Mountain Times- Volume 49, Number 18 - April 29 - May 5, 2020

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Opinion 8 • The Mountain Times • April 29 - May 5, 2020 OP-ED Silver lining By Lisa Loomis, The Valley Reporter In the midst of this time of self-isolation and social distancing during Covid-19 our lives have changed in so many ways that it’s hard to keep up. A lot of these changes have been difficult and scary and painful. But at least one change in how Vermont conducts itself has been good and that has been the way Vermont’s elected leaders communicate with us. With his three-times-a-week press conference, Governor Phil Scott and his cabinet have been providing unparalleled access to the information they are using to guide their decisions. Governor Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine are standing at the podium for 90 minutes to two hours three times a week fielding calls from print, broadcast and digital journalists from all over the state. Oftentimes other cabinet members are present either in person or by phone. By demonstrating such willingness to answer every single question from every corner of the state, Scott and his team are providing all journalists with a vast amount of information that they disseminate to their communities, improving all Vermonters’ awareness and information during this pandemic. And that’s a good thing. Far too often, only a handful of media outlets cover press conferences. Now that journalists are encouraged to call in versus attend in person, participation is much more extensive and inclusive and this will change how newsgathering takes place in Vermont going forward. It helps all of us to hear the concerns and questions asked by reporters from other parts of the state. It gives all of us a fuller picture of what is happening and what is important during this challenging time. Clearly the governor and his cabinet and staff have an enormous amount on their plates, yet, following the governor’s example, they are taking the time to respond to every question they are asked. Compare these extremely informative and useful press conferences with what is happening at the national level where journalists are berated and scolded and talked over. We’re lucky here in Vermont that getting critical information to the public is such a high priority for the Scott administration. That’s a real silver lining. Lisa Loomis is the editor of The Valley Reporter in Waitsfield. Why not Medicare for All? By Richard Slusky The coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the many fractures in the U.S. health care system, particularly the inadequate access that many low- and middle-income people have to health care services when they are most needed, and their dependence on employer-sponsored health care plans. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the concept of universal coverage for all Americans under “Medicare for All.” Unfortunately, the mention of Medicare for All brings forth a firestorm of objections from the hospitals, the insurance industry, conservative Republicans, and lobbyists determined to protect their own self interests. They argue that Medicare for All costs too much, will result in millions of Americans losing their private health insurance coverage, will add trillions to the national debt, will result in tax increases for the middle class, and will bankrupt hospitals and hospital health systems. Here are some responses to these arguments that you might want to consider before dismissing Medicare for All. The cost is too high It is true that growth in national health care expenditures continues to exceed inflation, and total health care costs, if left unchecked, are on track to far exceed $30 trillion over Providing health > 11 LETTERS Is the VSC system the first of many dominoes to fall? Dear Editor, Closing NVU-Lyndon, NVU-Johnson, and Vermont Technical College’s (VTC) Randolph campus would migrate Vermont’s higher educational engine to the Champlain Valley. The Burlington metropolitan area already exerts economic and political dominance over the rest of the state. Depriving Vermonters of access to educational and cultural resources in this manner would be unfair and inequitable. The Vermont State College (VSC) system deserves to maintain its autonomy and identity independent of the Burlington-based University of Vermont. The free exchange of ideas and speech has fallen under attack on American college campuses. VSC can and should meet the real and unmet need for intellectual diversity in higher education. We will attract intellectually curious young people from across the nation by positioning our institutions as bastions of free speech. We should offer select trade specialties on each campus and strive to make VSC > 13 Fill out the Census form, the state relies on your response for funding 42% ...puts us near the bottom of the list nationally. ‘Grave Message’ by Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Dear Editor, The League of Women Voters urges everyone to participate in the 2020 Census, now underway. The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government count everyone living in the country every 10 years. Every household should complete a Census form (either online, by mail, or by phone) by Oct. 31, 2020. Participating in the Census is our right and responsibility. Census data shape the future of our community. Census data determine our political power, representation in Congress, and funding for education, transportation, healthcare, and so much more. Key federal programs rely on data and allocations derived from the Census, including: Medicaid, Medicare Part B, SNAP, Highway Planning and Construction, Section 8, Title I Grants, Special Education Grants, CHIP, and Head Start. Census data are also used for apportionment of Congressional and legislative seats, determining who represents you. Your privacy is protected. Under the law, Census data can only be used for statistical purposes. Personal information cannot be disclosed for 72 years; Census Bureau staff who share personal information are subject to a $250,000 fine and/ or up to five years in federal prison. Recent reports show that Vermont has one of the lowest US Census responses rates in the country. [Gov. Scott said last week that only 108,000 Vermont households, about 42% had completed the survey, which puts us near the bottom of the list nationally. 152,000 homes have not yet filled out the form.] You can go 2020census. gov and fill out your Census form in a matter of minutes. An accurate count is essential for allocating government resources and allocating legislative seats. Fill out the Census form today! Catherine Rader, League of Women Voters of Vermont I love Rutland Dear Editor, With many people isolating at home to benefit public safety, and uncertainty the only certainty these days, it’s been inspiring to see how Rutland County has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. From hanging up lights and rainbows to making masks and putting out signs encouraging people to wash their hands, stay one cow apart, and thank medical and other essential workers, local residents have responded to Covid-19 the same way they responded to the Nor’icane and Tropical Storm Irene: With empathy, compassion and positivity. Reese Stoutes, the 7-year-old who has drawn hundreds of rainbows, and the Rutland Facebook group that aims to “Light up the World” gave hope and purpose to thousands of people. Thousands more are encouraging and educating others by posting I Love Rutland signs from Brandon to Pawlet, and everywhere in between. As co-founder of I Love Rutland with Awesome Graphics’ Mike Napolitano, I loved his idea to print and distribute the signs. We figured 1,000 would make a big impression, help combat Rutland > 9
