Life in the fast lane? Not in Marion County!
Way to go Marion County! We really showed "them!" We squashed that evil casino project and let those outside developers know we're not interested in their business.
If you haven't heard yet, Marion County was the only one of three Kansas counties to vote down a casino question. Harvey and Sumner counties both approved the question and will send a message to legislators that they are open to casino development in their areas.
Yes, we sure showed "them." But can we really afford to be so high and mighty? Instead of patting ourselves on the backs for voting on the morality of the issue, we should be kicking ourselves for slamming the door on opportunity.
We're only reinforcing the mindset that we don't need to be progressive. We like things as they are, and we don't want to upset the status quo by bringing in outside businesses.
With that attitude, we don't have to worry about those outsiders. They won't come where they aren't wanted.
Some astute commentator nailed it in Saturday's Wichita Eagle Opinion Line: "Congratulations, residents of Marion County. You stopped the evil casino from destroying your way of life. Now, everyone take your cars to the landfill, buy a horse and buggy, and have your electricity shut off. You'll love it."
Come on people! Are we really this narrow-minded and provincial? We better wake up! Marion County needs new development. We are not a self-sustaining entity and we can't afford to turn away business.
If we don't want a casino, a landfill, or a chicken-plucking plant, then what kind of development do we want? What kind of businesses do we hope to attract?
We better stop trying so hard to keep our little corner of the world untainted and start thinking like citizens of the 21st century. If we don't we'll all be reading the next column by candlelight.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
P.S. To those of you who didn't even bother to return your ballots — shame on you! How difficult was it to check yes or no, sign your name, and mail the envelope? You didn't even have to add postage!
