(Thanks to BP for pointing out this eye-rolling piece. What really seems to irk this guy more than anything about the state is that Vermont had the gall to grant full rights of citizenship to gays and lesbians, as he’s harped on the topic before. – promoted by odum)
The Free Press has a sad lament by a man claiming he must leave Vermont. This is the second I believe in a series the Free Press is running. Sort of an ongoing Festivus style airing of the grievances on Why Vermont has failed me theme. Today’s public lamentation goes a step further than some noting multiple areas that Vermont has allegedly failed this poor and long suffering fellow. Taxes, naturally are in the mix, trivialization of the institution of marriage makes the list but new and perhaps foremost is the perceived lack of pride in America by Vermonters.
Our apparently soon to depart uber-patriot questions; Are Vermonters still proud to be Americans? Thus adding failure of being properly proud to his list. He does note that perhaps many Vermonters are still proud of America, but the pervasive attitude seems to him
“a grievance mentality that indicts America at every opportunity. It’s a mentality that cheers President Obama as he travels the world apologizing for America. That mentality expresses itself in many ways, chief among them the tendency to assert moral equivalency between America’s enemies and America’s defenders. This mentality has been especially offended by the forceful and successful actions taken by the Bush administration after 9/11 to protect the American people from the terrorists who would kill them.”
This fellow is truly grieved by the grievance mentality he imagines to surround him. A grievance mentality, high living costs, taxes and perceived lack of proper pride are moving motivation for some. I would suggest a tolerance mentality might work wonders and save expensive moving costs.
He does however strike a conciliatory note at the end and even hints that he may not actually be leaving at all. I guess he sees a glimmer of hope that one day we will walk in lock step with what he sees as the proper way.
No doubt Vermonters offended by the things I’ve said will want to tell us not to let the door hit us on the way out. Well, we won’t be leaving soon, and there’s still hope that Vermont can recapture the spirit of personal independence that made this nation great. We fear, however, that the majority of Vermonters are increasingly embracing personal dependence on government.
bothers me the most is that the Free Press publishes such pieces by people who make no effort whatsoever to support their arguments; the recent Rich Tarrant piece was very similar; both pieces are just vehicles for talking points, slogans, and unexamined assumptions
this is not a service to readers; it is not “balance”
no doubt the writer’s “feel” this way but the discourse about important public policy issues should at least be grounded in facts
there is a reason we call em whiny-ass-titty-babies, you know.
… “Why I’m moving TO Vermont.” Profiles of people who choose to, in spite of high taxes, vast areas of unWalMarted territory, the lack of free ATV access to wilderness, the ruthless oppression of the Act 250 process, too much gayness, and environmentalists threatening to pull the plug on “affordable energy,” somehow, someway, God only knows why, relocate to the Green Mountain State.
I mean, that’s got to be coming next, right? If only for the sake of balance?
Vermont State Constitution, Chapter 1, Article 19: