Economic woes

According to the latest edition of the Chapleau Express, two key events were lost in the recent past by decisions made by our town council.  The Editor-in-Chief then goes on to tabulate the amount of money lost by local merchants.  The effect of losing the bantam hockey tournament and the snowmobile races appears to be substantial.  Some people are indeed narrow minded and believe that if an economic loss does not directly affect them, then it is someone else's problem.  There is so much wrong with this point of view, I don't know where to start.  Everyone and everything is connected in our modern economy.  In a small town such as Chapleau, these connections are even stronger.  It is not unlike a pool of water that you throw a stone into.  The stone makes ripples on the water's surface.  The smaller the pond, the more quickly the effect of the ripples will be felt.  That is why they call them economic spin offs.  They (new businesses, new initiatives) gradually affect every one of us in some tangible way.  Whether it means more or better jobs, or better public infrastructure, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that a major local investment is good for us all.  By the same token, economic losses have a similar negative effect.  It's just common sense, actually.  Maybe our elected officials should take a step back and look at the bigger picture when they make key decisions.  They are not just deciding for themselves, they are making a choice for each and every one of us.  Please make the right choices and make Chapleau better and stronger.  Before there is nothing left for anyone.