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Has Greene County been left behind?Posted Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 5:15 PM
Have you ever been so frustrated that you throw your hands up in the air and scream, "I've had enough!"
Someone recently shared as much with me, and because of that conversation, I'm very disheartened. This person is someone who is a graduate of a Greene County high school, and has lived their entire life in our county. They are an important contributor to our community. But they're fed up. Fed up with those who refuse to help Greene County grow and prosper, and they're ready to move away. Actually, that's exactly what this person said ... it's time to move on. This person is upset because too many people try to hold back progress, including land use planning. They understand that land use planning isn't the only answer to our problems, but it's a step in the right direction. When they drive around with family members and others from outside the area, they're embarrassed by some of the properties they encounter. And many are right on the main drag -- no matter what community you happen to be visiting. Greene County is a great place to live, but one of its own -- someone you would all respect -- has had enough. And that's sad. Why do so many people fight change? My dad, who recently had open-heart surgery, spoke to me earlier this week about change. He shared with me how much he made when he first went to work for Public Service Indiana back in the 1950s, and how he was able to pay the rent and pay for everything for himself and my mom. He even had a little left over. Times have certainly changed. Prices are through the roof, and continue to skyrocket out of this world. Where will it end? That's a good question. But my dad had an excellent point. The sooner someone adapts to change, the better. They can get on with their lives and hopefully keep up. Those who fight change and refuse to change, they're never going to be satisfied. Should we accept change if we don't agree? Certainly not! But if change happens, we must adjust or get left behind. Has Greene County been left behind because we haven't changed to help ourselves? I know of at least once person who believes so, and they may not be around much longer to help. Chris is the general manager/editor of the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at cpruett79@hotmail.com Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Yes! We are so far behind the times, it's sad. Really sad. Trust me, there are other families ready to leave too. We have been sinking for years!
We give too much respect to the naysayers. It's time that leaders emerge, who don't fear what their neighbor will think or if they'll stop coming into their store because of their positions on local issues.
DEMOCRAT & REPUBLICAN leadership need to quit taking whatever warm body wants to run for an office. They need to seek out TRUE candidates, who have skills.
In the federal, state, and local office, we need to vote out career politicians. Two terms and you're out. We need to stop people being in positions for years -- appointed ones too.
People really need to start taking pride in their town, their community, and their home. There's too much trash, too much deferred maintenance.
Anyone can quit, give up, surrender. It doesn't take much grit to be a quitter. I'm a Marine, I don't quit. But, I'm not a change for change sakes moron either. "Land use", zoning, call it what you will, can be a beneficial change. However it can become a nightmare very quickly if
authority and power is placed in the wrong hands.
I was born in Greene County and have lived here all of my life except for my college years in New York, my military years world wide, and a couple of years residency in Monroe County which formed my reluctance regarding bureaucratic "land use", zoning, enablement. Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it. Pride in yourself, your home, and your community can not be legislated. It is a self actuated endeavor.
http://www.farmandlivestockdirectory.com...
An interesting read for all!
Those against zoning are going to have to face the facts. Very few industries want to move into a county that does not have some sort of zoning regulations. Regardless of your position on zoning, economic growth is going to be very difficult to obtain without it.
Cletus--that is a good read.
Jimmy Joe-- I agree 100%. These politicians that got us in this mess don't deserve the chance to get us out.
I do not like zoning or "land use" laws. I dont believe that anyone has a right to tell me how to use my property. Pride in your personal property is "self actuated".
Great post!
It's terrible to see the state of the home county these days. Even more disheartening is the resistance to change. It would be interesting to see the stats on how many college grads between the ages of 21-40 left the county and did not return. Especially, when tied to their salaries and lost tax revenue to the county. I for one look at the crime stats, income level, education level and general upkeep of the community and realize that it's not the same place where I grew up. Thus, I made the tough decision that my family is much better being raised someplace else.
Many readers will probably say good riddance, but then I add in the fact that this means the company I own and run is also located somewhere else and you have just another example of what the county's resistance to change does to its prosperity.
Cletus, I really cannot fathom why a farmer would be put out by zoning.
I mean, they can enjoy the farm they have because it is grandfathered in no matter what the 'zoned' use is. Their children, their children's children, and on into infinity can farm the ground because the use is grandfathered into the zoning. It has to be. They can even sell the farm to another farmer to farm the ground -- still it's original use -- which satisfies keeping the land 'natural' or whatever even if they don't have offspring to continue the family tradition. And when they do decide to sell out to a developer, and the zoning is something different from agricultural, such as residential, then their property is no longer sold for $3,000 per acre, but it's worth $15,000 - $25,000 per acre because of its zoning.
So, Cletus, tell me how a farmer is hurt by zoning?
I guess if he wants to put up a hotel in the middle of his cornfield after it's zoned, and it's not zoned commercial use, then maybe he can bellyache about that if he can't get a variance. At this point, the county would probably have a big party for you, let alone give you a variance, if we had zoning and you wanted to build a hotel. We need a nice one in the worst way.
But, back to my question, how is making a farmer's property even more valuable hurting the man?
Raven, zoning is socialism at its best! The less government control the better.
Hoosier Scientist, I have heard this arguement before and everytime it is merely an opinion. In my opinion, zoning is a very small item on companies minds when they look at places to locate.
Has anyone thought about how zoning would be paid for? These are very expensive laws to establish and enforce. Oh, I know maybe take it from our road budget since our county roads are in such phenomenal shape. Or maybe do away with a joke of a Economic Development department, because many think "if we Zone it they will come". Industry will be flocking to Greene County so hard that our ED department wont even be needed! What a joke!
My point is that this county is cutting corners on every single department we have and we want to establish a new department? Wake up people!
I unnderstand that the "planning" is paid for and required by the state, but we can stop there!
That's what we need, Cletus, another plan on a shelf somewhere collecting dust. Now, that's progress! I guess you can lead a horse to water, but can't make him drink…
You can talk all you want about pure capitalism, but you don't really want 100% capitalism. If we had 100% capitalism in this country, about 6 families would control everything in this nation, we'd have contamination in our food like China does now, and your net worth now would be about what the ultra-rich families of this country under 100% capitalism would spend on their dog's birthday party.
So, what you're saying is that if Greene County was a factory making widgets, that you would advocate that each 'worker' could do whatever they want, whenever they want, if they even wanted to. Exactly how many widgets would that factory put out, Cletus?
And what if - and this is a big if -- everyone worked, put out widgets perfectly, and everyone joined in the success of that factory purely on there own, but just one person kept throwing the main breaker on the plant? Would that impede the overall success of that factory? I think so.
Long story short, there has to some rules -- not for the sake of having rules, but for achieving success. Anarchy like we have now is not a good plan. That's why we've been on a sinking ship the past 30 years!
Depends on how much $$$ is at stake...
Those "No Zoning" signs out and around the county make us all look bad... like a bunch of backwards, one tooth, overall bib-wearing, red necks... I hear banjos.
THE RAVEN.... ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU HAVE WASTED MANY WORDS ON YOUR POST DEFENDING SOMETHING THAT WONT HELP YOU AT ALL. JUST LOOK WHERE YOU LIVE AND ANSWER THE QUESTION HOW WILL IT HELP ME?
onebyone, so you're saying that all is lost? We're too far gone already? You may be right.