character,green,mountains,beautiful roads and vistas,small,authentic,it has unique advantageous,friendly,assessable... hard to be politically correct all the time because it creates and promotes the individual...always two sides to every issue...hence Act 250

a place to call home. community. taking care of each other and the environment. making a good meal. maple syrup. cold rivers. apples. green mountains and blue sky. the comfort of clouds, and people who know how to seize a sunny day.

hard work, endurance, simplicity, respect, community, creativity.

rural isolation due to cost/availability of fuel --> an opportunity to create a rural public transportation system. lack of availability of non-local food --> learning how to grown sustainable bioregional foods. having to stay put --> being able to call somewhere home.

teaching people how to grow their own food and build sustainable energy-efficient structures. cultivate systems of non-digital communication. provide safe spaces for people to come and release anxiety and fear through physical, creative, or other meditative therapies.

it means i have to come home. because we all need to show up and contribute.

inexpensive lifesyle whereby art can flourish, body can see beauty, breath good air, drink pure water, have plenty of firewoods, garden, bird and moose watching, silence

most of the above, plus respect for different lifesyles

challenges are to cut down consumption of fuel and building fuel efficient homes opportunites are sharing rides, working with others, supporting local artists, farmers etc. Education about health and preventative care

helping artists and young people

My husband and I opened an art gallery in Worcester which exposes a rural community to art. Our home was built of stone and local materials. As Vermont expands smaller towns will grow and provide more services so the need to drive far is decreased

A forward thinking community of people with roots in the past... a gorgeous inspirational landscape. Put the two together and you have a great place to be an artist and to riase a family.

The environment Individuals rights

Continuing to foster our small town communities, maintaining the landscape and being stewards for eachother and the earth.

Continuing to foster our small town communities, maintaining the landscape and being stewards for eachother and the earth.

Fits perfectly. Thats why I live here.

Sanctity. Having traveled extensively throughout the US, I am amazed by how other communities have been redefined with or without their consent. Vermont still serves as a full sensory refuge for me, and I feel inspired to protect it.

I don't know if there is such a thing as a 'Vermonter'in such a homogeneous world. My favorite definitively Vermont value is woodchuck-ism - the desire to learn and perform any skill that will save you a buck, without a care for what the neighbors think.

I think there's a lot of temptation to study other states' gameplans without recognizing that our needs and strengths are more unique. I'd like to see us booming with cooperative businesses that sustain our communities over generations, and to stop complaining about the lack of big businesses that make their employees miserable - only to lay them off anyway.

Winter Gardens!!! Safe, renewable, and affordable energy. A more localized economy. Better food in schools. A 'just say no to widget factories' campaign. Better use of public spaces - public art, natural habitats, and other brain cell generators.

Grand Isle County is rural and without a major supermarket. We are a 'gas station grocery' community, and therefore the perfect place to strengthen a year round relationship between farmers and residents - this means that farmers should grow winter greens! Enough 'tourist produce'... think outside the tomato! Or maybe homeowners should be trained to garden in winter?

Vermont is a deep breath. To me, it's one of the last sane places in the union. By that I mean that Vermont exists on a human scale, with human values: you not only know your neighbors, you care about them. You know the owners of the businesses you frequent. You know where your food comes from. And when you disagree, you do so respectfully, and then go out for a beer.

Independence. A live-and-let-live attitude. An emphasis on community, not conformity. Pride, in our towns, our way of life. A respect for our history, our agricultural legacy. A distrust of centralized/regional land-use planning that, I think, works counter to the other values I just stated (in that it opens to door to the exploitative actions of big-money corporations and developers).

Biggest challenge: suburbanization and its ills: loss of independence, decline in health/rise in health-care costs, corruption of traditional landscape/settlement patterns, rising taxes, loss of uniqueness. Vermonters say they don't want this, but too many let it happen. Therein lies an opportunity. The buy-local movement, the localvores, high gas prices: people are starting to wake up.

We need to maintain our town centers and surrounding agricultural fields and forestland. We need to make sure that OUR vision for our state, not some distant corporation's, is what shapes and guides development. We cannot go wrong by investing in our communities, in ourselves.

