Reply #1: Bolton articles under consideration [View All]

[paineinthearse]

WHEREAS, The United States faces three issues of immense importance:
- Terrorist possession of WMD
- War, in Iraq, and possibly with Iran, North Korea, and/or Syria
- Whether to privatize Social Security;
WHEREAS, democracy necessitates the time and personal attention of all citizens;
WHEREAS, few Americans spend time seriously discussing issues with fellow citizens;
WHEREAS, local communities are the only likely local forums for public discussion;
WHEREAS, New England town meetings played a significant role in American independence;
WHEREAS, community discussion would heal civic divisions by facilitating mutual understanding of basic assumptions and the sharing of information; and
WHEREAS, Americans will need to devote more personal time to public issues if they are to shoulder their responsibilities as controllers of history’s most powerful nation,
NOW THEREFORE, the (your town) Democratic Town Committee recommends that the next (your town) Town Meeting adopt the following three Warrant Articles:

First Proposed Warrant Article:
VOTED, that the Town Clerk is directed to send a copy of the following three votes, with the Town seal attached, to the President, the two Massachusetts Senators, Congress Member Meehan, and the Governor.
1. The (your town) Town Meeting of creating a ten year international process for eradicating the world of weapons of mass destruction through comprehensive, enforced control the production, possession, and use of all such weapons, universal inspections, and international guarantees of the defense of all nations against external aggression and external, armed conspiracies.
2. The (your town) Town Meeting of the present use of American armed forces in Iraq.
3. The (your town) Town Meeting of the President’s proposed revisions to the Social Security Law.

Second Proposed Warrant Article
VOTED, that a Town Committee be formed, consisting of one member appointed, respectively, by each political town committee that wishes to participate and is registered and in good standing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and verified by the Town Clerk, plus one member appointed by vote of the Board of Selectmen, to meet at the call of any of said Committee’s members, receive proposals from (your town) residents, hold public hearings on, and recommend to the Selectmen and the Town Meeting, for consideration by the Town Meeting from time to time, proposed Warrant Articles, and/or proposed referendum ballot questions, by means of either of which (your town) voters can evidence positions on public issues that affect the Town and its residents.

Third Proposed Warrant Article
VOTED, that a Special Town Meeting be called annually by the Selectmen for the purpose of discussing and taking positions on state, national, and international issues that affect the Town and its residents.

We will also look into the Vermont articles.