By Don Keelan

I have often thought about a quote from Katie Roiphe’s piece on addiction in the October 26th Wall Street Journal: “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

With the election in the history books, what will Vermont look like when a new Legislature takes charge two years from now? While the 2024 election for statewide and county Senate and House or Representative seats has been accomplished, the issues present before, during, and after the election remain.

Every candidate had their opinion on how they would attack the intractable issues. What was provided as solutions was similar to what was stated two years ago. The difference is that the problems are still with us, if not even more unsolvable. This is due to what has crept into State politics. Those who have a chance to bring closure to the issues operate out of their silos, thus preventing any cooperation and collaboration. 

The responsibility to solve the most pressing issues is not monopolized by those who sit under the dome in Montpelier; judicial, administration, nonprofits, and municipalities reside in their silos as well. 

An example is the funding crisis that now envelops public school education in Vermont. The underlying facts are indisputable: there has been an almost one-third decline in students, a ratio of staff and teachers to pupils reported to be the highest in the nation, billions in unfunded deferred maintenance, and the added issue of PCBs being discovered in school facilities. While some schools operate at peak academic performance, statewide, that is not the case.

The solutions are known, but to have a rational and civil discussion is out of the question. What attendees at local town meetings wish to avoid hearing is that school closures and consolidation must be addressed. Who wants to hear that administrative and teaching staff needs to change dramatically?  

Then there is the issue of illegal drugs and its closely related cousin, criminal activity. What is taking place with the latter is analogous to trout fishing in the State’s Battenkill River. Catching a brown trout in this unstocked river takes a great deal of work. Once your effort is successful, there is a catch, and then you must release what you worked so hard to achieve. Unfortunately, the Vermont criminal justice system is no different.

The illegal drug crises will always be with us if there is a desire by thousands of users to seek this poison. The State and its various agencies and nonprofit organizations have battalions of staff and tens of millions of dollars addressing the crisis. However, something is missing that could significantly impact if recognized and adopted. It is not my idea, but from someone I consider an expert in this area: “Empathy without accountability is enabling.” So, when do we recognize that there must be consequences for one’s actions?

The other crisis that almost all of the candidates addressed was the subject of a report issued last summer. The State needed 24,000 to 36,000 new affordable housing units by 2030 for the workforce, unhoused, and others. This crisis will never be resolved. Outside of Chittenden County and the ski areas, let us face reality: Vermont’s small villages and towns do not have the infrastructure and do not want growth. Vermont is not New Jersey is the rallying cry.

The lack of a young workforce to replace today’s medical professionals, tradespeople, first responders, manufacturing, and tourist staff members will have to wait until the State can provide affordable places to reside. And that will not be soon. So let us continue to be patient in having a tradesperson come to you or to have an appointment to see a medical specialist. Waiting a few months is now the norm and will only be stretched further.

The 180 Legislators will convene in January, joined by hordes of lobbyists, special interest groups, and nonprofit representatives, with one overriding objective: how to divide the $8 billion that will be spent next year and how much they can bring home. Meanwhile, the major issues impacting the State will be addressed in committee rooms, consultants will be heard, and additional studies will be mandated. Come election season 2026, the issues will still be with us.

As a citizen of Vermont, how can it not be my circus? How can it not be my monkeys?     

The author is a U.S. Marine (retired), CPA, and columnist living in Arlington, VT.