Inch by inch, step by step, we shape the future of the planet Earth. Thanks to all who fight to make America (and this beautiful planet) healthy again!
Remember the consternation in 1977 when it was revealed that Colombia was spraying Paraquat on marijuana fields and it was getting baled up and shipped north, anyway?
I’m very happy about this however one wonders how difficult this will be for a state that is pushing out farmers with the highest property taxes in the country with absolutely nothing to show for it. Oh wait! Our schools are ranked 44th! So we got that going for us.
Vermont's schools consistently rank well - Top quartile to top half. And while residential property taxes are top-5 or so, the picture changes substantially for farmers - even the smallest - because of Vermont's Current Use / Use Appraisal Program - under which taxable valuation is reduced dramatically.
So no the schools in Vt are 44th in the country. They don’t rank well at all unless you think 44th is satisfactory. They are in the lowest quartile. Vt spends the most per child not because they are buying excellent teaching tools but because they have limited the state to one insurance provider blue cross blue shield and the cost is crushing them. That’s why the number is so high per child. The literacy rates just came out and it’s scary. They are also trying to do away with school choice. And for the “land use “ that’s the biggest government land grab. No real farmer in VT surrenders their land to the government. Someone has to pay those taxes eventually. There’s no free lunch. If you want to learn the truth go to Rob Ropers Substack. There you will see the truth. First, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, Vermont spent $30,137 per pupil for the 2023-24 school year – more than any other state but one (New York). The national average was $17,644. Our test scores? Well, they suck.
Breaking things down state by state, eighteen states spent less than Vermont per pupil, yet their students outscored ours in every single NAEP metric – across the board wipeout for 4th grade math, 4th grade reading, 8th grade math, and 8th grade reading. Seven more states, while spending less than Vermont, outscored us in three out of those four categories. (Note: since 2023-4 Vermont’s scores have dropped further down the national ratings, so for today these comparisons are low. Mississippi, as mentioned before, now outscores us whereas in 2023-4 they were still slightly behind.) Just some fun facts from Rob
I remember... now 50 years later it comes out: In the 1970s, the U.S. government funded and supplied helicopters for a Mexican government program to spray marijuana and opium poppy fields with Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide. To avoid losing their income, farmers harvested the crops before they withered, resulting in contaminated marijuana being sold to American consumers
Those spraying operations "came out" in 1978, in dedicated Congressional hearings and extensive media coverage. Most of its acute and chronic toxicities were known at the time, which is why it was so politically contentious. Possible links to PD have been discussed for the last 20 years or more.
It's been EPA "Restricted Use" since the late 1970s (commercial ag use only by licensed operators, no spraying from air or backpack or under pressure, enclosed tractor cabs, mandatory buffer zones near residential areas. Regulations were tightened further in 2016, requiring respirator use and narrowing licensing.
I don't understand why only in 2030, paraquat will be fully banned ? Why 2030? What is happening in 2030? And until then is less toxic?!?! That is huge BS
Good news! Yay ❤️☺️🙏
Inch by inch, step by step, we shape the future of the planet Earth. Thanks to all who fight to make America (and this beautiful planet) healthy again!
Remember the consternation in 1977 when it was revealed that Colombia was spraying Paraquat on marijuana fields and it was getting baled up and shipped north, anyway?
;-o
good memory! insanity has changed little
That is a major long needed action, that ought be Federal.
The toxin paraquat was also commonly used on weed, with hapless users
actually smoking the toxin in years past. There are many others like glyphosate, dicambin,
acetochlor, atrazine, etc etc etc We live in a toxic world
Good job Vermont.
Keep fighting Maha!! I follow all of your emails daily!! You are all heros!! 🩷🦋🩷🦋🩷🌲🌲🌲🌊🌊🚴🚴⚡️⚡️
So maybe smoking marijuana was never a great idea.
I’m very happy about this however one wonders how difficult this will be for a state that is pushing out farmers with the highest property taxes in the country with absolutely nothing to show for it. Oh wait! Our schools are ranked 44th! So we got that going for us.
Vermont's schools consistently rank well - Top quartile to top half. And while residential property taxes are top-5 or so, the picture changes substantially for farmers - even the smallest - because of Vermont's Current Use / Use Appraisal Program - under which taxable valuation is reduced dramatically.
So no the schools in Vt are 44th in the country. They don’t rank well at all unless you think 44th is satisfactory. They are in the lowest quartile. Vt spends the most per child not because they are buying excellent teaching tools but because they have limited the state to one insurance provider blue cross blue shield and the cost is crushing them. That’s why the number is so high per child. The literacy rates just came out and it’s scary. They are also trying to do away with school choice. And for the “land use “ that’s the biggest government land grab. No real farmer in VT surrenders their land to the government. Someone has to pay those taxes eventually. There’s no free lunch. If you want to learn the truth go to Rob Ropers Substack. There you will see the truth. First, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, Vermont spent $30,137 per pupil for the 2023-24 school year – more than any other state but one (New York). The national average was $17,644. Our test scores? Well, they suck.
Breaking things down state by state, eighteen states spent less than Vermont per pupil, yet their students outscored ours in every single NAEP metric – across the board wipeout for 4th grade math, 4th grade reading, 8th grade math, and 8th grade reading. Seven more states, while spending less than Vermont, outscored us in three out of those four categories. (Note: since 2023-4 Vermont’s scores have dropped further down the national ratings, so for today these comparisons are low. Mississippi, as mentioned before, now outscores us whereas in 2023-4 they were still slightly behind.) Just some fun facts from Rob
Standardized scores and graduation rates - not spending per student.
2024 NAEP Grades 4 and 8 reading between 20 and 15
Grade 4 match ~15, Grade 8 math "top 20"
The hat was just one statistic to
Get you possibly looking at the truth. Just a tiny wafer
I remember... now 50 years later it comes out: In the 1970s, the U.S. government funded and supplied helicopters for a Mexican government program to spray marijuana and opium poppy fields with Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide. To avoid losing their income, farmers harvested the crops before they withered, resulting in contaminated marijuana being sold to American consumers
Those spraying operations "came out" in 1978, in dedicated Congressional hearings and extensive media coverage. Most of its acute and chronic toxicities were known at the time, which is why it was so politically contentious. Possible links to PD have been discussed for the last 20 years or more.
It's been EPA "Restricted Use" since the late 1970s (commercial ag use only by licensed operators, no spraying from air or backpack or under pressure, enclosed tractor cabs, mandatory buffer zones near residential areas. Regulations were tightened further in 2016, requiring respirator use and narrowing licensing.
I don't understand why only in 2030, paraquat will be fully banned ? Why 2030? What is happening in 2030? And until then is less toxic?!?! That is huge BS
Huge thanks to all who helped this bill/ban pass
We learned our lesson on Agent Orafe .so WTF !!! They need to re-create the sane history. Our planet is our only capable place and home.
Hallelujah! Vermont is a beautiful place that wants to stay that way!
Let's call it one step in the right direction.