For years in our county, the discussion among the electorate – or the “mules” in this case – rarely stirred much more reaction than, “can you believe what they’re doing over there?” when it comes to local politics. Consider the past shenanigans of our various city councils, their members, initiatives of the utilities commission, policies enacted by the library district, the list goes on. There was no shortage of potential attention getters, but the mule rarely stirred.
These last few years, however, have brought a very different reaction from our citizens. Not only are more local residents paying attention, but they are mobilizing around specific initiatives and candidates in numbers and in ways that are unprecedented.
Arguably, the highest profile person joining the new activist is Clark County Commissioner David Madore. His company, US Digital, set sales records year after year through the recession, so we know that wasn’t what got his attention. It clearly was the direction he saw the Columbia River Crossing headed in that brought David into the public eye and finally to the county offices as a County Commissioner. Many others now involved are of a similar mind to David.
What is missing from this new found civic commitment is a willingness to listen as well as be heard, to advocate in earnest but to work to understand others. Rather, these new activists believe if it isn’t all their way then it isn’t worth doing at all. What of balance and understanding? Can the solution truly be as simple as one person’s ideas?
So far, the result is an interesting dynamic around civic engagement, but what of the consequence for business? Since the Great Recession we have heard repeatedly one of the most paralyzing effects on business is uncertainty – the condition in which too many of the factors important to businesses and their ability to forecast profitability are in play with unknown or unpredictable outcomes.
More than anything, to create positive change on a slow and deliberate recovery, businesses need predictability and as much certainty as is reasonable. Given the current civic debate tenor around infrastructure, taxation, education and other topics, little to no certainty or predictability currently exists. Until that changes, we’ll be strapped with this lethargic recovery.
I guess that gets us to another of grandpa McDonagh’s favorite sayings: “There’s no sure thing, like a sure thing.”
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