burlington
What does Vermont mean to you?:
Sensible, character-driven ideals crafted through ingenuity, integrity and common experiences. Small, local-driven communities shaped by hard-work, artistic and fun-loving sensibilities that appreciate and embrace the landscape. An understanding and acceptance of certain realities and determination to deal, and not live in denial of them.
What common values do Vermonters share?:
Kindness and caring for those within and around our communities with a mind that we're all in this together. See first answer...
What challenges and opportunities do we see for our communities and state?:
We HAVE to deal with the impending implosion of the cheap-gas economy NOW, with increased investment in rail and mass transit services. We CAN NOT continue investing in any way shape or form in dislocated, isolated, auto-dependent communities or it will make the obvious and eventual dependence on higher fuel costs unbearable.
What should our priorities be as we work together to prepare Vermont for the future?:
Energy and infrastructure that moves us away from the gluttonous consumer culture that destroys local communities
We also have to keep our water sources in better shape, both above and below ground as clean, fresh water will be the primary resource in the coming years.
Having a stronger and solid telecommunications infrastructure will also be imperative in refocusing our economic priorities.
How do your thoughts about Vermont's values, future challenges and priority issues apply to YOUR community?:
Here in Burlington, we have a good focus on greater energy efficiency, on community supported agriculture, and on driving less. Suburban communities are going to wither and die under 8to10 dollar gas so we can either live in denial of that eventual reality or deal with it now before it becomes more a matter of survival and less of a choice.
