Many problems arise when people loose sight of the purpose and goal of the things they do. They are quick to define problems in terms of short term discomfort, forgetting that the problem is the result of long term neglect,mistakes,or ignorance. Therefore they are prone to seek short term solutions.
Rhode island's budget crisis is not the acute problem that it has been portrayed in the legislature and public. It is chronic and worsening. We are taking cold medicine to treat a cough that is but a symptom of our lung cancer. This institutional and public denial lead to squandering opportunities for long term solutions to achieve short term fixes. The tobacco settlement money, unfunded mandates, unfunded pension obligation, borrowing for major projects just to capture federal matching funds, and forgoing routine maintenance on critical infrastructure are all examples of short term thinking with long term negative consequences.
Yesterday's Providence Journal carries the follow story:
"Dig uncovers significant historical site in Narragansett"
The outcome of the lawsuit and performance of the quasi-state agencies which currently control the destiny of the site will have a long term impact on the state, the local communities and the people of Rhode Island. Hopefully, our leaders may have gained some wisdom from past mistakes and take time to weigh the long term cost/benefits against the short term fix this discovery might make available.
Here are the options:
There is a opportunity to build some 20 homes in a prime piece of property in a desirable location in the state. Building this development will create some short term employment and sale of goods and services that would help the economy for a few months. The sale of the houses will generate some fees for local government, commissions for a few realtors, and sales to the new residence. In the longer term it will generate property taxes. The short term gains.
In the long term the public services to support the development will include new roads, utility lines, education and public safety costs for the new residents, and annual maintenance of the improvements. What will be the cost to the developer, to the community and who will be paying for this long after the developers have moved on?
On the other hand, South county RI is a tourist center and tourism is a major economic driver of the region. In turn tourism contributes significantly to the state's economy and general revenue. The site, as described in the story, is unique in the northeast and only one of two such sites on the Atlantic Coast. Isn't there value here?
There is certainly archaeological, cultural, historic, and scientific value to the site for both the Narragansett Indians and for the general public. But more than that, there is economic value with both a short term and long term payoff for all.
Archaeology is a labor intensive activity. Excavating the site will create jobs and need for supplies just as the construction of the homes would. The preservation of the site and its development into a historic tourist venue should produce jobs and income for the community well beyond the initial excavation and construction period.
The site is part of the history of the region which brings thousands of tourist into the area annually. Tourists buy gasoline, cigarettes,liquor, hotel rooms, meals, and other services and goods that produce tax revenues. And when it comes from out of state, it is new money added to the state's economy.
We complain about the lose of manufacturing jobs to offshore manufacturing plants. The United States is NOT a manufacturing economy anymore. It is a service and experience economy. This is where the growth is. Tourism is part of that economy.
Many people don't see that tourism, conducted here in the state, is really exporting entertainment and leisure services to other states and foreign countries. That is, people have to come here in order to consume our "experience" products. They have to come here and buy that experience and spend money here.
This archeological site is a one time opportunity for Rhode Island to capture the economic value of the site. Once it is dug up either for housing or a tourist attraction it's potential and value will be lost or radically changed.
Isn't it time we stop looking for the loose change found in the sofa for our next fix, and instead use it to start looking for a real job that will pay the bills and help pay off our debt?
