In 1997 , Naylor published with William H. Willimon '' Downsizing the U.S.A. , '' which called for Vermont independence . In 2003 he self-published '' The Vermont Manifesto . '' Naylor was spurred to create SVR by the September 11 attacks , writing in his manifesto " Our nation has truly lost its way . America is no longer a sustainable nation-state economically , politically , socially , militarily or environmentally . The Empire has no clothes . " Vermont 's Bread and Puppet Theater , a group that uses puppets to promote far-left politics , were early supporters . Naylor began informal meetings of the Second Vermont Republic , holding the first statewide meeting in October 2003
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Thomas Naylor