Dear Editor,
We, the older Vermonters (including voters and taxpayers), must make it clear to younger Vermonters that our most crucial task and the most urgent job is to fix the broken two-party political system. Why, you ask?
Only younger Vermonters can achieve the political transformation in the shortest amount of time to break up special interest groups and lobbyists.
Here in Vermont, those interest groups are stalling the transformation of our energy systems. The needed transformation will end the business-as-usual emissions and provide all of us a path to maintaining global warming below 1.5 degrees C. If you think what you’re seeing with warmer temperatures is of concern, just hold onto your hat as we reach a 2 degree C increase!
We must save our Vermont democracy in understanding the root cause of the problem and let the people organize now. Vermont Proud is about seeing strong small steps forward but lots of them. For example, we during this 2022 summer can have our governor declare that all 251 towns will mow town greens with non-fossil fuel mowers, be it a rider electric mower, a good old hand push blade mower or sheep.
This is Vermont Proud’s small steps forward. Since we’re at it, the governor needs to declare that Vermont will build a shipyard now to create, in record time, non fossil fuel ferries for Lake Champlain and beyond. This is not a pipe dream but jobs for Vermonters.
Again a small step in removing fossil fuels from Lake Champlain and for all Vermonters to feel proud in our struggle to maintain below 1.5 degree C.
What else? You can run as a Vermont independent candidate this 2022 political cycle. Good luck to you younger folks, many of us older folks will do our best in supporting your struggle for the pursuit of Vermont Proud happiness.
Mason Wade, Rochester
