[Maggie&Jerry]

Thank you all so much - I'm visiting this weekend and will hopefully be going to the school if I decide it's a good fit. I appreciate all of your advice, a lot, I really do. I will let everyone know how it goes. Again, I really appreciate it all.

[flu189]

I was amazed to see that 1,200 people in Vermont actually got together, unified in purpose, to fight for a cause at a rally. The subject: to stop the delays of over four years in holding up the construction of Walmart at exit 20, I89, in St Albans. I don't care to debate either way the benefits or problems with Walmart, but was impressed to see people finally get fed up enough and organize getting public and media exposure. I almost fantasized for a moment on multiple rallys statewide consisting of thousands upon thousands fighting for, oh let's see, control of rising taxes and accountability. Who knows, maybe in a few years. Anyway, way to go folks of St Albans!

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by flu189

I almost fantasized for a moment on multiple rallys statewide consisting of thousands upon thousands fighting for, oh let's see, control of rising taxes and accountability. Who knows, maybe in a few years.

No kidding! I've often wondered what it would take to get people to rally at that level for those more core causes, but actually, I think I'm afraid to find out how bad things would have to get to motivate that much energized cohesion.

[MTK1]

I would stay away from St Albans. The city has some major drug and crime problems. A friend in the area said the city is heading downhill really fast. A recent Burlington Freepress article supports this. Assaults and robberies are up 60 percent in the last 5 years. The amount of drug investigations went from 120 in 2006-2007 to 252 in 2007-2008. Drug treatment admissions was 21 in 2004-2005 and this year 2007-2008 had 207.

St. Albans fights OxyContin abuse

St. Albans fights OxyContin abuse | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

[flu189]

Franklin County does indeed have a drug problem as well as border smuggling. Law enforcement from federal, state, county, city levels is trying to deal with it. It's now up to the prosecutors, sigh, and courts to deal with the issue. Vermont's courts have a notorious reputation for screwing up any joint law enforcement efforts to control problems. Interesting though, I believe it's the Windham County DA who has successfully petitioned and succeeded in getting a case before the US Supreme Court involving an appeal against the Vermont Supreme Court ruling to release a habitual and violent domestic violence offender. Seems the Vt court respected the rights of a slick offender with an equally slick lawyer to overturn his conviction in district court due to lack of a speedy trial, despite the fact that the defendant used every trick in the book to delay proceedings. I sincerely hope that the US Supreme Court overturns our court and sends a clear and distinct message. It's about time that folks get fed up with the lax and cavalier attitudes our state courts have. It's quite impressive that the DA was able to get this case before the US Supreme Court considering the thousands of attempts nationwide.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

No kidding! I've often wondered what it would take to get people to rally at that level for those more core causes, but actually, I think I'm afraid to find out how bad things would have to get to motivate that much energized cohesion.

If people would just get mad enough and organize then we might just send a message and get results. I would most certainly take a day or even days off without pay to be part of a group to show up in Montpelier and demand that the nonsense stop and the real issues to provide for efficient government and controlled spending be enacted. This can not just be a group of a few dozen, but needs to be in the hundreds if not over a thousand on a daily basis. By waiting until it gets much worse is ridiculous. The state government's track record and empty rhetoric has been going on for years. Unfortunately, not too many folks take a close look at the daily record of our legislature, it's about time more did and get organized to demand responsibility and accountability. The attitude which I have seen from so many here that the government is what it is and nothing can be done is absolutely wrong.

[mustmove]

There are too many people here who like it the way it is. They can afford it, either with money from elsewhere, rentseeking or being on the dole. I've met a bunch of the republicans who run VT and there isn't a conservative among them. Jim's last press release lambasting wall st. sounded just like bernie. Sorry to say but VT is toast, get out as soon as you can.

[ArizonaDesert]

Hello,

My wife and I are considering moving to VT. I will graduate with a masters in education and a teaching certificate this summer. What is the job market like? I've read on some posts that it is not so good. Is it the same for teachers?

I've done some research but I like hearing from the people. They provide better information.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by ArizonaDesert

Hello,

My wife and I are considering moving to VT. I will graduate with a masters in education and a teaching certificate this summer. What is the job market like? I've read on some posts that it is not so good. Is it the same for teachers?

I've done some research but I like hearing from the people. They provide better information.

If you can get into the "education" system here then you will have what the majority of Vermonters do no not have. Strong union representation with annual successful raises and pretty good job security. Education spending is what is breaking the backs of many Vermonters. In fact 85% of my annual property tax bill goes for this purpose. Kind of funny since every year the number of students enrolled in Vt keeps dropping, yet teaching and staff positions keep in many cases increasing. Don't mean to condemn teachers, but if things keep going the way they do here we will eventually reach a breaking point. Every week it gets harder and harder to to get by. For example, today while grocery shopping the prices have shot up even more to the point where items that we used to buy on a regular basis are now what I would term in a luxury class. I would have never dreamed after raising two kids and maintaining gainful employment that at this point in my life I will have to decide which staples of life to be able to ration out.

[ArizonaDesert]

flu,

Thanks for the post. Wow! I hate to think that I might be affecting you negatively. However, it sounds like VT takes care of its teachers. That is good, except if it is to the detriment of the public at large. It's interesting that you said the number of enrollments are dropping. Why do you think this is?