Vermont Approves Universal Health Care

Staff / Truthdig May 27, 2011 With the governor's blessing, Vermont made history Thursday as the first state to enact a comprehensive single-payer health care system. There's hope for the rest of us, as Amy Goodman pointed out: "Canada’s single-payer health care system started as an experiment in one province, Saskatchewan." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Vermont, the Land of Healthy Firsts

Amy Goodman / Truthdig May 25, 2011 This small New England state was the first to join the 13 Colonies. Its constitution was the first to ban slavery. It was the first to establish the right to free education for all -- public education. This week, Vermont will boast another first: the first state in the nation to offer single-payer health care. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Vermont Makes History, Passes Universal Health Care

Staff / Truthdig May 1, 2011 President Obama's attempt to reform health care took a massive amount of time and energy, while achieving little. But, as Vermont just showed, there is another way to go about revamping America's corrupt medical system: state by state. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Daily Show’: Bernie Sanders, No Chaser

Staff / Truthdig Apr 29, 2011 Yes, Wednesday night's "Daily Show" skewering of the Trump vs. Obama birtherversy was funny. You can watch it here. We'd rather focus on a more substantial segment from that show, featuring straight-shooting Sen. Bernie Sanders. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vermont Weighs Constitutional Amendment to Ban Corporate Personhood

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2011 On the anniversary of the Citizens United decision, Vermont politicians are moving to deny corporations the rights that humans enjoy. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The New Secessionists

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Apr 26, 2010 The difference between the tea party and the secessionist movement bubbling up in some two dozen states is that the tea party believes America can be fixed. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Sanders Lets Fly at GOP Senators

Staff / Truthdig Dec 17, 2009 Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, was far from pleased with certain of his Republican colleagues Wednesday when his attempt to add a single-payer amendment to the Senate's health care reform legislation was met with stonewalling tactics from his GOP peers. Here, he lets it rip, slamming what he calls their bid "to bring the U.S. government to a halt." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ben & Jerry’s Rolls Out Gay Marriage-Themed Ice Cream

Staff / Truthdig Sep 2, 2009 Left-leaning ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's is temporarily changing the name of its popular "Chubby Hubby" ice cream to "Hubby Hubby" to serve up support for same-sex couples, who as of Sept. 1 can marry in the company’s home state of Vermont. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sen. Sanders Unfiltered: Wall Street Off the Rails

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2009 In this installment of Brave New Films' "Senator Sanders Unfiltered," the independent federal legislator from Vermont points out what's becoming hard to dispute or ignore, however much other members of Congress might do both: Wall Street, along with the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, practically runs Washington. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sexting — and Common Sense

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Apr 23, 2009 Vermont, Ohio and Utah are among the first states trying to back away from laws that treat a teenager with a cell phone as if he or she were a child pornographer. They know there's a difference between truly dreadful judgment and a felony. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Vermont

Staff / Truthdig Apr 8, 2009 Vermont has followed Iowa's lead, becoming the fourth state to make same-sex marriage legal. On Tuesday, the Vermont Legislature overturned Gov. Jim Douglas' veto with one more vote than was needed to make it official. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Go Ahead and Sue

Staff / Truthdig Mar 5, 2009 The Supreme Court stood by that most American of rights Wednesday -- the right to sue. By a 6-3 vote, the court decided that federal oversight and warning labels do not protect the pharmaceutical industry from lawsuits. The one-armed Vermont musician involved in the case was thrilled, and not just because she got to keep $6.7 million. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )