[free2roam]

Sherylcatmom and 68vette, thanks for your replies.

Mustmove, I'm curious about your view that "places like VT are not sustainable without federal $$$$ assistance". I'd be interested to know your reasoning on that. We live in Columbus, Ohio, and in my view most cities and larger towns in Ohio are not sustainable without affordable fossil fuel: our economy is mostly dependent on fossil fuels, our insane sprawl makes it necessary for us to drive long distances every day (often just to buy some bread and milk). It seemed reasonable to me that more compact, smaller Vermont towns surrounded by nearby countryside aren't as dependent on fossil fuels (except fuel oil of course) for their economies and day-to-day living. What sort of federal $$$$ assistance is it that VT is dependent on?

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by free2roam

Sherylcatmom and 68vette, thanks for your replies.

Mustmove, I'm curious about your view that "places like VT are not sustainable without federal $$$$ assistance". I'd be interested to know your reasoning on that. We live in Columbus, Ohio, and in my view most cities and larger towns in Ohio are not sustainable without affordable fossil fuel: our economy is mostly dependent on fossil fuels, our insane sprawl makes it necessary for us to drive long distances every day (often just to buy some bread and milk). It seemed reasonable to me that more compact, smaller Vermont towns surrounded by nearby countryside aren't as dependent on fossil fuels (except fuel oil of course) for their economies and day-to-day living. What sort of federal $$$$ assistance is it that VT is dependent on?

One thing I can think of is the number of people heavily reliant on heating fuel assistance, which the feds provide funding for. The state is becoming more and more dependant upon federal funds for everything from roads to schools to now even fish and wildlife is having budget problems due to dropping license sales.

[mustmove]

VT is a small state but we don't have straight line roads anywhere, driving long distances for work, groceries and such is very much a part of life here. As to sustainability VT is one of the states that takes in a bunch more in federal money then we pay out. there is a chart somewhere that is pretty easy to find. VT also has some of the highest taxes and worst business climate in the country, business is leaving, high utility people are leaving. Who are you going to tax to pay for all the wonderful stuff? You can have silly amounts of social programs if you have the business climate to support it. MA isn't great but they get along OK, lots of social programs , middle of the states for tax burden, lots of regs, they also have a critical mass of high utility people. People are moving here to live with sustainable gardens and such but that lifestyle doesn't feed a hungry tax machine. Nor does it provide people with the resources to take care of themselves either now or in the future. Oh sure we can mandate free medicine but VT already has a shortage of medical professionals, because the state's reimbursement schemes for them is poor. VT gets quite a bit of pork and Leahy is a powerful senator that brings home lots of other states bacon.

Originally Posted by free2roam

Sherylcatmom and 68vette, thanks for your replies.

Mustmove, I'm curious about your view that "places like VT are not sustainable without federal $$$$ assistance". I'd be interested to know your reasoning on that. We live in Columbus, Ohio, and in my view most cities and larger towns in Ohio are not sustainable without affordable fossil fuel: our economy is mostly dependent on fossil fuels, our insane sprawl makes it necessary for us to drive long distances every day (often just to buy some bread and milk). It seemed reasonable to me that more compact, smaller Vermont towns surrounded by nearby countryside aren't as dependent on fossil fuels (except fuel oil of course) for their economies and day-to-day living. What sort of federal $$$$ assistance is it that VT is dependent on?

[RJARRRPCGP]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

I'm a native Floridian.

Come to think of it, I did complain about the tropical weather and left the south 20 years ago, never to return.

Not majorly surprised. Florida is known to get a downpour about every day!

[Alt Dach]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Yes, there are affordable places if you bring your out of state $. (especially if you are from NY/MA/and other prosperous Northeastern States.). Nice homes here if you can swing $200,000 (a drop in the bucket on Long Island).

Most here from there own 2 homes and do very nicely renting one...(not us, though..)

But, if you don't have that big chunk of cash, your own business, and have to get by on VT wages then you can find yourself in trouble.

Taxes go up, you need to eat into your savings for this and that...steady and fair paying work is hard to come by. The competition for anything paying over $10 an hour is rough.

I personally dislike catering to tourists/second home owners and can't wait till the day when I have NOTHING to do with service/hospitality.

IMHO that about covers VT.