NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT9BDItae94
I have to admit, although I have said I will never agree with any US politician (at least except FDR), I have indeed found one US politician whom I admire.

Vermont, I don't know anything about you, but you must be the best state in America.

Vermont's not bad. It's not all that great, either, but it's not bad. It's one of the poorest states in the country, mostly rural, mostly struggling with real estate issues (land being pretty much its only asset at this time). The winter will kick your ass brutally, all day, every day, for half the year. But it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet -- even the winter is gorgeous while it kicks your ass. And the food is good.

Above all, Vermont is one of the most politically independent states you'll find. It was not one of the original US states after the revolution. Rather, it was an independent republic for a very brief time, and the people there have always kind of held onto the option to go back to that, you know, at the back of their minds. Vermont is full of secessionists. As a result, Vermonters will vote however the hell they damned well please, and the major parties can go screw themselves if they don't like it. They don't even care very much what party the pols they do vote for belong to -- they only care about the work they do and the results they get. This is why they were perfectly okay with "Jeezum" Jim Jeffords switching party alliance in the middle of a term, in protest against the Republican party line, and why Bernie Sanders has been the only Socialist in the US Congress for a couple of decades now. I must say, by his voting record, I think Sanders does a good job representing the people of Vermont in the nation's business.

I lived in Vermont for 6 years. I would be happy to go back there, if I could figure out how to make a living in that place. (It's a poor state for a reason, but man, it's really pretty.)

I'd heard about him. Thank goodness for his voice in the Senate!