A Note on Differing Perspectives and the Future of North Carolina

North Carolina voters have many big decisions to make as they cast their ballots over the next few weeks.

Right here at home in Caswell, we're updating the County's Comprehensive and Land Use Plan and economic development plan. The Danville Regional Foundation's Clark Casteel, just last week, reminded Caswell County Commissioners how important it was to plan, to figure out what we want for our community and then lay as much groundwork as possible to prepare us to quickly take advantage of opportunities as they come along.

As I think about the future of Caswell County, I find myself wondering what my neighbors across the state envision for our future. I also wonder what trends are revealed in the data, and how different groups are spinning that data.

Next thing you know, I'm following a rabbit trail, bouncing around on the internet, intentionally seeking out differing opinions. Partially because I find it difficult to trust, but mainly because I truly believe that most of us want the same things and have vastly different opinions about the best way to achieve those things. Those opinions are shaped by our experiences, our beliefs, and our exposure to knowledge, analysis, and ideas.

I want to know what other people find important and I want to better understand why they believe in certain things, or act in certain ways. I'm even more curious about such things when they differ from my own priorities, beliefs, or actions.

I find that it is when I take the time to self-reflect and explore those differences that I am able to discover commonality. That's why I love the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations so much. It provides participants with the opportunity to connect across difference. The application period has just opened for the Fellowship's next cohort. Courageous leaders, committed to connecting across differences for the betterment of our state are encouraged to learn more about the Fellowship HERE and consider applying. *Full disclosure: I am a proud Friday Fellow currently serve as Chair of the Board of Advisors for Wildacres Leadership Initiative which houses the Friday Fellowship.

I also invite you to check out a couple conflicting visions for North Carolina's future that I ran across while bouncing down a rabbit trail.

• Carolina Forward's report North Carolina's Next Chapter: Harnessing Growth and Shared Prosperity, which suggests a policy agenda positing that "North Carolina's rapid growth is a sign of strength — but only if state leaders make the strategic investments needed to extend opportunity to every region and every resident, not just those already positioned to benefit."
• The John Locke Foundation's three part series noting where that agenda conflicts with their own that begins with the article, The fight for tomorrow: Assessing conflicting visions for North Carolina’s future, in which the author notes that, "While the report correctly identifies some of North Carolina’s primary challenges, its recommendations reveal a stark conflict of visions between Carolina Forward and the free-market, limited-government vision of conservative groups such as the John Locke Foundation." Part 2, Part 3

It's interesting to note that both John Hood, who helped found the John Locke Foundation and continues to serve on its board, and Graig Meyer, Caswell's former State Senator (D) who recently resigned his seat to lead the North Carolina Justice Center are Friday Fellows.

Hood was Class of '95 (the very first class), Meyer was Class of '03, and I was Class of '17. Three different classes, in three different decades, holding a wide range of beliefs, experiences, and viewpoints. The three of us aren't likely to agree on many policy issues, but I imagine that, as Friday Fellows, we have remained committed to the betterment of North Carolina and still want to engage in civil discourse to connect across differences.

Could we arrive at a shared strategic vision if you locked us in a room together? Perhaps, about some things, but I suspect it would be slow, difficult work. Whether we ever reach consensus or not, at the end of the day, I can't help but believe that our collective future depends on our ability to value each other enough to keep trying.