On January 9, 2003, Jim Douglas was sworn in as governor of Vermont after already serving Vermonters for three decades as a legislator, governor's aide, secretary of state and state treasurer. A brief look back on the ideas, proposals, initiatives, issues, successes and challenges that marked Jim Douglas' eight years as governor.

"The 21st century United States is no longer a functioning republic, but an unreformable Empire unresponsive to the needs and concerns of its own citizens. Most Likely To Secede features a collection of provocative and forward-thinking essays from 29 contributors to Vermont Commons: Voices of Independence news journal. Written by cutting-edge citizens and entrepreneurs, the essays call for economic relocalization and political independence for Vermont,...

"Vermont may be small in population, but it looms large with innovation. The state constitution was the first in America to ban slavery, provide for universal male suffrage and establish a system for publicly funded education. Ethan Allen captured Fort Ticonderoga for America's first victory. An eleven-year-old Willie Johnson was America's youngest Medal of Honor winner, and Grace Coolidge became the one and only First Lady to have a raccoon as a...