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Vermont has a lot to say for itself when it comes to building a sustainable future. The facts speak for themselves: We rank second in the nation for clean energy momentum and are near the top of the heap when it comes to the growth of clean energy jobs. It is clear that were on our way to creating an energy independent Vermont and even meeting our ambitious goal of generating 90 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2050.

However, the time has arrived when we need to bring more Vermonters to the table we need to come up with solutions that meet our renewable energy goals, the needs of our communities and our planet. We must work to truly empower citizens to make decisions about energy sources and how the benefits are distributed. This isnt a call to allow towns veto power over specific projects; this is a call to fundamentally change our energy system and forge ahead with an approach that breaks us out of our polarized camps that focus solely on siting or technology when it comes to any project or policy.

So how can we do this?

Currently, Rights & Democracy is launching a campaign calling for a new energy system, one that will disrupt the status quo of how we produce, own, and use energy by putting the power in the hands of the people. We believe its time for Vermont to move towards energy democracy an open, democratic approach to determining our future and creating sustainable, livable communities that empower people to have a stake in their energy.

So what is energy democracy? What does it look like? What are its goals?

Put simply: Its an energy system that is low carbon and local as well as ecological and equitable, and abides by some straightforward principles:

Allow for diverse voices to make key decisions for Vermonts renewable energy future, not just utilities, lobbyists, and regulators.

Improve access not only to renewable power, but also to the ability to own it, with a goal of 75 percent of energy used in the state being owned locally and/or by communities or cooperatives.

No renewable energy source should be off the table for a community to evaluate.

Lower the financial barriers to participating in renewable energy investments and ownership so that all Vermonters, regardless of income or property ownership status, have a stake in the transition. Keep the benefits of renewable energy generation local, including renewable energy credits.

Guarantee that no family has to spend more than 5 percent of its income paying for energy.

Based on my experience, I feel that not only is it possible for Vermont to adopt these principles, it may very well be necessary. In 2015, I was working as an organizer for the Energy Independent Vermont campaign to put a price on carbon pollution. I spent my days meeting with activists from the Northeast Kingdom to Windham County to discuss our transition away from fossil fuels and towards energy independence.

In these face-to-face conversations with these folks, I quickly learned that although most Vermonters support transitioning away from fossil fuels, there is a large spectrum of opinions on how we get there. And these opinions when fanned are dividing communities, pitting neighbor against neighbor, and at times slowing down or halting renewable energy projects.

More than that, during the 2016 campaign, disagreements over how our transition to renewable energy is happening led some longtime environmental activists and progressives to support Republican Gov. Phil Scott. This may come as a shock, since Governor Scott is clearly no champion for environmental, economic or social justice issues and could seriously undermine years of momentum to transition to a clean future in Vermont.

Instead, we have seen organizations and activists who should be united under the common goal effectively turn on each other, when there are much larger and systemic issues of climate change to be working on.

I know beyond a doubt that we need to take bold action to ditch fossil fuels and generate our power from clean, renewable and sustainable sources, and we need to act in unity to ensure those benefits are felt by all Vermonters.

Vermont deserves energy policies that put the future of Vermonts power in the hands of the people, not politicians and corporations, whose interests arent rooted in freeing our communities from the grip of out-of-state, multinational power companies..

Its time to bring the power to the people, and keep it there.

Laura Mistretta of Burlington is a member of Rights & Democracy.

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Creating an energy democracy | | Rutland Herald - Rutland Herald

Republican Sen. James Lankford called for clarity.

Republican Sen. John McCain pronounced himself disappointed.

And Republican Sen. Marco Rubio essentially shrugged. He said he was surprised by the sacking of FBI Director James Comey, but added that, Its a decision the presidents made, and well go from here.

It is not exactly a portrait of righteous indignation.

Not to paint with too broad a brush. Some GOP officials did speak more forcefully against what Donald Trump did Tuesday night (and some supported it). But there was no mistaking a certain tepid tone to many responses, and it was almost as troubling as the firing itself.

For those who just flew in from the Amazon rainforest:

In an ominous echo of Richard Nixons infamous Saturday Night Massacre, Trump fired the man who has been investigating his campaigns ties to Russia, which meddled in last years election with the goal of helping elect Trump president. Comey sought to find out whether Trump or his surrogates colluded with that effort.

Instead, he was given the ax, a fact he learned on television. The explanation for this was spectacularly risible. In a terse letter, Trump claimed he was responding to concerns from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, that Comey mishandled the investigation of the nothing burger that was Hillary Clintons emails.

Comey did, in fact, botch the investigation, violating Justice Department protocol by publicizing unsubstantiated claims against a candidate in the midst of a campaign.

But this happened last summer, and if it were really the reason for his dismissal, hed have been gone right after Trump took power.

More to the point, it would require the credulity of a particularly stupid toddler to believe Trump, who loathes Clinton, just booted the FBI director because he treated her unfairly. No, it is painfully obvious that this is about Russia. Like Nixon in 1973, Trump is apparently faced with an investigation that is going places he doesnt want it to go.

Like Nixon, he has responded by firing the investigator.

The stench that rises from this is unmistakable, the reek of power abused and justice obstructed.

It strongly suggests that we are governed by an ongoing criminal conspiracy. The situation needs, demands and requires an independent investigation.

We cant rely on the Justice Department for that, given that its leadership is complicit in Comeys firing.

That leaves Congress, which is why the anodyne Republican reactions are so worrisome. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has flatly ruled out a special prosecutor.

Shame on all of us if that is the last word here. We are supposed to be Americans first, before we are Rs or Ds. Thats a principle from which many Republicans have turned in recent years, repeatedly choosing themselves and their wealthy patrons over the greater American good.

The health care debacle is but the latest glaring example.

But GOP leaders must stand up for the country this time or risk losing it. If they dont get that, the rest of us liberal, conservative, American must make unceasing noise and apply unstinting pressure until the party that launched eight investigations of Benghazi decides to treat this at least as seriously.

If you are not appalled, you are not paying attention. The Trump administration constitutes a clear and present danger to American democracy.

We need a special prosecutor and we need one now.

Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com.

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A danger to American democracy - Sunbury Daily Item

Canada Free Press

Democrats Love Affair With Communism Canada Free Press A bill narrowly passed the house in California, repealing part of the law enacted during the Cold War era in our country's history when communists were really active and infiltrating our government, attempting to overthrow it. The bill proposed to ...

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Democrats Love Affair With Communism - Canada Free Press

Liberal elitists frequently question Donald Trumps suitability for high office. Snobbishly they suggest he lacks the education, the knowledge, the grounding in political and economic theory to make a success of his presidency.

Time and again, however, the great man proves that, beneath the showmanship and braggadocio, there lies an acute and pioneering intellect.

Only this week, for example, he invented Keynesian economics.

Have you heard the expression priming the pump before? the President of the United States of America asked a reporter from The Economist, while explaining his idea to stimulate growth by temporarily increasing the deficit. I came up with it a couple of days ago, and I thought it was good.

But priming the pump isnt Mr Trumps only contribution to the political lexicon. Here, exclusively in the Telegraph,he reveals the other radical ideas with which he intends...

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How Donald Trump invented communism (and other incredible new ideas) - Telegraph.co.uk

A century ago, three shepherd children claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary.

The two girls and a boy said she told them three secrets, which were later interpreted as foretelling the Second World War, the rise and fall of Communism and the death of a pope.

Pope Francis is due to arrive Friday in their Portuguese hometown of Fatima. He will canonize two of them, while the third child is also on her way to becoming a saint.

Up to a million people are expected to attend the canonization Mass on Saturday.

Their visions marked one of the most important events in 20th century Catholicism and have become known as the "Three Secrets of Fatima."

