The Problem With Conservative Pensacola

I have high expectations for my hometown of Pensacola, Fl. Expectations that I know will never be met. I complain a lot about my town, but it would be misleading to say that I hate it. I rather hate what it is while imagining what it could be. What is Pensacola? It's a town held hostage by lack of creativity.

Pensacola long ago mortgaged its future to the military establishment. The city languished in the belief that the military would always be there to provide jobs and security. Because the military is a bastion of conservatism-despite being paradoxically the most Marxist organization in the country-the majority of Pensacola's population was conservative and therefore most of its elected leaders were conservative. Perhaps if less staunchly shortsighted leaders had found their way into power, the beauty surrounding Pensacola might have been held out as a carrot to business, industry and technology. When military downsizing began in the late 80s and early 90s the tumultuous effects on Pensacola might have been averted because we wouldn't have been such a company town reliant on one major influence on our economy. The effect of subservience to a conservative behemoth has had widespread effects on Pensacola.

With the downsizing at the Naval Air Station and other surrounding military bases, Pensacola was faced with a quick-fix solution to bringing in capital. Millions of acres of undeveloped land extend in all directions around Pensacola and could have, with some liberal-minded long-term thinking, served perfectly for the creation of what is now known as Silicon Valley, or something similar. Pensacola's relatively low property taxes and cost of living could certainly have been used as desirable selling points to lure companies with thin finances and risky investments. Not to mention a prime selling point of being home to the world's whitest beaches.