Waterbury, for all its recent successes, is at a crossroads. Stowe, Burlington, and Montpelier all exert pressure on us, leading to sprawl and rising home prices. We're creating jobs, but we're not providing the village-style, walkable, affordable housing we need to ensure that people can live AND work here. Our biggest advantage is the many dedicated people who love and work hard for this town.

Vermont is a gem. When you cross the borders into the state you know you are not in anywhere USA. However, Vermont is at a crossroad. Due to increased growth and development, Vermont's traditional values and land use patterns are changing. We are at risk of losing our unique identity and rural character.

An appreciation for the beauty of the state, the natural resources and working landscape, the smallness, and the community.

The Disneyfication of Vermont--a playground for the rich at the expense of local working Vermonters. Loss of working landscapes, habitat, open space to development. Increasing taxes due to increased property values as a result of out of state pressure on real estate. Lack of health insurance for many Vermonters.

Maintaining Vermonts quality of life,rural character, and working landscapes. Supporting local economies and small businesses. Providing health care for all Vermonters. Maintaining small communities and minimizing partisan politics.

too much government interference in business and private lives, a legislature enmired in a perverse interest in private sexuality

too little -- there are two kinds of Vermonters: those who want to work and do things, and those who want to turn over the responsibility of thinking for themselves over to others

cutting government programs, consolidating school districts and other services like road repair to cut waste, better information and resource sharing

cut taxes and leave more income in the hands of individuals, restrict act 250 commissions so they do not needlessly hinder development

how do we better use our resources -- do we have too many salaried and entitled people and not enough whose income is determined by their own efforts?

Having recently moved back home to the west river valley I have realized that Vermont is very much a part of who I am as a person. My family has been in this area for many generations ans there is no other place in the world I would consider calling home.

Vermonters share a common value that is built on a tremoundous work ethic and appreciation for what this state is able to provide them. They pride themselves on quality of thier life and look to share that with those around them. They support others when ever possible and are very aware of the impact that they have on their surroundings.

There is a great opportunity for the commuinity in its growth as an artistic meca for new england. This combined with the massive support for local merchants vs the big box store corp. will allow the town to continue to grow with local support. This is something that you rarly see else where inthe country is just another reason why VT is so great.

There needs to be a continued focus to provide a better foundation for young educated profesionals to seek out Brattleboro and the surronding valleys as a place to start a family and build their lives. There needs to be more promotion of the opportunities that are avaliable carear wise combined with a pace of life that is far greater than any metropolitan area.

My priority as a young, educated profesional returing to southern vermont is to make as much of an impact on the challenges outlined above as well as any other issues that may arise along the way. I want to be able to share with friends and coleuges how special the Brattleboro area is and what it has to offer for others looking for a place to start a family.

Vermont is a place where communities value a connection to their landscape as well as their neighbors.

A joy of a landscape of small traditional villages, farmed valleys and forested hills.

Saying "No" to the privileged. We must stop any development outside of traditional villages. The wealthy should not be allowed to build McMansions that ruin the landscape for the rest of us. Owning property should not carry the right to build a house. I want to make it clear that I support development necessary to sustaining a working landscape--this does not include residences.

Focus our development efforts on traditional villages. Within these areas, provide basic public services such as high quality education, health care, public transportation, housing, employment, etc.

Home. A rural state of exceptional beauty but limited economic opportunity.

Independence. Self-reliance. Friendliness and compassion. Moral integrity. Sense of justice.

Family dissolution is pandemic. (Most legal and social problems originate here.) We need to initiate educational focus on building strong families. Secure, intact families and homes can be emphasized K-12, and special programs for marriage preparation needed for couples considering matrimony: one man and one woman unions ONLY, for the sake of the next and succeeding generations.

Family formation and permanence.

We have a plethora of single-parent families, welfare cases, and mixed-up kids. There is little hope for better chances among youth, who have identity problems from mild to clinical disorders.

Pristine environment; community life; e-state; strong libraries

community life; healthy lifestyles; caring for one another; support literary

Keeping the state economically viable for young people and families

The state is small enough to be an incubator for testing ideas: make health care affordable and universal; keep the environment clean; strong art and cultural centers

We are facing difficult economic times which will be difficult to sustain our public services

Home. The most beautiful place in the world.

Love of the land. Input in local community issues and activities. High quality education. Doing things their own way.

Keeping towns small. Keeping the state rural. Costs of education, roads, energy...

Manage the land. Keep corporate America out. Less sprawl. Focus on education and technology to connect rather than malls.

People need transportation, jobs, and affordable homes.

Home. The most beautiful place in the world.

Love of the land. Input in local community issues and activities. High quality education. Doing things their own way.

Keeping towns small. Keeping the state rural. Costs of education, roads, energy...

Manage the land. Keep corporate America out. Less sprawl. Focus on education and technology to connect rather than malls.

People need transportation, jobs, and affordable homes.

Vermont, means home, clean air, friendly people, no billboards, local products, a vibrant and participatory community. It also means progressive views, and a strong sense of equality, and social justice for all.

We value Truth Justice and the american way!

There are many challenges, including supporting local farmers, building employment opportunities, and keeping the cost of living affordable, changing to renewable, sustainable energy sources, managing the ever growing correctional facilities problem, and building better socail, and educational services for our state, Easy right!

We should focus on what has made vermont great, maintaining sustainable environmental, business, and political practices to keep our state green, clean and progressive. oh yeah an get more economic opportunities to entice people to live here and contribute to the above mentioned ideas.

My community is evolving, with a revitalized down town, and additions of a community college and youth center, participation in the community is where all of these ideals begin. So I think they are all related to participation in structuring our communities to meet these goals

Vermont to me is the slow, remote state that it is. It is disconnected to the states nearby when it could be closer to them. There is little stimulation for young people here.

I don't think they share much common values.

I think gay parenting is a challenge that we will see in the future.

Higher education should be number 1. It is unaffordable for the high quality education that we deserve. We could be giving to ourselves but instead we are giving rich, spoiled kids from out of state a cheap education here. They bring more drugs, drinking and poor values to our state in the future.

Vermont is a truly unique state that provides a home for people who put quality of life and quality of people before material wealth.

Love of their state and care for those in their community.

The biggest challenge is encouraging new and growing businesses who's values match those of our residence and can provide for jobs for the next generation of vermonters. We are at a critical point, and the policies we set in the next few years will have a dramatic effect on the future of our state.

First, maintain the quality of life, landscape, and communities. Second focus on bringing in new businesses and growing existing ones who will bring the next generations of "quality jobs". This should focus on those management, design, creative, engineering, technical, and trade opportunities which are less likely to be outsourced in within this global economy.

I see Burlington and South Burlington as a key hub for these "next generation" jobs as it has a close proximity to many existing in-state businesses as well as the airport.

I am new to Vermont. Moved here 1 year ago. Initially I was struck by the "Buy Local" idea. I support this notion- but didn't understand it until now. Vermonters help Vermonters survive. I now work for the City of Burlington and am a full time temp employee making $15 a hour with no health insurance. I wish the higher level of Vermont (political level) would help this Vermonter survive!

Keep local industry surviving- sometimes at any cost.

n/a

My demographic can not survive in Vermont- and without us there is no future for this state. I think the industry needs to recognize this and promote earlier retirement and make room for my generation. My friends are overeducated and unerpaid and realize that they may not be able to make Vermont home. Vermont needs us.

Fortuntaly I am work for my community and try to bring benefit and teach the younger generation of Vermont. I work for Burlington City Arts- and have worked hard to combine what I do to all aspects of my life- its exhausting and I feel as if I have very little support.

A place where people live without much extravagance. People can live very well, but without the need for all of the metropolitian busy-ness. It's a place where you can live comfortably with a beautiful nature kingdom at your front door.

Most Vermonters enjoy nature and spending time outdoors. I also feel like Vermonters have a love for, and feel a responsibility to the environment. It seems that there are a lot of family generations who stay in Vermont, so a love and respect for family is a common value.

Balancing enough commerce to provide people with jobs, at the same time preserving our unique natural environment. I think it's especially tough for the 20/30-somethings just starting out to find a good paying job that will afford them to stay in Vermont and raise their families. It seems that real estate and the cost of living are very difficult to meet with the salaries offered here.

Maintaining the environment and finding ways to provide people with good paying jobs. Also to keep the cost of living, including taxes down.

Our taxes are $8100 a year which is going to be VERY difficult for us. It means we may not be able to participate as much in recreational enjoyments, such as golf and skiing because of the costs. It's also a struggle to find good jobs in Middlebury, as my husband now has to commute to Burlington for a good paying job.

VT was such a great place to grow up that I decided to make a go of it here raising my own family. Vt it the most beautiful place I have ever been. It has four distinct seasons, all of which I love. My dad always said..."live somewhere you would want to go on vacation. that way you don't always feel like you need to get away"

Respect for the environment. A slower "soak it in" pace of life. A common apreciation for the journey, not the destination. An apreciation of the know your neighbor mentality.

Small business' are the heartbeat of VT. without them we would have no small towns. We need to make vt more small business friendly. People who grow up in vt love it here. They leave because of the lack of opportunity career wise.

healthcare and small business costs (i.e. workers comp). Responsible growth. Growth is inevitable and good. Make sure that it is thought out though to preserve what makes vt unique (the setting, the farms, the small towns). HELP the small farmer. Be a leader on alternative energy sources for the whole state.

Energy, farm land, small business' all fall within New Haven.

A safe and undisturbed place. A great place to be born, grow up, and raise a family. Where we are forced to deal with the hardships and the benefits of 4 very distinct seasons.

I think most of us are looking for a quiet spot to call our own. A pace of life that is productive but not hectic.

Challenges:Declining enrollment in our grade schools.Cost of living too high, and lack of opportunity for younger generations.Lack of incentive and encouragement for small business. The emigration of young, productive, and ambitious adults. Becoming a retirement community for people that can afford to live here. Opp: Very many people still want to live here due to the quality of life.

Maintain the small town feel, but don't ignore the fact that we live in a desirable place where retirees and the wealthy want to live.Encourage businesses to stay, creating opportunity.Focus on creating or maintaining a very high standard of education.Look more closely at how our tax money is spent. Smaller government.

As a whole the country moves toward a much older average age. No where is this more apparent then in VT, not to mention my community. What do we have to offer that will keep a high school or college graduate from moving to Denver or Phoenix? Our infrastructure is old, our business opportunities limited, our taxes crushing.

The Vermont way of life is creative and thinking outside of the box. I hope that it will continue and be encouraged rather than discouraged with negativity. There is a lot of hope for the future within the State. Vermopnters need to be asked to contribute, as they tend to hold back and not talk unless they have something to say. Norma Wales

A reprieve from the repetition of culture found in many other states. An opportunity to be engaged in your local community and in State government - we are still small enough. A place where the landscape - for now - is still the dominant feature rather than human development and engineering

A passion for the environment and conservation - however this is slipping into the older generations, was it always so or is this just perception? We all firmly beleive that we are different and that Vermont is still different - open while being respectful of difference and personal space.

We no longer share the same land values. Marking land as personal property and denying others the right to enjoy passive use of the land is on the rise. Lack of forward planning in energy, development and finance, a focus on re-election has weakened our government, and forced scarce dollars to address immediate emergency issues and not invest in our land, conservation, farming and communities.

To be an example of sustainable living, reducing the gap between rich and poor, pushing forward on renewable energy, alternative transportation, and ending partisan politics.

Living in Montpelier the rythm of the legislature has an impact, and raises awareness of how government is handling issues. Montpelier itself moves slowly, town commissions and committees are not charged with a future vision for Montpelier, as with the State and for easons that can be debated the focus is immediate tactical actions and not a long-term vision.

Vermont means: "The Green Mountain" State... literally. And that is what it means to me. I love that even our license plates are green! When I think of my Vermont home, I think of the natural environment first. When I am asked what state I am from, I am always proud to say "Vermont". This is a free thinking state, and I am grateful to live here.

I think we value the environment and all it has to offer, we also value organic agriculture and the independent farmer, craftsmanship and artistry, and the US Constitution, among other things. These things were my first, most spontaneous thoughts.

I see a need to protect what we have here: a national treasure. I have witnessed urban sprawl and social decline in other parts of our country, and how they impact the environment: both the broader natural environment and the specific habitat of humanity. Finding a way to keep life affordable and to help Vermonter's thrive economically is very important to the long term future of this state.

Education. Not just in schools, but education as a life long pursuit. Environment. Our natural beauty and organic farms are two of the biggest assets we have. Economics. We must do what we can to foster the growth of small business and livable wages for Vermont Citizens. We must find new and creative ways to consolidate services and reduce the burden of taxes here in this state.

I am concerned about ill-considered development, and the costs of home ownership/living in Vermont. I am extremely concerned about economic conditions deteriorating in Vermont, and how the costs of heating and transportation will impact lower income families living on the edge of poverty, (and poverty gives rise to social and spiritual decline)

great place to raise a family. simpler way of life. beautiful environment. high taxes

preserving the environment; smart, efficient community growth;

Challenge: Attracting companies to the state to increase employment opportunities for young people. ACT250 process is broken. High taxes, high cost of education. Keeping young people in the state. Opportunities in green technologies. VT is ahead of most places and can attract and support cutting edge ideas in the green field which can provide good jobs for young people.

Attracting and supporting new business' to maintain and grow the job market to provide young people and families the choice to stay and live in this great state without having to expect less.

Jobs are decreasing in Middlebury as taxes rise forcing families away, a failing downtown. no way to entice young people to stay in Town or Vermont and no way to attract non-vermonters. wish i could work where i lived.

High taxes

The need to work hard to pay high taxes.

Creating a State where our kids and grand kids can stay and earn a living wage, not from minimum wage but from competitive employers.

Elect a legislature who can lower health care costs, get out of the way of entrepreneurs, reform the permit process so small business stands a chance of succeeding

everything-it is where i truely came to a higher and full cognition of the natural,social,and political world around me and inspires me to fight against right wing,fascist elements that now seek to destroy that world

desire for peace and serenity-belief in the Bill Of Rights-self sustainability-neighborliness

that they realize for change and improvements to come locally we must first fix what is wrong nationally and globally

to reshape ourselves to fit an infinite Vermont rather than reshape Vermont to fit our infinite wants-agriculture,tourism,and cottage industry is what made Vermont strong and unique in the past and is what should be encouraged into the future

they are and hopefully will always be the majority opinion

Sustainability on many levels: our land, our economy, our relationships to each other

A love and respect for the land. A place where growth is seen in the context of human scale as opposed to a corporate vision. A respect for our increasing diversity and a "live and let live" philosophy.

With the price of fuel rising, we may need to look inward more to sustain ourselves--living closer to where we work, and developing a true transportation infrastructure that gives priority to public transportation/ride sharing; we will need to buy more things locally--which will help keep our dollars circulating within our communities.

Transportation infrastructure--buses, trains Buying locally Single payer health care Continuation of smart growth for our towns/villages

Supporting the local businesses in Addison County. Riding the bus when I can--helping to keep my town "green." We live in an agricultural community--so I buy a great deal of our food from the local farmers--so keeping the localovore movement alive

Instead of High Taxes: a place where people contribute more for the common good.

Quiet strength of character. Personal responsibility. Caring about community.

Dislodging the stodgy, accountant based thinking from our State government.

Think about what unique capabilities upon which opportunities for growth and innovation can take root. Belief in the inherent goodness of our culture and that it can serve as an example to others.

There are more organizations in my community dedicated to making, not only VT, but the world a better place.

Vermont is an appropriate scale for those of us who don't want to be in large or medium cities. Our towns are not overstuffed or uniform. They are charming and user friendly. VT is community oriented and democratic. We figure out challenges and issues by talking to neighbors.

A love of the landscape, open spaces, green spaces and plenty of trees and relatively undisturbed habitats. Participatory democracy is important to us. We like to have feedback and the opportunity to talk to department heads and elected representatives at every level.

Retaining the character of VT. We need to make sure VT doesn't become another generic place w/ big box chain stores & few local economic engines. Small businesses & cottage industries are important. The creative economy & the arts. We need goods, service and resources ideally made nearby, not trucked in from far away. Keeping VT affordable is also important. Taxes & the cost of living are issues.

We should look at where our energy comes from and be at the forefront of using decentralized, not polluting energy sources: wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal. Nuclear energy generation is not safe or sustainable. We also need to improve high speed internet and wireless phone reception to remain competitive and able to do work from home.

Brattleboro has some of the elements in place, especially in being known for the arts, but the rest still needs to be fostered and strengthened.