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The Center for a Better South is a great example of what we are capable of when we are allowed to dream. They spent some time working with leaders from across the south (including former U.S. Rep. Glen Browder, H. Brandt Ayers, Bob Davis, Stephen Foster Black and Sarah Louise Smith from Alabama) over this past weekend to develop what they are calling the Agenda for a Better South.
We won’t all agree on the details of how to achieve these goals and some of the ideas the group came up with to achieve them are difficult to see coming to fruition in Alabama, but they are worth thinking about and discussing. The broad goals expressed were:
- Nurturing Economic Development and Education
- Boosting Wellness
- Improving Energy Efficiency
- Reforming Taxes
- Investing in Infrastructure
- Cultivating Governance
- Ensuring Opportunities
- Fostering Safe Communities
We can all agree on the need to foster education and economic development, though the devil is very much in the details on those two efforts. Many of the candidates for governor in our state have emphasized these two areas of need, but have very different approaches to them. One of the lines I’ve heard from more than one candidate is that the quickest way to fix our budget woes is to grow a robust economy based on solid, good-paying jobs. Again, the how is a bit more vague, but there is little doubt they are correct. Whoever our governor is in 2010 will have to face these issues head-on.
I also thought the cultivating governance goal came off as one that most of us can agree is worthy of achievement. The conference participants suggested that each state should develop a benchmark citizen trust survey by 2011 (imagine how low the numbers would be in Alabama) and each state should set a goal of increasing from that benchmark by at least 20% by 2015. The group recognized the distrust citizens have for government across the south and took pains to emphasize that restoring trust had nothing to do with the size of government, but rather with professionalism, accountability, ethics and performance management.
Those are two goals I’m willing to pick out and challenge Alabamians of every stripe to step up and support. Any objections or thoughts?
Your comments are appreciated below.
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NEW TWAY BLOG POST: The Dream of a New South http://bit.ly/21L1EX #alpolitics @bettersouthGD Star Rating
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The World Around You: The Dream of a New South: The Center for a Better South is a great example of what we are capa… http://bit.ly/1yxivGD Star Rating
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How about a link to Center for a Better South, for those of us who want to explore the web site? A lot of utopian thinking there.
Agree that having 20% of the voters trust that the government will handle our money safely and efficiently is a goal to work towards. At the same time, I think a element of skepticism to keep democracy working, else you wind up like the Ossie’s whose trust in the State leads them to long for the good old days of East Germany.
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Good point Walt, added the link above, but their website is http://www.bettersouth.org. H. Brandt Ayers, publisher of the Anniston Star, is one of the founding members.
The goal is for 20% more people to trust government than the baseline. And we can agree that there is a difference between trust that is earned and constantly monitored with a skeptical eye and blind trust.
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My assumption was a baseline of Zero except for when pork is delivered when it climbs to 50+% then drops off rapidly until the next time checks are handed out.
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All are goals worth working towards. I was struck by the decision to include education and economic development in the same effort. I’ve always recognized a good education system as the greatest economic development tool at our disposal, but I’m concerned that, when combining the two, one will suffer.
Notwithstanding, I have a great deal of faith in Stephen Black, and I look forward to good things from this group.
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Joe,
I agree that they are all worthy goals and also have a great deal of trust in Stephen Black as well.
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What are your thoughts, Kris, on the coupling of education and economic development?
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I think they were coupled for a good reason and that you can certainly work them in tandem, one can help feed or create greater need for the other. You can’t get good industries without a well-educated workforce and you can’t keep a well-educated workforce unless you have jobs for them to go into.
That being said, you certainly have to have completely separate strategies under the goal to make that happen. The things you need to do to improve education don’t necessarily have to do with economic development or vice-versa, but I have no problem making the goal a joint one with the strategies being individualized to each area.
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I agree that the majority of these are possible and are worthy endeavors. I would think Education would be it’s own class but can see the logic of including it with Economic Development. I Especially agree with the need to Cultivate Governance and I believe this is the most important item on the agenda. Without the trust of the electorate the government will continue to push through the reforms that may be needed. I think the first step ought to be Term Limits. It will reduce the cumalative effect of PAC money and increase the perception that lawmakers are there to represent their constituients rather than their own interests.
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