[Sept. 2006] IN
ORDER TO GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES LIVIN’ MAGAZINE ASKED:“What
does Livin’ the Vermont Way mean to you?” Mark
Shepard, CANDIDATE
FOR U. S. HOUSE (R)A reporter recently pointed out that
not since before the Civil War has Vermont
elected a U.S. Senator who was not born in Vermont and asked me if I thought it
mattered. The short answer is “no.” However it is very important that those
people we elect understand, respect and work to preserve the traditions that
have made Vermont
the special place it is.
Before I elaborate, I happen to be a
native Vermonter, born in Windsor,
in 1960. My dad and grandfather were born in the same room in the same
farmhouse in Hartland, just across the dirt road from where I was raised. This
is where I gained my appreciation for Vermont
traditions and character–independence, an industrious work ethic, ingenuity and
actively working the lands through farming and forestry. We have a tremendous
heritage of producing independent, industrious and innovative people; yet we
are always ready to help a neighbor in crisis.
This kind of character brings to mind
an event in our history. Nancy Bazilchuk wrote on the aftermath of the 1927
flood that decimated over 1400 bridges. She stated that “[Vermont] did something it had never done before:
It borrowed money, and it accepted help from Washington.” Under such dire circumstances,
with flood damages estimated at $100 million, Vermont accepted $2.6 million in federal
aid.
What a sad contrast to today, where
more often than not our elected state officials, led by my opponent for
Congress, first priority is to hold out their hands for more and more federal
money as a means to expand our state government.
During the 1990’s Vermont State
hired expert consultants to develop programs based on leveraging federal money.
This greatly expanded the services provided by our state government, while
hiding the real cost of these programs from the Vermont taxpayer. The result is that we have become so
dependent on Washington
that every time the federal government sneezes, Vermont catches a cold.
Understanding the very real tragedy
that comes with being over dependent on government is key to strengthening our
state and nation. The hurricane destruction in New Orleans clearly exposed the despair that
results when people are over dependent on government and cannot help themselves
or their neighbors.
For a more secure future, it is
imperative that Vermont
returns to our independent and industrious ways and elect leaders that will
work for opportunity for Vermonters, not dependency on Washington.
|
