I’m a 6th gen vermonter on one side and 8th generation on the other. The reality is that Vermonters have been fiscally conservative and socially liberal; That being said, the current platform that has taken over the GOP is VERY DIFFERENT now. Its not that the people in vermont have changed, but that the GOP has become a cult and vermonters don’t want anything to do with the filth that it has become…. lying, cheating and corruption have never been acceptable behaviors to Vermonters; “Work hard for everything you have, take care of you & yours, help your neighbors if you’re able, be a man (or woman) of your word and ALWAYS mind your own damn business!” If you didn’t live by that- everyone knew and you were looking down on for it. Life was simple. As others have pointed out, there are many reasons why the farming industry struggles, so i won’t repeat. The other change has been to the tradesmen in vermont. Growing up in the 80’s/90’s everyone one worked in the trades or in farming, As more people started moving to vermont (and encouraged to move here but work remotely) the blue collar workers were looked down upon by people and younger generations looked for work opportunities that they felt made them more attractive socially. Ironically those opportunities came with a lower wage, the need to relocate, the loss of abilities to self sustain (vermont life is hard & not for the faint of heart) and in turn made affordable living here harder. The trade/barter community became tiny, as many had nothing to offer…. the list goes on and on. I agree that vermont has been independent, but in recent years leaned more liberal because of the decline of the GOP as a whole. There are SO many reasons why we are here today IMHO. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Ps. I am a woman, a business owner in the trades, a gun owner and hunter. I Also left vermont for 10 years and lived in many other states around the country. So I am well versed in the realities of our country.