Barbour needs to think big

Rural prosperity doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.

At the risk of sounding naïve, we don’t have to be poor and proud in Barbour County. We may never be Mountain Brook, but why can’t we work toward becoming the most prosperous rural county in the state, if not the nation?

Yes, such thinking is akin to shooting for the stars. But even the moon is better than the ground. And for too long, we’ve been OK on the ground.

It’s election time in Barbour County, and we offer one bit of advice to our candidates.

Think big.

To our candidates, what will it take for Barbour County to have a lower unemployment rate than the state and nation? What will it take to eliminate poverty – especially among children? What will it take to bring jobs – good paying jobs – to our county?

We plan on sending election questionnaires to our candidates in the next few days. The last question we’re going to ask them is, “What is one big thing you want to see happen in Barbour County by 2020?” We hope they take that question seriously.

No, government isn’t the panacea for our problems. At times, government does more harm than good. But good government can, and should, spark something good in our communities.

We as residents must also determine that status quo isn’t good enough. Unfortunately, too many residents from all demographic sectors don’t care about change. That’s why we fare so poorly in so many areas. If we’re prouder of our past than our future, then we have major problems.

We are doing some good things locally. Eufaula’s universal Pre-K program has been highly lauded across the state and even the nation. This could be a game-changer in the next 20 to 30 years if we have good jobs available for these future adults.

Eufaula has accomplished dozens of objectives in its 2020 plan, which was developed by residents approximately 12 years ago. It was a game-changer. But there are still other objectives we can and should strive to achieve in the next eight years.

Our county commission is seeking a one-half cent sales tax increase to help fund local government. Such a tax could help our county remain solvent. If the tax is approved, that’s priority No. 1. But our commissioners should also think about what it would take for our county to compete on the statewide, national and even global markets. That’s thinking big.

Thinking big is determining how to provide wireless Internet to every Barbour County resident.

Thinking big is making sure every Barbour County student who graduates high school has a college scholarship to Wallace-Sparks if they want it.

Thinking big is marketing this county as the best place in the Southeast to enjoy hunting and fishing.

Thinking big is investing money in our lake so it remains the Big Bass Capital of the World.

Thinking big is making sure we have a western alternate route in the Bluff City while working toward a four-lane from Eufaula to Montgomery.

Thinking big is establishing a cancer center that would serve Barbour and surrounding counties.

Some of the suggestions may be over ambitious. But they all deserve consideration.

There are dozens, if not hundreds of other good ideas out there. We need to voice them to our leaders. And we need to learn their ideas as well. If they’re OK with doing the same things and getting the same results, then maybe they shouldn’t be voted into office.

We need men and women who will think big.