>> HI.

I'M ERIC FORD.

IN 1973 THE VERMONT MEDIA PROJECT SELECTIVE BASED OUT OF VERMONT CREATED A SOCIAL JUSTICE MULTI MEDIA DOCUMENTARY USING INTERVIEWS WITH VERMONTERS TO ILL ASTRONAUT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS FACED BY LOW-INCOME AND WORKING PEOPLE.

THE FILM FEATURES AN ORIGINAL FOLK MUSIC SOUND TRACK AND STORIES THAT STILL RESONATE WITH TODAY'S VERMONTERS.

YOU CAN WATCH VERMONT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND MANY OTHER MADE HERE STORIES ABOUT THE REGION THROUGH THE PBS APP.

ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> AMERICAN ECONOMICS, THE SMALL AND THE POOR JUST WASHED OUT.

>> BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET DONE, EVEN THE RICH PEOPLE DON'T WANT VERMONT BECAUSE IT WON'T BE VERMONT ANYMORE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST GOING TO DRIVE THE GOOD FEELING OF IT OUT, YOU KNOW.

>> PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HOUSES LIKE THIS ARE PROBABLY AMONG THE RICHEST 1% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY MAY LOOK DOWN AT NEW YORK OR CONNECTICUT, BUT OWNER MORE PROPERTY IN VERMONT THAN MOST VERMONTERS DO.

A DOCTOR, LAWYER, OR CORPORATE MANAGER IS NOT IN THE TOP 1%, BUT IS PRETTY SECURE.

BUT IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST VERMONTERS, YOU PROBABLY LOOK LIKE THIS.

OR THIS.

OR THIS.

FOR YOU, DECENT HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE AND SCARCE.

THE COST OF HEALTHCARE AND GOOD FOOD IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SICK.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE HOME DON'T RECEIVE ANY WAGES, BUT ARE NOT COUNTED IN EMPLOYMENT FIGURES.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE ECONOMIC FACTS OF LIFE.

>> I WANT TO GET A JOB.

I HAD BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR FOUR YEARS AT THAT POINT BECAUSE I HAD TWO KIDS AND I'VE BEEN HOME WITH THEM.

THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET OUT OF THE HOME AND INTO THE LABOR MARKET WAS TO BE A VOLUNTEER FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

I HAD THE OPTION OF WORKING EIGHT HOURS A DAY FOR FREE, BUT NO POOR WOMAN HAS THAT OPTION.

>> THE POOR WERE NEVER GOING TO BE NEEDED AGAIN.

THEY'VE BEEN REPLACED BY A COMPUTER OR MACHINE OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> 20% OF THE FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES OWN 97% OF ALL THE CORPORATE STOCK.

1% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OWN 60% OF ALL THE WEALTH IN THE COUNTRY.

HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OWN HARDLY ANY RAEL WEALTH PRESIDENT ALL.

ONLY THE VERY RICH HAVE ANY POWER OR SECURITY.

♪ ♪ >> WITH THE PASSING OF VERMONT, A HERITAGE, TRADITIONS.

OUR PASSING ON MAKE WAY FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS, BANKERS SO THEY CAN MAKE A PROFIT.

REGARDLESS OF HOW BADLY THEY RATE VERMONT, HOW BADLY USED THE VERMONT PEOPLE ARE.

THIS IS JUST A SIDELINE.

>> BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN THEY GOT AROUND IN THE OLD DAYS, PUT UP A BARN OR BUILD A HOUSE, EVERYBODY WOULD COME AND DO IT AND EVERYBODY FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING INVOLVED THERE EXCEPT HELPING ONE ANOTHER.

>> FARMERS HAVE MOVED OFF THE DEPRECIATION OF THEIR BUILDINGS, THEIR MACHINERY.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S KEPT THEM IN BUSINESS IS BECAUSE THEIR PRICE OF LAND HAS GONE UP AND GONE UP AND YOU CAN KEEP HOLDING ON BECAUSE THE LAND HAS GONE UP.

FOR MONEY THAT'S MADE, YOU HAVEN'T MADE ANY.

>> THE FARMERS ARE BEING DRIVEN OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE TAXED THE SAME AS THE GAS STATION IN THE HOMETOWN.

