Everyday Ethics: What do we owe the folks next door?
Jeremy Iggers, Star Tribune February 26, 2005
A couple of recent e-mails from readers raise the issue of what we owe our neighbors. This one came in response to last week's column, about people who move out of state when they retire, to avoid paying state income taxes:
"To say that a person has a "moral obligation" to remain in this state after retirement to pay taxes is like saying that a person has a moral obligation to shop in the small town in which they live. Well, with the advent of the Internet and Wal-Mart ... that kind of thinking has been shot right out the window. Would you, for example, pay $2,000 more for a car from your local small-town dealer? I don't know about you, but if the small-town guy can't match the price ... that's not my problem. The transaction is strictly impersonal, and it is about the bottom line."
I would never say that anyone had a moral obligation to stay in Minnesota at retirement to pay taxes. All I was trying to say was that people who make major life decisions - such as choosing where to live - based on trying to pay as little in taxes as possible have their priorities screwed up. But ethics is about more than what is obligatory and what is prohibited: It is also about developing a vision of the good life. I believe that we can only achieve our fullest potential as individuals in communities that have the resources to support our growth. If I lived in a small town, I would have a hard time making the choice to pay $2,000 more to support the local auto dealership. But I would certainly be willing to pay at least a few hundred dollars more for the local service, and to help out the parents of a kid that my kid goes to school with, and with the notion that someday, that neighbor might help me out in return.I do try to support my local hardware store, even though I can buy stuff cheaper at Wal-Mart, because having a hardware store in my neighborhood makes my neighborhood a nicer place to live. If you want to live in a community or a world where every transaction is strictly impersonal and it is all about the bottom line, you are welcome to it, but it isn't my idea of happiness.
Overheard at the Round Table
Business news - Dr. Jeff Mackner, owner of Pelican Eye Care Clinic, has been in cramped quarters since coming to 56572 a few years back. Now he's eyeing building a new clinic two doors south of Bridges- on the Milt Seifert lot for us old-timers.
Old-timers know that the lot has lots of bad karma. Of course it used to be Carr & Hanson's. After that the lot was to have been the site of a third hardware store.. Milt got shot down in what I felt was one of the sadder day in the annals of 56572 economic history. Milt picked himself up off the floor and took his dream six miles north on 59 instead. The rest is history which has shown that, back then, both feuding parties were right.. 56572 did not need a third hardware store. Milt's kids still have his dream going great guns six miles north.
56572 wishes Jeff well. 56572's hindsight is better than its foresight - even though in Milt's case our foresight it was pretty good. Keep working on our foresight Jeff. Our eyesight is getting worse by the hour reading all the local blogs. Chuck the Attorney needs more space too. Anybody else feeling cramped?
Sports news - PTMM (Prime Time March Madness) is almost upon us. 56572's Lady Vikings will try to make into PTMM this afternoon by taking on the higher seeded DGF Lady Rebels at Concordia. The Lady Rebels took it out on PRB (Pine River-Backus) Thursday night 99-24. A score like that brings bad karma for your next game. A Lady Rebel has got to do what Lady Rebels are supposed to do, I suppose. (They pounded us 32-48, condolences to the Lady Vikings) Brugs getting his hair dyed orange didn't help.
56572's Vikings took care of business in Perham last night winning by four points and taking the HOL Conference title. Another banner in the gym. As Number 1 seed let's hope they show some mercy on the Number 8 seed they will face at home next Thursday. A PTMM Viking-Rebel rematch is just over the horizon.
Riverside Coffee has re-opened for the season and has a new website to go with the new wrap sandwiches. The Muddy Moose should have their wireless Internet up shortly and will become 56572's first cybercafe. If it will become a WiFi Hotspot, time will tell. The Moose and Riverside have been duking it out on coffeegeek.com and so far Tabi has Tammy on the ropes. Come on Tammy, get your dukes up!
Base-camping in the shadow of Hallaway Hill. For this visitor 56572 does spell happiness:
North Country Trail Association
Trip report October 2004
"We base‑camped in the village of Pelican Rapids (http://www.pelicanrapidschamber.com) This is a delightful small town, near the suggested walk. I am recommending that when the planning process for western Minnesota begins that Pelican Rapids be considered for a trail town, and the trail routed through it. So first of all here are the reasons we appreciated Pelican Rapids so much.
It is a town of population about 2000 which has not resigned itself to die like so many small midwestern towns. For a town of that size I was highly impressed. They have a number of amenities which would appeal to hikers. There is camping allowed at the city park, $10/ night with a showerhouse. There are a small number of both electric ($15) and non‑electric ($10) sites The city park is attractive, and extends along the Pelican River, with plans to expand it further. It features a waterfall where a mill used to stand and a large statue of a pelican, for fun.
Glenace Metcalfe
The week we were there they were installing a mural of the pelicans. (These are the white pelicans of the northern US, with 9‑foot wingspans‑ a most impressive bird. I didn't see any this trip, but have seen them in North Dakota.) There is a foot‑travel only suspension bridge crossing the river to easily reach downtown. The business area has within an easy walk of the park:
Two coffee shops‑ Riverside Coffeeshop, Muddy Moose Coffee
A good restaurant (with bar)‑ Bridges Bistro
Ice Cream in season
City hall, with information center open every day, and historical displays about the town
Gift shops
Laundromat
Health Services
Motel
Slightly farther away, but a reasonable walk to re‑stock on a day off, is a large grocery store.
The town has been attempting to build a bike path to connect with Maplewood State Park (16 miles). This has met with some difficulties and is not complete, but they welcome muscle‑powered recreationists. One additional asset the town possesses (also centrally located downtown) requires more explanation. They have a new, wonderful public library which would be a resource for hikers, but which also says volumes about the town itself. The library has comfortable lounging areas, subscriptions to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, and a coffee bar. It has multiple computers with web access and high‑speed connections for those wishing to check email or add to trip log websites, etc. The less obvious impact of the library upon the town has a lot to do with the attitude of the town. Due to the fact that a large turkey processing plant was built there several years ago, the town decided to embrace the multi‑cultural population which was attracted to the good employment opportunities. The town has the Minnesotan Scandanavian base population, but added to that are Mexicans, eastern Europeans, Africans (mostly from Nairobi), Vietnamese have clusters of ethnic cultures here. The town has decided to celebrate that diversity rather than to look askance at those who are different. Several examples of how that has played out are on display in the library. There is a sculpture done by students. There is also an award‑winning quilt hanging on the wall with each square an example of handwork typical of one of these cultures. All squares were made by local residents. A book accompanies it, introducing the artists and explaining the square. On a weekday after school you can hear several languages being spoken, and even see people in ethnic dress. The delightful result is that the town did not look warily upon us as outsiders, as we spent a week in the town."
30 minutes ago
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