I’ve got to get this off my chest.

I live in a small town in rural northern New England. My state (and my town in particular) is known as one of the most liberal in the country… we led the way for civil unions for same-sex couples, we voted in our last election to arrest the president, should he ever wander in our direction… it isn’t even illegal to be naked in a public space. Yes, we have a very accepting, live and let live attitude up here…

Unless you are under the age of 30. Then those moms who drive around in their new Toyota Prius’ and breast feed their children until they’re 12 break out their talons.

Let me explain. Vermont has one of the lowest populations of citizens between the ages of 25 and 29… And one of the highest of those between 50 and 54. We also have the highest rates of high-school seniors leaving the state for college. Additionally, of the thousands of college students that attend school in Vermont, 80% leave when they graduate. Some people see this as a big problem, others as the natural progression of life in an increasingly globalized society (after all, we do come back when we’re 50), but either way, we are a virtual wasteland when it comes to young, educated people. And I’m starting to realize why. 

Let me tell you about my day. First, I got a speeding ticket. I got a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 40. Now, I am a pleasant, attractive young woman. It was a beautiful sunny day. My dad is a cop, and I have great sympathy for police officers and the requirements of their job. But this guy was just a fucking douchebag. Instead of coming right up to my window, he stood next to my rear window and barked in my ear. When I tried to lean out the window to look at him he told me to turn around. Then he wrote me a $137 ticket for going 45 in a 40. Whatever. I’m just some punk kid. Never-mind that that is about 1/3 of my weekly salary.

But that’s not all. Later, as I was talking with a customer (the same customer that I was delivering to when I was pulled over), we got on the subject of cool jobs. When I revealed a cool job that I have always toyed with trying out, he rolled his eyes and said, “well sweetheart, better save those pennies and go back to school.” I almost exploded. I’VE BEEN TO SCHOOL, FUCKTARD.  MY “SCHOOLING” COST MORE THAN YOUR HOUSE. And I’m not your damn ”sweetheart.” It was a job that I was more than qualified for, just not one that I could do in Vermont, and the fact that he’d assumed not just that I didn’t have a degree, but that I had DROPPED OUT, was kind of appalling.

Next stop: the gym. I don’t generally go to the gym, but sometimes my Mom gets me in on one of her guest passes. So I’m the only one in the roon…doing sit-ups, and watching The Simpsons on the plasma TV. In walks this late-middle aged woman. She jumps on the treadmill and asks “hey hon (stupid fucking terms of endearment again), are you watching this?” To which I frankly replied, “yes.” “Would you mind if I change it?” ”Yes.” She climbs off her treadmill, picks up the remote from the floor next to me and says, “well, I’m going to flip it to CNN. When you’re a grown-up, you’ll understand.” I’m serious. This really happened to me.

So, Vermont. You’ve got some brain drain going on? Duh. Fucktards.