AND THEY'RE DRAGGING UP THE PRICE OF LAND WHICH DRIVES UP THE TAXES WHICH DRIVES OUT THE FARMERS.

[ ♪ THE FARMER IS THE ONE ♪ THE FARMER IS THE ONE ♪ WITH THE PRICES UP SO HIGH IT'S A WONDER YOU DON'T DIE ♪ ♪ AND AGRICUL AG WAY IS THE ONE WHO GETS IT ALL ♪ >> AND EVERY GUY SAYS WELL, WHEN WE GET RID OF THE LITTLE FARMER, WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU GET RID OF THE LITTLE FARMER, THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A LITTLE FARMER.

SO THE NEXT ONE GETS RID OF THAT LITTLE FARMER, SO IT'S YOU.

♪ ♪ OH THE RICH THEY PLAY GOLF AND THEY SAIL OVER THE SEA ♪ ♪ THEY COME TO VERMONT TO PLAY OR TO SKI ♪ ♪ AND IT'S HARD TIMES ♪ WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT >> A SKI CORPORATION TAKES A LONG-TERM LEASE ON STATE OR FEDERALLY OWNED PROPERTY AND PUTS UP A SKI TAUPE.

A DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BUYS UP LAND AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND RESELLS IT AT A HUGE PROFIT.

OFTEN BOTH CORPORATIONS SERVE THE SAME INTERESTS.

IN 1971 ALONE, 20,000 ACRES OF LAND WERE SOLD TO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS.

>> EVERYBODY IS SUPPOSED TO LOVE THE SKI INDUSTRY AND ALL THAT I DO REALLY REALIZE OF IT IS YOU MEET SOME VERY NICE PEOPLE COME SKIING.

MAYBE THEY BUY A LITTLE BIT HERE AT THE STORES AS THEY GO THROUGH, BUT I BELIEVE THE ONES THAT REALIZE FINANCIALLY THE MOST OUT OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS A BIG SKI CORPORATION.

>> THE OWNERS OF THE SKI AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES ARE RICH INDIVIDUALS AND LARGE CORPORATIONS.

MOUNT MANSFIELD BY STOW -- MADONNA MOUNTAIN WAS SOLD BY THE CHAIRMAN OF IBM TO A BOSTON CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPER.

SUGAR BUSH WAS STARTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO INHERITED THEIR MONEY FROM IBM, NATIONAL CAST REGISTER, DOLE PINE A *E APPLE AND A&P.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE LAND.

I FEEL THE LAND IS PART OF ME.

>> FROM 1962 TO 1972, THE STATE OF VERMONT SPENT $6 MILLION ON ADVERTISING FOR SKIING AND DEVELOPMENT AND $1.5 MILLION ON ACES ROADS FOR SKI AREAS.

>> THE TAXPAYERS END UP PAYING FOR THE FACILITIES TO GET TO THESE PLACES AND THE MONEY IS SENT TO A BANK, YOU KNOW.

>> YOU'RE PLAYING THE ROLE OF THE SERVANT TO SOMEONE WHO IS -- HAS MORE RESOURCES THAN YOU, WHO COMES HERE TEMPORARILY TO USE WHAT YOU HAVE LIVED WITH ALL YOUR LIFE.

HE MISUSES IT.

>> VERMONT HAS PASSED ACT 250, THE STRONGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL LAW IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS LAW HAS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT HASN'T SLOWED DOWN THE SPEED OF DEVELOPMENT.

VERMONT IS BEING DEVELOPED VERY FAST BECAUSE IT PAYS VERY WELL.

>> THERE IS A GUY IN TOWN ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO.

HAD TWO ACRES OF LAND.

HE WAS GOING TO PUT OUT TWO HOUSES.

HE WENT TO THE BANKS AND THE BANKS AND THE REAL ESTATE BROKERS TOLD HIM HE WAS CRAZY.

HE COULD PUT 10 HOUSES ON THAT TWO ACRES.

