Market Realities Probably Should Be Considered Too?
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Having tried to read through the new report on Strengthening The Rural Economy, prepared by the Obama Administration’s Council of Economic Advisers, it seems to me that somewhere in all this central-planning to make all our lives better – shouldn’t market reality play some role? As I said, I tried to read through the entire report, but had some problems in getting myself to do more than just skim across a lot of the same stuff I’ve been dealing with for most of the economic development materials I come in contact with. If political correctness could generate an economy – we’d be looking for ways to spend untold wealth.
Now it’s nice to know that our President and the folks who work for him are thinking and care about the future of rural America. Having economically healthy rural communities and prosperous business enterprises in our state and country is an outstanding and motivating goal to strive for. Getting that accomplished can very possibly be made more attainable by having appropriate government policies (locally, state-wide and nationally). It is also going to require viable markets, capable of generating profitable enterprises and returns on investment.
A large part of the April-2010, Strengthening The Rural Economy report concerned itself with telling the reader how great we have it because of the money coming from the Recovery Act and how much even better it’s going to be with the future plans for government spending. Rural America is also going to be extremely instrumental in the whole Clean Energy stuff and that is really going to make our world rock!
Part of how the Obama Administration is going to improve rural economies will be in the form of changing the farm programs so the wealthiest farmers aren’t going to be getting checks. We’ll also be getting new initiatives like “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” a government supported effort to promote the development of local and regional food systems which deliver fresh food to consumers who live close by the farmer producers.
A final element in the game plan for building rural America’s prosperous future will be Uncle Sam investments in education and health in rural economies. The President’s plan is going to pay for a more educated rural workforce, broadband Internet service, health information technology and don’t forget the new national health care reform program that forces us all to have health insurance and for insurance companies to provide coverage to all…
For those who consider government the source of all potential wealth – it is certainly going to be on it’s way, based on how much wonderful Washington, D.C. is doing for us. For those who consider that it might take a little more than that, the various funding programs might assist in economic incubation to get some innovative ideas started. Those ideas which translate into real success are going to require an understanding of how markets are the actual source of a long-term future and enterprises are structured to effectively pursue service opportunities and provide benefits to those markets.
In particular, if the Clean, Green Energy economy is going to ever get beyond sucking government grants and tax benefits as their sole means of viability, it is going to require figuring out successful market-oriented models can be implemented, providing affordable energy. As things stand now the only avenue to making alternative energy affordable is for government infusion of regulatory controls and tax burdens to drive currently more affordable energy to higher costs. The invention of the idea of Climate Change is part of that master-plan to justify the government’s solution of taking charge in making us buy green energy that we wouldn’t otherwise be selecting on the basis of being the best deal. Sheltered from these market realities, there are few incentives for figuring out how to make alternative energy concepts meet the requirements of affordability.
If rural America is going to be relying on this as the long-term solution for prosperity, we better get accustomed to the hand-to-mouth system of government taking care of us whenever and however it suits their purposes.
Having tried to read through the new report on Strengthening The Rural Economy, prepared by the Obama Administration’s Council of Economic Advisers, it seems to me that somewhere in all this central-planning to make all our lives better – shouldn’t market reality play some role? As I said, I tried to read through the entire report, but had some problems in getting myself to do more than just skim across a lot of the same stuff I’ve been dealing with for most of the economic development materials I come in contact with. If political correctness could generate an economy – we’d be looking for ways to spend untold wealth.
Now it’s nice to know that our President and the folks who work for him are thinking and care about the future of rural America. Having economically healthy rural communities and prosperous business enterprises in our state and country is an outstanding and motivating goal to strive for. Getting that accomplished can very possibly be made more attainable by having appropriate government policies (locally, state-wide and nationally). It is also going to require viable markets, capable of generating profitable enterprises and returns on investment.
A large part of the April-2010, Strengthening The Rural Economy report concerned itself with telling the reader how great we have it because of the money coming from the Recovery Act and how much even better it’s going to be with the future plans for government spending. Rural America is also going to be extremely instrumental in the whole Clean Energy stuff and that is really going to make our world rock!
Part of how the Obama Administration is going to improve rural economies will be in the form of changing the farm programs so the wealthiest farmers aren’t going to be getting checks. We’ll also be getting new initiatives like “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” a government supported effort to promote the development of local and regional food systems which deliver fresh food to consumers who live close by the farmer producers.
A final element in the game plan for building rural America’s prosperous future will be Uncle Sam investments in education and health in rural economies. The President’s plan is going to pay for a more educated rural workforce, broadband Internet service, health information technology and don’t forget the new national health care reform program that forces us all to have health insurance and for insurance companies to provide coverage to all…
For those who consider government the source of all potential wealth – it is certainly going to be on it’s way, based on how much wonderful Washington, D.C. is doing for us. For those who consider that it might take a little more than that, the various funding programs might assist in economic incubation to get some innovative ideas started. Those ideas which translate into real success are going to require an understanding of how markets are the actual source of a long-term future and enterprises are structured to effectively pursue service opportunities and provide benefits to those markets.
In particular, if the Clean, Green Energy economy is going to ever get beyond sucking government grants and tax benefits as their sole means of viability, it is going to require figuring out successful market-oriented models can be implemented, providing affordable energy. As things stand now the only avenue to making alternative energy affordable is for government infusion of regulatory controls and tax burdens to drive currently more affordable energy to higher costs. The invention of the idea of Climate Change is part of that master-plan to justify the government’s solution of taking charge in making us buy green energy that we wouldn’t otherwise be selecting on the basis of being the best deal. Sheltered from these market realities, there are few incentives for figuring out how to make alternative energy concepts meet the requirements of affordability.
If rural America is going to be relying on this as the long-term solution for prosperity, we better get accustomed to the hand-to-mouth system of government taking care of us whenever and however it suits their purposes.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 5/20/2010 8:31 AM 
Categories: Economy
Tags: Rural America Nevada Economic Development Government
Categories: Economy
Tags: Rural America Nevada Economic Development Government
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