Why Not Be the Best?
Why not be the best? It’s a question often asked around Rhode Island, yet it’s something we only think about when it comes to sports it seems. Why can’t URI, PC, Brown, Bryant, the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins be the best, either on the national or conference level? Can’t they compete? Get the best athletes? Win the games they need to win? Being the best is not often a subject that comes up when we are talking about our state as a whole, however.
Why can’t Rhode Island be the best? What or who is standing in our way? Why is it acceptable for us to strive to be just as good as Connecticut and Massachusetts? Just as competitive? Why can’t we be better? We can’t we be proactive instead of reactive? What’s in our way?
The legendary football coach Lou Holtz had a great quote: “When all is said and done, more is said than done.”
These are very difficult times, but we need to have vision, vision to be better than those around us, not just as good, but better!
That means better in tax structure, better in attracting and keeping business in our state, better in creating jobs, better in coming up with ways to bring more revenue to our state and local coffers, better in PROMOTING what Rhode Island does have to offer NOW.
I’ve always thought that a department in state government should be created and that person given the title of Director of Vision. The DV will be responsible for keeping an eye out on things that need to be done to keep our state ahead of the game, not just in the game. The DV will be a step ahead at all times and keep an eye out for opportunity. That person will also watch what other states are doing and bring those best practices to Rhode Island. Too many times we get caught up in the “day to day” of running a state and we forget to notice what is going around us. All of a sudden it’s five years later and we’re playing catch-up.
Ask former residents of the state why they moved away and they’ll give you an honest answer. “Taxes were too high, no jobs, tired of the politics and winter (can’t do anything about that one).” Ask them what they miss about Rhode Island and they’ll most likely tell you “everything else…the beaches, the food, the location, the beauty” etc.
Rhode Island is a wonderful state. We just need a little more vision. The media likes to say RI is a microcosm for what is ailing America. How about Rhode Island being a microcosm for the new America?
It’s our decision.
As our pal Patriots coach Bill Parcells once said: “Action, not words.”
Tim Gray
Director of Communications
Rhode Island General Treasurer
