Rural Economic Development

A common concern of citizens in District 8 is rural economic development. The question asked of legislative candidates is what can they do to help improve the rural economy?
People living in rural areas want to make a living and provide for their families. This is a real and pressing concern. One I share because I live in a rural area.
True economic development results in the creation of productive jobs that create wealth; not an increase in the number of government jobs or new buildings.
Economic development that creates jobs is sustainable. Economic development that requires continued tax subsidies is not sustainable.

We live in a constitutional republic. I find some irony in asking elected officials about economic development because the private sector bears primary responsibility for economic development.
Government is notorious for placing obstacles and restrictions in the way of production (economic development). Over regulation is a serious problem. Government doesn’t produce; it does not understand production. Government’s focus is on consumption.
Government tax policies can also undermine capital formation needed for economic development and growth.
I view the state’s role in economic development as more passive in nature i.e. less regulation and lower taxes. I want to see the private sector grow. I want government to play a supporting role by protecting the producer.
Not withstanding, I believe the state can take an active role in two areas: education and creating infrastructure such as roads and communications systems that allow and encourage rural economic growth.

Rural communities rely upon and are dependent upon access to and use of natural resources. The real challenge and obstacle are federal regulations and laws that limit, restrict, and prohibit access to natural resources. Access to natural resources would create jobs, increase personal income, and create wealth for the needs of rural communities.
Federal regulations that restrict access to natural resources is the real problem and one that local communities cannot solve alone, I cannot solve alone, and, quite frankly, will probably require some form of divine intervention. At the very least, a cultural change concerning natural resource use is required.
To bring about this cultural change one thing is needed – community unity. Everyone in your community, in the state legislature, and in the governor’s office needs to have the same goal and pull in the same direction. The vision of economic development that I can support is reducing regulations and increasing access to natural resources such as: timber and mining.
I would hope that you want to grow your community by increasing access to natural resources and private sector wealth creation. If this is the case, I would like to help. I pledge that I will work to reduce regulations, lower taxes, and streamline government spending because this is what I have done in the past and I will continue to do in the future.
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