On May 5, 2016

Vt. nepotism, ethics money and marijuana

Dear Editor,
Vermont is riddled with lobbyists and bad money skills.
Our state is truly suffering from the good ol’ boy club, a.k.a. nepotism. A friend of mine recently turned me onto money trails in Vermont, and it’s a sordid mess. However, our problems are solved by better ethics. A major criterion for ethics grading is being able to follow the money. Vermont earned a D- in Ethics.
Vermont is struggling with accounting and accountability. The Jay Peak EB-5 scandal is the tip of our iceberg. The following was reported on Jay Resort by Anne Galloway of Vermont Digger:
Michael Gibson, a registered financial EB-5 advisor who has written extensively about the immigrant investor program, says that if the state had reviewed the financials from the beginning, “They would have discovered in one hour or less, the misappropriation of funds.”
“This fraud went on almost 10 years, to me that’s unconscionable,” Gibson said.
In business, commingling or misappropriation of funds are highly frowned upon. You can get fired and/or go to jail. Government, however, moves money from one program to another and nobody thinks twice. It’s why Vermont can’t get a handle on our budgets and taxing. It’s almost like a Ponzi scheme.
Legalizing marijuana is an example of nepotism set up by lobbyists; they will set up legalized and protected drug cartels sanctioned by their friends in office. Lobbyists call these cartels cooperatives, but don’t be fooled; all drugs will be sold through select cooperatives and select stores run by…..the lobbyists! Marijuana will be a perfect East Coast monopoly. The governor wants this passed at any cost, all pushed by lobbyists who helped draft the bills! As a token response to public outcry, Vermont throws a bone: you can grow two plants for $150.
We’ll find similar nepotism protections and money mismanagement in other areas of our state.Typically these are found in protected markets, overseen by the lobbyists and state. Healthcare, liquor sales, lottery, education, windmill and solar panel companies are to name a few.
The Green Mountain Party wants to raise our Vermont Ethics to an A+.
Come help us make a difference.
Neil Johnson, Waitsfield, founding officers of the Green Mountain Party

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

The public reality of private schools

June 25, 2025
Dear Editor, In their June 13 commentary, “The Achilles’ heel of Vermont education reform,” the Friends of Vermont Public Education state that, “Since the early 1990s, we have been operating two parallel educational systems — public and private.” The organization calls upon the Vermont Legislature to create “one unified educational system,” arguing that, “The current…

Alternative steps for true education reform

June 25, 2025
By Jim Lengel Editor’s note: Jim Lengel, of Duxbury and Lake Elmore, started teaching in Vermont in 1972, worked for the state board of education for 15 years, and retired back in Vermont after helping schools all over the world improve the quality of teaching and learning. Our executive and legislative branches have failed during…

Protect SNAP—because no Vermonter should go hungry

June 25, 2025
Dear Editor, As a longtime anti-hunger advocate, a former SNAP recipient, and a proud Vermonter, I am deeply alarmed by proposals moving through Congress that would gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known here in Vermont as 3SquaresVT. If passed, these cuts would devastate thousands of families across the Green Mountain State that rely…

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of H.454

June 25, 2025
By Sen. Ruth Hardy Editor’s note: Ruth Hardy, of East Middlebury, represents Addison County in the Vermont Senate. She wrote the following reflection (originally posted at ruthforvermont.com) on voting “no” on H.454, the eduction transformation reform bill that passed last week.  On Monday, June 16, the Legislature passed H.454, the education transformation bill that was…