By Tyler Colford A government mandated minimum wage sounds nice; I mean doesn’t everyone deserve to make a livable wage off of 40 hours, or less, of work a week? Let’s unpack what happens when a government enforces a minimum wage. A minimum wage does not mean that workers will receive a livable wage. It means that, at a particular time, the (local, state, or federal) government, in a particular area, thinks that workers should be paid a set minimum wage. That set wage might or might not be a livable wage depending on where and when the mandated wage is actively enforced. The dollar’s buying power can strengthen or depreciate in value; but knowing where and when, in a market, is hard…

To the Editor: On Thursday, August 2, Vermont Yankee announced that the transfer of all spent nuclear fuel into dry cask storage was completed safely, under budget, and nearly two years ahead of schedule. This marks a major milestone and establishes a strong foundation for accelerated decommissioning by future owner NorthStar Group Services upon regulatory approval.  The estimated $143 million project was completed without withdrawals from the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Trust Fund (DTF). The DTF, along with many other funds and financing tools, will provide maximum financial assurance for the decommissioning project NorthStar expects to complete by 2026. We look forward to the n…

By Dan Freilich We Americans are at each other’s throats because we’re fighting over scraps, like what occurs in underdeveloped countries with severe wealth inequality. Basically, our national wealth is being amassed and horded by the ultra-rich and corporations, neither of which pays their fair share of taxes anymore. There’s little revenue for critical public good projects to help working and middle class Americans better their lives who ironically are the ones actually shouldering the burden of funding the government. Economic stress is instigating political and social stress. The most unfortunate part of all this is that pain being afflicted on working and middle class Americans is un…

Dear Editor, Governor Phil Scott is seeking a second term as our governor. He has been criticized by the gun constituency for recently signing new gun restrictions into law. We the public need laws that try to stop the wild proliferation of random school massacres in our country. The Fair Haven incident this past spring, a very close call, is a case in point. It put Gov. Scott between a rock and a hard place. He knew his legislation would disappoint gun owners but knew that he has a higher call to answer to al citizens of the state of Vermont. He has an obligation, duty, and responsibility to all Vermonters in protecting their safety and well-being. Although he knew his decision would…

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I think that our country’s child labor laws are strict and hypocritical. Our policy seems to be something like this: Dear Pakistan, We Americans are morally superior to you. In our enlightened country, we toss industrialists in federal prison if we catch them employing young people. Shame on you. Sincerely, Old Navy P.S. We would like to place an order for 4 million super cheap Pencil Skirts for our fall collection. In the early 20th Century, it was fairly normal for working class children who didn’t love school to leave and join the labor market. I am not pining for a return to those days, but I am confused about the people who are…

By Greg Guyette I hope you will join me in supporting Andrew Brewer for State Senate. I have known Andrew since our early days at Berlin Elementary School and have grown to know and respect him even more deeply over time. He is a compassionate and natural leader who understands issues deeply and seeks a variety of opinions before making important decisions. Andrew’s commitment to Central Vermont was demonstrated through twenty years of community events and sponsorships as the owner of Onion River Sports. His dedication to the environment and the outdoor economy, coupled with his depth of experience as a small business owner competing in a global market, make him an essential voice and…

Dear Editor, Here in Vermont, we’ve been struggling with a rising cost of living for a while now. But over the last few years, thanks to Governor Scott, we’ve seen movement in the right direction--especially as it relates to making our state more affordable. As a Vermonter who is approaching retirement age, I’m thrilled Governor Scott worked hard to eliminate the tax on Social Security benefits for 40,000 Vermont seniors. This important tax relief will help Vermonters like myself keep more of what we earn. Additionally, I’m glad Governor Scott cut income tax rates across the board for all filers, helping to spur economic growth and prosperity. He also reigned in ever-rising property…

Editor: On behalf of the Friends of the Aldrich Public Library in Barre, I want to thank everyone who made our annual summer Book Sale such a wonderful and successful event! This is always held as part of the Barre Heritage Days and once again our presence on the library lawn was well received. It takes many people to organize and carry out this big project and I am very grateful to all who assisted in any way. These include all the Friends who worked tirelessly before and during the sale. Special thanks to Jeff Bergeron for supplying the tables from the Aud. Jeff, you never let me down, you are a good guy!! This year our tent came from Jerf’s Lawn Care and Tent Rental and it was great!!…