SO HE SAID TO HIMSELF, 10 HOUSE, YOU CAN MAKE FIVE TIMES AS MUCH MONEY AS TWO HOUSES, SO HE'S DOING IT.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF VACATION HOMES IN THE STATE OF VERMONT AS THEIR SUBSTANDARD OR DILAPIDATED HOUSING UNITS.

>> LET'S SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DECENT HOUSING.

>> RENTS ARE GETTING THAT, BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE OWN THE TOWN.

ONE IN THE PAPER THE OTHER DAY, ONE ROOM, $125 A MONTH.

THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING.

>> OH, SURE.

>> YOU KNOW, AN OLD BED, A DID I DILAPIDATED TABLE AND ONE LIGHT BULB AND STEAM HEAT.

>> IF YOU'RE LOW INCOME AND YOU AIN'T GOT NO MONEY, YOU CAN'T FIND A PLACE.

IF YOU GOT MONEY, YOU GOT YOUR PLACE SET UP.

>> URBAN RENEWAL AND VERMONT CITIES IS ACTUALLY INCREASING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

IN PLACE OF HOUSING FOR 2,000 PEOPLE IN BURLINGTON, BANKS, SHOPPING CENTERS AND PARKING LOTS ARE BEING BUILT.

♪ I SAVED MUNICIPAL MONEY, MY MONEY, BOUGHT AN OLD HOUSE IN TOWN BUT URBAN RENEWAL JUST TORE IT DOWN ♪ ♪ AND IT'S HARD TIMES AND COLD TIMES ♪ ♪ IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR SECTION OF THE COUNTRY, THEY PREFER FREEDOM.

AND THEY LOOK MOST ANY WAY TO HAVE THIS.

FREEDOM TO THEM MEAN MAYBE A LITTLE SHACK OR A LITTLE HOME.

THEY LIKE THE HOME.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE HOME THAT THEY SET UP THE SHACK OR A TRAILER.

BACK SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A CAT AND A DOG AND GET A PONY FOR THE KIDS, POSSIBLY A FEW CHICKENS AND A GARDEN, MAYBE A ROSE BUSH.

>> THERE ARE MORE NEW HOUSING STARTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAN HAVE EVER BEEN BUILT IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE TOWN.

>> WHAT PERCENT OF THESE WOULD YOU SAY WERE VACATION HOMES?

>> 99-POINT NAT99.98.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE HOUSE FIGURE ANY BEING BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

>> EXCEPT TRAILERS.

>> TRAILERS ARE THE ONLY THING THAT SUPPLY THAT.

>> THE BANKS AND THE REAL ESTATE DEALERS ARE SO CROOKED AND SO SELF-INTERESTED OR MONEY INTERESTED THAT THEY'RE NOT BOTHERING THE POOR PEOPLE.

THEY WOULD PREFER TO SELL PROPERTY TO SQUEEZE THE POOR PEOPLE OUT AND RE-SELL THE PROPERTY TO FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE THEMSELVES.

>> BANKS CAN EARN BETWEEN 12 AND 13% INTEREST ON TRAILERS WHILE THE INTEREST RATE ON HOUSES IS ONLY 9%.

TRAILERS HAVE TO BE PAID OFF IN 10 YEARS OR LESS WHILE A HOUSE CAN TAKE 20 YEARS OR MORE.

SO BANKS MAKE MORE PROFIT IN LESS TIME ON TRAILERS.

>> ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THEY HAD TO RUN THEIR WIRES A LOT FARTHER TO GET ONE HOUSE.

NOW EVERYWHERE THEY'VE BUILT TOWNS THERE MIGHT BE 50 HOUSES IN AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS ONLY TWO OR THREE AND THEY'RE MAKING MORE MONEY ON IT AND THE RATES ARE WAY HIGHER THAN THEY USED TO BE.

WHY DON'T WE GET ELECTRIC LIGHTS CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE USED TO.

>> ALTHOUGH VERMONT UTILITIES ARE SUPPOSEDLY REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BOARD, GREEN MOUNTAIN TOWER AND CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE ARE OWNED BY LARGE PWAF BANKERS AND STOCK BROKERS.

THEY RUN A COMFORTABLE OFFICE, NOT IN VERMONT, BUT DOWN AROUND WALL STREET, NEW YORK.

