To the Editor:

I’ll just come right out and say it, I want Senator Patrick Leahy to debate Daniel Freilich. I will be honest, I am very much against the party system, and far too often it comes down to party vs. party as opposed to individuals discussing the real problems the state, and the entire nation, face. It seems to happen on every scale, people who truly want to make a difference are silenced by the leviathans that are the Democratic and Republican parties. The voices of the Independent, Progressive, Green, Libertarian parties, etc. are seen as unimportant, swept under the table, and ignored. We pride ourselves as a nation for possessing freedom of speech, so let’s use it, and give these people a voice.

The continuous bickering that goes on between the Democrats and Republicans is banal and mundane, and it accomplishes nothing; politicians are more interested in making others look bad, distracting those loyal to the parties from the real problems that need to be dealt with. Please, set up debates where all voices are heard equally so the people can be better informed when it comes time to vote. Allow Patrick Leahy and Daniel Freilich, and others as well, to debate each other and talk about the issues that matter to Vermonters. The people need to be given the right tools to improve this nation, but we cannot do that if voices are silenced.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Ethan Wallett

Burlington