Engaging Peon: Post October 21, 2010, Chamber Forum Thoughts

The Peon went to her first political forum. It was a good experience that I think more citizens should participate and engage in. We can learn not only about the people we are voting for, what they think, what they have accomplished, and what they believe priorities should be going forward, but also how they behave under seemingly stressful circumstances, facing tough questions, and sometimes gain peeks into their interaction with one another as colleagues, citizens and candidates.

I am also proud to say that when they went to audience questions, if memory serves me correctly, my question was the second question posed to the panel of candidates, incumbents and challengers. I wish I could remember it exactly, but I didn't copy it so it was in essence how will your background and experience be beneficial by way of attracting business to Porter County, and will those businesses provide jobs that sustain families?

Not a lot of answers that made much sense to me there from any of the candidates. I'm still learning, so I hold myself a bit responsible for not entirely understanding.  I'm looking for good jobs that can provide good wages and benefits to working families that live in the county.

The term 'bedroom community' was used a number of times.

A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood.

We were told that 57% of Porter County residents work in Porter County. I am hoping that number will increase in our future together.  43% would then be 'bedroomers', who I assume commute daily into Chicago.  In recent years many beautiful subdivisions have popped up in Porter County, presumably marketed to Illinois folks who desire relocating to Porter County for it's rural living, low taxes, and lower cost of living.  Now we are being asked to foot the bill for transportation systems that make life easier for a commute.  What is wrong with this picture?

I don't resent these folks even though I am technically a 'townie' in our county.  Not at all.  I enjoy their kids, driving them to school each day.  Lots of wonderful people have come into our community, but I see a very slippery slope out there on the horizon.

I guess I should have paid better attention a while back while they were turning Porter County into a bedroom community.  My bad.  I am paying attention now though.  I hope it's not too late.  I do not want to see more and more shopping centers. Lake County has plenty of that.

I would like to see some manufacturing and service sector jobs. We can't shop here if we can't earn, and many of us would like to be able to earn wages closer to home. We don't want to commute, spending less time with our kids and families, and more and more frequently turning into caregivers for our aging parents.

I'm down with transportation systems, but I don't want Porter County to be a largely or solely a community that goes outside to work. Many touted that we have such a wonderful community with a rural feel. That is true, but many of us would like to be here often enough to actually enjoy it.

I'm looking for balance.  Yeah.  Balance.  That's the ticket!

Some of the candidates said they would listen to the people.  I hope they are listening to me, because I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Comments are welcome.