Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

polarbearrape t1_jead9r2 wrote

God I'm so sick of this. Our state is being ruined by the wealthy buying property for rentals and second homes, but the tax gets put on people trying to get to work in a state that REQUIRES personal transport to live in. Here goes the last of our dwindling population of youthful workers.

77

Malannan t1_jeakfmb wrote

My kids have already said they have no interest in living here because of how expensive it is. They re truly worried about cost of living and they are teenagers. Scott has to get his head in the game here. Tax second home owners. Tax vacation properties. Tax Air BnB. Stop making this one of the hardest states to live in. The soul of our state will shrivel up and blow away in the slipstream of a thousand luxury SUVs if we don't.

40

chohls t1_jeap21d wrote

The policy makers and businesses are so short-sighted that they'll cater endlessly to the people plundering and hollowing out all the state has to offer because they're wealthy, but they never stop to think what'll happen once all these boomer landowners get old and start dying off, who will keep the businesses running, who will do the mundane, day-to-day stuff that keeps a society running. Why would any young person want to grow a career, business or a family here if they're just going to be fined into oblivion while the wealthy get off scot-free?

22

Malannan t1_jearvrp wrote

Exactly right. I am so upset that none of our politicians care about this issue. Bernie should focus on brokering policy change in Vermont. I love the guy, but he hasn't done shit for us in a good long while and now our state is in real trouble. I remember attending his farmer breakfasts in Addison County and it really felt like he was engaged. Hell, he came to my Eagle Scout ceremony because there so many of us earning our Eagle. Hey Welch? What are you going to do to help Vermonters. How will you engage with us? To be clear, I voted for both Welch and Bernie, as well as Scott.

Edit: I rushed my comment and got some great feedback below. I updated my comment to reflect what I meant to say, which was that influence and engagement can raise and move forward local policy issues. You would think, with the issues we're facing, our power brokers would be more actively engaged in the discussions.

1

HillRatch t1_jeat7qh wrote

US Senators' jobs are to represent Vermont's interests in federal law. For most day-to-day issues affecting you, you should be worried about your local and state government.

18

chohls t1_jeb0nxm wrote

Bernie won't save you, even if he decided to run for governor or something (which he'd probably win in a landslide if he wanted to) a senator is moreso focused in ensuring state's interests are reflected in federal policy, which has much less effect on you than you'd expect day to day. Plus the man is just so old, he needs to retire, probably couldn't handle the workload of a state job at his age.

3

Necessary_Cat_4801 t1_jeeot8k wrote

We should also do what we can to stop people moving here to work form home. We need a workforce, not an army of "digital nomads" making $150k and making it impossible for people working in VT to live here.

2

JodaUSA t1_jeaj9op wrote

I am committed to being the last young person in vermont. I'm too stubborn to let the state die. I'll go down with it, or I'll spend my life trying to make things better. The solutions are so plain, but Capitals grip is so entrenched...

5

polarbearrape t1_jeb2tz3 wrote

I dont recommend it. That was my attitude. I'm now 33, there are no decent paying jobs and all my friends have moved away or taken their own lives. Lots of us go down with it trying our best to make it better and never see it do anything but change to push us out.

4

JodaUSA t1_jebsebl wrote

I don't care about having a decent paying job, I care about making it by. I'm Gen Z, I'm under no stupid illusion that life in this country is supposed to be any shade of good.

And I don't see myself taking my own life. As far as I know, I'm the only sane person, and there would be a bit of loss for the state. /hj

1

polarbearrape t1_jec7k6k wrote

I wish you the best in life friend, im also planning to stick around.

2

Necessary_Cat_4801 t1_jeep0is wrote

Same boat here. I'm out as soon as my parents are healthy enough for me to leave. There's nothing but old rich people here, it's pretty miserable.

1

escobert t1_jebhv7u wrote

They don't want us to live here. They want it to be a rich peoples playground and the few that stick around can cater to them.

5

[deleted] t1_jeb1wug wrote

[deleted]

−3

polarbearrape t1_jeb377t wrote

Not when no one is left to work, and not while second homes and vacation homes have loopholes on taxes based on how many months out of the year you live there. Never underestimate the ability of wealthy people to dodge paying their share.

11

[deleted] t1_jeb9zee wrote

[deleted]

−1

polarbearrape t1_jebomv7 wrote

I'm not well versed in tax laws, ill see if I can find it. I'm pretty sure it has to do with living here less than 6 months out of the year.

2