THE FUTURE OF RHODE ISLAND

Contrary to what people may think, I actually believe that there is a potentially bright future for Rhode Island. I am quite negative about much of what is, but that does not preclude me from being positive about what Rhode Island could be.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a Pollyanna about such things and I certainly do not see the Rhode Island landscape through rose colored glasses, but I do believe that the sinking ship of state has the potential to be righted.

As I mentioned in earlier pieces, I see the current crisis in Rhode Island as a wake up call. It is a situation whereby Rhode Island can rise from its ashes, that is, assuming Rhode Islanders have the commitment to do so.

Rhode Island is different from other states in many ways. We have a strange demographic which leans toward older, less affluent people. We are situated in the Northeast and we are between New York and Boston, a factor that keeps pricing for goods and services higher than the rest of the nation.

Still, as a state we are quite poor at managing money and economic development. We educate our children, and pay dearly for it, only to have them leave the state for employment. We not only lose a viable economic engine, we pay the education costs of our competitors.

The current budgetary crisis is a direct result of spending from the heart and not from the head. We are poor planners and we are suckers for a cause. This is not all bad, except when it reaches extremes. That is where Rhode Island is at present.

The need to rein in the budget and to prepare a plan for the future is essential. Quite frankly, I am not so sure that the current administration and the presently seated legislature are up to that task.

The need to relinquish local control, the need to reasonably fund social welfare programs, the need to avoid quick fixes to balance a budget, the need to avoid further taxing an already over-taxed population, the need to create a better system of governance and the need to stop the wastefulness of government are all critical at this point in time.

Rhode Island’s future will depend on how these issues are dealt with in the legislature. If Rhode Island fails in this attempt, it will have a long future of being a second rate state, a laggard in many respects.

Sure, Rhode Island is beautiful. And sure, it is a great place to live. And so forth, but that doesn’t really pay the bills. A reliance on tourism and being a great place to live is not the sole basis for competition in the world of economic development.

Rhode Island has been presented with an opportunity. As my mother would always remind me, it is always darkest before the dawn. This is true here. The question is whether or not Rhode Island will make the requisite adjustments to bring about a dawning of a new day or whether the dawn will bring rain.

Therefore, I can only conclude that there is much potential for Rhode Island’s future. This potential is only limited by the dolts that occupy government. The people, having been purposely kept unaware of matters (assuming that they could understand them if they were presented), will continue to be the downfall of Rhode Island.

Until we can replace the ignorance and apathy of the voting public, and until we can rid Rhode Island of the “I’ve got mine” mentality, this state will continue in a downward spiral or at best maintain itself in its current state of dismal malaise.

If I were a betting man I would not put my money on Rhode Island gloriously rising from its ashes. I think it is an even bet that there will be quick fixes that are bandages for the problem. There are no smiles in Mudville.