13 PHOTOS

Fatima, Portugal

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Wax figurines are placed as offerings, as pilgrims attend the 99th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children, at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A pilgrim walks on her knees to fulfil her vows, as pilgrims attend the 99th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children, at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A pilgrim lies prostrate as she walks on her knees to fulfil her vows, as pilgrims attend the 99th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children, at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Pilgrims attend a candlelight vigil at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal May 12, 2015. Thousands of pilgrims are on their way to the Fatima Shrine to attend the 98th anniversary celebrations of the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in 1917. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Pilgrims arrive to attend a candlelight vigil, during the 99th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children, at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

FATIMA, PORTUGAL - MAY 12: Spanish nuns chat as another reads 'Papa' magazine while they wait for they arrival of Pope Francis at the Sanctuary of Fatima on May 12, 2017 in Fatima, Portugal. Pope Francis will be attending the Sanctuary of Fatima, in Portugal, on May 12 and 13 to canonize two Portuguese shepherds, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, who are said to have witnessed the apparition of what they believed was the Virgin Mary, together with their aunt Lucia Santos, during the 100 anniversary. Thousands of pilgrims and worshippers from around the world are expected to gather at the centenary celebration. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

FATIMA - PORTUGAL - MAY 12: A Christian pilgrim is seen at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima as he waits the arrival of Pope Francis in Fatima, Portugal on May 12, 2017. (Photo by Pedro Trindade/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

FATIMA, PORTUGAL - MAY 11: A worshipper holds a candle during a night mass in the Sanctuary of Fatima on May 11, 2017 in Fatima, Portugal. Pope Francis will be attending the Sanctuary of Fatima, in Portugal, on May 12 and 13 to canonize two Portuguese shepherds, Jacinta and Francisco Marto. It is said they were witnesses to the apparition of what they believed was the Virgin Mary, together with their aunt Lucia Santos, during the 100 anniversary. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to gather to the centenary celebration. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

A woman holds a figure of Our Lady of Fatima as she waits for the arrival of Pope Francis at Fatima Sanctuary in Fatima, central Portugal, on May 12, 2017. Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, one century ago, will be declared saints on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis. The canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto will take place during the Argentinian pontiff's visit to a Catholic shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every year. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

An Angolan woman pays a promise walking on her knees at Fatima Sanctuary in Fatima, central Portugal, on May 11, 2017. Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, one century ago, will be declared saints on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis. The canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto will take place during the Argentinian pontiff's visit to a Catholic shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every year. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - A group of pilgrims arrive at Fatima Sanctuary in Fatima, central Portugal, on May 11, 2017. Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, one century ago, will be declared saints on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis. The canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto will take place during the Argentinian pontiff's visit to a Catholic shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every year. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

A pilgrim holds a rosary on her hand as she walks on her knees at Fatima Sanctuary in Fatima, central Portugal, on May 11, 2017. Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, one century ago, will be declared saints on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis. The canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto will take place during the Argentinian pontiff's visit to a Catholic shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every year. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

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For days, pilgrims carrying candles, rosaries and roses have made their way to the statue dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, with some completing the last part on their knees.

Portugal has boosted security ahead of the pontiff's visit and has reinstated border controls restricting freedom of movement from other European states.

In a video message to the people of Portugal before his journey, Pope Francis said he would "present" himself to the Virgin Mary.

Visions of the Madonna are very important in the Catholic faith and the story of Fatima is universally known among Catholics.

What are the 'Three Secrets of Fatima'?

While grazing their sheep on May 13, 1917, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Lucia dos Santos said they saw the first of several visions of the Virgin Mary who had three messages for the world.

Two years later, both of the Martos siblings died of influenza leaving Lucia to share the secret messages with the world.

At first, the children were not believed. But their visions were accepted as authentic apparitions by the Church in 1930.

According to the prophecies written down by Lucia, the first vision the children saw was one of hell and came with a call to prayer and conversion, which if not heeded would lead to another world war.

The second was that Russia would "spread her errors" throughout the world if people did not turn to God.

It wasn't until 2000 that the Vatican disclosed the long-awaited third secret, describing it as a prediction of the 1981 assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II.

John Paul II had credited the Virgin Mary with saving his life and one of the bullets fired at him was placed in the crown of a statue of her in Fatima.

Lucia died in 2005 and is currently on the track for beatification, the first step towards becoming a saint. However, the process could not start until after her death.

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Kids who Catholics believe foretold WWII, Communism to become saints - AOL