We should add that you need something better to do with your life then tell others they need to do something different with their lives.

And you're correct - "censor", not "censure" ... although censure sure as hell fits too.

[Edit] And what is "shitposting" about explaining how folks can use Reddit? That's a very strange approach.[/Edit]

Vermont provides some really good family opportunities regardless gay or straight. Vermont is an overwhelmingly accepting place, but be aware that like any other place there are the haters - but you'll get community support to overcome them.

Williamstown or Northfield. The Paine Mountain School District is great, Northfield has a fun, small downtown, and Williamstown provides more open space [edit] for home construction[/edit].

I live in Williamstown - been here for almost 31 years. It's been a great fit for the family and me. Daughter is putting up a new home just up the road from my place.

Stay on the paved roads. You'll be showing up in the prime mud season, which also means the no outdoors thing will work for you.

What are your particular interests? Vermont offers a lot of indoor activities including water theme parks, restaurants, night life/musical entertainment and a lot more. Small towns offer quite a bit but on a more subdued tone.

I am going to posit here that this FTX topic is indeed an important Vermont story of ongoing importance, and part of that argument goes to my refrain regarding no magical borders to protect Vermont.

I picked that "no magic borders" up as a concept and phrase through discussions regarding Vermont's sales taxes. It was one of those phrases that I heard from those folks who pointed out how a higher sales tax on one side of the Connecticut River would result in more business for the other side where a sales tax didn't even exist. (Yes, Vermont and New Hampshire)

The massively corrupting influence of big money in ALL of our politics, just like the sales tax, knows no magical borders that will protect us.

You can shut me out all you want. I honestly couldn't care. But don't shut out the corruption of big money in our politics. (And yeah - if you've reached this point - I've won, because you'll remember the big money out of politics thing.)

Rama's take: it is a Vermont story, and it is an important story for Vermont.

I'm happy to interact. In fact that's why I post and comment.

This subreddit was in the top 5% of numbers well before I came along. I didn't make this sub, and I don't mod it. At any time folks can down vote my stuff into a single, pathetic little line that let's one know somebody posted something there. Hell, the mods can boot me out.

This isn't my place.

Just don't expect me or even yourself to respond to comments who's only value is to express dissatisfaction with the poster.

Yes, I think.

And therefore, some might add, I exist.

Your point is?????

I think "corrupt politicians" is referring to specific individuals; and "corrupt politics" refers to the system we all, corrupt politician or otherwise, inhabit.

So the prior is individual centered and the later is system centered.

You ARE finding out the details.

I have seen ZERO evidence that Balint acted or would have acted in any way corrupt regardless the exposure of the FTX cash.

Your statements of fact if asked as questions would make fair questions that demand answers. You gratuitous assertion of fact regard Balint and her motivations truly demand you go back and find answers to the questions.

But that's just my opinion.

I didn't even imply what you seem to be claiming.

I did state that this story's line is about money corrupting our politics and not any specific elected official. I don't know the list of the political campaigns that have been caught up in this sordid affair, but according to any press reports I've read, that list is long and all across the political spectrums.

Should the Balint campaign finances be called to account? Absolutely, and as far as I know that is what is occurring - with the ready participation of Balint. I feel comfortable believing that if something untoward shows up, the Vermont press will be reporting on specifics.

But I think this story is more about the forest then the trees. We need to be aware of the influence that money has in our political system and how that system actively encourages corrupted/corruptable people to get in to elected office.

The sophistication I'm referring to is the dark money side of things ... all those bucks that show up with no direct personal accountability. Those reporting dates are common knowledge too, but they're not designed to allow folks to get around public reporting.

My point is a sophisticated process would have removed the names of FTX and individuals several organizational donations before it hit Vermont's market with, yes, perfect timing. Remember - FTX and associated people are being prosecuted for the WAY they gave, not for WHEN they gave, and that is the disclosure I'm referring to.

As far as money in politics goes? Back to the post's introductory point. This is a systemic problem that can be fixed.

The only reason we know about the FTX money is because those guys were very unsophisticated regards avoiding disclosure. They were trying to act too fast.

Billions of dollars "finds" its way into our common politics every year. There are thousands of FTXs out there who have found the legal avenues of corrupting our politics and politicians.

It's that "systemic" thing, ya' know?

The above statement, IMO, is the single best description I've heard read of what happened in the 2022 VT Democratic Party primary.

>"Have you ever wanted to tell a robot what to do using your own words,
like you would to a human? Wouldn’t it be amazing to just tell your home
assistant robot: 'Please warm up my lunch,' and have it find the
microwave by itself?" the researchers ask.

To which I answer a loud NO. Here's my take on my thoughts regarding having something or somebody else doing our routine, dull, boring, daily tasks: The thing I enjoy most about life is living it - why would I want somebody or something else living my life for me?

Why would you shoot them?

I hate Socratic arguments, so I'll skip to what I see as a major flaw in your reaction: you're willing to shoot and kill somebody simply because you don't recognize them.

A day is 24 hours, right?

It's satirical irony you bunch of dumb bunnies.

I find that to be an interesting take from someone who not only read what I wrote, but felt the need talk/write so others would listen/read. Perhaps you would care to elucidate a bit?

I'm not a "drive by" poster - I've participated in a number of conversations within this subreddit, and I certainly don't waste my time insulting other posters just for the sake of insulting other posters.

Vermont has a system that allows for state-wide school choice for high school grades, so your place of living may not have to be determined by where you want to go to school. I'm not an expert so ... call the Vermont Department of Education and ask them about high school choice. You will also want to check local school district policies of the place you live if it is separate from where you want to attend HS.

So short answer: call VT Dept of ED and ask about public high school choice.

It's okay, they're stuck with thinking about what I wrote.

Sure, that's what they DO say, but is it real?

Whatever your views of their politics, that is your view which you are as entitled to hold as they are theirs. What they have never done is instigate violence against others or a violent, riotous coup on 01/06/21 that that almost succeeded.

I can and do and will always work with and around others with who I have some fundamental disagreements. One of the hard lines I draw is at violence in favor of democracy.

So, the GOP would say "the squald". What would you say?

Only one major political party in the United States is currently:

- Actively removing non-preferred history and science from our children's education

- Actively forcing preferred religion into our public interactions

- Actively forcing us to accept more deadly guns on our streets

- Actively insisting on more uses for those deadly guns in our social and political interactions

- Actively undermining our democratic institutions, processes and values

- Actively refusing to do anything that might be remotely in any way sorta kinda confused with working with President Biden

- and more

And it's you again too!

Here's an added part to that coat of arms. The tree that provided the model for the state seal was sliced up and distributed around the state. I don't know where all the pieces are, but I do know the Williamstown Historical Society has one.

Act 250 does not now and never has halted development. It has slowed development down from time to time, but that's the worst (or maybe the best) of it.

Local zoning is the governmental culprit.

But the biggest culprit is actually our economic system of rewards. I'm 100% pro-free enterprise and a very loosely controlled economy; but this current version that we call "capitalism" is killing us all - literally. And housing is only a part of that.

We don't have a lack of easy and quick to develop properties. The major problem is that some segments of society have so much extra cash, they can and do buy up for their own personal pleasure the very resources others need to live. This statement is about cause and effect and is not meant to cast moral stones.

But we can't do much about the macro-economics. We have to deal with the symptoms the best we can. So I'd start with tax policy aimed at discouraging non-home steading type house buying and absentee landlords.