Vermont is a getaway from overcrowded, stress-filled Southern New England. It is a pastoral retreat where nature and natural beauty is a priority. It is a state that doesn't judge you -- everyone just wants to live the life they choose.

Love of the land and tolerance for all.

One hundred percent internet and cell phone access. This state puts people at a disadvantage or at risk by not providing the technology America runs on. Vermont could be a leader in alternative energy and living green. Why we haven't taken those bulls by the horn I don't understand.

Setting priorities around what we want our state to be, and then communicating this to all residents. For example, some of us want VT to be a tourist mecca, but the way we treat visitors is not in keeping with such a goal.

I have no idea.

Vermont is a beautiful state being strangled by high taxes and a stifling regulatory environment leading to the departure of our best and brightest to states where there are real opportunities.

We need to cut the size of state government by eliminating expensive programs that we simply cannot afford. The goal should be to reduce the overall tax burden for businesses and individuals.

We need to build a strong tax base by promoting private growth and development through the elimination of overly burdensome state regulatory barriers.

Enjoying the more simple aspects of life; mountains, the sky, the weather & all its changes, the wild animals, my neighbors & friends. Vermont closely aligns with my own set of personal values as mother/wife, a citizen and volunteer of my community and an outdoor enthusiast.

Independence and sense of place and time. Enjoying the natural beauty that vermont offers. Embracing the many cultures and people.

Keeping Vermont the way it is ...in many ways. We don't want to be a suberb of New Jersey. Green energy. Conservation of land. Affordable property tax. School education. Health care for all. Keeping younger people in the state. Affordable housing for all.

See my above list.

My community needs to adopt a more open minded attitude and let go of the "old way". More zoning needs to be had in order to meet the needs of conservation of land.

We share, hard work, small town ethics, and constitutional government.

Vermonters as a whole face increasing threats on our rights under the federal government. We pay too much in federal taxes, and don't see enough benefits (bailouts, housing crisis, etc... most of which isn't our problem.

keeping taxes and government to a minimum, encourage growth within the state. Fight against federal spending, and advocate for a more strict interpretation of the constitution.

Recent economic downturn has laid many people off in industry, mostly from problems outside of our state. Higher taxes are discouraging growth.

A rural farming state focusing on sustainability and home-grown renewable energy, with small clean modern businesses, vibrant towns and villages and contained sprawl. More grassroots and volunteer participation in community efforts and activities

Rural landscape, love of mountains, small government and schools, independence, guaranteed health care and affordable living

The challenge of working with a timid governor with no forward-thinking future plan, unable to envision a more sustainable state and lacking compassion for the less fortunate. Opportunities abound at the grassroots level to work for health care for all, production of Vermont-grown food and leadership in establishing Vermont's energy future

Each town needs to take the initiative for its own energy program: conservation and renewable system(s) and providing local foods for schools and community. It's time to downscale huge houses and large vehicles or face much higher taxes on them

We're working on it already - it will take more participation and teamwork

Living every day with history, the farms down the road, always aware of landscape, friends on my hill, always looking at sky and seeing weather change, working on my old house, a tomato from my vegetable garden, wild turkeys crossing dirt road, blue mountains always in distance, quiet

independence, self-reliance, privacy, sense of place, commitment to living here, strong work ethic, awareness of ourselves as "Vermonters"

Challenges: growth under control so that we don't become a cold mini-New Jersey; turn off tv's and get involved; need governor for green energy policy and to wire state. Opportunities: small scale, work ethic,creativity, community, values

--high-speed internet everywhere --zoning to protect open land --education to foster creativity, entrepenuership and technology so younfg people can find work here --affordable healthcare --green energy business leader nationally --protect out Vermont "brand" by protecting agriculture and open land

We need better zoning--seems like many houses sprouting up in fields and orchards. More activities for young people (arts, business, sports, mentoring) so they aren't falling into drug use.. We need to GET WIRED to internet- a failure of leadership by Douglas that some Vermonters can't join global business community because they don't have access to highspeed internet.

VT means Home.I've lived in 5 states, 4 countries, and traveled the world. VT's the only place in the world that so closely aligns with my own values as mother, professional, recreationalist, homeowner & citizen.It takes a village to raise a healthy/responsible/happy/ productive steward-citizen.I believethat VT has many resources avail. to help in raising my son to be this person.

VT reflects the values that I believe are foundation for healthy/robust state:apprec. for community, support for communial resources(libraries,community ctrs,health care,plow trucks!),cultural vibrancy (via rich,diverse arts/entertainment),fam. support,democracy(accessible government),acknowledged interdependency with natural lands.I think Vermonters share these values.

Chall:1)Afford. hous,2)Supp VT biz,3)Fuel costs,4)Qual of/access to excel. schools,5)Adqt transpo opts for VTers,6)Afford prop. taxes,7)Conserv/preservation nat. lands/hist props.Opps:VTers are aware of aforementioned challenges.I believe there is a will/desire among VTers to address these issues.Unlike many other states, VT still has the opp to conserve our lands.

The above-mentioned "challenges" make up my list of priorities (although not in order). Above all, however, the number one priority on all levels- community, state and national- should be ensuring our children's health, safety and education. Everyone, parents and non-parents, have a stake in the security of our children.

In supporting the school, library, small businesses, health center, woodlands and other natural areas.

It means "Green Mountains" to the French, and that's good enough for me.

- Individualism. - A love of tromping in the woods, though for vastly different reasons (rednecks for huntin', tree huggers for treehuggin'). - Bafflement with neighboring states.

- The depopulated Northeast.... how do we make a small-town, non-hip model attractive to our kids and the kids of the rest of the country (the ones who aren't selling drugs, at least)?

- small-scale Ag. - large-scale alternative power generation. - alternative education approaches. - replacing strip development with cornfields.

home.

independence, ruggedness, simple courtesy that goes beyond political persuasion

rights for same sex couples, employment, ethnic diversity (lack of it), education, rural internet connectivity

independence, ruggedness, simple courtesy that goes beyond political persuasion

Well, because I'm living abroad right now, my community is very far away. But the issues still very much apply. Bigotry and selfishness are a universal challenge.

Green mountains, fresh air, opportunity, community, helping others to help themselves.

Hard work, enviromentally friendly, concern for thier fellow man and passion that all are done right.

The state needs to find a fair, way to tax and pay for education, reaching into one towns pocket so other towns get a free ride is unfair. permitting process less of a chore! helping hand up and not a hand out. Affordable housing should be a hand up to home ownership not a hand out or hand down to a life long of renting.

repeal act 60 and 68! use a borad based tax like maryland. affordable housing that allows people to buy a home not rent. small bsuiness incubator sites that allow small businesses to own not rent. clean wind energy and tax incentives for homeowners and businesses to install solar and wind power.

My community has good zoning laws that help to provide a clean, stable environment for business, but the state permitting process makes starting any kind os business an extra challenge here and in all communities in VT My name is Andy Tarantino and I own www.asafeplace.com