The issues raised in Win's last message are worthy of a separate thread.. Particularly those of us who are property owners, but not VT residents, are getting croaked by the regressive real estate taxes in the MRV. However the residents are also facing nothing but bad choices regarding the finances of local government. Win raised these issues in a letter to the Valley Reporter last fall, I believe. But I have yet to see any public dialogue. The local state legislators write weekly reports on state house issues for the VR, but they never discuss these issues, obviously because they have no potential solutions. The editor of the paper pontificates on all manner of global events, but doesn't touch the third rail of taxation. As long as they are not held responsible for their failure to address the situation, nothing will change. Despite the tradition of citizen activism on social issues in VT, there is a reluctance of citizens to become involved in organized lobbying at the state house--maybe it's too "city" for their tastes. The whole valley got into an uproar over a quarry, but no hue and cry over much more critical subjects. The only way to redress the problems which Win has again stated is to get involved in the politics. There are better solutions to funding government,
but both local and non-resident taxpayers need to organize.
And although I have mainly replied to Win's points on real estate taxes, I understand and agree with him regarding state energy policy and worker's comp. The state needs policies which enhance competition, not prevent it. Same goes for health insurance.
Any takers?
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