– Missouri’s developing economic priorities overshadow concerns for lower-income citizens.
– Kansas City planning a new entertainment district creates a discrepancy with current impoverished conditions.
– Concerns raised about the long-term societal impact of development favoring ‘things’ over human needs.
An Unacknowledged Reality
In Missouri, it seems that some uncomfortable truths are strategically ignored for the prioritization of development projects. With an influx of luxurious developments, the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots has become more evident. A significant portion of Missouri’s population is living in poverty, their struggles starkly contrasting the sleek, shiny new infrastructures cropping up in cities like Kansas City.
Progress or Regress?
Kansas City is now on track to unveil an entertainment district, with a Ferris wheel as its central attraction. The idea of an ultra-modern hub of entertainment gleaming in the heart of the city, sandwiched between sights of pervasive poverty, strikes an unsettling chord. This overlook of societal obligations presents the consequential question: Are we advancing as a society, or merely in a race to outdo each other?
Rediscovering the Societal Balance
The argument remains, it’s not about halting the development or growth of the city. But there’s a need for a balance, ensuring that development doesn’t come at the expense of basic human needs. It’s high time for a thorough reassessment of priorities, where the creation of opportunities for the less fortunate is as crucial as any new shiny skyscraper.
The Breezy Take
An evolving society should not only represent growth in terms of infrastructure, but also in inclusivity and equality, certainly the way to a more prosperous Missouri. This article underscores the need for a society where not only the creations of wealth are celebrated but also the humane perspectives on need and deprivation. The Ferris wheel might hold the charm of modernity and progress, but it’s equally important that development doesn’t cast away the lives struggling beneath. The wheel of progress must equally distribute opportunities, not just skyscraping glamour.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/23/our-thing-oriented-society-puts-development-ahead-of-human-needs-we-all-suffer-the-consequences/