A peaceful life, an appreciation of four seasons, a style of government where individuals can be heard, a great place to raise children.

Conservatism, simplicity of life, security, hope for the future.

Developing a business climate that will bring businesses to the state that benefit the goals of the state and help with the tax base. Work toward the Governor's affordability program.

New businesses, affordable housing, education, a plan that will encourage our young people to stay, work, and live in VT.

Brandon is a progressive community. We still have the issues of affordable housing. Education is good. We have a reasonable tax base but reluctance to change is preventing other businesses from locating in Brandon and the unfriendly business environment in VT in general is a deterant.

Vermont is truly a state of mind -- a collective mind that believes in freedom, community, inventiveness, courage and hope.

See question #1.

Preserving a way of life at the same time we must accommodate change.

Vermont first; keep the feds at bay.

My community has worked hard to preserve the town in much the way it has existed for decades. Yes, there is more development, but the town plan respects the will of the community to engage in thoughtful solutions to the push & pull of encroaching populations and preservation of its historic ecology.

A beautiful place with a comfortable way of life. Less conspicuous consumption and more appreciation of what we have. Vermont means home to me. It is not my state of birth; it is the state I gratefully adopted and love contributing to.

Independence, self-sufficiency, privacy, and diversity acceptance. My fellow community members may not be effusive, but I trust them and work with them on many issues of importance that we share.

Need clean-energy public transportation; Sustainable, vibrant economy w/o big-box/chain stores & housing developments that do not fit the landscape. Opportunities: Vibrant regional economy through agriculture (food & other essential items); develop strong community cohesion.

Interdependence. Education that prepares Vermonters to contribute to the state's needs. Renewable, locally-produced energy. Support for small agriculture and regional economies (and less influence from large, powerful corporations). Much more community participation in the process.

Rutland's developing local food movement creates priceless wealth to benefit everyone. Rutland challenges: Need much more diversity consciousness; Diverse & green economy; Be friendlier to pedestrians & bicyclers & discourage driving everywhere; Renewable energy needs a big jump-start.

Independence

Independence

Keeping development in urban areas and not rural areas.

Keeping the rural areas of VT rural while allowing for sensible development.

Down country money talks and Vermonters walk......

It's a pretty state with a nice simple life if only I could get a job paying more than 8 dollars an hour.

People like to keep to themselves but are willing to help when they can.

We need to get wages in line with the cost of living. We need to rely less on tourism and the negatives of tourism so we can sustain better jobs & economy.

Make it a place younger people want to stay and contribute to. We need to have more for the youth to do or they will find drugs, alienation. Also, there needs to be more for everyone to do, especially newcomers in small towns.

I just moved here 6 months ago. I find it a struggle to get used to the weather and the alienation and the way prices do not match wages.

Life

Hard work for real vermonters

Being able to afford living here

Good jobs

Can not afford to live here, taxes!

Vermont means a unique place to live, a community of neighbors, people, who value each other and the talents each of us have to bring to our communities balanced with a love to maintain the land.

Independence, tolerance, acceptance and a quirky way of taking leaps socially such as the civil union passage in 2000

To totally become as our constitution guarantees, equality for all citizens of Vermont by taking the next step and allowing gay marriage.

individual freedoms yet cohesive communities, property rights yet open landscapes, making a living yet paying low prices, family farms yet low-cost food, small towns yet suburban neighborhoods, church street marketplace yet big box stores, clean environment yet driving all over, open space yet 5 acre zoning, swimming in the lake yet ample parking lots

Vermont means a beautiful state with open minded forward thinking just people.

Community is important and so valuing each member and treating them equally. Equal access to marriage, health care and housing.

Lack of financial growth and opportunities for future generations to stay and prosper in Vermont.

Attract more green business, legalize gay marriage, provide quality health care to all, and affordable housing.

They all do!

Vermont is a beautiful place where people are free and equal.

Vermonters value respect for individual liberty, respect for all people, embracing creativity and diverse hearts and minds.

We need to protect our natural environment, maintain its magnetism as a destination, and welcome all people of good will. We have the opportunity to acknowledge the equality and liberty of same-sex couples by making "marriage" available to all, not "civil unions", which is a put-down.

Liberty, equality and justice for all.

My community has gay and lesbian citizens who are as much a part of our town as anyone is. They should have access to legal marriage, the same as anyone else.

Vermont means community. Vermont means neighbors helping neighbors. I value my privacy but am always willing to help someone in need.

I think all Vermonters share a respect for others and value diversity.

We need to make sure that all Vermonters are valued equally under the law. We need to make sure all Vermonters have equal rights and responsibilities.

I experience Vermont as a thoughtful state that is invested in governing with common sense and preserving the natural environment. It is also sometimes slightly isolated from and out of step with the larger country. I am proud of civil unions but ready for gay marriage.

I think Vermonters value resourcefulness and helpfulness. I think most Vermonters are concerned about the common good, that is, considerate of one's neighbor and looking out for future generations.

We need to think of Vermont children as OUR children and educate them equally. We need to include everyone in health insurance and health care. We need to address issues of class and equality.

We must create local and sustainable economy. We must invest in renewable energy, education, health care, and infrastructure. Our public radio is a valuable resource. We should support all families.

My rural community has no public transportation or natural sources of energy other than wind or solar. Our K-6 school needs to consolidate with other small, rural schools. We rely on institutions and organizations in Middlebury for just about all services.

Coming from the midwest, I enjoy the "identity" Vermont stands for world-wide, whether it is the view of wholesome milk & ice cream in wonderful mountains, or being a leader in education and a preserver of town government.

The state motto "Freedom & Unity" first comes to mind in a live and let live sort of way. I like how most (still not all by any means) Vermonters - transplants or native born - were the first to establish a civil union law, Vermonters began and still practice good environmental ways, exhibited through Green Up Day.

Keeping enough employment "action" in the state to hold on to young people once they graduate. Accepting and encouraging more diversity within the borders so our youth don't grow up "narrow minded".

Education, education and education.

I feel Barre is an "up and coming" community ready to spring back from economic woes. Many folks here are working hard to bring back Main Street and establish a sense of community, through our schools, through the recent Flower Show, through performances at the Opera House,and through LACE working with local farmers.

Good family values, a peaceful and serene place to live and communities of caring individuals

Vermont faces a lack of job challenge and economic issues which surround the economy. The opportunities are there for stronger community connections to help all those in need.

Our priorities should lie within our children. Since our children will be our leaders someday, we should focus on teaching good values and equality. Promote community connectedness as a strength to bring everyone together as a team.

Community is where it all begins. Promoting a strong community involvement with each resident offers help to those who are in need. By helping each other in our communities it fosters bonds between all of us who share the same rights to be Vermonters living in a place where equality is righteous.

Safety, happiness, natural beauty, freedom.

Maintaining and growing all of the above (safety, happiness, natural beauty, freedom)

Civil rights (next step - marriage equality for our gay & lesbian neighbors), alternative energy sources development, the whole range of progressive freedoms that the USA was founded upon.

We live in a fairly conservative area, but even there people respect each other and value freedom and the beauty around us. Everywhere I see the environment being despoiled, though, either with ugly building and thoughtless development. How to regulate that without curtailing freedom? Difficult.

a place where people care about their neighbors, other species, and the land itself--here and world-wide; a place where people can lead a more natural, simple, healthful, and sustainable lifestyle; a place where people can lead a less material consumptive lifestyle with less exposure to environmental and social poisons...

love of nature, self-responsibility, altruism, democracy

challenges are to resist submission to immoral corporate interests and decisions based on fear; opportunities include implementing pioneer and model programs for environmental sustainability and progressive social justice

environmental sustainability; marriage equality for same-sex couples; reduction of income disparity among citizens; equalizing of education and employment opportunities among citizens....

not sure....

It means a quiet environment of acceptance and strength. Majestic beauty blended with cold (25 degrees?!?!) reality. The environment and people working together, almost Utopia (except that we're all broke and can't afford healthcare).

A desire to keep Vermont clean and somewhat "bullshit" free; we don't want Billboards, Big box stores, or any more violence/drugs to take over our towns.

I think we all like to be self-sufficient and strong, but are driven by poverty to be needy and dependent on a system that isn't really working for everyone. Someonecan do a better job raising their children on welfare than they can working and paying for health care and food themselves.?! The system encourages dependancy. People are moving here for the welfare benefits- did you know that?

Different types of energy (wind, geothermal, etc) also better prison and court processes... counseling not condemnation. It's cheaper and better for all the people involved.

I think a lot of people try to ignore the problems, and there is a sense of overwhelming pressure when it comes to money issues (umbrella over healthcare, transportation, home buying etc) this makes people tense and stressed so it affects everything.

homeland; standing on the shoulders of all those who came before me; being rooted in politics&traditions back to 16th century; one is judged&appreciated for what s/he does-for self, family, neighbors-& contributes-to community-not by $ or what's prestigeous elsewhere; appreciation of other cultures even in smallest towns.

1.appreciation&inclusion-which goes BEYOND TOLERANCE! b/c tolerance assumes one's own superiority; 2.independence(individuality&leaving others alone) & interdependence 3.love of learning; 4.VT wit; 5.respect of others&environment; 6.small scale; 7.[social] honesty(lack of corruption)

challenges: poverty; racism; loss of civic experience & knowledge; phys. & emot'l violence especially in homes/schools; increased economic disparity; difficulty of going it alone (v. the strength of the fed govt & culture, the global economy). Opp'ties: every challenge can be turned into an opportunity through the strength & hard work of this "indominatable people" [Coolidge].

linking the present (challenges) to the past (strength of our heritage) (so more and more people "get it" about how to solve problems "the VT way"

1.keep neighborhood schools&make each elem.sch. vibrant. 2.actively fight classism&racism in all schls. 3.involve local people in local solutions. 4.All Vermonters deserve a livable wage. 5.affordable, single payer Healthcare for all. 6.affordable housing. 7.mentor programs

Vermont is my home. This is where I was born and raised. I feel protective of Vermont and want it to retain the look, feel, and the values that make it special.

A concern for the environment. A responsibility to take care of our earth and our communities. And the initiative to help - the concept that one person can make a difference. I think Vermont has one of the highest concentrations of these types of people as there are anywhere in the world.

Challenges: maintaining a livable lifestyle for Vermonters at the middle and low income levels. It feels at times like our state is a haven for those in higher tax brackets, and that the gap between the high and low income is getting larger and larger. Opportunities: using our commitment to our communities and our environment to fix that gap.

Making sure that all income levels of vermonters are feeling welcome and supported. Making sure that we don't become a haven for the wealthy and lose what makes Vermont special.

Proctor is viewed as an "elite community" in our area because we maintain all our services (elementary and HS, garbage pick up, town water and sewer, recreation facilities) we are viewed in the immediate area as being snobs. I see the difference in income levels from both sides - the gap is large and we need to take care of everyone with losing Vermont.

Vermont is a small, safe, beautiful state with a strong sense of community. Vermonters are proud to be independent and to swim against many of the mainstream currents of American society and politics. I often think of Vermont as a green island of sanity in an increasingly crazy world.

Native-born or flatlander, all Vermonters are proud of our state's independent ideas and actions and our sense of community and interconnectedness. Most Vermonters welcome new people and ideas from all over the world, but sadly some have embraced hate instead (the “Take Back Vermont” crowd).

Vermont is uniquely positioned to be innovative in the agricultural and renewable energy sectors, and most Vermonters strongly support such efforts. However political courage and leadership are often lacking on this issue! Our biggest challenge will be to remove that obstacle to opportunity.

We need to become as energy and food-independent as possible. This will ensure our security in an increasingly crazy world and will also make Vermont a uniquely attractive place to live, work, and invest. But in order to get ourselves into this strong position we have to invest heavily in R&D *now*!

Burlington's Intervale is a great start – we need more of the same. How about a city-wide initiative to put windmills/solar panels on houses and more support for urban gardening? We need major upgrades in public transport, both for people and foodstuffs, to protect the city when the oil crunch hits.

This is my home. A place that is safe, honest, full of integrity in business, and where things get done.

Not certain at this time.....it seems there are less values everywhere including Vermont - Time to get back to the basics in life, community.....

Bring back into focus basic values in the community and State.

Education, Workforce,Values, Safe Environment

They all apply -

A place with rich heritage and beauty. a place where the typical strifes that commonly found in other states, are much milder here.

I believe vermonters all share the belief of preserving the heritage and beauty of the state, and creating more opportunities for this state to become better than it's neighbors.

The severe gap between high income families and low income families. the plight of the family farmers, high taxes. commercial or residential developments that threaten open lush forested lands that vermont is famous for.

A once great state that has has built an obscene bureaucracy to resist inevitable change to the point of absurdity.

Being the big fish by keeping the pond small.

Inevitable change than we refuse to address but must.

Start by Fixing our communication system--WiFi and cell phone service. My new Apple iphone has NO SERVICE in Vt.

Refusing to accept change (reality) is not a virtue.

Vermont is a bucolic, safe, independent, liberal, beautiful, tolerant and interesting place to live. The scale of life is small enough to manage comfortably.

Independence, thrift, tolerance, community, stewardhsip of the land

Preserving our way of life - maintaining small communities, strong local governments, open spaces and natural areas, farms, forests, a clean environment, safety, and a steady economy.

Protecting our environment.

South Burlington is under great development and growth pressure and city leaders do not seem attuned to protecting natural areas and open spaces that make our community special.

I feel very lucky to have lived in Vermont for almost 30 years. Outside of Hawaii, it is as close to heaven as you can get. I feel safe and appreciated here, which (as a member of the LGBT community) is wonderful.

honest, hard-working, caring for the environment, appreciative of Vermont's great beauty, sense of community and helping others

Maintaining or even improving our pristine natural environment, working hard to raise those living in poverty to a high standard of living, spreading our good way of life beyond VT's borders, continuing to improve the quality of life for Vermont's minorities (especially LGBT folks) and most of all LOWERING OUR TAXES!!!!!!!!!!

Affordable taxes for the middle class!!!!!

Not sure what this question means. All the above apply to my community--that's where each person can start. Everyone needs to be involved.

Rural landscapes, progressive values, small communities, future oriencted people, a place for wildlife as well as people.

Becomming sustainable communties that will flourish without fossil fuels.

Bring people together to share information and ideas.

We are not talking as a community.

I love this state, and it's the only place in the USA I'd want to live.The scenic beauty and the climate (yes, the winter too)are pleasing to me, and I think there are an incredible number of interesting people here - people of integrity who care about the environment, the state, the world.

Independence, tolerance (usually) for those who think differently or represent other races, etc. A love of the outdoors. Interest in governance and a desire for fairness. Many people share "liberal" values.

How to achieve universal health care. How to preserve farming and thus the landscape we say we treasure but which is rapidly disappearing. How to fund education. How to preserve small communities and the downtowns. How to preserve the middle class (ie raise those in poverty) and prevent the state from becoming a 2nd home for the wealthy.

Universal health care. Preserving farms and the open pasture/field landscapes. Vermont will become totally wooded if we allow farming to die. Develop alternative energies like wind and solar.

It all applies to my community, especially since we are feeling a great deal of pressure to "grow" from the Burlington area.

We must become self sufficient in food and energy. A study has shown that we can feed our current population with the land available. Another study has shown that we can produce enough biofuels to heat all of our homes. With necessary changes in our agriculture (weaning oursleves from largely a dairy base), becoming self sufficient in heating energy and food is possible.

The transformation described above will create many job opportunities as other jobs are made obsolete (buying, selling home heating oil). These new jobs will be closer to home. This will help us to return to a more local community based existence.

The changes mentioned above will encourage the steps EM has already taken to strengthen community ties.

Democr.can actually work, at least sometimes. Small enough to know your legislators/officials. Unspoiled landscapes. Love of outdoors, small farms, forests, wildlife, small vibrant cities, downtown revitaliz. Need better public trans, afford. hsing, univers. healthcare. For many it's hard to earn a living. Most are frugal. Some move here from away and try to change what is good

community, love of family, respect for hard work, love of the land, common sense (for the most part), desire for self-determination, wanting to keep the best things from the past while carefully planning for the future.

Ironically we can spoil what attracted many of us here. We're on the cusp - we must be careful how we grow. The interest in buying local, local ag, is a great oportunity for us. While becoming 100% self-reliant is probably not achievable, perhaps not desirable, I think we should become less dependent on getting food and goods from outside VT and move toward maximum sustainabilty.

Preserve the environment. Be sure everyone has enough food, affordable housing and health care. Support small-scale local agriculture and socially responsible businesses.

"My" community,the Upper Valley, includes NH - I prefer VT's politics but have friends on both sides of the River. I like idea of VT reclaiming its independence from the US b/c the US has become an empire;the federal govt violates the Constitution rather than "preserve, protect and defend"-ing it. I worry about what this would mean for the rest of New England. it.

Independence, freedom,& diversity,this is what Vermont means to me.Vermont contains the best of two worlds, meaning that it is both charmingly historical,and yet it is also helping to lead the United States into the 21st century.Vermont is aiding in the movement that is pushing for equalizing the rights of all people, not just some.

It seems to me that all Vermonters share the values of acceptance, dignity, hardwork, independence, and preserving our beautiful state.

I think that some of the challenges are ;trying to maintain Vermont's historical charm while allowing new businesses to take root and provide more people with jobs.Another being that we are trying to provide everyone with the same rights, regardless of what others may think.However, it will draw more people into it, which means we must be prepared to undergo more changes regarding economics.

Equalizing the rights of everyone, lowering the tax rates for all Vermonters, reducing the prices of land and maintaining the beauty and simpliciy of this rural sanctuary.

I know that because Danby is such a small and tight-knit town, that everything I already mentioned will only aid it in its attempt to increase it in size.