The Sad Case of the Hot Springs VA

Your Captain is currently vacationing in Hot Springs, SD. A vacation needed after his holiday vacation which didn't include a lot of relaxing or lying around.

So I arrive and everywhere on the community center signs, fliers at the bar, posters at the gas station, etc. etc. are slogans and sayings to "Save the VA" since the VA is the largest employer in town and it is slated to be closed.



My observation is short and succinct.

Has America, (in this particular case - a heavy republican district) become so dependent upon government that the best "local economic plan" they can come up with is to beg tax payers from across the nation to subsidize a money-losing operation AS OPPOSED TO trying to lure and entice other employers to set up shop in the area?

I mean, really. Even when the VA wasn't going to be shut down, wouldn't most people say,

"Hey, you know, we're a one employer town. Maybe we ought to diversify our economy a bit and try to get some more employers into town."

Or, could somebody be so bold to say,

"Hey, you know. Forget just keeping the VA here. And forget just attracting ONE additional employer. How about we open up a can of Hong Kong and try to get as many businesses to set up shop here as possible. SAving only one employer is only going to save so many jobs. But pursuing other employers have an UNLIMITED potential."

But no, no. Our efforts are best spent lobbying congress to keep that ONE government agency in town.

Just born in the absolute wrong time in American history I guess if I have to ask outlandishly stupid questions like these.