria. As the garden has grown, so has the students' appreciation for locally grown fresh vegetables. Students' families have reported that this has dramatically changed the eating habits of their children. And as if these eco-friendly educational practices weren't enough, Sabo also managed to raise enough money to purchase solar panels for the school as well. Sabo recently received the Governor's Award for commitment to creating a hunger-free Vermont, a much-deserved recognition.

We don't have any photos or video yet, but I can say that in the WPTZ story Tom was shown teaching his students from Deep Economy by GMD regular Bill McKibben. Being an environmentalist comes pretty naturally to high school students, especially someplace like Montpelier. Still, I think it's great that he's not only teaching the conceptual underpinnings of modern environmentalism, but also the hands-on work of composting and gardening.

From today's Burlington Free Press:

GMD regular wdh probably isn't going to blow his own horn here, but it's good to see a local boy anarchist make good.

 MONTPELIER — The first thing you’re likely to notice after settling in at the Three Penny Taproom is the set of chalkboards listing dozens of beers on tap and in bottles.

Do you know what a “dead peasant” policy is? You would if you were the widow of a former employee of Amegy Bank, in Texas, which collected approximately five million dollars after he died of cancer. These policies as “often secret” and “taken out by companies on unwitting employees, which can yield sizable corporate tax breaks.”    In her article, Ms. Schultz opens as follows:  “For years, American companies have taken out life insurance on millions of their employees, harvesting tax advantages that fatten their coffers and collecting death benefits when they die.  Now, some family members are crying foul.”   Pretty scummy, huh?

What about plutonomy, a word so strange the spell check program here doesn't recognize it? According to  an internal 2006 Citigroup memo regarding “America, which has turned into a modern day plutonomy”. With the wonders of the internets (sic) I was able to unearth at least part of the report, which frankly pretty much reinforces things that are plainly obvious.        

In a “plutonomy”, according to Citigroup global strategist Ajay Kapur, economic growth is powered by and largely consumed by the wealthy few.

If it were someone on the Left pointing out this uncomfortable fact we would have been accused of fomenting class struggle. What if it's a giant bank, which is not only describing, but celebrating this key fact of the world economy? As usual, accusations of “class struggle” seem to be reserved for those of us who point out who's winning.

I learned about both of these concepts, and many more, from Michael Moore's new movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, which opened last night at the Savoy. In addition to the victims, like families losing their homes to rapacious banks; and villains who have gotten rich off the taxpayers; Moore presents us with heroes, including Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and the workers at Republic Door and Window, who staged a sit-in at their factory until the company agrees to pay them the Trade Readjustment Act money it owed them.

You might say this is standard Michael Moore fare, and I guess that would be right. Still, the combination of outrage, humor, and insight into things you've never heard of make this worth seeing. A love story? Well, that is something I question.

This is Banned Books Week, the annual observance of challenges to freedom of expression and thought sponsored by the American Library Association. This wek the Vermont chapter of the ACLU sponsored a read-in, at which Vermont authors read selections from banned or challenged books.

Lending their voices — literally — to the cause, 13 Vermont writers including Ron Powers, David Macaulay and Tom Bodett gathered in a steepled small-town church to read passages for a rapt crowd.

''It's a chance to sort of live out one of my fantasies, which is to do a book that gets banned,'' said the 62-year-old Macaulay, the author of ''The Way Things Work.'' ''Nothing would make me happier.''

The celebration of Banned Books Week is an opportunity to think about librarians and all they do for freedom of thought, including challenges to the so-called Patriot Act, and their perennial struggles to keep books on the shelves where library patrons can read them and use their own brains to evaluate the ideas they contain.

In addition to our event in Vermont, I'd like to focus on two libraries. One is a school library in which a parent challenged a children's book called The Million Dollar Kick. A mother objected to a single paragraph that she found difficult to explain to her 3rd grader.  The book will not be removed from restricted access until the family no longer has any children at the school. Just like that, with no apparent explanation, the rest of the readers of the school will be blocked from access to the book. Sure, it's still in the collection, but the fact is that if it's not on the public shelves the patrons won't see it, won't know about it, and won't read it. This seems like a pretty craven surrender by the schools. Of course, it's in Texas, so I can't imagine they get much support for freedom of thought down there.

On the other hand, we have an excellent example of a librarian standing up for his patrons' rights in the context of a book called Uncle Bobby's Wedding. As you might guess, it was a challenge to a book about the narrator's uncle's same-sex wedding for the usual reasons. Jamie Larue, a librarian and blogger, has posted his thoughtful, respectful response to the challenging parent, and I'll just give you a little taste of it.

Your third point, about the founders' vision of America, is something that has been a matter of keen interest to me most of my adult life. In fact, I even wrote a book about it, where I went back and read the founders' early writings about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. What a fascinating time to be alive! What astonishing minds! Here's what I learned: our whole system of government was based on the idea that the purpose of the state was to preserve individual liberties, not to dictate them. The founders uniformly despised many practices in England that compromised matters of individual conscience by restricting freedom of speech. Freedom of speech – the right to talk, write, publish, discuss – was so important to the founders that it was the first amendment to the Constitution – and without it, the Constitution never would have been ratified.

How then, can we claim that the founders would support the restriction of access to a book that really is just about an idea, to be accepted or rejected as you choose? What harm has this book done to anyone? Your seven year old told you, “Boys are not supposed to marry.” In other words, you have taught her your values, and those values have taken hold. That's what parents are supposed to do, and clearly, exposure to this book, or several, doesn't just overthrow that parental influence. It does, of course, provide evidence that not everybody agrees with each other; but that's true, isn't it?

Not all the comments are positive, although most are. Not everyone will have the same reaction, or will want to respond to a book challenge in the same way. What I think is good is that the writer lays out the substance of the challenge, responds directly to it, and explains and defends the principles of freedom of thought on which access to library material depends.

I bet you have some banned books in your house. Take a moment this week to appreciate the centuries of struggle that have enabled you to enjoy them.