Re: Growth re edited-just a little

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

Dave,  You have described pretty well what has already transpired across 
most of this Nation -- the "bulldozing" of towns, countrysides, and 
natural resources. Boise, "the little LA", is a good example. For a 
"better standard of living"?  Well, it depends on what kind of 
measurements you apply, and if we choose the materialistic kind, yes, we 
are both better off and worse off. Seventy-five percent of the population 
has more "stuff" than ever before, but at a pretty high cost in terms of 
the social consequences such as crime rates (mainly in the big cities, 
but elsewhere too), divorce rates, domestic violence and abuse rates, 
environmental degradation rates (incl. loss of species), declines in 
education, small farm loss, etc. There's no doubt that, as you suggest, 
the power brokers and money interests now view the Lewiston-Clarkston / 
Moscow - Pullman area as ripe for further development -- just as has been 
happening between C.d'Alene/Post Falls and Spokane. The "Palouse Empire" 
will follow suit unless the communities come together to tell local 
govts. and boards what it is they want to see happen.
     Along that line, the Wall Street Journal (Oct. 20) featured the 
"Inland NW", with ambitious Spokane as the hub, as the newest major 
growth area in the country.  The Journal is usually a pretty good 
harbinger of things to come and would not have focused on this area 
without good reason and reliable contacts. One of the 'Founding Fathers', 
Thos. Jefferson, warned that democracy cannot survive if the people are 
both ignorant and free. Is it possible to get rid of the ignorance about 
what truly constitues the good society? Maybeyou should publish your 
thoughts, if you can find the right outlet!  Carry on.  W. Ken Medlin

PS: For Moscow voters -- did you see what a truly open and candid 
audience participation occurred in the Pullman city mayoral campaign, 
featured tonight on PBS?  Why can't we have as good a display of public 
participation here?

------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com