It is hard for people who measure success in economic terms to understand people who don’t; and vice – versa. Both sides think the other just doesn’t get it. The proposed Worcester airport access road mirrors this phenomenon. It’s like our own mini debate of the issue of globalization.
In one corner, wearing the red, white, and blue shorts are the opponents of the airport access road. They say: “Don’t you understand you are destroying the fabric of our lives and the relationships we have with our neighbors. Our homes hold together the bond we have with one another. We have a sense of family and community, and a heart. Don’t you? Isn’t this what Worcester and America has always been about? And you, the government and the corporate interests, you want us to sacrifice this because maybe, just maybe, the big new road that will make us lose our homes, our neighborhood and our stability will bring in more people from outside of town to use the airport. For what? We are a nice small town; our lives are good, let’s just stay this way.”
In the other corner, also wearing red, white and blue trunks are those arguing for economic development and efficiency (and on a larger scale globalization). They respond: “Of course we care about people’s feeling, but don’t lose sight of the fact that jobs, and preferably good jobs, are what people most want and need. Jobs set a foundation for the security and acquisitions people want for themselves and their families. The world is dynamic, that’s why it’s challenging. Dynamism and growth create the high energy that keeps us progressing. Things always change. You either see the change and adapt to it or you settle into stagnation and fall into despair.
I’m with the second group. We need good jobs. Without good jobs there are eventually no jobs, or not enough jobs to keep people working and active. Without good jobs there is also no tax revenue for schools, fire and police departments, highway repairs and parks. There is also not enough disposable income in people’s pockets to sprout fun things to do and shop for. None of these exists, to a satisfactory level, without an economic base to support it. Worcester needs to grow its economic base for these services and choices to exist.
To develop this economic base we need economic growth. To grow we need an educated populace, new schools, new parking lots for our commuter rail station, an attractive looking inner city, and more entertainment choices, especially that for people in their twenties and thirties. To get all these things we need to make it enticing for companies that offer good jobs to be in Worcester. These companies need their workers to be able to get to their out of town assignments and return home to their families as soon as possible. And to do this we need an airport that offers frequent flights to various destinations at a fair price. To get this we need a high volume of flyers and to get a high volume of flyers we need a better road to and from the airport where people can easily fly to many destinations.
We need the airport to allow us to compete against other places where these jobs will otherwise go. If we don’t change we will become an old mill town like Lawrence, Lowell, Fall River, Fitchburg and Leominster. The danger is that real. People who are displaced by the new airport road will be paid fair money for their house. They will move to another home and develop new friends. They will be all right. Besides it’s for the general good – look at how many people will benefit from a good airport, vacationers as well as business people. We will either accept the changing economy and move forward as a city, or reject it and move backward. There is no neutral.
At which point the anti-access road people reply: “The general good”, the “general good”! Are you kidding? A part of Worcester will constantly hear jet planes overhead all the time. This will destroy our quality of life. You wouldn’t build this in your own backyard Mr./Ms. Powerful. We will suffer for your economic development. You’ll gain, you’ll grow, you’ll have your 3,000+ square foot house and hire someone to cut your lawn, but at the cost of our displacement, all so that you overly ambitious types will make more money and live better. That’s what you call progress, that’s your globalization. That’s your new way of life. Leave me alone and let me live my life in my city in peace.
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