Today's Seattle PI's front page has two lead stories, the first one saying we have a crisis in the housing market--not enough buyers: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/399873_homeprices13.html.
The second one says we need to get ready for "climate refugees," people will who flood our shores looking for relief from global warming: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/399958_climate13.html.
Interesting juxtaposition to ponder as I finish my second cup of coffee. It has been my experience that the Northwest as a whole and Bainbridge Island specifically appeal to people who are tired of heat, crowds, noise, ugly suburban cityscapes, crime, etc. Not to put a negative spin on it--I could say our temperate climate, peaceful, beautiful and safe surroundings are appealing.
Add to this Tom Friedman's column in this week's NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11friedman.html
His point is that our country would benefit from opening its doors to the best and brightest from around the world, especially the Indians and Chinese who are seeking to bring their entrepreneurial and brilliant efforts to our shores. I have a son finishing up his MBA this spring, and he's seeing first hand the silliness of educating these bright, willing and able foreign students, and then shipping them back to build the economies of their home countries. It's about creating jobs, not competing for jobs. Look at Silicon Valley.
Back to Bainbridge Island and how this relates. We may be a small, rural place, but folks here live globally, both in their businesses and their philanthropic endeavors. I am Bullish on our long-term ability to be attractive to the best, the brightest, and the smartest folks who see this paradise for what it is.
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