It is easy to intellectualize about the evils of moving American production off-shore. The loss of infrastructure, economic control and technological innovation are all well documented. And, we have all experienced job loss, or employment upheaval, and we can "relate" at some level, to those who have had their jobs shipped out of the country.
I don't want to rant on about the dislocation which is resulting from Free Markets and Globalization, but I do want to expand "relating" to a deeper understanding of the changes in a community when the mill closes.
The ever expanding ripples are devasting my town far beyond the employment statistics.
The mill that produced sheets and towels for upscale department stores closed about 3 years ago, now. 768 people, in a town of less than 2,000, found themselves out of work. And we are isolated enough so that finding work elsewhere is no simple prospect.
The town lost its tax base.
Three years ago we had a 1,200 sq. foot department store. That store provided workday and Sunday clothing for men, women and children. They also provided the formal wear rentals for the proms, and other affairs, at the local high school, as well as wedding dresses, grooms men's suits and bride's maid dresses. They sold shoes, handbags, and winter coats and jackets.
The building is empty.
Three years ago we had a doctor's office and surgery. He wasn't much of a doctor. Curmudgeonly and far too interested in praying over your injury for my taste, but he had served the town and surrounding countryside for 30 years. He delivered babies and death sentences with equal aplomb. He had gradually equiped his office with full x-ray capabilities, an operating room to staunch the lastest chainsaw mishap, and a waiting room with magazines published within the past 2 years. This when he was being paid with chickens, or not at all.
The doctor's office is empty.
Three years ago we had a full drug store cum pharmacy. You could buy OTC cold remedies, hair clips, Kotex, and pet supplies. There was a section set aside for video rental, and there were 4,600 titles available. I know this because I constructed a database for inventory management for the tapes and DVD's. The pharmacist was top notch. He was the 4th generation to run the store, and very proud of his families service to the town.
The pharmacy is empty, now.
Three years ago we had 3 coffee shops, 3 markets, a new car dealership, 4 banks, 3 beauty shops, 2 antique stores, and 2 used car lots.
Two banks, and one struggling market are all that remain.
All the other buildings are empty now.
In order to survive, many of the mill workers, who own a lot of land in the area, are selling their timber. Once a gently rolling countryside, forested with huge old oak and pine, the trees have been over 60% harvested now. This is land that has been conserved for generations, stripped to feed the kids.
The land is growing barren and empty.
We still have our post office - for how long I do not know. We still have the County liquor store - for how long I do not know.
I do know that the simple greed that moved the milling facilities to Mexico and India has cut the heart and soul out of my town. It destroyed her commercial district, empoverished her citizens, and forced them to make some very harmful decision regarding land management. It drove a couple of hundred long time business owners and service providers to seek work elsewhere. We even lost our tax account and both lawyers!!
This was traditional America, now displaced and disgraced by the acts of those whom they had served and worked for, for over 100 years.
One town. One disaster. But when you hear of a mill closing or a furniture factory moving, or a trucking company relocating, pause for a moment and consider. It is not just the people who lose jobs that are effected. It is the entire community that dies. And when the men and women who loved and cared for a town are forced to move on for their own survival, it is often accompanied by a last desparate effort to wring a pittance from the land.