♪ WALL ST S WALL STREET BANKSERS ON THE UTILITY, IT'S MILLIONS FOR THEM AND LIGHT YEARS FOR ME ♪ ♪ IT'S HARD TIMES AND COLD TIME FIST WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME ♪ >> GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER AND CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION ARE GUARANTEED 9.5% OVERALL PROFIT.

THE VERMONT NUCLEAR PLANT COST THREE TIMES WHAT WAS ESTIMATED.

WHO PAYS?

WE DO.

IN HIGHER ELECTRIC BILLS.

>> IT'S RIDICULOUS IT COSTS $150 A DAY TO GET THAT DAMN SPLINTER OUT OF HER FOOT.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

FIVE DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND LOUSY CARE AT THAT.

>> I BROUGHT MY BOY IN BEFORE THEY WERE TOO FULL UP TO ACCEPT THEM.

AT THAT TIME WE WERE ON MEDICAID AND THEY SAID WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY ANYWAY, SO WHY SHOULD HE STAY.

IT SEEMS THAT THEY JUST WANT THE MONEY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE PAIN.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PATIENT.

>> MUCH OF VERMONT'S MEDICAL CARE IS CONCENTRATED IN A FEW LARGE MEDICAL COMPLEXES LIKE THE MEDICAL STRER CENTER HOSPITAL OF VERMONT IN BURLINGTON.

>> SPENDING AS MUCH MONEY IN BURLINGTON SEEMS TO ME TO BE REALLY WRONG WHEN THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE OUTLYING AREAS OF VERMONT AND THEY'RE JUST -- THEY HAVE NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

♪ I WENT TO THE DOCTOR, HE SAID YOU LOOK FINE ♪ ♪ THAT'S $25, NOW WHO'S NEXT IN LINE ♪ ♪ AND IT'S HARD TIMES, COLD TIMES IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME ♪ >> CARE IS VERY GREAT IN THIS AREA.

POOR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY ENOUGH TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE FILLS OF LIFE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THEM.

>> 1/5 OF PEOPLE IN VERMONT HAVE LOST OVER HALF THEIR NATURAL TEETH.

>> THERE'S LOTS OF KIDS, THE AGE OF 2, THE AGE OF 5, THE AGE OF 8 THAT HAVE PROBLEM AT THE GUMS.

>> A DENTAL CLINIC WAS STARTED IN BRISTOL BUT THE LAWS DON'T ALLOW TO SERVE ALL THE PWHAOEPL PEOPLE WHO NEED CARE AND CAN'T GET IT.

WE NEED DENTAL CARE FOR EVERYONE WHO CAN'T GET IT.

>> SOME PARENTS WEREN'T MAKING MUCH MONEY SO THEY ASSUMED I WOULDN'T BE GOING TO COLLEGE SO THEY STARTED TO STICK ME IN A LOT OF BUSINESS COURSES LIKE THE ONES WHO TAO GO TO COLLEGE TAKE SPIKE SPEAR AND THE OTHERS TAKE GENERAL ENGLISH AND READ REALLY DULL BOOKS.

>> IT SHOULD BE EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT SKP- AND NOT A PRIVILEGE FOR AN EDUCATION.

>> IT IS THE FAULT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IT HAS FAILED US MISERABLY.

YOU HAVE FAILED US TERRIBLY.

ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ >> YOU AND I PAY MORE MONEY THAT IS ALL THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT IN CIGARETTE TAXES THAN ALL THE CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES PAY IN INCOME TAXES.

>> TOWNS OFTEN RENT CORPORATIONS LOW AND STABLE TAX RATES OR GUARANTEED NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> THEY'VE GOT TAX STABILIZATION HERE.

CONS KWCONS K >> A FEW YEARS AGO NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE WAS DECIDING WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS.

THEY WANTED TO GO TO THE TOWN THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PAY THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TAXES.

MONTPELIER OFFERED MORE THAN BURLINGTON AND THE PEOPLE OF MONTPELIER HAD BEEN PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE IN PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE PAYS PRACTICALLY NOTHING IN TAXES.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, BUT I SHOULD SAY 25% OF YOUR MILLIONAIRE TODAY DOESN'T PAY SALES TAX.

