Bill Mares to Speak in Charlotte

The Charlotte, Shelburne and Hinesburg Democratic Committees are hosting an Evening with Bill Mares this coming Thursday on the topic American Foreign Policy: How Do We Look AT, and TO, the Rest of the World?

Local author, marathon runner, former legislator and CVU teacher, Bill Mares, will share some of his thoughts and lead discussion about ways to understand American foreign policy. So mark your calendars. This should be a thought-provoking, informative, and fun evening, and a good opportunity to catch up with neighbors and meet new friends.

St. George Reorganization Caucus Held

St. George Democrats got together for a reorganization caucus on November 1st and elected the following officers:
Chair: George Young
Vice-Chair: Tom Carlson
Secretary: Tom Carlson
Treasurer: Steve Faust
Asst Treasurer: Mary Alice Favro
County Committee Delegates: Tom Carlson and Steve Faust

Democrats in St. George who would like to get involved are encouraged to contact Chairman George Young via email: gyoung20@aol.com.

A Commentary

I have no formal training in International Relations or Foreign Policy, and I admit to being bored and inattentive in Sociology.

We know now that Mr. Musharaf is nothing but a lousy dictator. He seemed to be OK as long as he was OUR chosen dictator. We supported the Shah in Iran, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, numerous South American and African yahoos, and the really expensive one: South Vietnam. We even had the CIA assassinate some of these guys opponents. Did these guys become dictators BECAUSE of our support, or did we support them BECAUSE they were already dictators? Are there any other choices here?

Was there a Foreign Policy shift right after WW2? If there WAS NOT, why didn't we support Hitler & Mussolini?

Since I have none of the aforementioned training or experience, I humbly ask the question: Why do the majority of citizens in these countries apparently dislike us and exercise ill will towards us? After all, we are only being consistent.

The older I get, the less I seem to know, or is it the less I understand?
Art Ridge
Charlotte Democratic Committee Treasurer