What’s this all about, now?
What does it mean to be a ‘good’ human?
What does it mean to be a ‘good’ American?
How do our ideas about utopia shape our habits, our affiliations, our fears, our desires, our decisions, our beliefs, our economy, and our communities?
How, then, shall we live - especially as individuals within a collective society?
And what the hell does Vermont have to do with that?
To Be a Good Vermonter (TBAGV) exists to answer these questions (or die trying) through interviews, photographs, essays, art, audio, video, and an advice column (yes, you read that right). It does all this through the often-stereotyped, never- surpassed cultural bounty of America’s “brave little state”, Vermont.
I’m Jack Thomas: an American by birth; a rural Vermonter by choice; an artist/writer through sheer force of will; a former college professor; a homesteader in the making; and an international research consultant and public speaker on all things anti-terrorism/anti-extremism.
TBAGV is an extension of my studio art practice...and an attempt to find answers to the questions that keep me up at night. I make art about the most powerful force in the universe: utopian longing. And, of course, I want to be a good Vermonter.
I hope you’ll join me as I try to figure out how the heck we do this thing called living - and how we can be good Vermonters, good Americans, and good people in the process. Thank you.
Why support TBAGV with a subscription pledge?
Vermont doesn’t have billboards and I don’t want this newsletter to have them, either. When TBAGV reaches 1000 subscribers, your generous pledges will convert into a real paid subscription. Your generosity supports my ability to dedicate time to research & writing; connect with Vermonters from all walks of ideology and life; and buy gas, tea, and all the necessary things for doing this work…all without pesky goshdarn ads cluttering up the landscape.
You’ll get full access to all segments of To Be a Good Vermonter:
Foggy Ridge Dispatch: behind-the-scenes photos, videos, recipes, ambient audio, personal musings, seasonal observations, & more - seen through the lens of our budding Northeast Kingdom homestead + my art studio in beautiful St. Johnsbury, Vermont. (Published every Monday)
Being Good [with _____________]: the titular segment of To Be a Good Vermonter, where I sit down with folks from our brave little state to hear their take on what it means to be a good Vermonter (and, just maybe, a good American/good human). Includes writing, images, and - occasionally - audio and links/reading recommendations of interest. (Published alternating Tuesdays)
If Only: provocative questions and blue-sky ideas about utopian longing, culture, government, education, community life, law, grand experiments, and more…all couched as food for thought in utopian history, philosophy, and/or current events. (Published alternating Tuesdays)
Among Other Things: everything else. Occasional poetry, occasional rants, art freebies, shoutouts to favorite Vermont things and people of note, etc.
You’ll get full access to the publication archives.
You’re supporting local journalism - where folks rooted in a certain place tell their own stories with honesty, care, and depth…instead of somebody from away telling our stories for us. (And yes, unfortunately, I am a flatlander - but among us flatlanders, there are folks who simply move to Vermont and then there are ardent, ride-or-die Vermonters…and bydamnit, I’m the latter).
Stay up-to-date
You’ll never miss a post if you check your email each day—every new post is sent directly to your inbox. For a smoother mobile reading experience, I recommend that y’all get the Substack app. It’s spam-free, ad-free, and has nifty audio and community features.
Shape the Conversations of To Be a Good Vermonter
Join a community of fellows: curious, empathetic, opinionated folks, each of us trying to figure out how to be good Vermonters, Americans, and/or humans in strange times.
Support To Be a Good Vermonter by pledging any amount of future subscription level, and you’ll unlock the ability to communicate with your fellow readers + the author through comments and a community chat.
Pledge to become a Founding Member so that once there are at least 5 of you, you can participate in live online community events, get the chance to nominate good Vermonters to be interviewed, and get first dibs on limited-access tickets to IRL (In Real Life) TBAGV events in the brave little state of Vermont.
To learn more about the nifty platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
