Rural Voters Will Benefit From Democratic Values

The VDT had a front page article over the weekend titled, "The Great Divide: Election exposes rural, urban chasm". The question is, is Valdosta urban or rural? In the article, a Republican leader in Colquit County thinks his area has flourished under Republican rule. Here in Valdosta, Lowndes County, it was recently reported we are the ninth poorest city in the USA. That is not flourishing in my book. In fact, I find it the exact opposite. It's not like it just happened. Six years ago it was reported, "Valdosta 3rd Poorest City in US." I've lived here for nearly twenty years. There hasn't been much growth, let alone prosperity. It's about the same.

I don't want commissioners that are content with treading water. I think we should prosper. If we're not, we must be doing something wrong. If we not not prospering, why are we paying the Planning Commission a million dollars a year? Then somehow we can't afford a half million a year for Public Transportation that would help local businesses and employees thus being a stimulus to the local economy? Asking for a friend.

This year is a municipal election year. The mayor sets the agenda. We can either have a conservative mayor that has no vision for the future, but merely continues what has been going on, or someone willing to try some new things. Seeing as we a stuck in the mire, I think we should try some new things. We should not be content with being among the poorest cities in the US, but work on trying things that might help. The way we have been doing things has not worked. We need to change the leadership to do anything different that might help.

It's the local level government that affects you most directly, far more the the federal level. So it's important to pay attention to local issues. They're out there, but you have to look for them. A website called "On The LAKE Front" focuses on Lowndes County and is well worth checking out.

This blog and it's partner podcast is another resource for local issues.