I want the glorious farms and forests of Vermont to be here forever, and I hate sprawl. Also I want lower taxes and an economy in which my kids can stay here and afford a good life. But it seems like most elected officials and policymakers are completely bought into the idea that adding more people and building more housing will be good for us all. They claim that without "growth", we are doomed to ever-higher taxes and lower quality of life.

So I'm looking forward to an upcoming public event I just heard about where the speaker will explain his research which, he says, shows that growth almost always brings higher taxes along with other negative changes. Eban Fodor, a researcher and author, will present his findings via videoconference on the impacts of urban growth and land development. Thursday, April 5, at UVM's Davis Center. 7:00 p.m., free. More info about the speaker and the sponsors is at betternotbiggervt.org