Together is the only way
The time is not only here, it's long past due for the people of Marion County to learn how to work together.
The days of provincial patriotism may have served their purpose at one time, but they are hurting the economy of the region today.
Hillsboro, Marion, Florence, Peabody, Goessel, and the other communities of our county must wake up to the fact that they can't meet the challenge alone, they need each other.
It sounds like platitudes, like "shop at home," or being concerned by the dollars siphoned from the local economy by the Internet.
It goes much deeper.
We need to learn that each town is not an island. Marion County is a sea, a place where the islands must cooperate to survive. Together they'll make it. Individually they'll sink, one at a time.
It's virtually impossible for a person who lives in another Marion County town to be successful in business in a town where he doesn't reside. He is an outsider, shunned. That attitude prevails.
Some folks who drive to Newton or McPherson to purchase automobiles, lumber, drugs, or groceries wouldn't consider buying at a store in another Marion County town.
Perhaps the county needs more consolidation of school districts, only one hospital to serve the county, or greater cooperation among the newspapers.
It sounds good. Let's hope it can happen. But we'll need to destroy our provincial pride and become more liberally inclined if we expect to survive in the highly competitive world today.
— BILL MEYER
