Wikipedia:Peer review/Vermont/archive1

Vermont

I've been working hard on this for the past week, and hope this can be the first featured U.S. state article (either this of Hawaii). Suggestions or comments? [[User:Neutrality|Neutrality/^talk]] 07:10, Dec 20, 2004 (UTC)

I think that your article is very good. I lived in Vermont for some time, and I know a bit about it. Just trying to think of things that you could discuss... One thing is the act 250 controversies. Basicly, the act requires environmental review of large projects. Some people wanted to build a large mall in Willison, just outside of Burlington. It was prevented, on the grounds that the mall would destroy the property tax base of Burlington (a significant piece of which was retail stores on Church Street), and therefore indirectly damage the environment as Burlington would no longer be able to pay for various governmental services. (Since then, much has changed, and Big Box stores (Home Depot, Wall Mart) have opened in Willison).

In contrast to it's "green" reputation. Much of the economy (in the North West part of Vermont) is dependent on a few large employers: The University of Vermont, which includes a teaching hospital, and IBM manufacturing facility, and a factory which makes equipment for mounting machine guns on military helicopters (it had been a GE business). Morris 16:58, Dec 22, 2004 (UTC)

First of all, the largest employer in Vermont is the state government. Secondly, and I think this is important for inclusion, is that Vermont was either nominated or considering nomination to the National Historic Register in order to deter "box stores," especially Walmart, to which Vermonters have a notably strong aversion to...I think that relates to the act 250? As does the growth of condos...I know that now, out-of-state residents with part-time homes in Vermont have to pay prime tax rates for the privelege. So this is important, I think.

As for the dairy industry, I would like to see something about the "morph" to micro-cheese dairies. If you do a Google, there was an article in the NYT last spring about this. Actually, I have a list of about 12 in Vermont. It's a growth industry and a well respected one too.

Finally, as a historian, I would be willing to help add some important (at least I think so, even if I am a flatlander...) tidbits. Ethan & Ira did not fare well after the Revolution, and that part of their story is fascinating. "18-something-and-almost-froze-to-death" is legendary, and it later resulted in that wave of religious revivalism throughout the state, some of which were incredibly bizaare. There's a book at my library and I can find it for you. I love this page. I always hated the page on my own town, because it just looked like a census report, so I think this is a great and incredibly ambitious start.

Keep up the good work! let me know if I can help in any way! Always room for another trip to the local library! Best regards, allie 02:25, 5 Jan 2005 (UTC)

• Could we have some more information in the "State government" section? For instance, can we get a quick overview between "State government" and "State Constitution"? It seems like there are too many levels in there. The Image:Vermont.png has very blurry names (can't read them!), can this be touched up? What is "Demolinguistics"? There's nothing in there and it's marked as a sectstub! Also, the section "Sources and further reading" needs to be divided into "References" and "Further reading", or else it won't get through FAC. The "Regions of Vermont" could do with being made have a similar style as the "Political divisions of the United States". - Ta bu shi da yu 05:19, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

One thing that pops out immediately to me is the comment in the first paragraph that Vermont leans heavily Democratic. While counted as a "blue" state in the 2004 election, Vermont actually has a history of electing Republicans as governors and to Congress. As a former Vermont resident, I would think Vermonters would be comfortable labeled "progressive" or "independent" or both, but would object to being called heavily Democractic -- Patrick Leahy was the first Democratic Senator elected from Vermont since before the Civil War! Similarly, prior to Bernard Sanders' election to the at-large seat in the House as an independent, Republicans were the norm there as well. The other Senator, Jim Jeffords is also an independent now. The state does swing back and forth in Presidential votes, owing more to the staunchly independent point of view of most Vermont voters. I'd say there is a mild trend to electing moderates (and in Leahy's case, a liberal) politicians at the moment, but that is a very recent (last 10-15 years) development. Characterizing Vermont as having "heavy Democratic leanings" (i.e. like California) is historically inaccurate, and likely not to be an actual trend in the future, IMHO. shootersharkey 01:27, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)