The following is mission statement for the Vermont Manifesto which is spearheaded by ex-Duke University professor, Thomas Naylor.

Vermont should have been a separate nation long ago

We seem to be in a state of change. The word is getting out about Independence and more people are coming to the realization that it is aviable idea.

Some changes will be taking place on this site over the next few months.

First will be our name. In stead of the Vermont Sovereignty Project we will be called the “Second Vermont Republic, a Green Mountain Movement” Currently all address and phone numbers will remain the same.

Next, we are advocating for independence. It is clear that as time goes on the Constitution means nothing to Washington and any hope of re-establishing sovereignty within the confines of the tenth amendment is a pipe dream.

So for all who come to this site expecting the “Second Vermont Republic”…well, you are in the right place!

Next, the United States military has been monitoring this site. No, we are not dreaming this up. Our server has a wonderful counter attached to this site and shows this. If anyone would like a hard copy of these visits just log on and give me your snail mail and you’ll get a copy.

Probably not suitable for framing! Oh, I promise that all you will get is what you request. No letters asking for donations or unwanted mailings.

Also to go up into this column next week will be an open letter to theU.S. military. I guess they are not busy enough.

Last but not least for now, we are holding an all day long seminar atBread and Puppet in Glover on Saturday October 11th to advocateand explore ways to independence. Contact this address for moreinformation. Here is some info about B&P written by Linda Elbow of B&P.

THE PRINCIPALS OF THE SECOND VERMONT REPUBLIC

The Second Vermont Republic is a peaceful democratic grassroots political movement committed to the return of Vermont to its rightful status as an independent republic, as it was in 1777-1791, and to the support of Vermont’s future development as a separate, sustainable nation-state. Members of the second Vermont Republic subscribe to the following principles:

– Political Independence. Our primary objective is to extricate Vermont peacefully from the United States as soon as possible.

-Direct Democracy. Vermont’s strong democratic tradition is grounded in its legendary town meetings, which have served as the state’s political mainstay for over two centuries. We favor the devolution of power from the federal and state governments back to local communities.

-Sustainability. We celebrate and support Vermont’s small, clean, green, sustainable, socially responsible towns, farms, businesses, schools and churches. We encourage family-owned farms and businesses to produce high-value-added, healthy products that can be sold to upscale out-of-state customers whose demand is not influenced by the ebb and flow of the global economy. We also believe that energy independence is a laudable goal toward which to strive.

-Economic Independence. We encourage Vermonters to buy locally produced products from small local merchants rather than from giant, out-of-state megastores. We support trade with nearby states and provinces.

-Quality Education. We would return to local Vermont communities the control and financing of small local schools.

-Wellness. We encourage the type of locally controlled health-care systems of Switzerland, in which patients, physicians, clinics, hospitals and insurance providers are all in community with one another.

-Nonviolence. Consistent with Vermont’s long standing history of non-violence, we do not condone state-sponsored violence inflicted by either the military or law-enforcement officials. However, we do support a voluntary citizens’ militia, on the Swiss model, to restore order in the event of political unrest or natural disasters. We unconditionally oppose any form of military conscription.

-Membership. Second Vermont Republic membership is open to any Vermonter who subscribes to these principles, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Thomas Naylor will speak at UVM on 108 Lafeyette on October 8 from 7-9 pm