I’m about to blog about small town planning.
DON’T LEAVE THERE IS SO MUCH SEX IN THIS POST!
OK, there isn’t, but the possibility that I’m lying might get you through the next paragraph. Anything goes.
What’s a small town SLASH rural SLASH urban industrial corridor (ie. Iron Range) guy supposed to do in this economy, this political climate and this global trend to keep his world in harmony?
Option 1: Get elected. Give large amounts of public money to Shiny McJobsalot to create jobs, jobs, jobs. Pro: Maybe jobs! Con: inevitable failure.
Option 2: Get with the suburbs. Hate our rural places. Hate our rural industrial corridors and their many bars and schools. Move to the Cities. Crush the small towns. CRUSH THEM! Deny ourselves the comfort of place and home. Pro: Endless supply of polo shirts. Con: Self-loathing.
Option 3: Hide in office with pistol and whiskey. Pros: Shootin’ and drinkin.’ Con: Legal trouble.
I don’t like these options. I’m a progressive in terms of my views of the role of government in society but that point of view and even intermittent electoral success hasn’t improved the state of my nearby Iron Range towns, schools and counties lately. I’m not changing my mind, but I am seeking a practical solution.
Over at The Planner Blog, fellow KAXE contributor Charles Marohn writes “How a Small Town Can Survive (and even Thrive).” This is worth a read. The links within are useful resources and Marohn offers a conservative’s practical viewpoint on how small towns can get by in hard times. As a whole, I don’t like the word “hibernate” as a strategy. But as I told Chuck after I read this, progressives could find comfort in thinking of this time in rural development as a moment to consolidate power in the jungles, waiting for the right moment to begin the revolution. In any event, this post lays out for me a common concept for liberals and conservatives to both embrace in rural and rural industrial places: smart, competent planning with wise spending decisions. The first comment is also worth a read.
Aaron… Chill. Just, chill.
I knew that one would tick you off, K-Rod.
Say, if your goal is to be antagonistic and belittle other commenters on every post I write until I turn off comments, you’re getting warmer. This is a hobby farm, brother. I don’t have time to entertain your lunacy. Not everyone is like you. Not everyone agrees with you. Flooding the comments of a blog that gets 250 readers a day is not a good use of your time or mine.
Seriously?
You claim you tried to tick me off and you called me a lunatic; then you turn around and call me the antagonist?
Seriously? Aaron, just remember, when you point that finger, three are pointing at you. 😉
In your heart you know I am right.
When you hibernate, you are dramatically conserving resources until there is a better opportunity to use them. I think of a hungry bear running around frantically looking for food when there is none – better to chill a little and take care of what you got. There will be a day to ramp it up (emerge from the jungle) soon.
I appreciate the post and am flattered to have you read my stuff. We share a love of Small Town America (and thoughtful discussion), which makes you a guy I enjoy.
I want a revolution too. Let’s keep at it. I firmly believe that good ideas are the most valuable commodity in the current market.
Take care.
Thanks, Chuck — I’ve actually read most of your posts recently I just haven’t always had the time to write about them. I’m with you that a lot of towns and local gov’t units are getting some very bad advice from people who profit from it. Here’s to the revolution, whatever form that might take,
all the best, happy 4th,
AB