Look at what SC has now, starting with a BMW plant, or Alabama with Hyundai. Given the will and the right state incentives, it will turn into something much larger. I know it’s completely turned around the Greenville-Spartanburg area of SC, which used to be sort of the poorer part of the state. Not anymore.
On the one hand, our new governor-elect Jim Justice blathers endlessly about jobs, jobs, jobs ... On the other hand, he’s a democRAT and a complete suckup to the AFL-CIO. On the third hand, he’s the owner of The Greenbriar. So I have no idea what to realistically expect from him. I voted for Bill Cole.
Our town has the smallest population and oldest demographic of any of the towns/cities in our New England state. On voting day, the PTA puts on a bake sale, on the honor system. People gather in the parking lot to discuss the kids and grand kids, the upcoming church bizarre and to congratulate those who have bagged deer during bow season. We dutifully show our identification although unnecessary because one poll worker is a neighbor and the other a former bus driver.
During power outages we help each other by taking turns getting fuel for the generators and by checking in with one another and sharing meals.
In sickness everyone turn out to help, mow the lawn, put in the dock, run to the store or dump.
Although we didn’t grow up here, we know many folks who did and with the exception of technology, it hasn’t changed much but it could have. During our twenty years here a few interlopers with horrific business ideas tried to slip in projects that would have ruined the bucolic nature of the hamlet. That is when the hunters and grandmas go all Mama Bear until the danger goes away and we can all relax and settle back and appreciate what we have.