>From:         Geoff Devine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: why vt town meetings kickssa

As my old UVM Political Science instructor Frank Bryan always said,
"Vermont Town Meeting is the most democratic form of government in the
world".<

That is kind of a Vermont centric view of the _NEW ENGLAND_ town meeting. 
I assure you that our town meeting in Wakefield, MA, a small town north of
Boston was every bit the equal of yours in democracy.  We were excused
from homework in HS if we went to town meeting.  It was held every mon. in
Mar. in the HS auditorium until business was done.  It was also the
greatest entertainment in town.  The same set of quixotic characters
appeared at every meeting, Jeremiah Joshua Peck, Sabatino (Sam) Benedetto,
etc.  In 1994 Wakefield held its 350th anniversary celebration.  My
sisters and I treasure our childhoods there so we all went back for the
event.  I visited a small museum in the basement of the Congregational
Church with a small exhibit that stunned me.  It was a letter sent to
England in about 1660 stating that "We have not seen a ship from England
in 3 years and have received no letters. _HOW ARE WE TO GOVERN OURSELES?_"
 The answer was displayed alongside.  Some official representing the crown
had doubtless looked in the registers to see what kinds of revenue these
guys were producing for the homeland.  Seeing nothing, he answered,
"_GOVERN YOURSELVES_"  So they did and they got to liking it.  I suddenly
realized that this kind of exchange in dozens of New England towns was
probably as big a catalyst of the revolution as the musings of Virginia
gentlemen who had time to read the great philosophers while their slaves
toiled the fields.  It took a synthesis of these two very different world
views.  

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