To the Source:
The distinguished business leaders of the Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Mr. Monopoly want to search for consultants to learn how to attract investors. "Here's half a million bucks from me, boys; if you ante up another quarter of a mil, we can have even more bragging rights as the big shots around here."
I'll tell you for free why people choose to live and work and vacation where they do. All together now: People want a good quality of life. That universally means people want to feel safe in their homes and towns. They need jobs and a reasonable balance between the cost of living and their earnings. They want a good education for their children. They want their trash picked up and disposed of properly. They need good health care. Once people have taken care of their basic necessities, rest assured, they'll find ways to create all manner of activities for leisure and profit. It ain't rocket science.
So now we have three-quarter of a million dollars to improve the quality of life. With all the talk of privatization, just lend the money to an entrepreneur to start a garbage route. Hey, what an idea. Trash gets picked up, people get hired, money gets made, money gets paid back to lend again to another business.
Alas, you can lead a horse to water but . . .
Matt Eckstein
St. Thomas
