“I feel your pain.” A memorable catch phrase made famous by our ex-President, Bill Clinton, and used over and over again in one form or another by politicians who want to convey to us how much they care and understand the predicament we happen to be in at the moment. It is clear, short, and depending on when it is used, very powerful. The problem is when most of us hear this, we are thinking on the inside, “No you don’t. How can you, or how could you feel what I feel, take my fears and problems and make them yours?”

How can a millionaire (and many are) really know what it is to be poor? By going to visit a couple of hours a place that harbors poverty, and then jump back in their SUV and run away to their next real-life experience? How can anybody say to parents, children, friends and family of a soldier lost in the war, “I know what you feel.” You do? Did you lose anybody out there? Did you have to face all the questions, regrets, remorse, second guesses, anxiety, depression and hardships?

The point to this is, no matter how well intentioned, how much compassion and understanding we have over dramatic events, it is very hard, and sometimes impossible, to experience what comes with it.

Two subjects I have extensive experience in are poverty and racism. I grew up in the center of one of the biggest cities in the world, Paris, France. I lived in a simple, populist and lower middle-class precinct. On the first six floors of the building were gigantic apartments owned by doctors, lawyers, and the like. On the seventh floor ( no elevator, and when they finally build one ,we the 7th floor people where not allowed to use it) , were rooms that had been built at the time to lodge the employees and servants of those aforementioned.

We, a family of four, lived in two of those rooms, linked together by a long, narrow passage. The whole apartment, if you want to call it that, was no more than 500 square feet, with slanted walls on one side. My parents’ bedroom was also our dining room and our living room. My sister and I shared the second room. My dad built what you could call a kitchen in the corridor between the two. It was more a range with no oven, and a sink. He also somehow managed to build a folding shower. You have to give it to him; he was and still is a master at using every inch and corner available to the best purpose. As far as a bathroom, we shared one with the entire seventh floor population – about twelve families. And for those of you readers that have been overseas, yes, it was a squatting bathroom. (I will spare you the details of what can and did happen with that situation.)

Both my parents worked and from the age of two on, I was separated from them about twelve hours a day. When I was in school, I was there five days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except we had Wednesday afternoons off. So you see, when I tell poor people, “I know your challenges,” I do know what I am talking about. And no, I have not forgotten where I came from.

I suppose I could have turned out to be a gang member, but of all the material things I was missing, one thing I was never short of was love. From my parents, my neighbors, my friends, it was a small community surrounded by millions of strangers, an island in the city. And there were many of those islands that put together, were the fabric of the city, and the country itself. More than possessions, we depended on each other for our security, our sense of belonging, our interactions.

One drop added to the bucket can create ripples that upset the whole balance. We have lost most of that sense of being part of the process, and most of us miss it. I know I do. But being here with you, around you, listening and helping with my small contribution to my community makes me feel as close as I ever have been to my roots.

As far as racism, I guess it can be the subject of a whole letter in itself. Maybe someday I will write about it. Thank you for reading. Be well. Be safe.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon, Swanton

 

Now, good people of Franklin County – you can’t say you haven’t been warned about us. I am talking about my friend, Gary Gilbert (D. Fairfax/Georgia) and myself (D. Sheldon/Swanton). The letter from Linda Kirker (that by mistake, I am sure, forgot to mention she is the newly elected chair of the Franklin County Republican Party) was straight to the point in telling you what she knows for sure is our ultimate motive. Getting the loose change left in your pocket after all the overbearing taxes WE impose on all of you (including ourselves), and trying to give it to the most needy people living in our community.

I am not here to debate her letter point-by-point, but just wanted to make some comments about her reflections. Yes, I do happen to think that there are major changes happening in our climate, and that we all have a responsibility as far as trying to make little changes in our lives in order to curb the trend. Yes, I do happen to think that the role of a legislator is to try to foresee the needs of our state on a long-term basis, and make today the decisions that will influence the way we live tomorrow. And this includes helping people who need it, through education, information, awareness, and, “ouch,” sometimes financial needs. As an example, we, as a state, are already helping some of our citizens pay for their rent, utilities and such. Is it not in our best interest to help those same people curb their consumption of energy through a one-time investment as opposed to a recurring one? Seems to make sense to me.

Yes, I do happen to think that Vermonters are ingenious, resourceful, and aware, and that in the best of worlds, we could all do without government intervention. Except, we are not all equal as far as means to do the things we know we should do. Some of us work two, sometimes three jobs in order to just pay the bills. Is it the position of the Franklin County Republican Party to tell these people, “Well, you are out of luck but we are not here to help you. Go to the bank and borrow a little more.” I am sure there must be a mistake here.

Well, Linda, you know I respect you and I respect your opinions. We have talked on the radio and in person before, and we will talk again, I am sure. It will be good for all of us if we could keep the debate on issues as opposed to people. But if that is not the case, I am available to discuss and comment when and where you would like it to be.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon, Swanton

 

When there is NO will, there is NO way. You may be thinking that I misused the saying, but I didn’t. The July 11, 2007 Legislative Day left me very perplexed with a lot more questions than answers.

For example, why didn’t the Governor come to the legislature with a proposal for a comprehensive energy plan at the start of the session? Why did he wait until the bill was passed and vetoed before coming up with his so-called strategy? Why didn’t he come in good faith to the discussion table and consider compromises offered by the leadership of the legislature in the weeks preceding July 11? Why are we accused of playing partisan politics after we offered to immediately vote on a Senate bill that totally reflected the changes the Governor was asking for (take out the tax on VT Yankee and delay the creation of an energy utility until we could explore other options)? Why did the same legislators that claim to be very concerned with energy issues refuse to consider adopting a bill that was basically the same as the one they helped craft and passed a few months ago?

