9/19/2003

"In Springfield, the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum stands to be 'an economic engine for central Illinois and certainly for Springfield,' the governor said." This article on Illinois economic zones is pretty typical in depicting the lower grade of government planning; put four civil servants in charge of each zone and have them listen to local business leaders while leveraging what they can of the assets in place. The better kind of economic planning would solicit new Lincoln assets (libraries, museums, research centers, plaster bust moulding factories, even fan club headquarters) for Springfield, buying or reserving sapce for these. That kind of activity might actually antagonize some local businesses, but it would be proactive and it would create a more "powerful engine."