Readers of the Mitchell Family Organ were greeted on Sunday by a neat little piece of psychodrama : a childhood story told by Governor Shumlin and relayed to us by The Indispensable Peter Hirschfeld. (Paywall warning.)

Shumlin, accompanied by his younger brother and older sister, would “go into the store with our allowance … and of course we’d do what kids do – we’d buy candy.”

Unlike most kids, however, Shumlin’s appetite wasn’t for sugar.

“I’d keep the candy in my drawer,” Shumlin says, a smile spreading. “And at the appropriate time, when I knew that my brother or sister had loot, I would sell it to them when they were really desperate for sugar. That’s my nature.”

The Governor obviously sees this story as an illustration of his entrepreneurial nature and his tight-fisted approach to money. But when I read it, the first thing I thought was, “My God, what a little asshole.”

A smile spreading, indeed. I mean, it’s one thing to stash your allowance in the piggy bank, eschewing the immediate gratification of candy bars and chewing gum. It’s a whole ‘nother thing to price-gouge your own family.

This charming anecdote shines a fresh light on some of Shumlin’s policy positions. His opposition to new taxes on soda, candy, or junk food, for instance: he’s clearly got a soft spot in his heart for those who profit off our weaknesses.

And I suppose we should be grateful that he only wanted to reduce the Earned Income Tax Credit rather than, say, turning it into a payday lending program.  

But the most revealing thing about this slice of pre-gubernatorial life is that Shumlin is actually proud of it. Reminds me of the bird-feeder story, which he STILL brings up from time to time. He thinks it portrays him as a real Vermonter, not some chump who goes out naked to rescue his bird feeders from hungry bears. (Which, when you think about it, is really more like something a flatlander would do.) And, in the process, ignores at least two pieces of expert advice: “Take down your feeders in the spring” and “Don’t provoke the bears!”

This myopia and extreme self-assurance is simultaneously a great strength and a real weakness for Peter Shumlin the politician. He really is very smart, and willing to act on his convictions. And stick to them. Even when he’d be better off changing course.

Unfortunately, when it comes to helping the poor (and taxing the rich), there’s still a part of him that’s the steely capitalist who was willing — nay, happy — nay, proud — to fleece his brother and sister.

And who sees that as the natural way of the world.