Publisher’s Note: An open letter from Vermont Independent co-founder Ian Baldwin in response to Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s announcement that Vermont public school teachers will question their students about WHO attended their Thanksgiving celebrations the Monday Vermont families return from their holiday weekend.

If grandparents visit one of their children and grandchildren for Thanksgiving in Vermont, the grandchild will be grilled by his “teacher” on Monday: Did anyone who doesn’t live in your house come over for Thanksgiving? And if the child speaks the truth—”My Grandma came over”—as most kids are wont to do until they reach middle school (the dumber ones, high school), s/he will be sent home to quarantine for two weeks.

Governor Lenin does not even have to consult with his absent Politburo. Since we’re all in virtual mode he could, but he doesn’t bother. And we Vermonters love him no matter what he does! We TRUST him, because we’re good people and we know he deserves our trust.

Never mind, I like living penned in, cosy in my home watching the snow fall, oh beautiful Vermont, because I get a chance to think about what’s really important. I love to listen to that German violinist, what’s his name, Klaus Schlob? He plays the sweetest melodies that make my heart ache as I look out at the meadows where the sheep graze in clement seasons, now covered in white, like a sheet folded across the body of the land.

And! I don’t have to endure the pain of making decisions about my daily life, I can just enjoy the luxury of “thinking” about what’s really important.

How lucky we Vermonters are!

I feel safer this way, protected, you know, by Vladimir Ilyich. I will of course obey him.

Please follow my example and don’t visit your children and especially, if you have them, your grandchildren, this “Thanksgiving” day.

Be safe. Stay safe. Think of others’ safety!

And listen to the marvelous Klaus (iTunes has him). 

And be thankful others are watching out for you.

Be thankful for so so many things, but this Thanksgiving be thankful especially that you no longer have to endure the burden of being free.

Ian Baldwin; Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (NEK)