A person can't help noticing, driving through most any of the greater Kansas City area, all the empty buildings that used to be occupied by businesses. It's such a common sight that I probably wouldn't think much about it, except that sometimes Cliff keeps up a running commentary about the empty buildings ("Look, another one."). My son-in-law used to work in one such structure.
The closed businesses are just one more sign of our economic woes. I'd rather not think about this, because I don't see things getting any better. In fact, things may be getting a lot worse shortly.
The Claycomo Ford plant employs almost four thousand people who are paid better than your average blue-collar worker. There's a lot of talk about it closing down, and of course the state of Missouri has decided to offer some tax incentives in an effort to keep this big employer around. Where does all this money come from, anyhow?
I have a feeling that even if Ford is enticed to keep the Claycomo facility open a bit longer, it will eventually close. So far the automobile maker is remaining silent about what it will do next.
When it does close, there will be less money spent in this area on recreation and dining out. There will be fewer homes built, less home furnishings bought, and more foreclosures.
There will be more empty buildings where businesses used to be; one of them will be next door to where Cliff works, because it houses a business that manufactures seats for the Fords being assembled in Claycomo.
The dominoes keep falling; the house of cards is blowing away on the winds of recession, while elected officials scratch one anothers' backs and live off the fat of the land, all the while making speeches that are supposed to convince us change is ahead.
You bet it is, but it won't be a pretty one.
So sad to know this is happening all across the nation. We have a plumbing supply company not far from our house that's been in business for close to 100 years. In the boom times when remodelling was the thing of the day you could hardly find a parking spot anywhere near it. Now...virtually a ghost town. Scary.
ReplyDeleteOur auto industry is a biggie and it has a trickle down effect on many other smaller businesses when a plant closes. In our area we have a GM plant that has set empty since the recession in the 80's...A little further from home a Ford plant did shut down a few years ago and that community was greatly affected. A Chrysler plant in another area not to far away is going to be shutting down. It will greatly effect our area too. It seems there are more cars on the road than ever. Cars are being made somewhere...but not here.
ReplyDeletewow.
ReplyDeletethat is some cold water splashed in my face this morning.
To date, I thought maybe Ford was just putting the squeeze on us Missourians, to wrest more tax breaks out of us. It hadn't yet occurred to me that it might actually be shut down.
4000 jobs and all those paychecks lost? That would be one big hit for this entire community.
Yow.
Thanks for the reality check. I guess.
(On a lighter note, I love the picture you use for the header of your blog. See? I'm trying to be positive).
Mo Rage
No more Pontiacs after this year.
ReplyDeleteRoy Rogers museum closed in December after operating in the red. RFD-TV bought Trigger and Bullet at auction. Just seems wrong.