59 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 8 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Bad Governance is Bad for Business

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   No comments
Message Constance Lavender
Atlantic City, New Jersey has evolved from a city of blight in the early to late 1970s to a diamond along the east coast today. That progress is in large part due to the revitalization of the once sinking resort town by the casino gambling industry.
Today, Atlantic City's future looks bright.
So why offer criticism, if so much progress has been made in the past twenty-five years? Because bad governance is bad for business.
Despite all the progress made in redevelopment and revitalization, Atlantic City is still very much haunted by past ghosts: political corruption and political shenanigans.
Perhaps the U.S. Attorney's Office summarized it best in response to the latest convictions of two council persons on corruption charges: "It's a sad commentary on the state of politics in Atlantic City."
Although it's true that Atlantic County as a whole would benefit from greater economic diversification, there's little doubt of the economic salvation of casino gaming in Atlantic City. Increasing high tech jobs in the county would also benefit the casino industry as new innovations and technical improvements could benefit the casinos bottom line and give them an edge over recent competitors in markets such as Philadelphia.
However, such progress also requires an atmosphere of honest civic engagement and, quite frankly, decent, honest governance. That element is sadly missing in today's mix in Atlantic City.
Before the region can produce real public servants and government leaders who put the public trust and the interests of its citizenry above the petty self-interests, jealousies, and rivalries of political hacks and hoodlums, Atlantic City and Atlantic County must confront its own ghosts.
Elected leaders who accept bribes from corporate and special interests are not meeting even the lowest bar of leadership. Elected leaders who win political points by pandering to the hatreds and differences that divide people, rather than bringing them together, are not serving the people's interests. Elected leaders who attempt to advance their own interests by trashing the honor and character of opponents say more about themselves than the person or persons they seek to destroy.
Atlantic City's business climate is vibrant, but if it is to endure it must find new leaders who embrace and envision common dreams, common hopes, and common successes.
Until then, "Adieu."
Rate It | View Ratings

Constance Lavender Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Constance Lavender is an HIV-Positive pseudonymous freelance e-journalist from a little isle off the coast of Jersey; New Jersey, that is...

In the Best spirit of Silence Dogood and Benj. Franklin, Ms. Lavender believes that a free (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Heterosexism and the African American Community

Stay Tuned...NJ Corruption Probe Extended To Other States

Deviating from the Norm: A Deviant Analysis of Kate Chopin's The Awakening as Coming Out Story

The Hero Myth in Maya Art & Culture

The Hero Cycle in Maya Myth & Culture

From Whitman to Wilde: A Cultural Perspective on Individualism at the Fin de Siècle

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend