Commissioner Nelson (and mysterious furniture stores) support county buy-local resolution

A “buy local’ requirement is a terrible idea. The reason successful stores and chains are successful is because they provide the experience people want. This needs to be the benchmark for local retailers, rather than an understanding that consumers will be steered their way.

This resolution couldn’t possibly have any teeth, anyway, since there is no acceptably legal way to enforce it.

If the county truly wants to help local business, then reduce taxes. Or maybe that’s a step too far and they should stick to discussing irrelevancies that make it look like they really want to help.

What did the Commissioner think the local business would say to him?

“Hmmm… let me get this straight; you want to direct local business my way and help me make more profit? That’s a tough one. I’ll have to talk to my husband, but am thinking we probably wouldn’t be on board for something like that.

So I’ll say no right now but will give it more thought, you betcha.”

Well, he does say he wants the local businesses to be “competitive.” My question is: If local businesses are able to supply the county’s needs competitively, why aren’t the businesses chasing down that revenue stream themselves? I would ask them that, if Commissioner Nelson wasn’t keeping their names a secret.

I’m not saying he invented the playpen story to get support for his resolution, but how can we tell?