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      <title><![CDATA[Bennington Banner: Opinion]]></title>
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      <language>en</language>
      <category domain="Media News Group">News</category>
      <ttl>15</ttl>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Intelligentsia against intelligence]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837419?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837419?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[In the parlance of our times, the term "Idiocracy" means a nation run by idiots -- and the term "idiot" is defined by the dictionary as "an utterly foolish or senseless person" who exhibits "a mental age of less than three years old." 



There are obvious reasons to believe America is becoming an Idiocracy -- a series of horrendous government and business decisions strongly suggest that]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;David SIrota&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:43:44 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[A Christmas story]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837428?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837428?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[The recent publicationof KarenCarmen-Reid's book, "Penn's Stocking," could not have come at a better time -- just in time for Christmas.



Carmen-Reid's 55-page illustrated book is, on the one hand a beautiful and remarkable Christmas story, and yet the book's powerful message will transcend throughout the year.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;Don Keelan&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:43:23 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[We can't?]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837433?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837433?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[It isn't the end of the month or year yet, but what a November! So far we are averaging 10 or more degrees above normal temperature and are on record pace for the greatest percentage of sunny days in what is ordinarily one of the least sunny months. 



Another aberration in what has proven to be the norm this year.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;Don Wilson&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:43:01 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving: The 'Primal Wow']]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837439?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837439?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Vanessa Grajwer Boettiger 



Regardless of the latest theory about what did or didn't happen between pilgrims and Native Americans at the original supper, we can understand why our Thanksgiving holiday falls at this time of year: the harvest is in. After all the toil, we can experience the results of our labor in relationship to the land.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:42:20 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[A wake up call on jobs]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837418?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13837418?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[The Congressional Black Caucus delivered the Obama administration and the majority Democrats a stern reminder this week that, while Wall Street may be surging again, the national employment outlook re-mains bleak, especially for minority job-seekers. 



The caucus is demanding that the administration do more to directly address the high unemployment rate, as well as the total number of]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:06:28 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[They better enjoy it now]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828608?source=rss]]></link>
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         <description><![CDATA[Republicans and others having a field day attacking President Obama right now as he struggles with multiple crises he had little to do with creating, might check some of the commentary Ronald Reagan endured as he approached his second presidential election.



During the early 1980s, the economy had tanked nearly as completely as it has today, and Democrats were beside themselves over the]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:41:46 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[First a werewolf and now this]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828639?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828639?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Alden Graves



The state of Maine seems to have a fondness for naming towns after mills, at least in Stephen King&rsquo;s vivid imagination. Chester&rsquo;s Mill, the site of his new book, "Under the Dome"(Scribner, 1,088 pages), isn&rsquo;t very far from Tarker&rsquo;s Mill.



Some of you may recall the trouble in Tarker&rsquo;s Mill a while back.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:57:36 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Letters: Another insurance outrage]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828629?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828629?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Just another outrage



from insurance industry



You wouldn&rsquo;t think this could possibly be true in a civilized country, but in eight states and the District of Columbia a victim of domestic violence can legally be denied health care insurance.



That&rsquo;s right, in North and South Carolina, North and South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington, D.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:57:28 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Days of the deer]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828628?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828628?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Joe Bushika



It&rsquo;s deer season again in Vermont, and every year from three to six of us gather at my camp in Stamford to participate in the annual ritual of pursuing the elusive whitetail. 



For 16 days every year it is an enjoyable experience, out in the woods each day and then enjoying a hearty meal at night with friends and relatives.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:57:28 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Letters: The debate continues]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828613?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828613?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[The health care debate continues, tonight



As the health care debate has unfolded over the past few months, I have been listening to the various opinions put forth, pro and con. Some people think that health care should be a privilege, a commodity, remain tied to a job,  and to make sure the insurance companies can have a tidy profit margin.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:57:14 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Letters: Is it the new N-word?]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828606?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13828606?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[The new N-word?



Where did this come from? Well, from MSNBC, of course. MSNBC anchor Carlos Watson had this little gem for listeners last Monday:  "... you start to wonder whether in fact the word socialist is becoming a code word, whether or not socialist is becoming the new N-word for frankly for some angry upset birthers and others.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:57:08 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Focusing on Bennington's future]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13811386?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13811386?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Charles Putney



Monday evening's economic forum pointed to many good indicators of Bennington's economic future. Weaknesses, however, are abundant and the issue is complicated.



The forum was as interesting for the comments of its audience as for the reports of the panelists, who represented town government, Bennington County Industrial Corp.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:41:43 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[The 'high cost of arrogance']]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13819953?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13819953?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Mike Bethel



Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca has spoken, and of course, hardly anyone on the Mount Anthony Union District Board is listening -- except Ken Swierad and Fran Kinney. 



These two board members believe the commissioner and his legal staff must know what they are doing. Mr.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:41:30 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[A different world?]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13819933?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13819933?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Telly Halkias



Perhaps more than anything, science and technologyhave made the world a smaller place. Today, we&rsquo;re closer to each other in terms of communicating and exchanging information, ideas, and emotions than ever. These changes have been inextricably tied to how we view the world.



The seeds of this explosion were planted during the Industrial Revolution, where the West saw]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:01:09 EST]]></pubDate>
      </item>
      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Tea Boy of the Steak House]]></title>
         <link><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13811381?source=rss]]></link>
         <guid><![CDATA[http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_13811381?source=rss]]></guid>
         <description><![CDATA[Tom Pinsonneault 



TheSteak Houseon upperEast Main Street was owned and operated by my cousin Eddy Pinsonneault Jr. and his wife, Pat, for many years. I always thought, as a youngster, that it was a lucky coincidence that he owned a restaurant, because he and Pat had 12 children to feed, and as they grew into maturity would need some way to earn spending money, and perhaps make a living.]]></description>
         <dc:creator>&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</dc:creator>
         <pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:53:40 EST]]></pubDate>
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