Lowell

Vermont means home to me. I have only lived away from here for 7 years of my life and never intend to leave again. When I was very young growing up on a dairy farm in Weybridge, Vermont meant community, family & cooperation to me. There was safety & security in knowing your neighbors and sharing a common caring for the community & state we lived long side each other in.

I am not sure that Vermonters these days share many common values anymore. However, I think if Vermont is going to weather the current challenges it faces, Vermonters must come to share the common values that are defined in our state constitution and accept a lot more personal responsibility and tolerance& respect for the inherent rights of others.

Much of Vermont's challenges stem from our state's dependence upon federal funds & acceptance of federal mandates, even when neither is in the best interest of Vermont and it's people. We must maximize the many opportunities we can create to become a more self sufficient state, provide more jobs and opportunities for Vermonters.

To provide the means for Vermont to become self sufficient in as many areas as possible. Vermonters can do it, if we all come together...not just a few elite Vermonters, as has been, but all Vermonters, as it should be.

I see many communities suffer from lack of citizen involvement. Many small, rural communities such as Lowell are plague by generations of the same families holding the power within the town. Many wish to get "new blood" in, but because there are several generations related to these individuals, it is nearly impossible to do so.