A modest proposal to control Civic Boosterism

Civic Boosterism (CB) is a pernicious disease that afflicts city councils and mayors in mid-sized cities.  Call it “Chicago Envy” if you like.  In its early stages it’s fairly harmless or even beneficial; hanging potted plants from signposts downtown, commissioning artists to do murals on the side of buildings, and promoting rehabilitation of 1800’s buildings.

Late-stage CB is another matter.  The victims begin to suffer delusions of grandeur and they hear voices… of highly-paid consultants.  “Growth!“ whispers the consultant.  “If you’re not growing, you’re dying!“  (Precisely the philosophy of a cancer cell, as Edward Abbey famously observed.)

“Oh no“, thinks the council person or mayor.  “I don’t want to die!  But the consultant says; “For just a medium-sized wad of taxpayer’s money, I can save you.  I can tell you how to grow…“

Continued...

Posted by George on 04/20/08 at 08:42 AM
Politics • Economics • (12) Comments • Link
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