As is my unfortunate pattern of late, this is another drive-by post -- but it infuriated me so much that I needed to share:

Three Arrested After Climate Protest Halts Vermont House Action

Some choice takeaways:

Capitol Police also appeared to threaten members of the media with arrest when they refused a request to vacate the public space.

[Capitol Police Chief] Romei then clarified the request: “Not really cooperate with us, but to cooperate with the speaker’s instructions. She owns this chamber. You don’t.”

[Speaker of the House Mitzi] Johnson said that, though she had engaged in acts of civil disobedience herself, Thursday's demonstration had been counterproductive. “They were unfortunately not following the rules of the House that allowed reasonable debate to continue within the way we work," she said.

This is where we're at, folks. Vermont, this supposed-bastion of progressive thought and action, falls exactly into line with the neo-liberal, crony-capitalist, capital-D national agenda. "Oh, we're so committed to addressing climate change in Vermont! We embrace sustainable goals! We treasure the lake that our lack of funding is polluting! Oh, but wait ... you're not happy with our lack of action? Then STFU and get out!"

And this is just one of far too many recent examples proving that EVERY FUCKING CAPITAL-D politician is cut from the same mold.

Very impressed with the young siblings willing to be arrested over an issue that's going to bear far more weight in their lives than on Mitzi's.

/end rant