Investing in Our Neighborhoods

Do you know that there are no statues commemorating the work of Thomas Payne in the promotion of the American liberties we enjoy?

Why? Because he was seen as a radical who stated openly that people deserve better representation than what they were currently receiving.  Mr. Payne wrote “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value”.

For many in the cabals of politics today and their minions, it is better to “tow the party line" than it is to be patriotic. It does not seem OK to some of them to just help your neighbor out without some kind of reward or accolade in return. Confirmation bias is so seductive, and so destructive.

As I visited with regular folks around Woodbury when running for political office myself to make a positive change, it struck me odd that many households and properties were in disrepair. A number of different reasons may account for this. Perhaps, needed repairs go undone because the people had no money or just thought “who cares?"

What I thought was if we all  cared more  about our community, then everyone would be helping out to enhance and help out in our community , whether they have financial benefits to fixing up and repairing their places or not. Maybe, I thought  politicians can actually help out the people they are supposed to be working for, by giving tax credits for fixing up your home and make tough decisions to promote all folks in our community, not just their loyal minions.

Maybe investing in your own home or the community as a whole won’t bring one financial awards immediately but the rewards of pride and accomplishment generated by you and by your community are substantial. 

One may be surprised that the carpenter, landscaper, or plumber you hire to fix up your property often is a U.S. veteran, as well.

The rewards will come in the future knowing that you are a contributing member to the community that you reside in.  This way investing in our community would not only see financial rewards for yourselves but also encourage your neighborhoods to establish a new sense of camaraderie in our neighborhoods.  Don’t wait for the politicians and their panderers to solve our problems because we already have seen who they are looking out for.

Oh, and that fellow I mentioned in the start of my article, his quote came out of a book he wrote called “common sense.”