Politics, you say! Lack of real will and leadership, I answer. The main reason for trying to vote for the revised bill on July 11 was to provide an early start and immediate relief to Vermonters that need it today. Not next year. As we all know, our oil and gas bills are going up faster than we can write the check to pay for it. Telling most of us to go to the bank and borrow even more money than we already have is not, in my book, a staple of affordability. The challenges and sacrifices that most Vermonters are facing every day are growing very fast, and we owed them to act promptly and meaningfully on that issue. We failed them.

Oh, yes, we have an administration that is fast at telling us what we want to hear, fast to talk about affordability and changes. But when the time comes to act on those words, there is no real will, desire or strategy available besides blaming others for their failure to deliver the promises.

I do believe in the balance of power, but on July 11, the same balance did not serve us well. All of us ended up as losers, and it was a sad day for Vermont and Vermonters. In my view, the executive branch of government should not try to legislate; it is there to administer our laws, and at best, provide guidance and direction, but not do it all. So why did this happen? Somebody please help with the answers! I can be reached at
524-0305 or mconsejo@leg.state.vt.us.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon, Swanton

 

Yesterday’s article in the St. Albans Messenger could lead one to believe that I am changing my vote on the energy bill. During the legislative session, I voted no on this bill. While I liked many things this bill would accomplish, I did not agree completely with how it would be funded.

Now, legislators must return to Montpelier to vote on whether or not to override the governor’s veto. We are voting on the veto, not on the bill. This distinction is important. As my constituents tell me repeatedly, they want me to vote for what the majority wants. This bill passed in the House by a majority of 58%. Therefore, I will vote for upholding the results of the majority.

For an example of this rationale, think back to the 2002 elections. Republican Brian Dubie received 41.2% of the vote for Lt. Governor. Because the election must be won by more than 50% of voters, the legislature had to vote on who would become Vermont’s next Lt. Governor. They could have overturned what the majority of the voters wanted. Sometimes, just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should. I believe the person (or the issue) with the most votes should win, and that is what happened then.

In looking at the upcoming veto vote, it is unfortunate that it all comes down to a conflict of the governor’s will against the majority of the people’s will. If he had come to the legislature with his proposal when we were drafting this bill, it would have saved us all the expense of an extra day in Montpelier. We need to work better together for the good of Vermont.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon/Swanton 
 

 

Somehow we all would like to make a difference. To leave something behind us that will be recognized not by the power we once had, the money we accumulated, the social standards we lived in, but by the quality of our contributions, by the gifts of the heart, by the genuine desire to ignite passion, interest, and self-respect in others – especially our kids.

Some of us do, some of us don’t. Sometimes we fail this noble mission by growing tired of fighting the same battles, hitting the same walls, day in, day out. We give up dreaming, exhausted not by the mission or the talk but by the bureaucratic quicksand, the general opinion that what we do is not worth our efforts.

Some of us give up, some of us don’t. A great example of not giving up is Mr. Ostrander, the retiring music teacher at MVU. His love of teaching, the music, the kids, kept him going for a long time. His passion and dedication has made a difference in many lives; his legacy will live on.

Over the past decade or so, our paths crisscrossed a few times. I always leave my encounters with him with a better understanding of what a real teacher should be. Now that he supposedly will have more time for himself, my hope is that we get to know each other better. And who knows, maybe I could get him to put his reservoir of passion and creativity to more good use by getting him involved in politics. (One can dream, can’t I?)
No matter what, I want him to know he has and will make the world a better place, and I sincerely thank and commend him for standing tall (very tall as a matter of fact).

Good luck, Mr. Ostrander, and may the music muses keep smiling on you.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon/Swanton
 

 

I can tell you that no matter how prepared and ready you think you are, you are never totally covering the reality of what is happening in Montpelier. The range and depth of the issues, the quality of the people working together to help our state move forward is really amazing. To find yourself being a small part of this is truly rewarding.

From the outside, and sometimes from the inside as well, the process seems so chaotic and unorganized that one has to wonder how anything constructive gets done. Some will argue that nothing really new or good comes out of the legislature. I beg to differ. It just does not happen in the way we everyday citizens think it should. Most of the important pieces of legislation coming out are the result of days of testimony, hours of research, the sum of experiences, trial and error, negotiation and compromise. You pull, I push, you give, I take and give in return. I guess it could be compared to an auction, a cattle market, a backyard deal.

Faced with all those options, it is hard to keep focused on the primary goal you set for yourself. For me, it is and always was to represent my constituents in a fair, balanced way, and to ultimately cast my vote for what I think is good for them and good for the state. Easier said than done, as it is rarely black or white, good or bad, and in the back of your mind you know that the best for the majority could displease a segment of the minority.

So we spend a lot of time walking the rope, balancing between conflicting interests and priorities, knowing that no matter which way we ultimately choose to vote or proceed, somebody will not like it. This, in my view, is why we are elected. To make choices, to be a voice for our district, and sometimes to go against the grain, against the natural flow of the current and upset some people that you thought were your friends and supporters.

I accept and embrace that responsibility, and hope that when it is over, when it is all said and done, even those that did not agree with me will recognize that I always had their best interests in mind. That sometimes the choices I made were not my own first inclination, not my personal opinion, but the result of many influences.

Being a legislator can be stressful at times, thankless, and very taxing. But it is never boring, always extremely challenging and interesting and above all, gives you an immense sense of pride. Pride that people have deemed you worth going there to represent them, to do your best for them. And this, my friends, makes it worth it all. Thanks for your trust and support. I can be reached at mconsejo@leg.state.vt.us, mconsejo@wildblue.net, or 524-0305.

Representative Michel Consejo
Sheldon & Swanton