‘Never’ Does Not Exist – Building Self-Reliance

“We will never have the prosperity we had in the 90’s. The people of Michigan just have to learn to live with less.”
–Richard Ball, debate with Mike Powers, September 2004

Note: This is the eighth in a series on revitalizing Shiawassee County

Building Self Reliance

There is no doubt that globalization has hurt the Shiawassee economy. Manufacturers that once turned to rural areas for low cost labor now go offshore. Automation has also taken a toll on Shiawassee, eliminating the need for many of the manual tasks that were once performed by our workers. As these jobs were lost, disposable income in the area was reduced, and collateral businesses that relied on this income also failed. Residents hurting from these losses left the area in search of other employment and business opportunities. Many of those who currently reside in Shiawassee are employed outside of the county.

The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Shiawassee County government are working hard to bring business into our community. While these investments will provide jobs and hopefully increase wages in the area, we must never lose sight of the fact that it was our dependency on outside forces that caused our decline in prosperity. As such, our focus must be on self-sufficiency and sustainability. External markets and resources should be developed, but we must never allow ourselves to be fully dependent on forces outside of Shiawassee County.

Energy

Shiawassee currently imports most of the energy used by its homes and businesses. Aggressive energy management can reduce our dependence on this imported energy and allow our residents and businesses to use that money for other things. Furthermore, a commitment to energy management demonstrates that Shiawassee is a forward thinking community and makes us more attractive to newcomers.

Alternative and sustainable energies must be an integral part of any Shiawassee based energy management program. In addition to the technical obstacles faced by the development of new energies, there are several social barriers that impede progress. Utility preferences, business practices, and consumer attitudes all discourage the exploration and adoption of alternative energy. The county government can and should demonstrate leadership to lower these barriers, and develop and encourage policy innovations that link these new energies with local jobs.

Next Time: Small Business / Entrepreneurship