Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Don Keelan, a retired certified public accountant who lives in Arlington. It first appeared in the Bennington Banner.
The Place-the Vermont Governor’s office
The Time-Near term
In attendance-the Governor and Don Keelan
Governor: “Don, I understand you wanted to see me.”
DK: “Yes sir, I have an idea for our state’s Welcome Centers.”
Governor: “And what would that be, I believe there’s about a dozen of them.”
DK: “Well sir, it’s not my idea, actually, I have to give credit to Bernard Goldberg, you might remember him sir. He was with CBS for over 25 years, an author and is now at Fox-News as a commentator and…
Governor: “So what was his idea?”
DK: “Mr. Goldberg had suggested that there be a monument built in Washington, D.C., to honor the rich.”
Governor: “That will never happen. A monument on the National Mall to honor the rich—preposterous to say the least.”
DK: “That’s the point I’m getting to sir. It can’t be done in D.C. but we can do it here in Vermont.”
Governor: “But why would we want to do such a thing?”
DK: “Let’s face it sir, many of the wealthy residents of this state, who once lived here and those that do now, have made enormous contributions to our state’s historic, cultural, civic and preservation well being.”
Governor: “Yes, they have but what of it?”
DK: “My point is that the time is now for Vermont to stop being suspect of their success and let us memorialize their good deeds.”
Governor: “Like building monuments and place them in our Visitor Centers?”
DK: “Yes, and also in our cities and towns if possible. The monuments could be made out of Vermont marble by our own Rock of Ages company.”
Governor: “Senators Leahy and Sanders would go ballistic. I can just see it. It would be political suicide if I ever proposed it.”
DK: “Not exactly. And I’ll describe why it wouldn’t.”
Governor: “I’m all ears Keelan and it better be good. Do you have any idea of the political risk I would be taking? Just listening to you, places me at risk.”
DK: “Governor, it was recently reported that your agency of Human Services is processing payments of one kind or another for 190,000 Vermonters, about 30% of the state’s population.”
Governor: “I’m aware of that and it is unfortunate and will get worse I’m afraid.”
DK: “And when you add to that the number, the working poor, the middle class, the children, it does not leave us with a large segment that can afford to be philanthropists.”
Governor: “I think I’m beginning to see your point. But can you be more specific—any current examples—it would help.”
DK: “Yes I can. Bennington County is a good example. Over the past 10 years institutions such as the independent high school, Burr & Burton Academy, Hildene, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Reilly Rink, Bennington College and Bennington Project Independence all have been given millions of dollars by wealthy donors. Many are part time residents. They don’t even vote here but they believe in these institutions and their respective missions.”
Governor: “Keelan you’re right. We would be a much poorer state had it not been for these folks and their generosity. But a marble monument? Any chance that for now we might scale it back? Let’s say a large wooden wall plaque—placed at each center?”
DK: “Sir, that would be fine. The point is that as a state we will have finally recognized and honor what the wealthy have contributed—and maybe, just maybe, our Washington congressional delegation can stop condemning them.”
Governor: “Well they do get some fairly large tax breaks—do they not?”
DK: “Now that you have mentioned taxes look what Mr. Goldberg had noted—the top 1% of all wage earners pay 40% of the taxes collected.”
Governor: “I had no idea that they did.”
DK: “And if you take as a group the top 10% they provide the Government with 70% of its tax revenue.”
Governor: “That’s pretty compelling.”
DK: “And I’m sure the percentages are mirrored in Vermont’s income taxes collected.”
Governor: “I’m going to make sure that this administration does indeed show our gratitude. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