IF YOU WANT MY OPINION, IT'S A DAMN RACKET.

>> FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE, TAXES MEAN THEY CAN'T BUY THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES FOR THEM.

FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE, TAXES MEAN THEY CAN'T BUY AS MANY LUXURIES AS THEY WANTED TO BUY.

>> THE LAST TWO YEARS SHE SOLD LAND TO PAY THE TAXES.

BEFORE THAT, WE USED IT LOGGING.

WE'RE PRETTY WELL STRIPPED THE WOODS.

EVEN THOUGH YOU CUT OFF YOUR WOODS, YOUR GOOD LOGS TO PAY TAXES, BUT THEY STILL TAX YOUR WOODS MORE THAN THEY DID WHEN THE LOGS ARE STILL THERE.

THE TREES CAN'T GROW AS FAST AS THEY CAN TAX.

>> I'VE BEEN AT MANY AUCTIONS WATCHING PEOPLE BEING SOLD OUT FOR A PITTANCE.

SOMETIMES HO HOUSEHOLD AUCTIONS OR FARM AUCTIONS.

IT'S POOR PEOPLE GOING TO THE CITY WHERE THEY'RE NOT TRAINED OR NOT WANTED AND THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM.

THE PEOPLE ARE LEFT TO STARVE ON THE LAND OR TO BECOME THE SHALL I SAY JANITORS JANITORS, GRASS CUTTERS, MAINTENANCE PEOPLE?

♪ >> JUST ABOUT AS FAST AS THE SMALL PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED OUT OF BUSINESS, LARGE OUT OF STATE MONOPOLIES ARE TAKING OVER VERMONT'S INDUSTRY.

SOMETIMES BIG COMPANIES LIKE IBM WILL PROVE IN AND SET UP LARGE NEW FACTORIES.

OTHER TIMES LOCALLY OWNED INDUSTRY WILL BE BOUGHT OUT.

SPRINGFIELD'S MACHINE TOOL INDUSTRY WHICH USED TO BE ALL LOCALLY OWNED HAS BEEN ALMOST ENTIRELY BOUGHT OUT BY BIG INTERNATIONAL CONGLOMERATES.

>> THE ANSWERING MACHINE COMPANY IS OWNED BY TEXTTRON WHICH IS AN INDUSTRIAL IMPAOEUR.

EMPIRE.

>> MANY VERMONTERS MAY BE POOR, BUT VERMONT ISN'T REALLY A POOR STATE.

IN FACT, IN 1971, VERMONT'S INDUSTRY ALONE PRODUCED $550 MILLION.

$50 MILLION WENT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES.

$125 MILLION WENT TO MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL, AND OTHER SALARIED WORKERS.

$175 MILLION WENT TO WORKERS WAGES LEAVING APPROXIMATELY $200 MILLION AS THE OWNER'S SHARE.

MORE MONEY GOES TO THE OWNERS FOR OWNING THAN TO THE WAGE WORKERS FOR WORKING.

AND SINCE ONLY ONE OF THE LARGEST 15 INDUSTRIES IN VERMONT IS OWNED AND OPERATED FROM VERMONT, MUCH OF THIS MONEY LEAVES THE STATE.

♪ >> LOCAL BUSINESSMEN ENCOURAGE OUT OF STATE INDUSTRY TO COME TO VERMONT.

THE COUNTY'S BIGGEST BANKERS, REAL ESTATE BROKERS, CONSTRUCTION MILLIONAIRES AND OTHERS SET UP THE GREATER BURLINGTON INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION WHICH BOUGHT LAND AND SET UP FACTORIES.

THE WORKING PEOPLE HAVEN'T REALLY BENEFITED BY THE NEW MONEY THAT OUT OF STATE INDUSTRY HAS BROUGHT TO CHITTENDEN COUNTY.

PRICES IN RENTS HAVE GONE UP FASTER THAN WAGES.

PEOPLE LIKE THE TKP GRISWOLDS ARE DOING WELL.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE LIVING IN LONG ISLAND.

MY FATHER HAD A GOOD POSITION.

