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Voices: Op-Ed, Commentary, Letters

Op-eds, commentary and letters from Vermont voices. The views are the authors', not FYIVT's.

HealthOctober 25, 2024

Why Are Americans Dying Younger?

Expected lifespans are plateauing worldwide, with American lifespans declining before the rest of the world. The main culprits? Ultra-processed foods and a decline in exercise. While racism, sexism, and other societal issues often get the b

Be Informed PoliticsOctober 22, 2024

Front Porch For-them

Front Porch Forum, a Vermont-based social media platform, is funded partly by taxpayer money but has been accused of political bias, particularly against conservatives. Despite its claim of civil discourse and strict moderation, some posts

Be Informed EnergyOctober 21, 2024

Gimme S'More Tax Blues

Vermont’s supermajority is pushing a cap-and-invest program targeting transportation fuels to meet GWSA emission goals. This scheme forces fuel dealers to buy carbon credits, driving up gas and diesel prices. Following California’s model, V

Education Tax LandOctober 17, 2024

Vermont Commission’s Half-Baked Ideas

Tuitioning program likely to be scapegoated by government school special interests. Follow BTL on Facebook, on TwitterX, and on YouTube. Before we get into the meat of today’s topic, here’s a quick review of how propert

UncategorizedOctober 15, 2024

Can Vermont Republicans Win Control of the Senate?

If EVERYTHING goes right, it’s possible. Follow BTL on Facebook, on TwitterX, and on YouTube. The Vermont Senate contains thirty seats. Democrats/Progressives currently hold twenty-three of them and the office of Lieute

Politics StatehouseOctober 7, 2024

Halloween Zombie Ballots?

In Vermont's flawed election system, live ballots are being sent to dead voters, non-residents, and non-citizens, raising serious concerns about election security. Examples of multiple ballots, DMV errors, and unremoved names highlight fail

Clean Heat Credit Scheme Goes Up in Smoke

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) recommends replacing the Clean Heat Standard with a direct surcharge on oil, kerosene, and propane. Their report highlights significant regulatory complexity and costs in the original plan, instead sugges

Education StatehouseSeptember 21, 2024

Unpromising Beginnings for Education Finance Reform

The Commission on the Future of Public Education in VT’s subcommittee on Finance Reform met on September 4th (going back a bit, but the Commission has not been too punctual about posting its meeting recordings). It was their first meeting s