Our Death Grip On Straws

Writing in the Freeps, Governor Douglas declares that a new efficiency program is:

an important indication that Vermont has become a leader in the rapidly expanding global market for environmental products, services and solutions.

and

... a valuable reminder of what can be accomplished in Montpelier when progress prevails over partisanship.

Okay.  We understand that hyperbole is the essential lubricant of electoral politics and that no bill has ever come out of Montpelier that was not magnificent, wise, and guaranteed to make every Vermonter's life even more peachy than it already was.

But there is something a little jarring about the claim that Vermont is a "leader" in any field of commerce or technology.  The notion that:

Our state can be the “Silicon Valley” of environmental commerce, benefiting from a steadily increasing demand for fuel efficiency and environmental services, and creating more and better paying jobs.

seems to fly in the face of certain pedestrian realities.  Namely, if Vermont wants to become a center for environmental -- or any other kind of commerce -- it might first want to make sure that the people necessary to make that happen can find housing.

The Governor is, of course, no dummy.  Ask any of his political adversaries.  He recognizes -- and acknowledged in this article -- that:

We need both a growing economy and healthy environment, for example, to retain and recruit the next generation of skilled employees whose work ethics and sharp minds attract companies that expand and innovate. And by making smart, targeted investments in job creation and our natural environment — and by making health care, home ownership and the tax burden more affordable — our families will prosper.
 

But this session of the legislature will generate no movement, no initiative, on any of those other issues. This bill, which takes effect in 2009, will help make Vermonters' homes and businesses warmer and more efficient ... those that are still here, that is.  But the cold fact is -- to compete, Vermont needs a lot more than a robust non-profit sector doing business in energy efficiency.  We are not going to become the Silicon Valley of anything

...through an increased use of net-metering, changes to farm energy programs and the use of biodiesel in state buildings and vehicle fleet.  
 

Death Valley, maybe.   Silicon Valley, not a chance.

We suspect the Governor understands this and we wish that he would say so. 

Forcefully.

Comments

[Jon Harrison]

Exactly. The governor's been on the public payroll for 35 years. He needs to talk straight to the citizenry if he ever wants to see movement in the legislature. And that goes for his party as well. Time to stop pussyfooting around!

Of course, the politics of 2008 are not shaping up well for the Republicans, but when was the last time it looked good for them in this state, anyway? Better to go down with guns blazing than die a slow death cooperating with the Democrats.

[G. Cross]

Well it appears that you are not too impressed by these slogans, such as "mission accomplished." Maybe "Operation Smooth Ride" will work out better.

[Tom Licata]

Governor Douglas writes:

"Vermont has shown that there is an alternative to the superficial conflict between those who seek economic growth and job creation and those who seek environmental preservation. This third way — the Vermont Way — recognizes that our economy and environment are co-dependent. One cannot thrive without the other. We need both a growing economy and healthy environment..."

There's one minor problem with his "superficial" argument that doesn't hold water: For almost all of this past decade, Vermont has witnessed 0% private-sector job growth.

The Public Assets Institute's "The State of Working Vermont, 2007" reports no net private-sector job growth between the years 2000 - 2006. WCAX recently reported 0% private-sector job growth in 2007. We can assume same for 2008; if not negative.

Montpelier is living in another world; unable to accept reality, much less see it as it is.

Governor Douglas's act- as the little boy who contains our spend-happy legislature by holding his finger in the dike - is getting old.

Leadership means just that; leadership. The kind of platitudes and rhetoric coming from the Governor and most of our legislature is not only disconcerting but downright deceitful.

[Karen Kerin]

Tragically, without inexpensive 24/7 reliable electric power Vermont won't be a leader in anything but poverty and taxes. The vile exertions against Vermont Yankee are an unaffordable affront to everyone. It is a major part of why IBM is leaving us. Solid state equipment does not like the blips in energy delivery. HQ has no love for Vermont and so we are now in the shadow of the overloaded mass distribution system.
Distributed energy generation via proven US Naval designs that have functioned flawlessly would make local ownership possible and a net work of such small nukes would give us the dependable power we need without any new backbone and no power blips. Best yet, they could easily be mutually supporting for any outages without any blips.

[Jack Harding]

Governor Douglas,

Please allow me to say at the outset that any intitiative intended to provide Vermont a niche for growth and innovation needs to be applauded. This is leadership on your part and evidence of progress from an otherwise stalled legislature. While I largely agree with my Tiger colleagues that this is much ado...I must reiterate my sincere sentiment that this may be your first step in the proverbial 10,000 mile journey. Now, let's see if you can work it up to a jog by November.

