‘Naive’ voters must counter the politics of decline

All I can add to this article is AMEN. Thank you Mr. Campbell.

The answer is not in more government, state control boards, non-cooperation between communities, Democrats or Republicans, labor unions, elite management or business as usual.

The answer will be found, and results attained, only when the voice of the naive voter is loud enough to drown out the status quo.

‘Naive’ voters must counter the politics of decline
By David Campbell

I read an article in USA Today about Volkswagen planning to build a new assembly plant in the United States. The paper also wrote about the desperate survival situation at Ford, and reported that General Motors would be looking at additional layoffs and possibly more plant closures. Volkswagen is expanding and the domestics are falling further behind.

Of course, we have seen Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes build new plants in the United States as the domestics cut back time and time again. The Geely Co. of China and two companies from India have plans to export to this country.

I wonder why there is never a mention of a new car assembly plant in Buffalo. Why is Buffalo not a prime contender for new manufacturing plants? Could it have anything to do with our government, taxes, competitiveness, isolationism and fractured business community? Or that the communities cannot bear to look at our region as a region?

I once was told that I am too naive to be successful in any type of political environment because I forget who brought me to the dance. In other words, decisions are to be made in support of the right politics, not what may or may not be in the best interest of our region. Maybe I am too naive.

The solution for improving our community’s economy is for the voters to be more naive in making decisions about whom to elect. Party affiliation is truly a poor reason to vote for one person over another.

The consequence is a parochial view of our region resulting in short-sighted decisions by well-meaning people. A regional approach is not a sin.

Manufacturing plants are being built all over the world, while we in Western New York do not want to come together as a community and truly be a competitive force in securing our future. We want more libraries, more parks, more swimming pools, more hospitals, more pay, more vacation time, more overtime, more work rules, more promotions, more stock options and, of course, a lower cost for everything.

The new county executive was elected by a landslide margin and promised to bring efficiency to government. By the way, the largest business organization did not support him. Neither did our local newspaper, nor any union leaders. No, just the naive voters who still believe in this region and desire the community leadership to do what is in the best interest of Western New York.

The answer is not in more government, state control boards, non-cooperation between communities, Democrats or Republicans, labor unions, elite management or business as usual.

The answer will be found, and results attained, only when the voice of the naive voter is loud enough to drown out the status quo.

David Campbell is the retired president and CEO of Dunlop Tire Corp.

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