Letter: Data model for corridor lacks balance for current reality
I feel that I must respond to the claims about the proposed Mid-States Corridor, which were made in the recent letter from the Executive Director of Dubois Strong, which indicated that this highway is being sold to the public not to make the towns any better, but to make Jasper even bigger.
The author claimed that “The benefit for us is a county-wide economic benefit that brings jobs and opportunities here…” which, according to the TREDIS Model, amounts to lots of “high growth jobs”. It strongly implies that unless we have this growth, there will be no opportunity. Left unsaid is the fact that frequently the jobs promised by these models fail to materialize, and the bypassed towns are left with fewer resources than they had before.
In addition, size of a city is not synonymous with prosperity and anyone who travels on the interstates, both in Indiana and far away, has only to pay attention to see the deep troubles—the pollution, crime, the destruction of rural lands and livelihoods, increased inequality, as well as soaring costs that many of the rapidly expanded larger cities on those routes, as well as the small towns are experiencing. It doesn’t take a computer model to demonstrate this though plenty of statistics corroborate this.
The author proceeds to remind us that these models are not facts, but computer data, and then after switching from “economic opportunity” to time saved going to ballgames, leaps into a non-sequitur to say that we shouldn’t worry about “parallel highways”, but “build the road that makes Dubois County prosper.” What is lost here is the fact that highways don’t create prosperity—creative people do–though more importantly that Dubois County is already one of the most prosperous in Indiana, as well as being at the center of a thriving region and always has been—all without close access to an interstate. This long-term prosperity and many successes are likely in part because of being off the beaten path, since big interstates are known to rob communities of the kind of prosperity that makes life good for all the residents, rather than enriching only billionaires.
Nothing about any real need was mentioned in this letter to justify the massive destruction this proposed highway would entail, nor was the risk of even greater potential problems if it were to be built even mentioned, though they are noted in statistics as well as being observable. In fact, most of us live here because we like small towns and the amenities that only a rural area can provide. We have a robust farm economy and plenty of tourism. The rolling hills, the woodlots, the farm fields and open spaces occupied by wildlife are plentiful. In the immediate surroundings are several state parks and forests, the Hoosier National Forest, Patoka Lake and many more. We have always had plenty of industry as well, and hard workers to support it. Many first- class urban amenities, such as an award-winning hospital, an acclaimed Art and Cultural Center, a highly rated County Museum considered one of the best in the Midwest, a great park system, and many other seasonal attractions nearby, including Lincoln’s Boyhood home, and Holiday World– a huge amusement park in Santa Claus to name only a few, also add to the overall prosperity of the entire region. To the south, two of the largest Monasteries in the country are located here with and to our north are two nearby resort hotels, all of them having much historic as well as cultural value. I suspect that all of this true wealth has come about because visitors as well as local residents prefer to spend time off the beaten path and enjoy the sights and sounds and friendly people in small towns who make it possible.
Over many years committed local residents have created and fostered a community where nearly everyone can thrive—one that is prosperous in all applications of the word. These days the future is so unpredictable, that any computer model is insufficient cause to move ahead with this costly, expensive, and destructive highway. I find no justification for a north/south Mid- States Corridor, no immediate or future need, and I can’t help but see that we are better off to place a high value on maintaining and protecting our local rural lifestyles, and fixing any existing imperfections as we can rather than buying into an artificial growth model designed only around a failing economic model with an inconceivable national debt such as this letter espouses. As Henry David Thoreau wisely pointed out over two hundred years ago, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to do without.” This point is echoed by a depression era saying my grandparents taught me: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!” It was good advice. Let’s work together to fix the problems we do have and creatively maintain the treasures we have. Let’s say no to the unnecessary Mid-States Corridor and keep Southern Indiana a great place to live and visit.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Melchior
Jasper
