A Snapshot

I've been working in my hometown. The best way I can describe it is that it's a crap hole. Far from the growing, thriving city of my youth, the abandoned houses, failing streets, obvious signs of poverty, and neglect show a failing city. There isn't enough money, too many city officials are incompetent, and the shrinking tax base indicates it will only become worse.

My hometown isn't an isolated occurrence. Traveling in other cities reveals the same problems. In spite of the booming economy, failed bureaucratic measures only mean doom for these cities. EEO policies turned competent city governments into bureaucratic nightmares, and those elected by those that didn't flee are mostly opportunists looking for a way to receive the most milk from the public cow.

At this point, there isn't anything to attract new business in my hometown. Rampant disregard for the law led to thousands of illegal aliens, who created a sub-society with shops that speak mostly foreign languages. Outsiders are not welcome, and those attempting to broaden their experience may find they're the easy victim of crime. Newcomers will feel threatened, and businesses hoping to expand will find better places for their workers.

So, my hometown will slowly deteriorate, and either become annexed by a larger city, or be absorbed by the growing petrochemical industry. It's a great opportunity for either, since the property values are at rock bottom.  Much can be appropriated by paying back taxes, and anyone surrounded by these abandoned properties will sell at the first opportunity.

I'm sure many others see the same thing in their hometowns. It's sad to see, but it's a hard necessary lesson to be learned by communities. Civil ignorance leads to civil degradation, and the only solution requires an education that public schools are failing to provide.