Steve Poteat, Rowan County
♦ “Visioning” and planning are well and good for individuals. The theory of “community” is a collectivist notion that should bear watching. Actually, there is no legal entity called a “community”. There are only individuals, corporations, trusts, foundations, partnerships, non profits and so on. Our American system that served us so well (until the mindset of socialism and government worship), was based on the theory of freedom, individual initiative, property rights and the rule of law. Government simply had no part in anything except protecting the rights of the individual. And with no government in the way of productivity, we had prosperity. Simply put, freedom is the best way ever discovered to promote prosperity and real progress. And as a side note, the world is an imperfect place. It always has been, and no economic or government system or vision will ever change that fact.
To quote Ed McMahon: “The collaborative process that can lead to a new future for Rowan County should be driven by a community vision, not market forces.” That scheme would only lead to worsening economic conditions. I highly suspect that what McMahon is actually saying is that he and other intellectuals should use the power of government to impose their “vision” upon the rest of the local society. It’s all the rage. But it doesn’t work. Only the market forces that he disdains will create the end result we need. “Market forces” or the free market, is an economic system where untold numbers of free individuals are constantly making untold millions of free choices to their own benefit. It works. It weeds out the bad and creates better products and conditions. Planning, as an economic system does not.
One’s “vision” of how the world should be may be in direct conflict with the “vision” of other people. So, in order for someone(or a group of people) to make their “vision” become a reality, they would need legislation (the power of government) to make it happen. And that will no doubt contrast with other people’s vision or plans, thus hurting society.
Mr. McMahon may indeed have noble intentions. He is no doubt a very good and intelligent man. But beware. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
