As Deer Isle Goes... A Small Town Makes a Bold Demand: Bring Our War Money Home

[Hannah Bell]

Deer Isle Town Meeting Day, March 1, 2010.

It was an event for which to be proud and it ought not go uncelebrated. Two thirds of those at the Deer Isle Town Hall on this picturesque island of 2400 lobstermen, artists, tradesmen, and “from-awayers” took their stand. Effectively saying, “No more”, the substantial majority voted to approve an article on the town warrant calling on Congressman Mike Michaud not to fund the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan and to take a lead in demanding the same principled position of his colleagues...

The vote wasn’t even close. Deer Isle’s answer to Kola’s question could be thought of in these terms, “No we don’t want our tax dollars funding the reduction of Afghan homes to rubble and the further degradation of Iraq’s environment, while frost heaves grow and potholes multiply on our country roads and schools and hospitals struggle.”

The article on Deer Isle’s Town Warrant was inspired by the Bring the War Dollars Home campaign, a collaboration of 17 concerned citizens’ organizations led by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and Code Pink Maine. A number of other towns and cities in the state may soon follow Deer Isle’s lead as the campaign reports similar resolutions being considered in 10 other municipalities.

There are other promising signs. One of Maine’s school district boards has voted 9-4, to support a “Bring the War $$s Home” resolution which will ask state legislators to request Congressional representatives to stop funding war and to use the money to fund education. The campaign also reports that 17 state legislators have now signed on to the “Bring the War $$s Home” letter asking Maine’s Congressional reps to support votes that will terminate war expenditures. On the weekend of April 10 and 11, supporters of the campaign weary of good-money-after-bad rationale, and unwilling to support one more appropriations bill will fan out in many towns across the state to place notices on residential doors which remind us that the average Maine family has paid $10,000 for warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/03/05-1

[cali]

1. I love NE town meetings but there's nothing particularly bold or courageous

about this anymore than it was bold or courageous of town meeting goers in Vermont to demand the arrest of george bush. and much as I love this kind of quirky stuff, it signifies very little.

[Hannah Bell]

2. yes cali, it's just quirky & insignificant.

[cali]

4. it's heart warming, but sorry hannah, it is pretty insignificant

and so are the goings on at virtually all NE town meetings. Love 'em, gone to them almost all of my adult life, but I don't deceive myself about their importance.

[ima_sinnic]

6. yes, the demands of citizens are "insignificant"--better we fade back into the woodwork

and let Congress rob us blind.

sheesh. I have to ask, as so many others have, what is your problem?

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ima_sinnic]

8. I'm not "bolstering" myself--and that is what you meant,

"honey"

[Wilms]

9. Do us all a favor?

Pour hot glue on your keyboard.

[L0oniX]

10. +1

[cali]

11. don't like what I have to say, honey?

tough shit.

[L0oniX]

12. The ignore function...is your friend.

:)

[SpiralHawk]

3. You must cross Eggemoggin Reach to get to Deer Isle

... way Down East...

E.B. White used to live just up the road in Blue Hill - such a lovely place. That is where he wrote Charlotte's Web, and many other fine works...

[malaise]

5. The longest journey begins with a single step

Hopefully this goes viral.