This week when a bunch of people walked to the Statehouse to urge legislators to vote against Vermont Yankee's continued operation some hailed it as democracy in action.

Indeed, there were signs that a civics lesson was at hand. Kids watched as their parents made an appeal to legislators.

And there were signs that civics lessons were needed. I overheard one adult ask another, "Are you a congressman?"

That's an odd question to hear in the Vermont Statehouse (since we only have one congressman and he's not usually there), so it prompted me to look up. The person she was addressing wasn't a congressman or a legislator. Seemed to be surprised to be mistaken for one. I didn't hear but hopefully someone clarified for the questioner that she was in the Statehouse not Congress. Walking to Washington would have taken a lot longer.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: vermont politics