[Vision2020] Council Must Reject Rezone

deaconjames at verizon.net deaconjames at verizon.net
Tue May 9 12:34:23 PDT 2006


Tom says:

"A claim that:
 
1)  A WalMart Super Center in Moscow will attract families to move here or 
 
2)  A WalMart Super Center in Moscow will convince students to grow roots here after graduation
 
Reflects poor judgment on any person making such claims."

Tom, this is very true, in a limited, tunnel-visioned, I-want-to-see-results-right-now sense. If the UI recruiting office used the presense of a WalMart Super Center to lure prospective students, they probably wouldn't see a good response. I don't know anyone who would move somewhere because they have a Target or a Nordstrom's or a professional baseball team, let alone a Super WalMart.

However, the presense of a WalMart Super Center could increase the personal income per capita of the region, making the region more prosperous, which, over time, does attract people. 

If someone spends $10 on a toaster instead of $20, they have $10 extra dollars to spend on something else they otherwise would not have been able to purchase. That may be a book, internet service, lunch at a restaurant, or stocks. Whatever it is, it is something they otherwise would not have. Therefore, by buying that toaster at WalMart, they increased their disposable income by $10. When you spread that effect  across the region, and you get increased personal income, and that is a good thing.

Just something to think about,

Deacon



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