Letter: Is Morganton progressive?

By: Ricky Allen | Morganton News Herald
Published: October 08, 2008

Morganton, N.C. --

I recently read this word, "progressive," in The News Herald when the story was being run concerning the possibility of Morganton becoming the home site for the Little League Southeastern Regional Tournament. That's great. However, I was really puzzled by the use of the word "progressive" in describing Morganton.
The dictionary defines the word progressive as "(1) favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement or reform as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are."
Hmmmm, ring a bell with recent decisions about bringing a Super Wal-Mart to Morganton? That sounds just like our town not being able to decide where and when to build a Super Wal-Mart. Some people are very clear in regard to wanting to "maintain things as they are."
Sure we have had some improvements, but not like our neighboring counties have experienced as a result of bringing new jobs. Maybe we need to look to our neighboring counties to really learn the meaning of the word "progressive." Other counties seem to have an excellent grasp of the concept.
Caldwell County is suffering the same fate as our community since the furniture industries have left. They still understand the need to continue to recruit other industries into their area with the addition of Google and the building of two (not just one) Super Wal-Marts. You know, that sounds like a progressive idea to me.
Look around our town. Where are all the industries? There are giant parcels of land sitting idle, waiting for new industries to be brought in, and still nothing happens to bring in new jobs. Our unemployment numbers continue to skyrocket. When are we going to say, "Enough is enough!"
Morganton used to be a thriving small town with a nice tax base and Burke County was once ranked as one of the best places to live according to Reader's Digest magazine. Ohhhhh, but we are a progressive town.
We, as a community, may talk about wanting to advocate change, but our local officials sit on their hands and let more jobs slip away.
They do nothing to attract new industries into these mammoth business areas that are becoming modern-day ghost towns or a refuge for the homeless. I think our economy could benefit from these tax revenues, instead of bumping up our taxes every time we turn around.
Before the committee visited our fair town from the Little League World Series, I wonder if anybody thought about this situation: Where would all these young people's families stay and eat while they are here? We really aren't blessed with many choices for restaurants or hotel accommodations. But wait a minute. Isn't that a progressive thought process?
I don't see much in the line of progress happening here recently. We should strive to move forward and not become complacent with what we have. Our graduates have no real future here in Burke County. There are no jobs except in a very small market area that includes the medical fields, education systems within the county, the fast-food industry and Wal-Mart. We need progressive-minded leadership within our local government that is willing to go out and beat the bushes to look for new industries.
Come on people. Are we really progressive or is our local government just using a word-of-the-day calendar to make themselves sound good? Decide for yourselves, and don't just repeat what was said in the newspaper.
Find what is needed in Burke County. Then maybe we can become a progressive-minded community.

Letter: Is Morganton progressive?

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