[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I really don't care if folks lean a little right or left of center, but we desperately need some level headed moderates in power who are not afraid to regulate sensibly, cut spending AND raise taxes until the balance sheets meet, cut the ideological ranting, and believe in guiding the tremendous assets in this country to serve the people rather than enrich corporations or special interest wackjob agendas.

Well, I was trying to avoid politics, but I think you summed up the situation quite well. What everyone really cares about the most is how economics affect them personally. Economics is over most people's heads, including economists, but at least it can be used as a neutral point of reference. The simple fact is that both the government and the people of the U.S. have been spending beyond their means for decades. We as a nation could not afford the real estate boom, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the Bush tax cuts, all simultaneously. The system of electing politicians who hand out credit cards to voters while cutting regulations for businesses and reducing taxes for all is a sure recipe for disaster, and that's what we're looking at now. I would like to see more responsible behavior by all parties concerned.

[vter]

OK guys. I'm asking..please don't take this off-topic and into a political discussion because they never turn out productive.
Thank you.

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by vter

OK guys. I'm asking..please don't take this off-topic and into a political discussion because they never turn out productive.
Thank you.

You have my solemn oath.

[NewToVermont]

I wouldn't be put off all of Maine by Bangor, which has a profoundly different vibe and culture from other places in the state. I'd recommend Portland, a lovely city with suburbs where you can still find a very nice house for less money than in most places. Also, it might be a little pricey, but consider Bar Harbor. It's beautiful and liberal in an old-fashioned, non-divisive kind of way - though perhaps too rural for you and not an easy drive to any city. Also, Montpelier has only had a brief mention here but you should definitely consider it. It's a lovely place in its own right, has a good housing stock, isn't far from Burlington and seems to be tolerant of many points of view.

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by NewToVermont

I wouldn't be put off all of Maine by Bangor, which has a profoundly different vibe and culture from other places in the state....

Since I have time to kill I'll check out Portland too. But I'm not inclined to live too close to the coast because it tends to be crowded and expensive, unless you go past southern Maine. I'm not crazy about tourist towns like Bar Harbor either. Nova Scotia near Halifax is great - but unfortunately a different country. Otherwise we would like the coast. I grew up on U.S. 1 in New York before I-95 was built; wouldn't want to live there now.

[NewToVermont]

I grew up in a tourist town, so I understand your reluctance. Bar Harbor tends to empty out at the beginning of September, so it's definitely not a year-round situation. There are lots of small towns quite near Portland (a fifteen or twenty minute drive at most) that are lovely, relatively cheap and close enough to the city for convenience - especially those around Sebago Lake, which are uncrowded and not afflicted with many tourists. If you get a chance, on your Portland trip, consider checking out the Gorham/Buxton/Standish area near the lower tip of Sebago Lake. Pretty and rural, a very easy drive into Portland.

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by vter

OK guys. I'm asking..please don't take this off-topic and into a political discussion because they never turn out productive.
Thank you.

So true. I got a little too fired up for my own good. Sorry all.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I hear ya. I see a lot of liberal silliness and poor judgment our here in Oregon. However, I must say I completely agree with pauldorell's general assessment that American capitalism ethos of privatize the profits and socialize the losses, cut taxes on the rich to ensure trickle down to the rich ain't working too well for me either. People want to blame Obama for the current deficit, but we all know, the deregulation, tax cut and spend since 1980, the unfunded wars policies of W did much more to create the current predicament. Where was the Tea Party in 2003, when W decided to invade Iraq? Liberals are silly, but the Conservative politicos we have been putting in power are usually corporate tools or outright crooks that don't give a damn about creating sustainable, sensible governance. They love to use the victim mentality of white Americans to whip people into a lather, when most of us need a swift kick in the ass. We have overspent and undertaxed for a generation, and the whining geriatrics in the Tea Party now want their taxes cut and government hobbled so they can leave the deficit and a weak state for their grandkids. We all need to suck it up and do the right thing.

I really don't care if folks lean a little right or left of center, but we desperately need some level headed moderates in power who are not afraid to regulate sensibly, cut spending AND raise taxes until the balance sheets meet, cut the ideological ranting, and believe in guiding the tremendous assets in this country to serve the people rather than enrich corporations or special interest wackjob agendas.

If we had people like Ron Paul or Calvin Coolidge running things we wouldn't be in the mess we're in.

I'll try to stop with that subject on this thread with this post...

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by NewToVermont

I wouldn't be put off all of Maine by Bangor, which has a profoundly different vibe and culture from other places in the state. I'd recommend Portland, a lovely city with suburbs where you can still find a very nice house for less money than in most places. Also, it might be a little pricey, but consider Bar Harbor. It's beautiful and liberal in an old-fashioned, non-divisive kind of way - though perhaps too rural for you and not an easy drive to any city. Also, Montpelier has only had a brief mention here but you should definitely consider it. It's a lovely place in its own right, has a good housing stock, isn't far from Burlington and seems to be tolerant of many points of view.

Montpelier is also pretty prone to flooding...

Portland is just sprawl, Northern MA...

[ravensmeg]

Is funny, I've been thinking about retiring to Vermont, Brattleboro or one of the towns near Burlington, and my desires are exactly the same as yours! I live in the Baltimore-Washington megaplex so I too think of the whole of Vermont as less populated. I also was hoping for a more liberal minded population that didn't expect me to be religious. If you do find a location that fits your description of what you want, please post it so I can check it out. thanks.