Killington, NH: How to make two towns happy

Manchester Union Leader ^ | January 13, 2004 | Editorial

[billorites]

THE SELECTMEN in the central Vermont resort town of Killington have had enough of their state’s punitive tax structure. They want to be annexed by New Hampshire. We’d sure like to see that happen.

The leaders of that little ski community high in the Green Mountains share the anger felt by many Granite State residents at judges whose decisions violated clear constitutional language, endorsed inequitable tax policies, and overturned local control of education. New Hampshire’s school funding controversies are well known in Vermont, but Killington’s selectboard realized that their town would be better off with us.

Just last year, the Free State libertarians declared allegiance to New Hampshire. Now rebel Vermonters are looking across the Connecticut River to find freedom and justice. These are not simply publicity stunts. These men and women have recognized the special qualities of life here that too many local folks take for granted.

Remember, this is not the first time that New England resort towns have considered Live Free or Die license plates. During a 1977 redistricting dispute, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket threatened to secede from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gov. Meldrim Thomson moved quickly but failed to close the deal, which is a shame. The islanders would have benefited and we would finally have enough seashore.

Perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from that experience. New Hampshire didn’t offer Massachusetts any compensation for those two islands. If we had, history might have been changed. We believe that Craig Benson, a governor who embraces change, can find a way to offer Vermont a fair trade for Killington.

We have a modest proposal. Gov. Benson, don’t let this opportunity pass. Give them Hanover.

[billorites]

Today, Killington.

Tormorrow, the World!

Soon, you'll all bow and face Concord.

A new day of New Hampshire hegemony has begun.

[gunnedah]

Is this one of Howard Deans legacies? Maybe a look into the future of the upcoming great Democrat Party Empire.

[who knows what evil?]

Hmmmm...Killington for Hanover. That merits serious consideration.

[sawyer]

I have lived in NH and no taxes can mean no service.But to tell the truth I was happy to live there. I did have a 10 year battle about their poll tax that had to be taken off books then they called it a resident tax and you still needed to pay it to vote. Drove me nuts as the billed me for 10 tears after I left state with interest for the darn tax. Living next door in Maine I still use their tax free stores and so do a lot of Maine people.I picked to live in Maine as it is really less costly when you add up NH other taxes which I did when I came back to NE.

[tcostell]

I can see it now.... the rapidly deployed and highly mobile mountain brigade of the New Hampshire National Guard fighting to push back the people's army of Vermont led by their political officers.
The undersupplied Vermonters throwing wave after wave of bodies into the open fields created by the ski slopes, where they are gunned down by the New Hampshire guard or are shot by their own troops for retreating. Wild eyed defenders of the proletariat (brought from Vermont's universities in locked train cars straight to the fighting) declaring their love for mother Vermont and swearing to die before surrendering o the capitalist swine. Meanwhile the New Hampshire guard struggles to take enough ground before the vicious Vermont winter sets in. So they advance at maximum speed while the Vermonters set fire to their condos, restaurants, and bars leaving only scorched earth as they retreat toward the river in Burlington...
Oliver Stone is probably already developing a script ...
Now if there is just some way that my commuter town in New Jersey could declare itself to be part of Texas, I'd be all set.

[RJCogburn]

Watch out for Vermonters cutting the sap lines or tipping over the sap buckets.

[LakeGuy]

Hanover for Killington, yeah that's an excellent idea! Vermonters would love to have another obnoxious town full of yuppies, volvo driving, lattes drinking Deaniacs!