Common Sense Radio: What Will It Take for Vermont Businesses and Families to Thrive?
Tuesday, September 1, 2026, on Common Sense Radio, weekdays, 11 o’clock till Noon.
Clara Morrison, Executive Director of the Right for Vermont Foundation, joins Bill to discuss the factors that affect the willingness and ability of Vermont entrepreneurs and other businesses to want to invest, grow, and hire. While at the same time, the factors that will make Vermont more affordabie for families, particularly young families.
Potential Questions and Issues
Why is it important to grow the economy if we want to improve the economic well-being of our families, particularly young families? Economic growth means income growth. Income growth means a higher standard of living. And thereby, that families can afford more. And part of of that increase in income goes to improving quality of life — leisure time, and related activities. Also, economic growth means higher tax revenue, to perform the necessary functions of government, including helping the vulnerable, without raising tax rates.
What Constitutional Amendments are on the ballot this coming election day? Proposition 3. What is the language in this proposed amendment? What might be the difference between the surface meaning of this language, and the unstated, perhaps unintended consequences, of adding this language to the Constitution? What is the concept of right to work? Does right to work prohibit the creation of a union at a particular employer? What did the Supreme Court decide as to compelled speech and union dues? What is a closed shop, vs. an open shop?
Do you think most people are aware of the implications of passing Proposition 3 into the Constitution?
What can we learn from the experience of other States? Do a substantial number of States have right-to-work legislation? In general, do right-to-work States have faster economic growth than those who don’t? What should we know about unionization in various sectors of the economy? 75 years ago, about 30 percent of the economy. Now less than 10 percent. The correlation of large scale manufacturing, that is, mass production, in America — manufacturing employment, as a percent of total employment, follows about the same change over the 75 years. Also, the rise in public employment — government employees, particularly teachers and State employees. Also, utilities. What can we observe — industries and markets in which the employer has a monopoly, or close to a monopoly over the product or service they provide, are more likely to be unionized? Why?
Compare to other industries and markets, in which there is more competition and choice. More independent contractors. The story of the automobile industry, before and after the 1970s.
What should we know about Vermont demographic trends? Population declines, especially among the working age population, and young families? Lowest fertility rate in the nation. Lowest number of births since before the Civil War. Second highest median age in the nation. Declines in school enrollment, especially in rural areas. Labor Force is down 10,000 from a year ago.
What are the implications of these demographic trends for public policy? Tax policy. Cost of education, health insurance, and energy. How does the cost of living affect the ability of Vermont businesses to grow, invest, and create tax base — grand list, income, and sales?
What will be the effects of creating a new tax on second homes? How will a second home be defined? What is the intended purpose of such a tax? Is there an element of the politics of envy? What might be the unintended consequences of such a tax? On the travel and tourism industry, in particular. And on retail sales and meals taxes in tourist areas? And, perhaps most importantly, on attitude toward high income earners.
Similarly for proposed tax on the highest income earners? Could this tax be seen as punishing the economically successful? What should we know about the pattern of income fluctuations over time? And what should we know about the mobility of income earners? How is this mobility a key benefit of a federalist decentralized form of government.
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