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It should.
It can.
And I believe it will.
How about a few of you doubters join in the parade?
This past week’s news about the $58 million expansion at Pactiv in Corsicana to more than double the size of their operation and add 200 or more jobs is about the best shot in the arm this old county has gotten in some time.
And with news of this particular company’s decision getting around, that’s bound to get the eyes and ears of some other industrial prospects out there that Corsicana’s not a bad place to be.
However, as is usual in our tiny little slice of heaven in Texas, that good news about Pactiv also came with a chorus of those who led the “Yeah, but ...” refrain.
To those folks, all I can offer is this — “Get with the program, or get out of the way.”
Yes, we’ve had some setbacks — a bunch of them.
And, to be sure, we’ve probably suffered some other setbacks that we’ll probably never know about. Such is the way of industrial recruitment, as I’m sure Lee McCleary will be happy to share with you.
But by golly, we did get this one, and there shouldn’t be anybody out there choosing to rain on this parade.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m as skeptical as the next guy sometimes (OK, most times) but I do know you’ll draw more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.
Or, with talk about power plants we didn’t get, or berating those on either side of the issue.
We need to get past all the petty bickering and get on board to recruit more of the Pactiv’s of the world — and they are out there.
Does that mean there can’t be discourse or discussion or debate on the merits of something?
No, it doesn’t.
But it does mean we have to — we have to — put the common goal of bettering our town and its way of life ahead of personal goals, vendettas, grudges, past history and back-biting.
We have to, in the words of Barney Fife, “Nip it! Nip it in the bud!”
Let’s savor this win, folks. Let’s thank the players (and those behind the scenes) who made this one happen — Byron Cook, Chuck McClanahan, H.M. Davenport Jr., Lee McCleary, Brian Birdwell, Gov. Perry and dozens and dozens more — and give them the encouragement and support they need to stick their necks out on our behalf again and again.
Let’s take this gift of 200 jobs and a lot more economic impact in years to come and celebrate it — not re-hash last week’s or last year’s setbacks or losses.
What’s that old saying? If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind ...
Let’s take this step forward and “set the parking brake” so we don’t roll back until we get another push forward.
And, let’s re-double our efforts to do the things that we can do to help the folks we’ve entrusted with the front line work — and get to work now on seriously cleaning up our little slice of heaven in Texas. If everyone just took care of their own place, the job would be nearly complete.
That’s not what you’d call something that is impossible to accomplish.
And the rewards — and returns — could be priceless.
—————
Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Saturdays. He may be reached by email at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Soundoff” on this column? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
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