The Town That Speaks Up

There is a rural town of local citizens. Many of them have lived there their entire lives. Many generations of their families have lived there. Some of the families are so entrenched that no one can imagine the town without them.

Years ago, there was a company that wanted to start a business in this town. The business brought nothing to it, but the clearing of land and jobs for outsiders. The town would not profit monetarily as the company headquarters would not be based there. In all the only people that would gain anything was the company.

There was also a chance that this business would bring pollution and garbage to the town. Since farmers made up much of the town the idea of their land being taken away then polluted did not sit well.

There were local Senators and Congress members who were all for the project. And they wanted the citizens to be for it. These local Senators and Congress members felt that having this business in town would help the citizens in some way whatever that might be.

So, the town folk called for a meeting in which all could discuss the matter. The owner of the business, local Senators and Congress members, would get to make their pitch. Then the citizens could ask questions and speak their piece.

The meeting was held at the local firehouse hall. It could not hold everyone who attended. Extra chairs had to be brought out and people had to stand. But the citizens cared so much about their town that they were willing to crowd that hall to be heard.  

Both sides spoke their piece. The businesspeople and local leaders did nothing to convince the citizens that they would benefit from this industry. The idea was squashed. The citizens got what they wanted.

They got it because they cared enough about their community to protect it. And they knew that they had the power to elect new government officials if the incumbents did not listen to them. The incumbents knew too.

This did not just happen once. It happened so often that the firehouse had to expand its hall for the meetings. It happened so often that the local government officials simply gave up trying to place things in this community they knew the citizens did not want.

Has there been a price paid for this? 

Yes.

The town does not receive much of the funding the rest of the county and state gets. But it has always known how to sustain itself. Because of this the town has been able to keep its way of life.

For the citizens of this town speaking up is worth it.

And it is proof that you can control the fate of your community.