Today is Town Meeting Day in Vermont. This isn't the satged for tv "Town Hall Meeting" that's become so popular with the pols lately, this is real from-the-floor, show-of-hands democracy in action. It is absolutely the coolest thing ever, for me anyway, someone raised under a slightly different form of government.Here in our teeny town we hold our annual budget meeting/vote in June, but today voters will elect our mayor, council, school boards. On Town Meeting Day we in Vermont vote on school budgets, sewer extensions, and the war in Iraq. Seriously. In any given year, the items on the ballot can be that diverse. In some smaller communities, voting is done from the floor, by show of hands (here it's by Australian ballot.) After all the business is settled, they have lunch. Like I said, coolest thing ever. This year, my bank manager, the father of one of Daniel's pre-school classmates (and the father of one of Simon's too) and the guy that makes the most beautiful maple and oak furniture (Chris, Matt, Peter, and Randy) are running for the two vacant seats on City Council. And I suspect tomorrow our Mayor (April) will be looking for work. ;o) Update: Looks like I was right.
Here's more info if you're so inclined.
4 comments:
What's Australian ballot?
What kind of vote on the war in Iraq? If I can vote against the war, I am moving to Vermont!
I love the idea of the town meeting. Democracy in Action! Do kids get to attend?
Australian ballot is the official name for the standard "x here" paper ballot.
Many towns had non-binding ballot (or floor) items with regard to things like impeachment of the current administration (overwhelming support) or re-examination of the 9-11 inquiry (mostly failed.) There have been past ballot items condemning the Iraq War (since the beginning) and drilling in ANWR. If a petition gets enough signatures, anything can be included on the ballot. People feel like they have a voice.
I've deleted one comment because it really wasn't relative to this post. Certainly a valid question, but nothing to do with Town meeting.
Interesting. Looks like Mayor April is a sore loser too. Wouldn't it have been gracious to mumble something about the democratic process, and the people have spoken, yada yada ...
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