The "Origin" of Community-Deteriorating "Consequences"?

The Parsons Sun is a longstanding local newspaper located in and published from Parsons, Kansas. The city of Parsons (population, about 10,000)—located in Labette County (population, about 20,000)—is located in southeast Kansas (a state of approximately 2.9 million). That Kansas has a prolonged declining population, now ranking 36th among U.S. states and territories, is of course the “consequence” of something(s).

On a related note—the Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12, 2020 edition of the Sun included a font-page article titled in part, “CSO settles in, helps teach public about city ordinances.” A comprehensive reporting boasting recent addition of a newly created Community Service Officer (CSO) position within the Parsons Police Department. 

Reportedly, in addition to animal control and other applicable duties, this new position will—after police academy training—also provide back-up support to other officers, etc. As highlighted within the article, the first applicant hired to fill this new CSO position, has background including, but not limited to, some 18 years of experience with the San Antonio, Texas Police Department.

Unquestionably, and respectfully so, the Texas applicant’s acceptance for this newly created position in Parsons, Kansas is no doubt the “consequence of” meeting or exceeding the applicable recruitment criteria. As the newly created CSO Position is in kind the “consequence of” the Parsons Police Department’s creative and continuing efforts to best serve the community. Achievements warranting, on the part of the Parsons community—due recognition, cooperation, and support to all concerned parties, along with best wishes for every success in this and other community service aims. 

Nevertheless—much warranted also is a Parsons community that will hopefully commit to finding ways and means to identify and responsibly address the “origin” of “other relevant consequences.” 

For example, in spite of the best efforts of the local Parsons, Kansas educational institutions, business enterprises, city government, and community in general to educate, train, and retain local human resources . . . what is the “origin” of the “consequences” that at times deems it necessary to recruit beyond the Parsons community, when seeking to fill Dispatcher; Community Service Officer; and other meaningful work within the City of Parsons employment rolls?

Clearly, it is the “consequence” of something(s)—and should likely be a bit beyond unsettling that—apparently there are times when recruitment efforts find no qualified natives/residents of Parsons, Labette County, or for that matter, within the some 2.9 million population of the State of Kansas, interested in available meaningful work? A state that, for example, at the time this new CSO position was filled, had an unemployment rate of well beyond 3 percent? Meaningful work that was however, of interest to a determined suitably qualified applicant from San Antonio, Texas. 

Thereby evidencing what seems to be as a minimum—a most sad, undesirable, and otherwise community discouraging reality. And, as Parsons, Kansas, and a growing number of other “less populated areas” across the country, keep losing crucial human resources, it would appear especially important, if not critical, that such impacted communities strive much harder and wiser to identify, and responsibly address, the “origin” of “community-deteriorating consequences”—one and all. 

Otherwise, and most unfortunately so, many more such communities will likely one day soon cease to exist within the U.S. landscape—along with the less-hectic, in touch with nature, and otherwise more down-to-earth life style, many justifiably argue the U.S. needs much more of. One which once lost, will likely not be regained, nor ever again experienced by countless within future generations of Americans. 

                                                              —William James Moore