By and large, Vermont's beautiful backdrop was made possible by Act 250, a state law passed with the intention of preserving the environment while providing for balanced growth and development. The general purpose of the act is to set requirements for land use, and to do this a checklist was created for potential developers. Among the prerequisites that projects must not create excessive pollution, traffic, or strains on important agricultural lands, is Item 8. Directly quoted, Item 8 states that development "will not have an undue adverse effect on scenic beauty, aesthetics, historic sites, or rare and irreplaceable natural areas and will not destroy necessary wildlife habitat or any endangered species."

This condition is obviously progressive, but what makes it even more amazing is the fact that it was written in 1969. While most of America spent the last 33 years adding strip-malls and sprawling suburbs to its landscape, Vermont has managed to preserve its historic Revolutionary War landmarks, keep abundant acres of farmland and house many clean lakes and forests.

Out of the rolling hills of Vermont has also emerged a true breed of independently thinking politicians, the type that America could use a lot more of. The two most notable current figures are Rep. Bernie Sanders, and the notorious Sen. James Jeffords.

While Sanders has been loyal to his Progressive Party ticket for over 30 years, Jeffords made news in 2001 when he deserted the Republican Party, disturbing the Republican majority in the Senate. Any bold decision like that would condemn a politician in many states, but in Vermont, constituents hail this independence as free will and Jeffords is sure to be re-elected when he runs for his next term.

It is this very strain of independent thinking that led to monumental legislation in Vermont such as the permission of same-sex unions and the legalization of medicinal marijuana. Vermont has become a bastion for people who know how to think outside of party lines and make independent decisions. Vermonters know how to take the future into their own hands, while many of the rest of us are still struggling to do this.

Slowly but surely, America is following in the footsteps of the politically accelerated Green Mountain State. Inevitably, many traditional pockets of the United States will resist the modernization process but I predict that by the time we are sending our own children off to college, many of the progressive reforms we have seen in Vermont will become a national reality. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of amending an old adage and can confidently predict, "As goes Vermont, so goes the nation."