Geography and Climate: Green Mountains, Lake Champlain

Understanding Vermont:

Size and landscape:

• 45th largest state:
  • 9,616 square miles
  • Population: 647,000 (49th—only Wyoming smaller, second-least populous)
  • Density: 68 people/square mile (30th—rural, 61% forested)
• Geography:
  • Green Mountains: Spine north-south (ski resorts Stowe/Killington/Sugarbush, Long Trail 273 miles oldest hiking trail U.S. 1930, Mount Mansfield 4,393 feet highest)
  • Lake Champlain: Western border (120 miles—sixth-largest freshwater U.S., Burlington waterfront, ferries New York, Champ monster legend Loch Ness Vermont)
  • Connecticut River Valley: Eastern border (New Hampshire—agricultural, White River Junction, Brattleboro)
  • Northeast Kingdom: Remote northeast (Orleans, Essex, Caledonia counties—poorest, most rural, conservative, Appalachia North, logging/farming)
• No major cities: Burlington 45,000 largest (metro 220,000—one-third state, only "city" really town)
• Covered bridges: 100+ preserved (iconic—Woodstock, Stowe, Instagram tourism)

Regional divide:

Chittenden County (Burlington dominance):

• Population: 170,000 (26% state—Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski)
• Economy: University of Vermont (14,000 students—largest employer 5,000, medical school, research), Burton Snowboards (headquarters—Jake Burton founded 1977, snowboard capital), tech startups (small but growing), tourism (Lake Champlain, Church Street)
• Culture: Progressive bastion (Bernie Sanders mayor 1981-1989—socialist, housing co-ops, community land trust, waterfront revitalization, livable city awards)
• Cost: Median home $550,000 (Burlington—second homes drive, UVM faculty/professionals, out-of-staters)
• Politics: Deep blue (80% Biden—students, academics, transplants)

Ski towns (Stowe, Killington, Manchester):

• Economy: Tourism ($1.5 billion winter—skiing, summer hiking/biking, Ben & Jerry's factory Waterbury 500,000 visitors)
• Culture: Wealthy second homes ($1-5 million—NYC/Boston weekenders, Stowe especially elite), service workers priced out
• Cost: Median $600,000+ Stowe (locals commute 30+ miles Morrisville/Johnson)

Northeast Kingdom (forgotten):

• Population: 65,000 (10% state—Orleans, Essex, Caledonia counties)
• Economy: Logging, farming (dairy collapse—1,000 farms 1990s to 600 now, milk prices unsustainable), poverty
• Poverty: 15% (Appalachia North—opioid crisis, limited opportunities, young flee)
• Culture: Conservative (Trump +10-15% counties—resent Burlington/flatlanders, "real Vermont" claim)
• Cost: Median $220,000 (cheapest—but no jobs)

Climate (harsh winters):

Burlington:

• Summer: 75-80°F (perfect—Lake Champlain breeze, short season July/August)
• Winter: 15-30°F (brutal—snow 80 inches, January average 17°F, heating oil $3,000-4,000 annually, six-month winter November-April)

Mountains:

• Summer: 70-75°F (cool elevation—hiking paradise)
• Winter: 5-25°F (coldest—snow 150+ inches ski resorts, -20°F not uncommon)

Northeast Kingdom:

• Summer: 75-80°F
• Winter: 10-25°F (harshest—isolated, poverty heating costs devastating)

Severe weather:

• Snow: 80-150 inches (annual threat—nor'easters, lake-effect)
• Ice storms: Crippling (1998—three weeks no power, trees destroyed)
• Flooding: Tropical storms (Irene 2011—$750 million damage, roads washed out, towns isolated weeks)

Bernie Sanders: Socialist Icon, Vermont Transformation

Understanding Sanders phenomenon:

Burlington mayor (1981-1989):

Election: 10-vote victory (1981—beat six-term incumbent, Socialist shocking, grassroots coalition students/working-class)

Policies: Progressive Housing Trust (community land trust—permanently affordable housing, 2,500+ units created model nationally), waterfront revitalization (public access versus condos—fought developers, bike path, parks), city-owned TV station (public media—Channel 17 community access)

Legacy: Transformed Burlington (livable city awards—progressive policies worked, proof socialism viable)

Congress/Senate (1991-present):

House: 16 years (1991-2007—independent socialist caucused Democrats, amendment king bipartisan bills)

Senate: 2007-present (Vermont—independent but committee seniority, healthcare advocate, Wall Street critic)

Presidential runs:

2016: Hillary upset (23 states won—Michigan shock, "political revolution" inspired millennials, Medicare for All, free college tuition, Wall Street regulation, $27 average donation grassroots, DNC rigged alleged superdelegates)

