To the editor:

For many years I have been concerned about the “go to” economic strategy called “GROWTH”. This basically means annexing city land and expanding infrastructure for development or adding more population density to existing parts of the city, thus increasing the population with the expectation of more economic revenue.

Focusing on “growth” ignores the importance of conservation and sustainability. Endless growth and expansion create an imbalance of all life forms and decimates world resources. Environmental guidelines in our cities, state, and federal government are also under attack today to eliminate environmental protections.

How can we create a better and lasting future for the next generation? Can we moderate our life goals and practices to balance the needs of all life on the planet? Ideas and solutions are being used in other countries that focus on sustainable environmental practices. Is the motivation for short term profit interfering with our creativity and limiting new options that could provide for a thriving economy and environment? Surely there are other ideas of how to increase revenue besides “growth”. What does the future look like for all of us if we are no longer able to preserve a healthy living environment?

Candice Davis,

Lawrence