A Tale of Two Communities
Twelve Simple Steps to Failure
Buzz Carloftis, Rockcastle County Judge Executive.
Think of a family – any
family. Now think of two families. The members of both families are equally
bright and intelligent –even good looking and pleasant to be with.
Neither family is better than the other.
But one family has been successful getting jobs, creating businesses,
making a living. The other
family has suffered unfortunate economic failures.
So what has made the
differences in these two families?
Why has one been successful while the other has been financially
disadvantaged – often for generations?
Now think of a
community – your community.
Compare it with another community.
Why has one been successful in creating an environment for jobs and
businesses, while the other must send its citizens to find work in a distant
community? Again, there is no
difference in the intelligence of the two different communities, but one has
been financially successful in building a strong local economy, while the
other has not.
Why?
It is because the financially failing community (and family)
has followed a very clearly marked pathway to economic downturn.
The trails they followed clearly led to failure:
1)
SIGN OF THE OSTRICH
When faced with changing conditions, they adopted the “Ostrich
Syndrome”. Instead of facing
new conditions and the challenges they bring, they refuse to make changes,
relying instead upon old “tried and true” methods of getting things done.
(The problem with this is that
every day’s challenges are often different from yesterday’s challenges.
Just as every day brings different weather, it also brings different
challenges. Old methods don’t
always clearly address today’s problems.)
Don’t address any new problems.
Continue to keep your head low.
Maybe the problems will go away.
2)
DON’T SHARE THE WEALTH
Shop as often as possible away from home.
You will often save a few dollars and, at night, rest assured with
the knowledge that your neighbors will not enrich themselves from your
labors. And by doing this as
often as possible, you will assure that your neighbors’ local businesses
will have less and less to invest in their property and any new business
ventures they might have wanted to start locally.
Dollars spent elsewhere will move around in that community instead of
your home community. A smart
move.
3)
DON’T BE A CHRISTIAN STEWARD OF PROPERTY
After all, repairs cost money –
money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Leave the bridge, roof, road, water, sewer, and other repairs to the
next generation. After all,
they learn from you. You are
the point man on the trail. You
lead; they follow. Another
brilliant move.
4)
DO NOT INVEST LOCALLY
In other words, make no investment in things
that can bring future prosperity to your community.
After all, this is your money – not your neighbor’s, children’s,
or grandchildren’s. Let
tomorrow take care of itself.
Today think only of yourself.
Make no investments in your community, even though your grandchildren will
have to try making a living in it. Another wise decision.
5)
JUST SAY ‘NO’
When approached with a new idea, remember that not all ideas are,
indeed, good. Bad ideas are
often placed before you. How to
tell the difference? Remember
that good ideas are thought-provoking, progressive, and hard to argue
against. Nevertheless, argue regardless.
Don’t offer any workable alternatives or options to the plan
presented. Just say ‘No’, and
say it with pride. After all,
you want to be heard above those who see a need for change.
6)
BUILD WALLS – NOT BRIDGES – TO OUTSIDERS
Do
everything possible to prevent new ideas from taking root.
Make certain that you erect barriers to stop forward movement.
One easy way to do this is to allow property under your stewardship
to fall into disrepair; it easily discourages new investment and visitors
who might have otherwise found your community attractive.
A great move.
7)
POOR MOUTH YOUR COMMUNITY / HAVE NO PRIDE
Never
be found guilty of trying to build up your community with the words you
speak to others. Criticize
your neighbors, businesses, and local government as often as possible.
Be sure to fail to recognize what your community’s potential really
is. Let others define you.
Don’t define yourself. It’s
easier that way. Doesn’t take
nearly as much work.
8)
KEEP YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT POOR
By keeping taxes so low
that your government can’t provide the infrastructure for roads, new jobs
creation, and many other things with which you often compare your community
to others, you will absolutely assure that your community keeps falling
behind. In simple language:
Don’t allow your local government to work on your behalf to make the
community more attractive to entrepreneurs.
9)
CRITICIZE
When faced with something new, just
criticize it. Don’t offer a truly workable solution to what has been
suggested.
10)
KEEP HOME AND LAND VALUES LOW
Keep your community’s property values lower
than those in neighboring communities. By keeping your community poorer
in jobs and commercial activity than others – and thereby forcing your
property values lower – you will attract ‘refugees’ from other
communities. You know who they
are: They are the ones who
didn’t have a job or try to start a business in their community, and they
will do the same in yours. But they do find your community attractive.
They can ‘afford’ living in yours.
11)
NO RULES / NO REGULATIONS
Let anyone (whether a
local person or someone from outside the community) do what they please.
After all, whose business is it to tell a landowner he can’t put, for
example, a foul-smelling, loud, or otherwise unsightly enterprise next to
homes that have been built by local folks who have gone into heavy debt to
have their homes?
12)
DON’T ACT – JUST REACT
When seeing problems
looming on the horizon, circle the wagons and hope they don’t totally engulf
you with superior forces. Make
no plans to meet the future.
Don’t attempt to shape it to your home community’s benefit.
Congratulations! You have followed the trail to its end. You have helped create failure. All present and future problems remain unresolved.
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