Important Issues for
Vermont in the Coming Decade
Written by Thomas P. DeSisto
, Data Research Specialist
and Aimee J. Bode
Introduction
Several major events have affected the United States between March 2001 and
March 2002 including the World Trade Center/Pentagon bombings, the Anthrax
scare, the current economic recession, and the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Clearly, these national events to a greater and lesser extent have affected
the lives of people in Vermont. However, it is less clear how these events
have affected Vermonter long-term concerns for the future of the state in
this coming decade.
This report examines whether or not the issues of highest concern among Vermonters
have changed over the past year. The findings will indicate not only what
issues Vermonters see as being most important in the state, but will also
indicate to some extent how national events affect the concerns of the population.
Data and Methods
The data used in this report were collected by the University of Vermont’s
Center for Rural Studies as part of the annual "Vermonter Poll." The poll
was conducted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. beginning on February
19, 2002 and ending on March 1, 2002. The polling was conducted at the University
of Vermont using computer-aided telephone interviewing (CATI). The sample
for the poll was drawn through random digit dialing and used all of the telephone
exchanges in the state of Vermont as the sampling frame. There were 734
respondents to the Vermonter Poll. Only registered voters over the age of
eighteen were interviewed. The poll included questions on a variety of issues
related to public policy in the state of Vermont.
Results and discussion
In March 2002 the economy and jobs were clearly Vermonters highest concern
as can be seen in Table 1. While the economy and jobs were also at the top
of the list in 2001 the percent of the population concerned with the issue
almost doubled since the previous year.
For the most part Vermonters were concerned with the same issues this year
as they were last year. Sprawl and land use continues to be a serious long-term
concern for people in the state. Taxes and health care were mentioned by
equal numbers of the population, and remained as one of the top five concerns
for the coming decade. The only issue that was among the top five mentioned
more this year and not last year was the environment.
Surprisingly, national defense, terrorism, and the war in Afghanistan were
mentioned by relatively few Vermonters as a serious concern for the state.
About 2.3 percent of Vermonters said they were most concerned with terrorism
and the war in Afghanistan. It is possible that Vermonters view these issues
as national problems and problems that specifically face Vermont.
Other issues that were mentioned in 2002 were Act 60 (3.2%), housing (2.8%),
government (2.6%), farming (2.5%), and civil unions and rights (2.5%).
For comments or questions about this report, please email
Thomas P. DeSisto
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