Explain this wingnuts; VT rated as one of the worst states to do business in: Unemployment 4%

[salib]

31. This is actually a good place for business

Yes, I live in Vermont. Yes, I moved from Texas to be here.

Another "intangible" but actually quite tangible difference with Vermont is basic social services. Health care is a good example, thanks in great part to Gov. Howard Dean. As has been pointed out with Obamacare, if health care is available outside of a particular job people are more likely to expand their horizons, and with it their contribution to society (whether that be through new small business, volunteerism, local government, artisans, specialty services, etc.). We have had the benefit of letting people "bloom" for a long time now. The state really reflects this.

But the concept of basic social services runs much deeper than health care in Vermont. Honestly, except for the fact that it is paid for by taxes, there is fairly strong consensus here, even with many conservatives, that these services are important and help maintain a solid society. Conservatives just wish it did not raise taxes.

Vermont was once the most Republican state in the nation, Calvin Coolidge even saying that he had his office on the floor above the only two Democrats in the state. It is not that these people disappeared or there was some sort of population boom (about the same as 100 years ago). Instead, it is agreement with all the crazy hippy liberals that it truly is important to have a strong community and to help each other.

Just recently, knowing nothing of "boiler lore" being new to temperatures below freezing (San Antonio has VERY few if any in a year) I called, rather nervously, the nearest heating and plumbing place which I found in Google "search nearby" as the furnace and thus boiler was out. We, the person who answered (likely his cell I would find out later) on a Sunday no less walked me through checking what should be checked and we got it going. This was more than professionalism. Thus was neighborly assistance.

Not surprisingly (Vermont is a small place), when looking for a pellet furnace solution to replace the propane one, I was given the same fellows' company's name as a local installer by the manufacturer. He came by and mentioned how he really wanted to move to Texas as the politics in Vermont did not suit him. Funny, nothing about Vermont really was the problem to him, just the people running the Government. Anyway, certainly did not get into it with him, but kept thinking about how liberal he really was in personal and non-personal relations. How he helped me out without any expectation of being paid back. How he was so enthusiastic about a technology (pellet furnace) that is promoted because it has a net zero carbon footprint. How the business benefited so greatly, and he pointed it out, from the state government efficiency programs.

Pointing to Vermont as a shining beacon for economic growth would be a huge mistake, I would guess. It has never really been a booming place. It has been a place of hardship. Seems people here leave for college and do not return quite a bit. At least until they are ready to retire, and then return. The school age population is dropping rather quickly (105,000 a few years ago and projected to be down to 92,000 soon).

But pointing to Vermont as a place where people value community, society and yes government (when it truly is "We the People&quot , again easier in a small state and also in New England), I think would be wise. I believe we will manage to cobble together a universal single-payer health care system, and it will indeed be an example to the rest of the U.S.

In the details of that system will be a glimpse as to why Vermont is what it is.