2020: Front-runner briefly (Iowa/New Hampshire/Nevada wins—heart attack October 2019 survived, moderate consolidation Biden South Carolina Super Tuesday crushed)

Impact Vermont:

Political culture: Shifted blue (Vermont Republican 1856-1992 except LBJ 1964—Sanders/Dean progressive transformation, now bluest state 70% Biden 2020)

Policy influence: Single-payer healthcare attempted (Governor Shumlin 2011-2014—abandoned costs, but tried), $15 minimum wage, marijuana legalization 2018

Criticism:

Effectiveness: "Amendment king" but few bills passed (rhetoric versus results debate—inspired movement but legislation minimal)

Wealth: Millionaire ($3 million—book deals "Our Revolution," lakefront home, ironic socialist critique)

Vermont fit: Whitest state 94% (socialism appeals white progressives—POC skeptical, South Carolina 2020 revealed)

Ben & Jerry's: Ice Cream Activism

Understanding Ben & Jerry's model:

Founding (1977):

Ben Cohen/Jerry Greenfield: Childhood friends (Penn Yan NY—$5 correspondence course ice cream, gas station Burlington, $12,000 startup)

First flavor: 1978 (homemade—chunky texture Ben anosmia no smell compensated texture, Free Cone Day annual)

Growth: 1980s explosion (Cherry Garcia 1987 Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia—most popular, Chunky Monkey, New York Super Fudge Chunk, quirky names)

Social mission:

3-part mission: Product, economic, social (stated 1988—profits fund activism, progressive causes, ingredient sourcing Fair Trade)

Causes: Environment (climate change, renewable energy—solar panels factory), racial justice (Colin Kaepernick "Change the Whirled" flavor 2020—NFL kneeling support), LGBTQ+ rights, criminal justice reform, campaign finance

Ingredient sourcing: Fair Trade (Certified—cocoa, coffee, vanilla, sugar, farmer premiums), cage-free eggs, rBGH-free dairy (hormones)

Unilever acquisition (2000):

Sold: $326 million (Ben/Jerry—independent board maintained social mission contract, criticism "sold out" but founders aging)

Current: Unilever subsidiary (maintains activism—Trump "Pecan Resist" 2018, Black Lives Matter support, but corporate ownership tension)

Factory tourism:

Waterbury: 500,000 visitors annually (tours $5—production viewing, Flavor Graveyard discontinued flavors headstones, samples, gift shop, top Vermont attraction)

Criticism:

Hypocrisy: Corporate owned (activism genuine but Unilever conglomerate—greenwashing debate)

Calories: Pint 1,000+ calories (health irony—progressive causes but obesity contributor)

Vermont gentrification: Brand attracts wealthy (drives costs—Ben & Jerry's Vermont identity prices out locals)

Progressive Policies: Environmental Leader

Understanding Vermont progressivism:

Billboard ban (1968):

Only state: Banned billboards (Alaska/Hawaii/Maine restrictions—Vermont strictest, scenic beauty protected, Lady Bird Johnson Highway Beautification Act 1965 inspired)

Enforcement: Strict (grandfathered signs removed, fines, tourism/aesthetics priority)

Act 250 (1970):

Land-use law: Strictest nationally (development permit required 10+ acres or 10+ units—environmental review, traffic, water, aesthetics, wildlife, "undue adverse effect" blocked)

Impact: Preserved character (limited sprawl—Walmart fought decade Williston 1993 approved conditions, chain stores restricted downtowns)

Criticism: Housing shortage (permitting years—drives costs, NIMBYism, workforce housing impossible)

Single-payer healthcare (attempted):

Green Mountain Care: 2011 Shumlin (single-payer—universal coverage, tax-funded, 2014 abandoned costs $2.5 billion taxes 11.5% payroll politically impossible)

Lessons: Vermont tried (failed but effort—national model attempted, Medicare for All Sanders references)

Marijuana legalization (2018):

First legislature: Legalized recreational (Vermont first state legislature not ballot—possession/growing legal, sales 2022, dispensaries regulated)

GMO labeling (2016):

First state: Mandatory labels (genetically modified—food industry sued, federal law 2016 preempted Vermont, but led national)

Renewable energy:

75% goal 2032: Ambitious (currently 65%—hydro Quebec imports, solar, wind, biomass, fossil fuel phase-out)

Cost of Living: Highest New England, Crushing Locals

Vermont expenses:

Housing (crisis):

Burlington:

• Median: $550,000 (UVM faculty, out-of-staters, second homes—locals priced out)

