No Magic Pill

By the time you read this, election night will be over, and the hard work will begin for the victors and the rest of us as we navigate our lives and businesses forward. But there is no magic pill for affordability, healthcare, housing, income disparity, demographics, the national debt, and more. The sad reality is that it took decades to reach this moment, and it will take a sustained, collaborative decade to dig out. One Texas candidate said the largest issue facing Americans is not left versus right, but up versus down the economic ladder. That rings true with what we see across campuses and communities, and among business owners and their teams.

Economies flourish when capital and talent are attracted and turn over at reasonable intervals from one enterprise to the next. The incentives and motivations that drive founders to risk their own and their investors’ capital, build something new, and gather the people necessary to scale are complex. But thank goodness they do. There is no more proven way to create wealth and income opportunities than through startups, ownership, and enabling public policies. However, Vermont can do better in supporting these private-sector employers. And let’s not forget that, like never before, capital and talent can freely move away or show up. It’s a tricky balance. So, regardless of last night’s elections, I hope (pray, really) that our leaders can deliver this time around with strategic thinking, empathy for all, financial rigor, collaboration, and innovation within a globally competitive context. Vermont is exceptional for only some of us, so let’s get back to work for everyone.

—Dave