The Mountain Times • April 29 - May 5, 2020 OPINION • 9 CAPITOL QUOTES On President Trump’s idea to inject Covid-19 patients with disinfectant... “So I asked Bill [Bryan] a question some of you are thinking of if you’re into that world, which I find to be pretty interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said, that hasn’t been checked but you’re gonna test it. And then I said, supposing it brought the light inside the body, which you can either do either through the skin or some other way, and I think you said you’re gonna test that too, sounds interesting. And I then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute, and is there a way you can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it’d be interesting to check that. So you’re going to have to use medical doctors, but it sounds interesting to me, so we’ll see. But the whole concept of the light, the way it goes in one minute, that’s pretty powerful.” Said President Donald Trump “Please don’t poison yourself because Donald Trump thinks it could be a good idea.” Said Hillary Clinton “When misinformation comes out, or you just say something that pops in your head, it does send a wrong message. We had hundreds of calls come into our emergency hotline at our health department asking if it was right to ingest Clorox or alcohol cleaning products — whether that was going to help them fight the virus.” Said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan COMMENTARY Castleton University is ready to meet community and workforce needs By Dr. Karen M. Scolforo, president of Castleton University You may have seen the recent news coverage regarding the challenges faced by the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), many of which were highlighted last summer in the VSCS white paper, Securing the Future of the Vermont State Colleges, and exacerbated by the novel coronavirus global pandemic this spring. While Castleton University is not immune to the challenges faced by institutions in the VSCS and around the country, our long-standing reputation as a historic, liberal arts university with a strong commitment to pre-professional studies holds firm. We haven’t achieved this status alone. Our CCV is ready to help rebuild Vermont By Joyce Judy, president of Community College of Vermont The Vermont State Colleges System is weathering the roughest days of its 60-year history. The potential changes facing our sister institutions are painful and the challenges are real. While the Community College of Vermont (CCV) is not immune to these challenges, we are fundamentally unique, financially stable, and poised to help rebuild Vermont in the wake of Covid-19. With our statewide presence and unyielding commitment to access, CCV is the second-largest college in Vermont. We serve more than 10,000 students each year at 12 locations and online. Those students go on to bachelor’s degree programs throughout the VSC, at UVM, and beyond, and into high-demand jobs that grow Vermont’s economy. When CCV was founded in 1970, we were seen as a bold experiment. Rather than asking rural Vermont to come to a college campus, CCV would bring college to rural Vermont. In other words, we would meet students where they were. This concept is at the core of our work. We meet students > Our educational and community partnerships help to strengthen us. educational and community partnerships help to strengthen us, keep us in tune with the needs of employers, and create a strong foundation of mutual benefit that will propel us all into a successful future. This ensures that our graduates have the relevant soft and technical skills to be successful in their chosen careers. Among the partnerships we are most proud of is with Community College of Vermont. As one of CCV’s strongest partners, we offer its graduates the access and affordability they need to continue their studies, stack credentials, and complete a baccalaureate degree. We do this through 2+2 pathway plans, allowing for a seamless transition into more CU > 13 where they are, not just geographically, but also financially, academically, and as individuals. As we respond to the disruptions caused by Covid-19, we will maintain focus on this idea. We are here to help Vermonters get back on their feet. CCV has always been adaptive, resilient, and relevant. We pioneered online learning in Vermont nearly 25 years ago, and today we offer hundreds of online courses each semester. We have robust transfer agreements with four-year programs, giving students a springboard to their academic futures. We have built lasting partnerships with businesses throughout the state designed to help employers meet their workforce needs, from childcare to healthcare to manufacturing. CCV’s decentralized, non-residential model means that 95% of Vermont households are within 25 miles of a CCV classroom. We provide students with resources in their local communities. Our suite of online options draws from the best of both worlds: one-on-one, local advising paired with a high-quality academic experience. CCV > 11 any sense of complacency around safety, give people an opportunity to be part of something meaningful, and share some positive messages with the community they care about. To say the response was overwhelming would be an understatement. Anonymous donors stepped up to pay for the signs, and Casella Waste Systems quickly delivered a brand-new steel con- Rutland: Hope, strength, grit and a positive outlook for the future. from page 8 tainer to hold them. The first 1,000 were claimed within a few hours. The same thing happened with a second printing of 1,000. A third batch lasted slightly longer, but within a few days, those signs were also dotting the front lawns of businesses and homes throughout the county. Rainbows, Christmas lights, and signs, might seem like small actions given the big challenges we face in the days and months ahead, but they all signal something important in Rutland County residents: Hope, strength, grit, and a positive outlook for the future. Those are attributes we will no doubt need, and are among the reasons I love Rutland. Steve Costello, Rutland Town Steve Costello is a vice president at Green Mountain Power
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Mountain Times- Volume 49, Number 18 - April 29 - May 5, 2020

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