Point of View
On this page, former State Representative Bob Perry keeps us up on issues that matter for our town and state.
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Which Side Are You On?
Coup: a sudden, violent and illegal seizure of power from a government.
Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Insurrection: a violent uprising against an authority or government.
Rioters: a violent public disorder, specifically a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent.
Violence: behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
Mob: a large crowd of people, especially one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence.
Weeks of Trump enticing his followers to protest on January 6, promising a "wild time." Five deaths; eleven Molotov Cocktails; multiple pipe bombs; guns; knives; nylon "handcuffs" for hostage-taking; speaking for two hours at our Capitol building to build momentum for that "wild time." Sitting in a comfortable chair watching on television the ugliness of the seizing and desecration of our Capitol, likely getting a chuckle watching the agility of the wall climbers and window breakers; after the desecration, telling his followers they are "special" people and he "loves" them.
Now deprived of Facebook and Instagram as a national threat through January 20; permanently suspended by Twitter. Articles of Impeachment drafted on January 8, made necessary by Republican senators refusing to remove him from office a year ago; 140 house Republicans supporting overturning the November election, the will of the people; Sixty lawsuits filed to overturn the election, involving more than 80 judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans, some appointed by Trump himself; Rudy Guliani, his personal lawyer, on-scene and unhinged, inciting violence.
At 12:01 P.M., January 20, 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became the President and Vice-President of a not-so United States of America. It's make or break for the American experiment in self-governance. Which side are you on?
Pete Seeger asked the question in 1941
Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Insurrection: a violent uprising against an authority or government.
Rioters: a violent public disorder, specifically a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent.
Violence: behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
Mob: a large crowd of people, especially one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence.
Weeks of Trump enticing his followers to protest on January 6, promising a "wild time." Five deaths; eleven Molotov Cocktails; multiple pipe bombs; guns; knives; nylon "handcuffs" for hostage-taking; speaking for two hours at our Capitol building to build momentum for that "wild time." Sitting in a comfortable chair watching on television the ugliness of the seizing and desecration of our Capitol, likely getting a chuckle watching the agility of the wall climbers and window breakers; after the desecration, telling his followers they are "special" people and he "loves" them.
Now deprived of Facebook and Instagram as a national threat through January 20; permanently suspended by Twitter. Articles of Impeachment drafted on January 8, made necessary by Republican senators refusing to remove him from office a year ago; 140 house Republicans supporting overturning the November election, the will of the people; Sixty lawsuits filed to overturn the election, involving more than 80 judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans, some appointed by Trump himself; Rudy Guliani, his personal lawyer, on-scene and unhinged, inciting violence.
At 12:01 P.M., January 20, 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became the President and Vice-President of a not-so United States of America. It's make or break for the American experiment in self-governance. Which side are you on?
Pete Seeger asked the question in 1941
Republicans Announce Plans to Increase Your Property Taxes
Rep. Mary Jane Wallner warns in her column in the Concord Monitor (11/16/20) that New Hampshire Republicans are openly planning to increase local property taxes. I served with Mary Jane for 7 years. She is totally committed to serving her constituents. When she says your property taxes are going up, she is offering a warning that the new Republican majority, elevated to majority status by NH voters, is already serving the wishes of business by reducing their taxes, thus reducing state revenue. Those revenue reductions will need to be made up by increases in property taxes, or reductions in state services. It's that simple. All of this when state revenues are already significantly reduced from the incompetence of Donald J. Trump to lead on the COVID response. Pensions, you say? Yes, at risk. So much at risk.
With redistricting again in the control of Republicans, one must realize that an attempt will be made to intentionally create a district that will make it more difficult for Congressman Chris Pappas - and other Democrats - to be re-elected.
With redistricting again in the control of Republicans, one must realize that an attempt will be made to intentionally create a district that will make it more difficult for Congressman Chris Pappas - and other Democrats - to be re-elected.
Republican Majority in the State House - Cause for Concern
A big thanks goes out to everyone in the Strafford community who promoted the Democratic team by hosting yard signs, standing at the polls, and above all, taking time to vote in the important election last fall. Meanwhile, the election results in New Hampshire give cause for concern. We are thrilled that Joe Biden prevailed in the Granite State, and we were able to maintain our Democratic Congressional representation and elect Democrat Cinde Warmington to the Executive Council. At the same time, Republicans saw dramatic gains in the State House, Senate and Executive Council. Watch this page for updates on the troubling changes the Republican majorities in our state government are making for our town and state. From raising property taxes to attacking access to voting, Republicans are in the process of changing life in New Hampshire. We all need to pay attention.
How Strafford voted last November.
How Strafford voted last November.
Rep. Harrington Represents Special Interests, Not Us
A flyer arrived last fall, combining Republican candidates among its folds, including Strafford’s representative, Mike Harrington. In it, he makes the following statement: "Too many decisions made in Concord are made to please special interest groups especially when it comes to electricity prices. I promise that my only special interests group will be the people of NH and not just those who can afford to send paid lobbyist [sic] to Concord. Rep. Michael Harrington, Strafford, October, 2020."[Emphasis mine.]
Rep. Harrington is not being candid. In fact, he represents a special-interest organization, the New England Ratepayer’s Association (NERA), as an advisor. He does not represent his constituents when he acts as advisor to an organization which has issued a cost-benefit analysis concluding mitigation of PFAWs, toxic and deadly chemicals released by industry, is not warranted; and when NERA’s conclusion, in part, was based on data generated from a person employed by the Mercatus Center, part of an expansive network of right-wing, Koch Brothers funded think tanks.
NERA supported towers and wires slicing their way from Canada to southern NH, a very unpopular and unnecessary project known as Northern Pass, that would have provided energy to Massachusetts, and none to New Hampshire.
Based on its past opposition, it is evident that NERA will continue to oppose clean, solar-generated electricity for the foreseeable future, despite the critical need for carbon-emission reduction in order to mitigate climate change.
Not surprisingly, Rep. Harrington supported the position of NERA by opposing every PFAW-related bill this past legislative session.
You want representatives who will represent you, not a lobbying organization with a megaphone.
Rep. Harrington is not being candid. In fact, he represents a special-interest organization, the New England Ratepayer’s Association (NERA), as an advisor. He does not represent his constituents when he acts as advisor to an organization which has issued a cost-benefit analysis concluding mitigation of PFAWs, toxic and deadly chemicals released by industry, is not warranted; and when NERA’s conclusion, in part, was based on data generated from a person employed by the Mercatus Center, part of an expansive network of right-wing, Koch Brothers funded think tanks.
NERA supported towers and wires slicing their way from Canada to southern NH, a very unpopular and unnecessary project known as Northern Pass, that would have provided energy to Massachusetts, and none to New Hampshire.
Based on its past opposition, it is evident that NERA will continue to oppose clean, solar-generated electricity for the foreseeable future, despite the critical need for carbon-emission reduction in order to mitigate climate change.
Not surprisingly, Rep. Harrington supported the position of NERA by opposing every PFAW-related bill this past legislative session.
You want representatives who will represent you, not a lobbying organization with a megaphone.
Thanks to Bob Perry for coordinating content for this page. Bob is a former State Representative who chaired the Strafford Town Democrats for more than 16 years. He is also a longtime board member of Open Democracy New Hampshire. As you can see, Bob's talents shine when picking over blueberries for our annual Blueberry Bake-off.
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Although the NH State House is currently closed, you can make a risk-free visit online by way of Virginia Drew's guided tour sponsored by C-SPAN 3. Ms. Drew is Director of the NH State House Visitor Center.
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