HOW DO THEY GOVERN WITHOUT HEARING FROM HANOVER?:

Hanover Debates Iraq War: Town Meeting Topic Fords River from Vt. (Jessica T. Lee, 5/11/05, Valley News)

Hanover -- Residents at Town Meeting took a unique approach to a resolution on the war in Iraq by first voting down an amendment calling for a Hanover foreign policy commission, then narrowly approving an altered motion bidding the United States to remove its troops when asked to do so by the Iraqi government. [...]

After the standard Iraq resolution was read aloud, there was a pause as Moderator Marilyn “Willy” Black searched for the hands of people who wanted to speak.

Resident Robin Carpenter provided the first statement, asking also to direct the selectboard to appoint a Hanover foreign policy commission that would prepare policy positions for the town and offer guidance to the U.S. Department of State.

“There are far more issues and problems in the world,” Carpenter said. “What about North Korea? How should we deal with Iran, Venezuela, Russia?

“The President and Secretary of State have no guidance from Hanover on any of these issues,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter continued, saying that people who favored the resolution should also favor the amendment. He listed alternative ways for residents to voice their opinions, such as letters to newspapers and correspondence with legislative representatives.

Carpenter's amendment sent a ripple of comment through the gym, which had grown hotter throughout the evening in spite of open doors allowing the occasional breeze.

“I think it's frivolous and almost insulting,” said resident David Montgomery.

Resident William Spengemann concurred, saying, “You can't vote for that amendment because it was sarcastic.”

Voters overwhelming decided against the amendment; only a few hands rose in favor. Carpenter said in an interview that it was “a little extreme” to call his motion “sarcastic.” He told the Valley News that his intent was to point out the inconsistency of the issue, and the gravity of deciding the important issues with just a fraction of Hanover residents in attendance.

Dennis Goodman of Etna picked up this point immediately after the vote on the amendment. He cited an earlier comment made by Walsh. The chairman of the selectboard said the danger of Town Meetings is that they “can be hijacked by a small number of people late at night.”

Goodman said he was troubled by the article's very presence on the warrant and by the fact that as few as 25 residents could force an opinion on the record for the whole community.

“This is not the way for Hanover residents to make their views known on this topic,” Goodman said. “An article like this, it seems to me, makes Hanover a subject of mockery around the country.”

Goodman offered an amendment, alluding to Hanover's opposition to pre-emptive war in 2003, and stating that Hanover now opposes a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq any longer than desired by the elected Iraqi government. The amendment also stipulated that all the New Hampshire National Guard troops be brought home when requested by the government of Iraq.

A few residents cited previous conflicts in which there seemed to be no appropriate end date, but when the end came, so did healing. Montgomery said he had responded to similar arguments about disasters ensuing after pullouts during the Vietnam era.

“When we did actually leave Vietnam, the healing was rather quick,” Montgomery said.

When hands went up for and against the amendment, the issue was too close to call. Town officials circled the meeting, checking their counts before announcing Goodman's amendment had passed, 49-48.

Dennis Goodman is a friend, a wonderful man, and, as it turns out, rather clever. That he substituted an amendment that simply restates the President's policy likely eluded half the people who voted with him. Ah, the tricks one learns defending America at the UN...

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 13, 2005 5:17 PM