DISCLAIMER: This letter is printed without bias or any opinion concerning the contents. Published in the spirit of first amendment rights (freedom of speech).
Do they take conservatives for fools? Not if I can help it! Folks, the battle between liberalism and conservatism is alive and well in Evansville and we must unite to overcome the liberal plans to remake our beloved city. Liberals believe our city needs to change and look to out-of-state experts from California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Canada and even Europe to study and recommend strategies for us to adopt. We are expected to understand that these highly educated consultants are best suited to address the social and economic issues of our Midwest city.
Evansville’s City Summit, invited New Generation Consulting, Inc. from Madison, Wisconsin, to offer their ideas for attracting and retaining youth. This group is headed by liberal Rebecca Ryan who went to college at the Institute of European Studies and Budapest University of Economic Sciences. This university was formerly known as Karl Marx University of Economic Sciences. It is widely known that a major tenant of liberalism is for the United States to become like Europe, such as with socialized medicine and the redistribution of wealth.
These progressive city planners stress the economic benefits of becoming a “talent magnet†to attract younger progressives, a more socially diverse and tolerant place, to offer more sustainable living conditions that promote sidewalks, less transportation, less urban growth, and be more responsive to our minority, homeless, poor and youth. The goal for liberals is to turn Evansville into a city such as Portland Oregon, Seattle, or Madison, Wisconsin which are well known for their liberal attitudes, lifestyle and progressive agenda.
Similarly, Smart City Consulting, based in Memphis, Tennessee offers advice in redesigning our city. This group is headed by a famous Columbia University liberal, Dr. Richard Florida, who now consults in Toronto Canada. His advice to cities is to nurture their “creative class†and in doing so, the city will thrive. Interestingly, his efforts to change Toronto are not widely appreciated and there is a movement against his practices. After two years, Toronto objects to his methods and now wants to reclaim their city, institutions and government.
In July, the Economic Club of Indiana hosted a luncheon featuring a retired mayor from Milwaukee Wisconsin, John Norquist. He is known as a fiscally conservative socialist. His idea, “New Urbanism†centers on making our neighborhoods more walking and biking friendly and to revamp our transit system to reduce environmental impact that results from autos. At it’s core is the reconstruction of the “European” city. New Urbanism is based out of the large urban city of Chicago, Ill. One is left to wonder how much local money has been spent on speakers’ fees for ideas that can be easily gleaned from the “consultants†books and publications?
Another example of liberalism encroaching our city is the “Bank On†project that originated in San Francisco, California. It is touted as a means of “economic inclusiveness†to help the poor, such as illegal aliens, get bank accounts. While many believe it is a good thing to help our “unbanked†get financial support, one could argue that this also leads to Evansville becoming a sanctuary city for illegal aliens. Many opponents warn that banks should not open accounts to those who may be earning their money illegally and of inherent dangers in not requiring valid ID or social security cards to open an account.
Liberals will have us believe that Evansville isn’t capable of addressing these important issues on our own. And yet, we have several universities, highly educated professionals, city council, local government, outspoken citizens, a rich ethnic history of Germans and strong minority groups. Multiple social alliances exist in Evansville, serving our homeless, poor, disadvantaged and at risk populations. We have a great health care system, manufacturing, economic development groups and a wonderful river city in development.
Within the USA, Evansville is centrally located and many of us pride ourselves on NOT having fancy coastal trappings. We reject liberal ideas of pandering to the restless youth who “need to be attracted†and fawned about as if spoiled brats who must have a culturally stimulating, progressive, tolerant and green environment to entice them to Evansville.
Instead, we gladly welcome newcomers who accept us for what we are: a flawed city in need of improvement. We should focus our efforts on attracting and keeping anyone whose values are in line with ours and who will help improve our city. Our citizens are conservative traditionalists and smart visionaries who value: liberty, individual rights, family, charity, church, patriotism, military, farming and small government. We consider ourselves Americans but embrace ethnic pride. A majority are pro life, pro guns and pro USA!.
This isn’t rocket science! We all want a clean, vibrant city with various attractions, jobs, recreation, cultural and educational opportunities. Our citizens are best suited to decide what matters most and will use ingenuity to make things happen because it is the right thing to do for Everyone! Strong conservatives eagerly lead the charge to preserve our traditional values, protect our liberties and develop this city from within, not from progressive think tanks and European scholars.
Audrey Andress
Evansville
