Times, They are a Changin' in Snyder, America

Hi everybody. This is an editorial that I wrote and Snyder Daily News published in its Sunday, January 28th issue. The editorial was written and published as follows:

By the looks of it, these are encouraging times for Snyder America. One indicator has been our saving grace for years. Unfortunately, simple science tells us it can’t last, at least not for as long as we’d like. The other indicators are highly divisive, but could forecast great changes for our community.

     First, the price of west Texas crude is above $60 for the first time in a very long time. Even better, the price seems stable enough to grow even higher. Boy, do we all need that. Snyder lives and dies by the price of oil. How many times have we said or heard, “when the price of oil comes up,” “we’ll be okay when oil comes back,” or “all we need is for oil to come back”?

     I must admit that each time I hear one of these remarks, I cringe. I do this because I feel our community and myself have allowed ourselves to put all our eggs in ‘one basket.’ I’m no economics expert but I’m pretty sure diversification is important for not only an individual but also a community.

     So, three cheers for oil and its prices. Please oil, don’t go lower again. I’m invested in you/we’re invested in you and I’m pretty sure our community is completely reliant on you. Aren’t we?

     More on oil prices in a bit, but other encouraging indicators for Snyder come from our development corporation, our county government and our city leaders.

     Our DCOS in recent years pursued many progressive projects. Not all of them proved successful or popular, but at least some showed a hopeful effort.

     The city council’s decision to create incentives to attract Sutherlands is a slippery slope. Lots of you disagree. That’s your right. Personally, I’m okay with it and here’s why.

     I’m okay with it because it’s thinking about what’s down the road. Yes, it’s spending our taxpayer’s dollars for the un-guaranteed but can any of us see the future?

      I’m not necessarily on the side of city council giving incentives to a business like Sutherlands considering we already have similar stores, but I certainly applaud the forward thinking.    

     Naysayers will say and it’s a valid point; Don’t spend our money on speculation or projects that benefit only the few versus projects for the entire community.

     I offer this. If we don’t speculate and expect our elected leaders to make changes for growth and change, where are we headed? The adage is, to keep doing the same thing and to expect different results is the definition of insanity. Personally, I’m thinking of many young parents who want so much for their children but a lack of change, even a possible fear of change, has them looking for hope elsewhere.

     I realize that saying, ‘fear of change,’ is argumentative. But to the naysayers, I offer that you ask your children what they want or need for them to return home and STAY home.

     Another incredibly divisive issue that, at least for myself, exemplifies forward thinking is Maverick West. While I’m not necessarily on the side of homes too expensive for most of to afford, I support county government’s forward thinking. I say; Please, take my money and give me something besides roads and bridges. I expect good roads and bridges like I expect a bed and blankets at a motel.

     And as for oil, it will run out. Science says it will. Then, what do we do?

Thank you

Bill Robertson, hopeless optimistic