Ten Ways to Ruin a Town

1. Never attend public meetings. Criticize the way “they” do things. 2. Always remind others about the cold winters, hot summers and general tough conditions for those who live here. 3. Complain about the police department, chamber of commerce, community groups, etc. 4. Keep convincing yourself that it’s not important to attend school programs, church services, concerts, ballgames, etc. You won’t be missed. 5. Knock your public officials. Talk about the “kickbacks” that the city council and school board must be getting. 6. Stay away from church. You might attend on Easter or Christmas to reassure yourself that all who attend are hypocrites. 7. Make purchases out of town or through catalogs or Internet sites. These firms will give back a lot to your community. 8. Remind others that your local newspaper is no good and has less local news than out-of-town media. 9. Remember: all kids are delinquents, all businessmen are crooks, and bad remarks about your town are the order of the day. 10. Above all, always be skeptical, cynical and negative about anything designed for the community’s progress and betterment. If any of this sounds like something you do, even occasionally, do something about it. Try helping to build your community. You can make a difference. (This list originally appeared in "101 Ideas on Economic Development" by Cal Clark.)