The wasteful land use and marginal economics of these suburbs in turn created the pressure to pave and roof more manufactured waste land. The question on the public table now is whether migrants from abandoned waste zones will continue to permit and promote a repeat of this process here. The current economic directors in Chisago City, for example, recite a projection of 20,000 city residents by the year 2020 as a guide to their development policies. While this estimate is a substantial knockdown from the 50,000 inhabitants city growth gurus promised a few years ago, it remains an alarming prospect requiring some study. Since the current and projected tax base of a city like Chisago City is insufficient to bear even a fraction of this burden, it becomes a matter of vital interest to the county, school and sewer district taxpayers left holding the bag of debt.
Progress is only inevitable as long as development is viewed as desirable and affordable.
The unexamined embrace of progress as defined by development boosters jeopardizes an already fragile economic and natural environment in this area. The time is upon us to determine whether this progress creates real social and economic benefit to anyone besides boom town speculators.