Vermont is a famously tough place to do business. Take it from someone who does business here and knows. But, a sclerotic economy is not some dirty trick of fate.
High taxes and burdensome regulation are not naturally occurring
events, which people must endure like earthquakes and floods. They are
the result of human decisions and (here comes the good news) they are
reversible. The bad news, however, is that the people who raised the
taxes and imposed the regulations are not, generally, the ones most
likely to make the reforms necessary to promote growth and bring
prosperity.
But it can be done and has been done in, for instance, Ireland. Is
being done in, for example, Estonia. And if Estonia can do it,
certainly Vermont can.
The abiding theme of our work at vermonttiger.com is that growth is
good and that it can be cultivated, much like a garden. Government is
notoriously bad at picking economic winners but it can create an
economic environment where competition flourishes and economic winners
emerge. Sadly, Vermont has been busy erecting obstacles to growth and
often seems content to sit back and admire its handiwork.
The state needs to liberate its inner Estonia and Mr. Volk has a plan:
Vermont must begin with a "can do" culture within the various branches and levels of state government that supports a predictable regulatory process to allow for the growth of compatible businesses and an affordable housing stock; a realistic plan for our energy future built upon clean, reliable, and affordable energy sources; a plan for managing education spending without adversely affecting the quality of our student's education; an education delivery system that provides every Vermonter with adequate preparation for the 21st century; and statewide broadband coverage to knit the pieces together. Though we spend an inordinate amount of timing publicly talking about these issues, we have relatively little to show in terms of real progress on these matters. And, the clock is ticking.
Comments