That said, why cling to your defeatist affordability standard? It says to me that your expectations for success for this program for are so low that, at the extreme, victory will be claimed at the first sign of one new start up company selling environmental services and no real impact on our failing economy will be measured before you retire. Hmmm.....hold that thought.

Anyway, I am an optimist. I will give you one strained attaboy for simply using the vocabulary of innovation and producing ANY legislation intended to create clean durable jobs.

Now, how about that next step. I am waiting to cheer you on, really.

[Green Mtn Punter]

Response to the 'Straws' post and comments by Messrs Harrison, Licata, Harding:

How To Organize VT Republicans To Return To The Majority

(1) Hold a series of Republican Summits to come up with (A) Critique of the last 35 years of Democrat rule and how/why it has failed; and (B) Write the "Contract With Vermont", a bold ten point policy statement on how Republicans will turn the state around and bring renewed hope and opportunity to young Vermonters.

(2) Party leaders announce- and then execute- a bold new plan to organize all 246 cities and towns, the aim being to register and turn out the voters needed to enact the "Contract" agenda in the next election and for the next 2 generations.

(3) Party leaders hire the best, politically experienced marketing and communications people in the business, and organize all county and town chairs, elected officials, and candidates to deliver a consistent daily and weekly "message". The message is simple: The Democrats have had their chance over the past 35 years and they have failed. They failed because they are the captive of special interests inlcuding public employees, environmental and regulatory extremists, the trial lawyers, too many out-of-state special interests, and others which do not reflect the interests of the average VT citizen in 2008. It's time for a bold new approach which only Republicans can deliver.

(4) Party leaders hold press conferences around the state to announce that Republicans will no longer cooperate with Democrats in the next legislature but rather will become the Opposition Party by offering the "Contract With Vermont".

(5) All Republican legislative candidates- and local candidates as well- will run on the "Contract With Vermont" agenda and their campaign message will be this: If you want change in VT, your only hope is to vote a straight Republican ticket in November, from Gov on down to Selectboard.

(6) When Democrat whining begins about those mean old Republicans out to destroy the environment, the Republican party hierarchy, elected officials, and candidates do not concede an inch and respond by counter-attacking even harder. "VT is at the crossroads, voters must choose between us or them" is the message, no more compromises, no more warmed over mush which has only succeeded in digging the hole deeper.

(7) With enough activists spread around the state, i.e., committed activists who have the competitive drive and are in it to win, Republican victories will follow, and in fact it has no chance of happening until the foot soldiers are marching, day in, day out all over the state. The counter-revolution!

(8) VT Tiger and other like-minded blogs, think tanks, etc. can supply the "roar" but it is those volunteers who are willing to get down in the trenches who will actually make the difference.

(9) It is obvious that the Republicans' day in Vermont is once again imminent. The signs are all around us, in the news media, on blogs, and wherever people meet there is a deep concern. Voter patience with the Democrat-Left coalition has run out, and this coalition will crumble when faced with a determined, well led opposition able to communicate a clear message of hope for the future.

(10) So fellow Tigers, Republicans, disaffected Democrats, et al, the time is now! Who is ready, willing, and able to lead this historic movement?

[G. Cross]

Me thinks the "punter's" suggestions have already been tried. It was called CFACR - Vermont Renewal. Check its success rate!

[Green Mtn Punter]

Reply to GC:Whatever happened- or did not happen- before was due to lack of commitment, leadership, and timing. That was then, this is now. When undergoing historic change, you don't realize it is happening until it has happened, and then it is too late to reverse. And besides, once launched, historic change is inevitable and irreversible. GC seems to think that the status quo will never change, just like so many failed regimes in the past, including VT One Party Republicans of 1854- 1962. It is now happening to VT Democrats, they just don't realize it yet. And VT Republicans still haven't woken up to the fact that their time has arrived once again. It's now just a question of time and leadership as to when the majority will be secured- perhaps '10 or '12, '14 at the latest, ushering in a return to VT's natural majority party, her historic majority party, the Republicans.

[GreggB]

I applaud Green Mtn Punter for his enthusiasm. I am however much less optimistic and suggest a different course of action- Conservatives should sell their houses to in-migrating lefties and move somewhere more conducive to making a living. Let VT collapse under the weight of it's own socialism, then if so inclined after the collapse purchase VT assets at fire sale prices and move back. I'm guessing that when the left came to power in VT they may have been a minority but 35 years of rule and VT has self selected a population that largely agrees with the leftist leaders. Or we could start paying lefties not to have children[joke].

All:

Contrary to public opinion and Governor Douglas's "Third Way"; there is a Fourth Way.

Stay tuned...

[Lazarus Long]

GreggB at 11:48
Your idea has real merit. All it takes is a willing buyer for the home. Anybody know what real estate magazines the lefties read?