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Springfield Food Fighters Guild
by George McNaughton
August 05, 2014 12:13 PM EDT
Springfield is like much of America in many ways, but it is unique in many ways as well. It was a mill town, now it is struggling out of the “former mill town” image struggling for a vision of a new future. It is surrounded by bedroom towns such as Chester, Weathersfield, Baltimore, and Cavendish. Nearby former mill towns, Windsor and Bellows Falls, are somewhat ahead of Springfield as far as the transition process is concerned primarily because they lost their mills sooner than Springfield did.
The entire area, fact the entire State and New England region, is suffering from a plague of opiate addiction brought on by a variety of factors: 1) the “liberation” of Afghan poppy production; 2) prior over prescription of oxycontin; 3) saturation of the black market in other States to the South in particular New Jersey; 4) an overwhelmed criminal judicial system; 5) lack of capacity in treatment facilities; 5) slowness of change in police enforcement; 6) irrationality in the drug reform; and most importantly 6) a crushing blow to the local middle-class brought on by political economics at the national level.
Prior to the plague, Springfield was already hard hit with the permanent loss of manufacturing jobs and a State education system funded primarily by real estate taxes. In addition, it has no “real” college or university presence to lure in middle-class consumers and progressive thinkers.
On the other hand, it is blessed with the fastest internet access on the planet, plenty of potentially beautiful former mill sites available for renovation and adaption to new uses, a good school system, and an excellent technical center. It has a certified community health center and its hospital is centrally located and primed for expansion having taken on a serious commitment to “wellness” in its acquisition of a state of the art health and recreation center.
The problem is to stop the downward economic spiral brought on by the failure to adapt after the loss of the mills and the ennui that enveloped the community with the economic decline. Failure to grapple with the ennui has resulted in an upsurge in opiate addiction and gang activity which in turn has distracted the community from needed economic development ventures. That combined with the notion that real estate taxes are the sole and primary problem facing the community and retarding its growth has led to stagnation in a wide range of endeavors.
I suspect what is needed is a project which would get the local self-reliance population and the progressive activists working together. Currently there is a need for a certified processing kitchen/bakery/cannery so that local market farmers and bakers can convert their products into goods which can be sold in the grocery stores and online. There is also a need for a program which the 16 through 30 age group is interested in and would capture their attention during a time when things are economically tough and less desirable groups (gangs) are tempting them with community solidarity and black market money.
A local baker who is also a school bus driver recently indicated to me that he would be interested in getting some of the youth involved in baking. Meanwhile another group came to me pleading to do something to help the local boxing club survive to help youth and young adults. It occurred to me that possibly it would make sense to set up a situation where we were encouraging people to start various business ventures involving farm products and at the same time attracting they youth and young adults into involvement with an activity in which they are already interested. Helping the two bond for the benefit of the community. I also wondered if in addition to food processing and martial arts training , whether we could develop a new type of local culinary art taking off from Teppanyaki style cuisine to form a distinctly American form of culinary performance which we could say call “Precision Grilling” or something like that. I could see such forming a positive and wholesome group of lifestyle activists known as the Springfield Food Fighter’s Guild.
The question is, is this type of thinking too far out of the box? If we are really committed to change, then perhaps we need to step out of the trap of conventional thinking and embrace something “far out” or “off the wall” – to get things moving again.
George, I don't know whether to admire your rather cockeyed optimism or be chagrinned by your naiveté and satire.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, your thought process is interesting to say the least. Outside the box? I would say yes, and with both feet. Allow me to debate your issues.
ReplyDeleteThe drug problem and creating new business or attracting new business to the area are two separate problems. I know there is a certain relationship between the two but solving one issue will not necessarily fix, or if you will eliminate the other. Over the past ten to twenty years we have heard several town leaders shouting from the roof tops (I believe you were among them) telling us better schools will draw top folks, bringing business along with them. We made large investments into the school system and results are; population is still in decline, business is still closing doors. We did draw a very organized drug business while denying it existed to avoid dealing with it.
As a town we have become a ward of the State. We have a prison, many buildings hold offices that offer State services ranging from DMV to mental health to welfare. They also hold several employees that drive into town each morning from homes elsewhere. While here they service "special needs" folks that live in Springfield. We see them everyday pushing a stroller, waiting for a bus or sitting on a bench in the plaza. And yes I'm stereotyping but let's face it things are in most cases exactly what they are. The Post Office probably deliver more checks each week than local employers.
I think you need to find the root of the problems here and attack them. The problems we see are only results of past actions of others. So where is the root? Is it people? Is it the State? Is it the climate (and I don't mean weather)? Before we had a drug issue much business and tax base was lost. In fact I'm one to believe that is why this drug issue was allowed to grow. No business was knocking on the door of build or remodel existing property.
You my friend have a town with a lot of overpaid folks that live comfortably on the taxpayer dime. Those that pay the taxes, as in employed or retired homeowners are content driving across the Connecticut River to shop, eat and fuel their vehicles. That may not be Springfield's fault so much as a State issue.
Folks coming up Interstate 91 turn off Exit 6 on their way to Okemo. This is good for Chester. Others keep driving to Interstate 89 or on up 91 towards other destinations. What is the destination that can be created to turn more cars off Exit 7? Sadly to say Springfield does not have a lot to offer. As an example our industrial park is on the wrong side of town, it needed to have easier access to the interstate. Will a bakery change anything, not unless it's commercial type. And not saying that cannot be done. Boxing and martial arts clubs are fine, how do they help the tax base?
No matter what you do there will always be a drug problem. You can drive in back underground, which is what most would prefer but it will still thrive. Take a look across the river at the business environment, then take a look at what Vermont has to offer from taxes to regulations for business. Springfield is not a bit behind, it's close to out the race. If we have a John Lester then it maybe time to trade him.
BTW, I would use my name here and offer to join in finds idea's and ways to help Springfield. But the elites in town can't and will not give up their little bit of control. This is proven IMHO back the lack of leadership change at all levels. Watching the July 14 Selectboard meeting on SAPA spoke loudly to this.
Naivete' possibly, satire not intended at all. Cockeyed possibly, optimism absolutely.
ReplyDeleteI think 9:12 has summarized the nature of most recipients of public assistance: They are indeed quite simply overpaid! Only in liberal land can generational poverty become normative - where the power of government is used against taxpayers to coerce them into having to fund payments to those who render nothing of value to society in return for generation after generation.
ReplyDeleteYou overlook the governmental policies which have resulted in worker productivity going up some 240% since 1973 while worker income (in constant dollars) has stayed basically flat. Wal-Mart workers are paid so little that the social supports to which they are entitled-- and badly need-- cost taxpayers an average of $940,000 per store. And while every public school in the country could be completely refurbished by putting millions of Americans to work at decent construction jobs for only $500 billion, tax laws ensure that that money stays in the hands of and is passed largely untouched to the heirs of the best-off one percent. (In Vermont alone, they control $32 billion of untaxed private property.)
DeleteI suggest you read Hedrick Smith's book, "Who Stole the American Dream?" It will remove the scales from anybody's eyes.
Chuck, getting other opinion is fine. Taking other opinions, mixing with your own experience then drawing conclusions based on facts is most important. Do folks write books to sell books, or to solve problems? Everyone that takes a job at Wal-Mart doesn't take it because they are forced to, they apply, get hired and go to work. Some advance to higher positions, other like having the income. If they still qualify for public assistance their earnings are deducted, thus less "on the dole" money. But this subject is not about Wal-Mart but being the true lib you are the attempt to high-jack the issue and put it back on the "one-percent" doesn't surprise me. I say close all the Wal-Marts, Dollar Stores, or any Box Store and see what it does to local economies. Or you can just look at Springfield.
