By Cathy Davis Vermont understands sustainability in a way few other places do. Whether it be our agrarian roots, living closer to natural resources, or something else, it is hard to find a Vermonter who does not intrinsically understand that the environment or natural systems have a carrying capacity, that resources are finite, and that…

Dear Editor, I felt it was vitally important to let Rutland City residents know where I stand on this issue. For background, while I attended Mt. Saint Joseph Academy, my mother and three siblings attended Rutland High School. From the beginning, I have been disturbed by how this issue has been handled — particularly in…

Dear Editor, Serving as a school board member can be a thankless undertaking. The hours take you away from your family. The issues sometimes can put you at odds with your friends and neighbors. Financial reward? Forget about it. Despite what may sound like an unappealing package, residents of our community step forward each year…

Dear Editor, America has become a trashy nation. We are embroiled in trashy politics. We have trashy law enforcement and trashy criminal justice, where the rich and white get better treatment. Our education systems have become trashy, lacking in civics education and focused as they are on low-bar academics. Religion has become trashy because it…

Dear Editor, President Biden is absolutely correct in starting the process to reform the American higher education system. Simply forgiving loans and making higher education “free” is fraught with fundamental issues and will only lead to financial disaster unless tuition reform becomes part of a bigger plan hopefully based perhaps on the extremely successful Swedish…

By Angelo Lynn Last Tuesday, Jan. 26, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott proposed a dream $6.83 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022: It proposed no increase in proposed taxes or fees, it avoided cutting any essential services, and it added $210 million in new investments to bolster the state’s economy. In recent times, that’s unheard of…

Editor's note: this commentary, signed by more than 50 Vermonters, was sent Monday, Jan. 25, to news organizations throughout the state. Vermont is the only state in the nation which has never elected a woman to Congress. Only one woman has served as governor. We have never elected a woman of color to any legislative…

By Matt Krauss With the exit of President Donald Trump isn’t this a perfect time for Vermont media to build a working, mutually beneficial relationship with Vermont conservatives? Covid-19 has permanently transformed our institutions and practices. Aren’t Vermont media’s websites, publications, and programs now routinely and unashamedly asking for survival money? We're told it’s temporary,…

Dear Editor, In 2020 I lost my wife and the mother of my children to Covid. Now Arizona is the hottest spot on the planet for Covid. There is only one way Covid is transported and that is by people, and maybe animals. Stop the flow of people, and you stop Covid. Arizona, and warmer…

Dear Editor, This morning I signed up online for the Covid vaccination being scheduled now for the 75-and-over age group. I offer my experience for those considering the online option. You don’t have to be highly adept at online registration but it helps to be somewhat acquainted with the way online forms work. There is…

Dear Editor, Republicans talk about the Constitution like they know what’s in it. They don’t. Most think the Constitution explicitly demands implementation of their political agenda, things like tax breaks for the rich, freedom from masks, special policing for minority areas, and keeping immigrants out of the country. It doesn’t. There are some things in…

Dear Editor, I’m curious as to why locals were subjected to an inflammatory and poorly written Letter to the Editor [“Take the Vaccine!”] authored by an individual from Woods Cross, Utah, in the Jan. 12-19 edition of the Mountain Times. Of all the other “Letters” to choose from, why this one? Given its lack of…

By Kesha Ram Editor’s note: This commentary is by Sen. Kesha Ram, D-Chittenden, who is the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont state Senate. She is the co-chair of the Vermont Social Equity Caucus. Jan. 6 began with historic election results in Georgia and my own swearing-in to the Vermont state Senate. By…

By Marguerite Jill Dye I never knew I craved normalcy To such an extent, to such a degree. But suddenly, I’m finding myself Heaving sigh after sigh of needed relief.   Your calm, steady voice, and healing words, Spoken directly from your heart, Soothe my soul, calm my nerves, Alleviate headaches and regulate my heart…

Dear Editor, Today we have political Reds and political Blues. One party is out for blood—you can guess which one—and the other is not. We think that the ones out for blood will lose because they are in the minority. But a century ago, in a far away land, there were political Reds and political…