Something is desperately wrong. Last week’s paper reported that it might take 200 years to absorb the number of platted lots that have been approved in Teton Valley. Oil is dumping into the Gulf of Mexico. Just last week two good friends decided they had to move. The school budgets are grim. Two of our kids have taken their lives. Whose fault is it? Who’s going to fix it? The government? The stock market? God?

I believe it’s time for a major paradigm change, and it needs to start with us as individuals and as a small, intelligent, community with integrity. We all need to make a living, but could we do this while preserving our heritage, our wild resources, developing a strong local economy, and creating a meaningful life for our kids? Could we become more self-sufficient and simplify our lives so we have more time and money to spend on things that matter and aren’t the puppets of globalization?

My utopian dream:
What if we decide we won’t wait for Washington to fix things, quit calling each other names, and start listening. I’m willing to bet most of us want the same things: security for our family, health, beauty around us, and time to enjoy it. What if we quit saying we can’t, and start saying “Why not?”

We might start with the farmers. Every local school, hospital, restaurant, grocery store and citizen can create a reliable demand for locally produced food and/or help connect farmers with many grants and subsidies out there to develop local food systems.

Development? What if we decided that the best way to make a buck here is by attracting visitors to a pristine playground renowned for it’s natural surroundings and recreational activities. All lovers of outdoor recreation could find a spot for their sport. We could invest in alternative energy projects to keep some of our builders busy. Unique small businesses would thrive and we could commit to using only local dentists and car mechanics. Yes, it’s more expensive, but when we take our money to Idaho Falls or beyond, it’s gone.

Schools? Low budgets and large classes are a reality we have to deal with. What if every capable parent invested time and energy to help improve the public schools? What if the public schools accepted their help? What if we went to a four-day school week, and on the fifth day everyone from the community committed (some time during the year) to an enrichment program for kids—programs that fill the gap in all the extracurricular activities that kids are missing out on? Science club, music, art, acting, sports, cooking class, scouts, church, work training, agriculture… maybe the school facilities could be available for these activities. We could even commit to turning down or off the video games and TV, and take responsibility for our health, starting with what we put in our mouths. We as a community could take it upon ourselves to help kids find meaning in life and create some jobs in the process.

The details of meaningful change are almost too overwhelming to consider, but compared to what’s happening in our world right now, I know I won’t rest until I know I’ve done what I can. What are your ideas? A good place to start is the Teton County Comprehensive Plan informational meeting on May 17, 6 pm (place?). If this is to be a “guiding document” for our future, and we are all interconnected, I hope everyone makes sure their voices are heard.

(Sent to Teton Valley News, Valley Citizen)