Parents formerly used this phrase to chastise their kids. “Don’t get above your raising” pretty much meant don’t get conceited, act uppity, or look down on your roots. Remember who your people are, and the values you were taught.
We’re hearing a lot about ways to attract tourism, but I wonder about those who remain year ‘round, have always lived here and built schools, businesses, and churches. Folks who come and go drop dollars locally, but aren’t around to help with fund raisers or donate to community events. They aren’t the ones who step up to keep the newspaper alive—thanks Valentine; good job! Tourists don’t support sports programs, volunteer at the food pantry, or usher at our churches. Let’s make them welcome and show them a good time, but never forget who brung us to the party.
Entertainers are advised to know their audience and speak in ways that make sense to the listeners. That advice should be given to government officials and the news media. If “you aren’t from here,” it will take an open mind to understand regional problems and what solutions might be practical. Everyone from the President to well-known pundits expound loudly on what needs to be done to control wildfires, when none of them have lived among the trees. They tell us what methods of grazing to use when they haven’t been west of the Mississippi. Communities bring in planners from large cities to construct street upgrades, convention centers, even sports venues. Little consideration is given to the tax base, lifestyles of residents, or even whether there is a valid need for the improvements. Shouldn’t local leaders trust themselves to lead?
A nearby town has at least three fitness centers besides the rehab place at the hospital, which is well used by the public. Necessary? I don’t know, but those are readily available in cities so we need some. Coffee shops are fun places to gather, but how many of the locals are willing to spend five bucks on a coffee every day? Bigger and trendier isn’t better if the population is declining and the trend is predicted to continue.
Government needs to be smaller, but removing local control by combining county offices and consolidating services isn’t in the interest of the people who are affected. One state agency has slashed funding for a population that desperately needs services, while requiring providers to log their services on cell phones, and refusing to believe there are places in rural Nebraska that don’t have cell service. That happens when people who make the rules “aren’t from here.”
If you’re the person who shops online because it’s convenient, you are part of the reason why there are empty shops on main street. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. If you travel to big box stores for supplies, don’t be surprised when your hardware store or pharmacy closes. If the local paper dies because subscriptions and ads are down, county officials have to figure out a way to comply with statutes that require publication of legal notices.
Decisions made by individuals influence the whole population. Are we from here or not? Who is our neighbor? Have we gotten above our raising?