DeleteThis subject is about the problems in Springfield, VT. A town that is now creating (as 6:39 says above) generations of welfare victims (or willing participates). Taxes from you beloved Wal-Mart help pay for those that can only muster up enough energy to walk to the corner of Summer and Main Street to spend their "free" money on drugs. The EBT card was a great idea wasn't it?
The number one business in Springfield right now is the drug business, followed closely by the welfare. We seem to have no answers, no one willing to invest in business ventures and leadership that has either failed or is incompetent. Worst of all the tax base continues to dwindle while school and town tax rates increase. Let alone Federal and State Taxes. I agree with points you made previously that government needs to invest in towns and work with business to create opportunism. Bottom line is a business will not invest it's share it failure is for certain, government is more that happy to throw money around without any concern about success (there are several "former" green energy companies to prove that). In the end it all comes down to people, some make good choices and others make poor ones. In your world those making good ones should be punished. Not quite how America was built Chuck. By the way, if it's so bad here you would think Canada would be erecting high fences and increasing border patrols to keep Americans out!
I spent almost three decades working for and with people who would have been happy to be paid minimum wage to suffer the abuse that employers like Wal-Mart dish out. One I remember in particular was a Claremont Wal-Mart worker who got locked into the store every night as the shift did the night routine. (That supervisor's family also was screwed over in the sub-prime crisis and is now dealing with an extra $25,000 load in paying off their house.)
ReplyDeleteWal-Mart depends for its workforce on people who have learned in life to be abused, whose self-esteem is so low they will never protest, and who are so desperate for the basics that they can be counted on to never consider organizing in the workplace (Wal-Mart clearly studied Hoffer's "The True Believer" to establish hiring criteria). If even fifty percent of Wal-Mart employees went on to higher positions in the organization, I would agree with you that it is a good business, but it isn't. And when you consider that something in the neighborhood of 85% of its stock is made in China or elsewhere overseas, it's terrible for our balance of trade. Read Hedrick Smith's "Who Stole the American Dream?" to get some idea of what's been happening around you.
But let's get bad to Springfield. I said, "You overlook the governmental policies which have resulted in worker productivity going up some 240% since 1973 while worker income (in constant dollars) has stayed basically flat." It was government policy which made it profitable for Textron to suck the industrial heart out of town-- for example, the failure to clamp down on CEO pay practices which encouraged cowboy capitalism and stock manipulation over improved products of benefit to the economy. I could go on and on, but the point is, unless you get curious about what's going on beyond your present ken, it won't make any difference.
Employment is an agreement between the employee and the employer. If the both agree the terms are acceptable then the employee employer relationship is formed. If at a later date the employee doesn't like the terms they are free to leave.
DeleteChuck, the article is about Springfield and drugs. There is no Wal-Mart in Springfield, possible employees, but no Wal-Mart. Stick to the subject please. I haven't seen any response from George on other comments. Interesting for a guy that was going to be such a mover and shaker before elected.
ReplyDeleteI rarely comment on this blog, although I do read it. If you want to see my comments on issues, then you will need to look on Facebook particularly at the following group pages, namely: Springfield United for Action, and Springfield Alternative Development Ideas. Both groups are open for Springfielders to join, but they have to use their real names. My apologies if you feel I have not been shaking and moving hard enough.
DeleteWith Chuck, it's all about the villainization. Big government virtuous; private industry nefarious. Unfortunately for Chuck, he only consumes (and believes) the big government/union pablum flowing out of left-wing propagandists. Not surprising that he would patronize Wal-Mart at the expense of the mom and pops. Typical of slack jawed hypocrites who enjoy blaming others for their own misery and failings.
ReplyDeleteSo, how would you protect Springfield's industry from the sort of depredation practiced by Textron (the shops) and Unilever (Ben and Jerry's)? Or would you rather just be a victim?
ReplyDelete