Are YP's Caught in the Middle?

I recently had the opportunity to finish reading a book that gives a scathing analysis of the economic reality being faced in the Midwest. The book, "Caught in the Middle: America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism by Richard Longworth," was written before the massive government bailout recently passed by Congress, but still deals with our economic perils in stark terms.

Caught deals with the Midwest's struggle to stay competitive against overseas markets, counter to the expectation that capitalism needs to seek out foreign opportunity. Author Richard Longworth paints a picture that emotionally appeals to those in the Midwest as if the region was hit with some economic parasite that has left an empty landscape full of rural ghettos. Anyone living in Iowa can relate to this conversation over the apparent decay of Iowa's rural communities and the division between rural and urban.

Longworth correctly pinpoints the divisive battle that happens between rural and urban communities, not just within the confines of the state, but even in the larger confines of Midwest state vs. Midwest state. Caught insinuates that Midwesterners' characteristics and ideology are no match for globalism, which the book also attacks.

Midwesterners are described as unskilled, risk averse, change resistant, sluggish and indifferent. An Iowan himself, living and working in Chicago, Longworth appears to come off hypocritically harsh toward Midwesterners. Yet, at the same time, who else but someone from the region could give paint such an emotional picture and get away with it. No doubt Longworth is attempting to say there are no easy answers. However, he does suggest solutions to the crisis, which, on first read, appear to be immigration as the immediate fix, while a reemergence of city centers and a redirection toward research and biosciences are the longer term fixes.

After reading Caught, I was left to ponder two questions: Has the ball already been put in motion to return the Midwest to its heyday? And is the return of YPs to the Midwest a sign of progress?

There are definite signs in the Midwest of more regional collaboration, as well as an increased focus on research and biotechnology. It would appear that some, particularly in Iowa, are trying to lead the way in this renaissance.

Only time will tell.

Comments

[richard longworth]

My thanks for this generous comment on my book, but there is one error. I do not "attack" globalization. Globalization is simply a fact of life, and it's not possible to "attack" it -- to be for or against it -- any more than it was possible to be for or against the Industrial Age. Like a huge economic event, globalization has a strong impact on our economies and our lives, and my point is that this impact on the Midwest has been largely negative so far on the Midwest. But the solution is not to derail globalization or to raise the drawbridge, but to examine both our inadequate response so far and what we can do about it, which is what my books tries to do.

[Pete Jones]

Isaiah, great post, I will be sure to look up Mr. Longworth's book. I hope the return of YP's to the midwest is the cure and solution to some of the issues Mr. Longworth posed. We both know a great group of YP's who are pushing for this end and working hard to ensure our efforts are not going to waste. But, like you indicated on your post, only time will tell if our efforts are making the difference.