ForestBoard

The one thing I've never quite been able to understand is why New Hampshire is distinctly more conservative than Vermont (or, perhaps more accurately, why Vermont is so unusually left). This isn't just an old wives' tale or a historical reputation -- if you look at a map of election results, VT is noticeably blue and NH red. As someone from RI, though, it seems like the two states are nearly the same demographically and economically: both extremely white, largely rural, and disproportionately dependent upon seasonal industries, to name just a few. So why are they politically so different? What history led to that divergence?

EDIT: These look interesting -- https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/11/vermont-and-new-hampshire-geographic-twins-cultural-aliens/, https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/new-vermont-is-liberal-but-old-vermont-is-still-there/

Winnipesaukee wrote:

While being from NH like I said in my previous post; my observation is NH being a microcosm of NH politics. I enjoyed the article you posted from Harvard, and would agree that many of the "right leaning rural" areas of NH are more likely to be Libertarians. However, in recent years, due to the polarization of American politics in the media, the us vs them mentality, and no true third party candidate, NH has become split, while VT under the leadership of Bernie Sanders, and the views of one of its leading industries (Ben & Jerry's) has become more "left". Again, only my opinion and observation of a life long NH resident (briefly lived in south east coast of Maine (1 yr))

Good point, especially about Bernie and it being a microcosm of America. I think Bernie’s long influence on Vermont politics has left it further left, plus it seems to be less rural overall and also somewhat richer, though I may be wrong, as this is just from the vibes I get off of these places from what I here in the news.

I also guess Jersey is also somewhat like this: South Jersey is far more libertarian and right-leaning than the North (though South Jersey is also “more sinful” with the casinos and the clubs, which is more like the urban North like NYC than it is like the Southern US), while North Jersey is much more liberal. And the further west you go, the less rich and the more right-leaning you get, while the coast is richer. I guess you can say this with many states (I’m looking at NY, Florida, and California in particular), but I just find this interesting.

One more thing, about Ben and Jerry’s being so progressive, they once had a “Bernie Sanders Ice-cream flavor”, with, and I quote, “a strong spine of caramel representing how he never gives in to the lobbyists and the companies”. They also I think had an orange-flavored “Trump ice-cream flavor” that they purposefully made disgusting.

Edit: I found this good article about the difference between Nee Hampshire and Vermont:
http://notesfromthenorthcountry.com/2016/01/the-difference-between-vermont-and-new-hampshire-2/

Western continental divide wrote:

If I recall correctly, they made a Bernie Sanders flavor that was mint (for a bern) with a thick layer of chocolate on top, representing the 1%. You were supposed to mix the chocolate with the rest of the ice cream, a metaphorically representation of a planned wealth tax.

But that was 4 years ago, and I don't really remember it now. I could be wrong.

-WCD

That sounds really funny, and also pretty good tasting. The recipe I referenced was from 2019 I think, so probably they’ve released multiple. I found a website claiming that there was one called “Bernie’s Yearning” back in 2016, and then in 2019 they released a new flavor called “Bernie’s Back”.

Here is their description for Bernie’s back (it also sounds very good, much like his climate plan):
“Hot Cinnamon Ice Cream with one very large chocolate disc on top and a (very stiff) butter toffee backbone going down the middle.” The description explains the symbolism of each component: “The chocolate disc represents all the wealth that has risen to the top 1%. The backbone represents Bernie’s steadfast determination to un-rig our economy. And the hot cinnamon is our political revolution holding politicians’ feet to the fire to make America work for working people of all races and genders.”

It doesn’t mention the flavor of “Bernie’s Yearning” from 2016, but I’m guessing it is what you were referencing. Apparently Ben & Jerry’s have made a few other social justice-inspired ice cream flavors and names before:

“Chubby Hubby became Hubby Hubby in 2009 to celebrate same sex marriage in Vermont, Chocolate Fudge Brownie was temporarily renamed Food Fight Fudge Brownie to support GMO labeling and EmpowerMint in 2016 was used to promote voting rights, the company said.

Last October, a Donald Trump-inspired ice cream flavor, Pecan Resist, was launched.”

I really want to try all of these flavors now, though the “Bernie’s Back” was not available in stores, and was only available to the winners of a Bernie Sanders sweepstakes back in 2019

Ah nice, my two Forest puppets are still in neighboring ranks in the greenness index, albeit in a lower rank.

Regarding the at vote proposal in the GA, Standards On Police Accountability, I urge comrades to vote against. The fatal flaw is that every member state and teh WA General Fund must go through a big hoo ha and expense acquiring these cameras and sticking them onto the police officers but there's no requirement or even recommendation that they ever be turned on.

Also, it's a cause de jour proposal appropriate to only the NS version of USA. I often remind people that NS =/= RL and RL =/= US. Applies here.

Shalotte wrote:

Shalottes do not know what a monkey is, if they did, they would quite firmly say "we couldn't give a monkeys about the WA".

That said, if what you've said is true, how on Earth/Norrath/Nirn did that pass through the draft process with such a glaring hole?

It was prolly a little rushed to submission.

The young ur wrote:

The Ur is considering writing a Security Council resolution to repeal the commendation of Kindjal. We are not currently in the World Assembly, so we would submit it when we rejoin. The young ur asks if any of the more seasoned countries would like to lend aid to the to the drafting process. (To clarify, we are asking here for help first in hope of not being ridiculed too badly on the ‘forum’.)

I have no experience writing or editing WA resolutions, so I cannot help you there, but I was wondering why exactly you want to repeal this? Other than the fact that Kindjal has done little to affect other nations, and that the reasons why they commended were because they had good stats, I don’t see anything bad about that resolution that you want to repeal. Could you please explain? Thanks

Bananaistan wrote:

It was prolly a little rushed to submission.

Understatement of the century!

"We, the undersigned, do hereby solemnly swear not to subject our local communities to 'unnecessary noise'.

This document absolutely does not define what 'unnecessary' means in this context.

Good luck with our 50,000 pneumatic drills!"

I hurriedly drafted that piece of legislation.

Turbeaux wrote:

viewtopic.php?t=88#167

This issue is currently relevant to me because it seems like there are no palm oil derivative-free toothpastes that contain fluoride. I am using David's Natural and it works quite well but I don't buy into the conspiracy theories regarding fluoride (people seem to confuse fluoride with fluorine yet I have never heard of anybody eschewing sodium chloride because sodium and chlorine are both rather dangerous elements in thier free states). I bought a seperate fluoride treatment but it is slightly annoying to have to use both. If any of you know of a fluoride-containing palm oil derivative free toothpaste, please let me know!

I like the option that keeps fluoride out of the water while providing universal dental care. If I could go to the dentist's every month, I would not be concerned about home fluoridation of my teeth. That is good policy!

While in many ways it is good policy, it raises questions about how effective it would be. How many people will actually go to the dentist on a regular basis in a universal dental care system? And will it be as many as the fluoride option would (which is damn near everyone)?

Mind you, that does spark an interesting question- what do you think should or shouldn't be added to tap water, Forest? Conspiracy theorists rail against fluoride (with little evidence on insane claims) all the time but seem precious short on alternatives.

Chan island wrote:

While in many ways it is good policy, it raises questions about how effective it would be. How many people will actually go to the dentist on a regular basis in a universal dental care system? And will it be as many as the fluoride option would (which is damn near everyone)?

Mind you, that does spark an interesting question- what do you think should or shouldn't be added to tap water, Forest? Conspiracy theorists rail against fluoride (with little evidence on insane claims) all the time but seem precious short on alternatives.

I think that chlorine and chloramine alternatives sound be researched and used. Allowing people to contract waterborne illnesses is a terrible idea, so this would have to be implemented very carefully. I would also like to see less anthropogenic pollutants in munincipal water supplies but that would depend on individuals being responsible. You make good points about fluoride, so that as well. (I still believe that single-payer biannual dental appointments should be implemented.)

People can filter out fluoride and disinfectants before they use anything from their taps, so the woo woo types should look into that and stop complaining (or use water from alternate sources)!

The young ur wrote:

The Ur is considering writing a Security Council resolution to repeal the commendation of Kindjal

Don't do that. It won't succeed, and will just result in stirring back up the same upsetting arguments that arose during the initial proposal regarding the "worth" of that player and their efforts.

If you'd like to get involved, try coming up with something new for your entry into the WA, rather than simply trying to tear something down.

Veaetmar wrote:

Hello!

My name is Veaetmar and I am the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister in Thalassia. We have sent an embassy request following discussions with your officials about embassy relations over the last few months.

Thalassia was formed by the former natives of Pacifica and we had embassy relations with Forest for a long time as Pacifica (Wiskawga was our ambassador to here). Unfortunately a new embassy was never opened when we created Thalassia and we would like to change that because we always enjoyed and appreciated our friendship with Forest.

Thalassia is a neutral, democratic region with a particular focus on RP, World Assembly affairs and cultural events at the moment. We have six shared embassies and we would love to share embassies with Forest again.

- V

Welcome. I’ll direct you to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ruinenlust. I am Forest’s Senior Ambassador, meaning it’s is my job to fill any empty ambassadorships. If we do establish an embassy, I will add your region to the (growing) list of regions which we must send ambassadors. Unfortunately, very few people have even wrote to us to confirm that they already are ambassadors, let alone volunteer as new ones. I do not have polling powers, and my superior has not yet released any polls asking for new ambassador recruits, and so currently I’ve been relying on people telegramming me, although it is a slow process, and only a few have telegrammed me yet. If we establish an embassy and send an ambassador, I’ll post on Thalassia’s RMB letting you all know who the ambassador is.

In order for what I described above to happen, please contact Ruinenlust and try to establish an embassy.

Thank you,
Middle Barael

Would anyone be willing to sponsor and/or serve ambassador to Thalassia?

On the topic of embassies, I am still willing to sponsor and serve as ambassador to the New West Indies as they have absorbed Conifer. I can get them to submit a request at any time. They have a healthy democratic regional government and a RP-heavy RMB featuring very detailed posts. The ambiance is reminiscent of Wintreath. Additionally, I believe that we should close our embassy with Evergreen Conifer because it is entirely dead. The entire government has moved to the NWI and an ex-governmental nation always tells tells me that EC is a zombie region when I post my environmental dispatches there. I am sure that I could get Funky Goats, Gallaton, and or Central Birdland to confirm this via TG. Additionally, our resident Conifer Roless can do the same.

Ruinenlust, I think that Republicans using the "OP" bit is strange because the Democratic Party is older. Also, it annoys me when Trumpists say that the Dems are racist due to the political situation that existed in the Civil War era. If that were to be true, most of the former Confederacy would vote Democratic rather than Republican. It is almost like politics change over 150 years. Imagine that! Of course, these are the same people who start frothing at the mouth when a Dem "flip flops" on an issue (despite the fact that their Dear Leader was a Dem relatively recently). I think that ideological evolution is often a very good thing, but I suppose that people who are stuck in the 1860s (minus the good president) cannot comprehend that things change over time.