While I am not American, I have done my research and I know that as far as politics is concerned, Vermont is the greatest state to live in the US. If I ever thought about becoming American, I'd live in Vermont. Vermont from what I see is the most progressive state in the US. Let's look at the facts: It is the only state with multi-party politics. Their state legislature has the significant third party presence: the Vermont Progressive Party plus 4 independents. They don't have the strict ballot access laws other states have so sometimes people have up to 8 candidates to choose from on election day. They have an Independent Senator who is not afraid to call himself 'Socialist'. So Vermont is the only state free from the two party duopoly. The Vermont Progressive Party is interesting in one way: they often run on Democratic party primaries. Once nominated, they cancel out the Democratic party candidacy. So instead of smaller parties stepping back to support the bigger party and the lesser of two evils like in many states, The big party has to step aside and endorse the third party candidate! By doing this the Progressives force the Democrats of Vermont to stick to principles and not become corporate sellouts or risk losing more seats to Progressives. With all of that said, let's look at more reasons why I love Vermont: It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the US, I read from the Progressive Party website that they have adopted single payer heathcare, it is the only state that George Bush never visited when he was President due to his lack of popularity in the state (the town council of Brattlboro even suggested arresting him should he set foot there) and it's generally a beautiful place with a good standard of living. I understand that Vermont used to be one of the most Republican states in the US but that was before the Republican party of today. I also read of how historically Vermont tends to go against national trends politically. Well it has served them well because they chose a better way of doing things compared to the rest of the country. So can anyone concur and give me more reasons to love Vermont? Or alternatively could some right wingers tell me how miserable people are there? Or can two-party system supporters tell me why Vermont's model of multi-party politics is so terrible?
I agree. Vermont is awesome! It's a beautiful state. And it's the most liberal state we have, including their gun laws. Colder than a well digger's ass in the winter though. And the real estate is expensive. My net retirement income, after taxes and health insurance is deducted, comes to about 3K a month. So moving there would be a bit tight.
Well I just checked Zillow and found a house in Burlington comparable to the one I have here in Florida. But the price is between two and three times as much as I could expect to get for mine. So if I sold my house here, which I own outright, I would be able to put maybe a third down on a place in Vermont and have a substantial mortgage nut to pay every month. So basically my relocation options are limited to low cost of living Red State Hell Holes where the "Good Jobs" are at the Piggly Wiggly. Sucks.
Thanks for that information. I'll keep that in mind if I ever consider moving to the States. But even so it must be Vermont or Canada. I hate the two-party system and neo-liberal economics (the polar opposite to communism) so much, there is no other place I'd want to live in the States.