Stowe/Killington:

• Median: $600,000-1 million+ (ski resort wealthy—NYC/Boston second homes, service workers commute 30+ miles)

Brattleboro/Montpelier:

• Median: $320,000-380,000 (cheaper—but still unaffordable median income $65,000)

Northeast Kingdom:

• Median: $220,000 (cheapest—but poverty 15%, no jobs)

Taxes (highest New England):

• Income tax: 3.35%-8.75% (progressive—highest bracket kicks $204,000)
• Sales tax: 6% + 9% meals/lodging (groceries/clothing exempt—but restaurant tax high tourists)
• Property tax: 1.83% average ($390,000 home = $7,137/year or $595/month—education funding, highest New England)

Daily costs:

• Groceries: 10-12% above national (limited competition—Hannaford, Shaw's, food deserts rural)
• Heating oil: $3,000-4,000 annually (winter brutal—68% homes oil heat, prices volatile)
• Gas: $3.30-3.80/gallon
• Dining: Burlington $15-20 lunch, $30-50 dinner (farm-to-table premium)

Overall verdict:

• Total: 15-20% above national (crushing locals—median income $65,000 can't afford $390,000 homes)
• Exodus: Young people flee (no jobs, costs, aging crisis—workforce shortage)

Living in Vermont: Who Fits?

Who thrives:

Wealthy retirees:

• Second homes: Stowe/Manchester ($1-5 million—skiing, summer beauty, progressive politics comfortable)

Remote workers:

• COVID influx: NYC/Boston salaries ($150,000+—Vermont costs manageable, Starlink internet rural)

UVM faculty/students:

• Burlington: Academic community (14,000 students, faculty—livable city, progressive)

Bernie fans:

• Progressive paradise: Single state elected socialist (values align—environmentalism, social justice)

Outdoor enthusiasts:

• Skiing: Stowe/Killington (world-class East—Long Trail hiking, mountain biking)

Small business owners:

• Localism: Supported (farmer's markets, craft breweries 50+ per capita most U.S., buy local culture)

Who struggles:

Working-class Vermonters:

• Priced out: Gentrification (median home $390,000—$50,000 service jobs impossible, multi-generational lost homes)

Young families:

• Exodus: No jobs (limited economy—tourism/dairy/logging, educated flee Boston/NYC, brain drain)

Service workers:

• Ski towns: Unaffordable (Stowe workers commute 30+ miles—$600,000 median, $40,000 wages, math impossible)

Northeast Kingdom:

• Poverty: 15% (opioid crisis, aging, isolation—forgotten, timber/dairy collapsed)

Conservatives:

• Politics: Powerless (Burlington decides—70% Biden statewide, rural 30% Trump insufficient)

Those needing diversity:

• Whitest state: 94% (POC 6%—Burlington refugees limited, homogenous, uncomfortable many)

Winter-haters:

• Six months: November-April (brutal—80-150 inches snow, -20°F, heating $3,000-4,000, seasonal depression)

Vermont offers progressive values for specific populations—Bernie Sanders socialists (mayor Burlington 1981-1989, senator 1991-present, Medicare for All icon), wealthy retirees (second homes Stowe/Manchester $1-5 million skiing/beauty), remote workers (COVID influx NYC/Boston $150,000+ salaries afford), outdoor enthusiasts (Green Mountains Stowe/Killington world-class East skiing, Long Trail 273 miles hiking), and environmentalists (billboard ban 1968 only state, Act 250 strictest land-use, GMO labeling first 2016). Ben & Jerry's activism ice cream (Waterbury factory 500,000 visitors, Fair Trade ingredients), fall foliage Route 100 scenic, Burlington livable city Lake Champlain appeal to those accepting crushing costs (median home $390,000 but Burlington $550,000+—second homes drive, property taxes $6,500 average highest New England, heating oil $3,000-4,000 winters brutal six months), rural poverty (Northeast Kingdom 15%, opioid crisis 16 deaths per 100,000, dairy collapse 1,000 to 600 farms), population crisis (647,000 smallest New England, aging 20% over 65 fastest nationally, young flee jobs/costs, schools closing), political dominance (Burlington 70% Biden decides, rural conservatives powerless), and recognition wealthy flatlanders Massachusetts/New York transformed Vermont unaffordable natives. Whitest state 94% (homogenous). For the right person, Vermont progressive paradise, mountain beauty justify costs. For working-class natives, gentrification priced out home state.

Vermont works for wealthy progressives/remote workers accepting locals priced out understanding Bernie's Vermont different reality struggling service workers dairy farmers forgotten Northeast Kingdom.