I've rarely participated in forms of politics that I do not agree with until today. Some time ago I decided that I would not lend my labor to endeavors that are counter to my personal politics. Things like non sustainable government are not something that I am interested in. I couldn't tell you why if you'd injected me with a poison only you have the antidote to, but I fucking love this town. It's seen me through some of the best and worst times of my life. That's why today, April 7th, I went to work for coercion. I told my name, signed my signature, inserted my magic voting card and pressed the screen. Later I displayed the "I Voted" sticker for the first time in the 7 years I've been "allowed." Two and a half hours later we sit in silence. Defeated. 15 motherfucking votes. This town I love continues slipping slowly and surely through atrophy and sits precariously on the edge of total annihilation. Over a year ago capital flight and job loss has terminated city works projects. The current economic slump continues to fuck Emporia squarely in the ass. Thomas Frank was prophesizing more than he could know when he said "this is a civilization in the early stages of irreversible decay."
They say places like Emporia get culture a lot later than other more urban locales. This may be true, but something that is pretty quantifiable to me is how we're getting the collapse of civilization a lot faster than elsewhere. Our roads are crumbling, in many places the earth has recolonized the concrete. Our water quality steadily declines while food prices march higher and higher. This is the goddamned backbone of our country. This nation has gone from a primarily agrarian society to a net importer of sustenance food. We turn our backs on places like Emporia, KS or Riverton, WY or Ely, NV when the industry dries up. For me, however, you can keep your high fashion and bleeding edge culture. I'll remain happily here on the cusp of the decline of modern civilization as we know it. Pass your city killing ordinances and see whose left for you to save. What a beautiful messiah you've turned into.
9 comments:
Fuck em', lets open a bar outside of town
I can sympathize with the no smoking ban, as Austin passed something similar when I was there, though i am unclear as to how it is symptomatic of society's downfall or whatever. It may even be indicative of the "high society" you criticize as indifferent towards and foreign to Emporia. Maybe I am too much of a city boy to properly understand, but I'm willing to bet that the smokers mobilized like never before to turn out, while only a moderate amount of social-conservative's made it to the voting booths. Maybe they are clinging to a utopian vision of a safe, clean, and moral society-in response to the irreversible disrepair you claim? Either way, interesting.
It's not necessarily symptomatic of society's downfall, it's a part of a larger; more complex and unique situation that we're dealing with here in Emporia. When Tyson left at the beginning of 2008 they took a lot of jobs and money with them. As a result of this many city works projects were canceled and water quality declined due to the lack of funding from Tyson, not to mention the very human cost of lost jobs and displaced families and workers.
Which brings me to the ban, when the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Regional Economic Development conducted economic impact analysis of the ban in Maryville, MO in 2006 there was a significant decrease in city revenue. The same was observed when they conducted an analysis of Columbia, MO a year later. The ban then becomes something that exacerbates an already delicate situation. The popular debate was health vs. rights which completely ignores the economic aspect of the ban -- something I'm not sure very many people on either side of the issue here have considered with any seriousness.
On a more rights-y note, did you know the three leading fascist leaders (Benito Mussolini, Franco, & Adolf Hitler) all abstained from tobacco and smoking? Did you know the Nazis banned smoking nationally in 1941? Is it a coincidence that Hitler also abstained from alcohol? Advocates for the ban are the same people who would've told Churchill to snuff out that cigarette and put down that drink . . . right before he whipped Tojo and Hitler's ass.
Like I said initially, when the industry dries up no one cares about places like Emporia or Ely, NV a beautiful town that once had a booming copper industry but was all but abandoned when prices dried up in the 70's. Only useful again now because prices are higher. The smoking ban is just an example of the type of short sighted policy making that ultimately results in the obliteration of small towns. Were it not for the university, and perhaps Dolly Madison (though I hear they might be moving on) and to a lesser extent, Bunge Soybean processing this town would be a shadow. It's already starting to happen as I said before. "Commercial" street isn't too fucking commercial any more.
I can understand how it would be painful to watch the city you love be destroyed because of the citys shortsightedness. Especially when its put to a vote, and the people themselves choose to do something that damages local businesses. It is interesting that you bring up totalitarianism when you talk about your disgust with a democratically decided initiative, even if the people are generally moronic, as a class.
Tyson was based in Emporia? I didnt know that. For all I have learned about Tyson, and as much as I can sit in my suburban house and philosophize about how great it would be if all such institutions went bankrupt, you have a much different view of the same establishment, it is especially worth comment that you and I probably share a similar social outlook on things like factory farms, and globalized meat corporations.
Tyson wasn't _based_ in Emporia, but the kill operations in Emporia were a large part of our economy. While ideally these institutions wouldn't exist in the first place, I have to live in a world (for now) where they do exist. The fact that it was put to a vote and won just illustrates Frank's argument about how small town America continually votes for things that destroy their communities based simply on ideology. Either way, it's just a frustrating situation.
I'm sorry but what study shows that the water quality in Emporia has declined due to tyson or at all. As a matter of fact water quality has stayed the same in Emporia. The only thing that has changed is that tyson isn't purchasing as much water from the city as they had in the past. The city has increased their rates because the aren't buying in quantity anymore and receive close to the same amount of income from tyson. But hey, your just motherfucking chris loghry and can say whatever you want without any evidence. ;)
Sure, water quality is anecdotal at best. I seriously doubt any studies have been conducted regarding the economic impact of the unique situation here in Emporia. The information I have about water rates was based on a Gazette article I read that quoted the city planner. Obviously rates have increased as a result of Tyson packing up kill operations. Same goes for the axing of several city works projects (sidewalk restoration is one of note).
There doesn't have to be a unique study about tyson and water quality you can look at the published water quality tests that are performed at the treatment plant prior to tyson and post tyson. The water purity levels have actually become better since the tyson decline. All I'm saying is that you are wrong, very wrong.
Bravo!
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