Tom Salmon was right: Democrats don't understand the economic crisis we're facing
By Rob Roper

When Tom Salmon left the Vermont Democratic Party he said, "As many of you know, in the face of the enormous fiscal crisis, I have sounded the alarm for new thinking, responsible budgeting, meaningful long-term planning and prioritization." Salmon concluded after many conversations with Democratic party leaders that, "It is my belief that the VT Republican party is closest to accepting the realities of our times; and is therefore the party best equipped to manage the very real and troubling economic and social conditions which confront us not only today, but in the coming decade."

Comments made by Democratic Representative and Chair of the Joint Fiscal Committee, Mike Obuchowski, seem to confirm Salmon's observations. In an article by Louis Porter, Obuchowski admits, "I am not sure... our membership has a firm grasp on the problem we are facing."

Yikes. 

In an email exchange with a concerned citizen, Obuchowski tried to clarify his statement, "In order to solve a problem, there has to be agreement on what constitutes the problem and the problem needs to be widely understood by the body politic," indicating again that the problem is not understood. He followed up, "There are some Vermonters, without applying partisan label [No, of course not], who are trying to wish the situation away."

Yikes-2.

If standing by while 14,000 Vermonters have lost their jobs, state revenues have dropped alarmingly while spending continues to increase, and Vermonters, according to a recent analysis, have seen our income drop faster than any other state in the nation doesn't wake legislators up to the fact that there is a problem, what will? (Answer: getting voted out of office in November 2010.)

This phenomenon of denial and inaction Obuchowski points out (and he deserves credit for sounding an alarm bell that needs to be rung loudly) is reminiscent of last week's New York Times article, "The specter of Socialism's slow collapse (here)." As a Professor Sartori points out, "The Socialists can't adapt to the loss of their basic electorate [the welfare state], and with globalism, the welfare state can no longer exist in the same way." So too, Vermont's Democrat leaders cannot and will not adapt to the changing economic conditions because their own personal power is built upon maintaining and subsidizing the special interests that define the status quo. 

Unfortunately, we can't afford inaction any longer (see Emerson Lynn's article). If Democrats are not willing or able to act, they must either step aside or be forcibly removed from office. 

Tom Salmon had the wisdom to jump out of a vehicle screaming at top speed toward a telephone poll being driven by people unwilling to change course and hoping only to "wish the problem away." Let's hope more people realize what's happening and get out, too. 

Rob Roper is Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party