Opinions

By Bill Schubart Editor’s note: Bill Schubart is a retired businessman and active fiction writer, and was a former chair of the Vermont Journalism Trust, the parent organization for VTDigger.  The latest statewide count for unsheltered Vermonters is 3,458, a nearly 5% increase over 2023, the second highest rate in the country, and this is deemed…

Dear Editor,  As a resident of St. Johnsbury, I regularly hike up Observatory Knob. A half mile from my home, I get to walk through woods and meadows to a summit with panoramic views. The 117-acre conserved land features forests, open fields, and benches to rest — just a short walk from where people live.…

Dear Editor, A thriving, prosperous state is a goal that all Vermonters can agree to. That goal is easier to achieve with a growing population. More people means a larger selection of workers for businesses, government, and non-profits. It means more people earning incomes, supporting local businesses, and paying taxes to support government programs—many of…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the publisher of the Addison Independent, as sister paper of the Mountain Times.  Early statewide conversations on school funding and housing offer some hope that progress on these two crucial issues will finally occur. In his inaugural speech, Gov. Phil Scott hinted his administration will actually put…

Dear Editor, The new vice-chair of Senate Natural Resources, Terry Williams, kicked off the legislative session with a rude and dismissive response to a constituent’s concerns about trapping. A constituent wrote Williams a polite, lengthy email outlining various concerns with trapping—Williams’ response: “Get over it...” Sure, Williams lists trapping as one of his recreational pastimes on the Legislature’s…

By Miro Weinberger Editor’s note: Miro Weinberger is a former mayor of Burlington (2012-2024) and a former affordable housing developer. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center. Abundant housing is the cornerstone of an affordable, vibrant, and inclusive Vermont. Yet today, that vision of our beloved state is at risk…

Dear Editor, Dreaded diseases that we have forgotten about because vaccines have eliminated them are threatening to return. Along with public health and sanitation efforts, vaccines are the single most lifesaving interventions in the history of medicine. Before vaccines, 10% of infants were dying of what are now preventable diseases; 30%-40% of children did not…

Dear Editor, Since the November election, many Vermont Democrats have been reflecting on the results and lessons learned. To some, a significant problem was messaging. A funny thing about Democrats is that we often can’t stop explaining everything. “If only we could explain [insert idea/program/policy here] in a way that people could really understand, they…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison Independent, a sister paper of the Mountain Times.  In a written statement released the opening day of the 2025 legislative session and a day ahead of his fifth inaugural address, Gov. Phil Scott encouraged Vermont residents to watchdog the Legislature…

Before Apple Play and phone navigation apps, we had a Garmin (we referred to it as Gladys) to help us with directions to unfamiliar destinations. If we made a wrong turn, Gladys would start saying, “Recalculating...”To make it more annoying, Gladys would keep repeating it until we got back on track. The message was clear:…

Dear Editor,  More than any post-election period that I can recall, Vermonters remain heavily engaged since November’s election. So engaged that many want to know why the problems highlighted on Nov. 5 haven’t already been fixed: education property taxes, housing affordability and availability, healthcare costs, public safety, and the Clean Heat Standard.  This urgency, like…

Dear Editor, As we welcome the New Year, many Vermonters set resolutions to build new skills, improve their health, or spend more time with loved ones. This year, let’s add a resolution that really pays off: saving for retirement. Saving for retirement can be daunting, especially for Vermonters living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to…

By Amy Spear and Megan Sullivan Editor’s note: Amy Spear, Killington, is the president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Megan Sullivan, Chittenden, is the vice president of government affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce outlines its legislative priorities with one focus in mind: creating the conditions…

Dear Editor, Thanks to G. Gregory Hughes for his Dec. 18 letter, “The dictates of conscience in Vermont.” Mr. Hughes identifies a fundamental flaw in our laws: they allow spending tax money on religious schools. He also suggests a sensible solution to the problem: eliminating state expenditures on all private or religious schools. To paraphrase…

Dear Editor, As we think about the new year, we often ponder the positive changes we want to make for ourselves, but why stop there? Remember your furry companions: you can make many easy resolutions to bring you happiness and enrich your pets’ lives. Just like us, pets need regular exercise to stay healthy. Do…