GE TOLD HIM HE'D HAVE A GOOD POSITION UP HERE AND THEY TOLD HIM ABOUT ALL THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SO WE MOVED UP HERE.

AND HE WAS WORKING FOR A WHILE FOR SIX MONTHS AT THE LONGEST AND THEY LAID THEM OFF.

WHEN THEY NEED THEM, THEY HIRED THEM.

WHEN THEY DON'T NEED THEM, THEY LAY THEM OFF GIVING ABSOLUTELY NO CONSIDERATION TO THE PERSON'S LIVING, EXISTING.

THEY DON'T REALLY CARE.

STPHO ♪ I JUST GOT LAID OFF AND THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO, MY KIDS ARE HUNGRY ♪ ♪ AND IT'S HARD TIMES, COLD TIMES, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME ♪ >> THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH REAL ECONOMIC SECURITY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO OWN A LOT OF PROPERTY.

STOCKHOLDERS, BANKERS, BIG LAND HOLDERS AND BUSINESSMEN LIKE THE ROCKEFELLERS.

>> SO THAT'S WHAT THE COMPANIES ARE DOING.

SAY WE GOT A THOUSAND PEOPLE ON LAY OFF.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 3 OR HAD H400 WHO WON'T BE CALLED BACK.

THEIR JOBS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.

>> I BELIEVE FOR VERMONT THE JOBS ARE VERY UNDERPAID COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

IF THE SHOP CLOSES DOWN, THEY'LL OPEN ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY PAY WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY AND YOU WORK AT THAT OR LEAVE TOWN AND FIND A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE.

♪ THE PRICES GO UP, THE WAGE STAYS THE SAME AND THE RICH, THEY GET RICHER, NOW AIN'T IT A SHAME ♪ ♪ AND IT'S HARD TIMES, COLD TIMES ♪ ♪ IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME >> SOME HAVE TWO JOBS IF THEY WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME AND USUALLY IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE HOME THEY GET DOUBLY EXPLOITED BECAUSE THEY GET LOUSY WAGES.

>> THE JOBS THAT THE MEN IN OUR SHOP WERE PAID TO DO AND COULDN'T DO, BUT I DON'T GET ANY MORE PAY FOR IT, LIKE OVERTIME.

THEY GOT JUST ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT I WAS GETTING.

>> THESE EMPLOY ROUGHLY 600 PEOPLE.

THEY ARE VERY, VERY STRICT WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THEY HAVE THEIR WORK DONE UP HERE.

THE UNION GETS IT CHEAPLY MEAD.

>> MY WAGE IS DOWN FROM $5.15 AN HOUR TO $3 LIKE THEY'RE PAYING THESE GUYS HERE NOW.

THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

THEY CUT OFF COFFEE BREAKS IN THE MORNING WHICH IF YOU WORK FIVE HOURS YOU WANT A LITTLE COFFEE.

>> IF HE CAN CHARGE SOMEBODY $10 AN HOUR FOR LABOR, HE CAN ONLY PAY THE LABORER $3, HE'S MAKING $7, SO HE'S HAPPY.

♪ >> SO FAR I FOUND A JOB AND I'M DOING CHAMBER MAID WORK NOW.

IT'S VERY DEMEANING WORK.

IT'S HARD.

YO -- I REALLY DON'T MIND WORKING HARD FOR MY MONEY.

BUT IT'S THE LOWEST POSSIBLE WAGE YOU CAN GET.

YOUR EMPLOYER, YOU KNOW, LOOKS AT YOU LIKE A SUBHUMAN BEING TO DRIVE AS HARD AS HE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT I THINK I'VE GOTTEN ABOUT TWO TIPS IN THE LAST MONTH FOR ABOUT $1 APIECE AND WHEN THEY DO GIVE YOU THAT $1, THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE HERE'S YOUR $1, YOU BETTER BE SATISFIED.

>> POVERTY AND UPEMPLOYMENT ENSURE THAT JOBS WILL BE FILLED QUICKLY AND AT A LOW WAGE THAT BRINGS IN THE MOST PROFIT FOR BUSINESSMEN.

>> IF THERE'S NO WORK, THERE'S NO WORK.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND PEOPLE ARE JUST EXISTING.

THEY'RE NOT LIVING.

>> MANY PEOPLE FEEL THAT POOR PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO EAT THE RIGHT THINGS.

I DON'T THINK VERY OFTEN THIS IS THE CASE.

I THINK USUALLY IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE MONEY.

>> HECTIC.

IT'S BEEN HELL.

IT'S BEEN HELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND EAT SPAGHETTI WITH K KETCHUP FOR DINNER, IT'S NOT GOOD.

♪ I JUST LOST MY JOB AND NOW THAT I'M FREE I HAD TO TAKE WELFARE.

THEY SAY I'M A CHEAT, AND IT'S HARD TIMES COLD TIMES IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME ♪ >> IF YOU'RE ON WELFARE, IT COMES FROM TAXES.

I WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I HAD TO PAY TAXES ALL THAT TIME.

BUT THEY DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY AT ALL.

>> THE ELDERLY PEOPLE TODAY HAVEN'T GOT NOTHING.

HALF OF THEM HAVEN'T GOT RUNNING WATER, TOILETS.

THEY HAVEN'T GOT NOTHING.

I HAVEN'T GOT IT.

CAN'T GET IT.

♪ YOU DON'T ASK FOR FAVORS WHEN YOUR LIFE IS TRUE, YOU'VE GOT A RIGHT TO WHAT'S COMING TO YOU ♪ ♪ THE BOSSES GET PENSION WHEN WE USED TO WORK TO HELP THEM RETIRE, NOW YOU'RE OUT IN THE COLD ♪ ♪ TOO OLD TO WORK, TOO OLD TO WORK WHEN YOU'RE TOO OLD TO WORK AND YOU'RE TOO KWRO YOUNG TO DIE ♪ STPHOELT ♪ WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE TOO OLD TO WORK AND TOO YOUNG TO DIE ♪ >> I DON'T KNOW.

IF I SAY ONE THING, IT MIGHT NOT SET VERY GOOD, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT.

WE'RE GOING TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING.

IF WE DON'T PRETTY SOON, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME TO.

>> THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW, MOST OF THIS COUNTRY'S MONOPOLY CORPORATIONS AND WEALTH ARE OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY A SMALL MINORITY OF PEOPLE.

THEY THEREFORE HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE WHAT COURSE THIS COUNTRY TAKES, WHAT THINGS WE DO FOR WORK, AND HOW MUCH WE GET PAID.

THESE MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH COST AND POOR QUALITY OF EVERYTHING WE BUY.

OUR FOOD, HOUSING, AND EVEN OUR HEALTHCARE.

IN A REAL DEMOCRACY, EVERYONE WOULD HAVE AN EQUAL SAY IN AND THESE DECISIONS WOULD BE BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE NEED, NOT HOW MUCH PROFIT IS TO BE MADE FOR A HANDFUL OF RICH MEN.

>> UNLESS IT'S TAKEN OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE GET RICH QUICK PEOPLE, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE SPRAWLING CITY FROM SPRINGFIELD MASS TO SPRINGFIELD VERMONT AND THAT ISN'T TOO FAR IN THE COUNTRY.

DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRY ARE POWERFUL TOOLS.

THEY COULD BE USED TO BENEFIT EVERYONE OR THEY COULD CONTINUE TO BENEFIT ONLY A FEW WHILE MAKING LIFE HARD FOR THE REST OF US.

WE MUST CHANGE THE GAME.

>> AND PEOPLE THAT GET UP THERE AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF TALKING, A LOT OF PEOPLE COULDN'T SAY MUCH BECAUSE IT BOTHERED THEM TO TALK IN PUBLIC.

THEY WERE THERE AND THEY TRIED TO SAY SOMETHING AND THAT WAS VERY CONVINCING, VERY CONVINCING.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET CHANGED IS BAND TOGETHER AND SHOW FORCE.

JUST SHOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE SAME THING.

>> THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER, THERE'S NO EASY CURE, BUT FIGHTING TOGETHER WILL CHANGE THINGS FOR SURE BECAUSE IT'S HARD, COLD TIMES, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE GAME.

>> VERMONT PBS PARTNERING WITH HROEPL F LOCAL