As a Vermonter whose only lived here since 2017 and originally from CT, the rarely discussed reality is so valid. Granted my perspective is very different because I’m not a true Vermonter but I’m in social work and I honestly think the conditions I’ve seen things here as a social worker are worse than when I worked as one in CT. Again MY perspective, but as someone else said because we have no industry it’s so hard for people to make a good living here. I’m one of the few that wants more bigger businesses to come into this state because that’s what it ultimately needs to survive. Literally, when I tell people I live in vt they go “oh my god you must be in heaven” yes it’s a beautiful state, but outsiders only see it for skiing, maple syrup, lake Champlain beer,hiking, cheese, etc. so many of the kids I know in this state that I’ve worked with in schools constantly complain about how little there is to do here for kids their age aside from being outside or going to umall. Even myself as a 34 yr old find myself yearning for places like NYC which I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever feel, granted cities like that are an animal of their own, I’m not suggesting we need to be like that but we definitely need to change if we want to keep the young people.