Few familiar with corporate media will be surprised that this report was hardly a realistic, holistic depiction of Asheboro. I say this as someone who moved here six years ago from the UK, having lived in Atlanta, Raleigh, Oxford, and other non-hick locales. Frankly, the town has pleasantly surprised me although I had expected it to be a cultural wasteland. Even though it's definitely a southern town- one of the main drags is 'Dixie Drive'- there's a healthy and growing local scene. It has changed a lot in the past five years. An influx of new locally-owned service businesses have come in since the town joined the modern era of alcohol sales, and the schools are quite good with small class sizes, well-qualified teachers, new buildings, and good statewide rankings. The producers had to go to another city to find boarded-up storefronts in the downtown since Asheboro's downtown is a thriving collection of non-chain businesses. The parks are in good order, the recreation department puts on a regular and eclectic series of free concerts, the library punches well above its weight, and there's a range of stuff to do. The town is relatively free of big-box crap compared to neighboring communities (although it is moving in), and many of the neighborhoods are leafy and non-generic, with old trees, sidewalks, and an authentic, diverse range of older house architectures. Asheboro is not a cookie-cutter 'could be anywhere' town, and its leaders would be wise to ensure that it stays that way while it grows. Underneath the Republican hegemony, there is perhaps more hipness and and tolerance than meets the eye.
That there are as many working factories here as there are compared to other places is noteworthy. More factories operate in Asheboro than indicated in the report, although they are under the same pressure as every other American industry. The answers lay in quality, innovation, and response speed. Chinese production is not without its drawbacks, including intellectual property theft, tainted and poor quality, transport time and cost, and increasing costs. On-shoring is occurring in some instances, and places which are prepared can capitalize.
For those with an income or a workable entrepreneurial idea, Asheboro is an affordable town which is a good place to live and raise a family. For those without a college education, just like everywhere else life is increasingly a struggle. The politics are conservative, but because the Republican hegemony here is so total, there are actually moderate Republicans. Would that more would see that Mitt Romney is no friend to small towns like Asheboro. He's a grab-and-smash quick-buck artist who laughs at the little people below his corporate jet after he puts on a show to tell them that he cares about something more than his secret bank accounts. People like to call the Democrats elitist, but history shows that the middle class does better under them.
It was interesting listening to the lady describe marketing her pickles in China, as though this was some sort of savior for American business.
On the contrary.
I was having this discussion with a business owner recently, who found less and less Americans able to afford his product.
When I told him the Chinese will simply duplicate his product at half his cost, and next begin importing it back into the U.S. he looked at me with a deer caught in the headlights look.
Not to mention the cost of oil and shipping in this new game of economic musical chairs.
It doesnt' take a rocket scientist to understand the implications of shipping a raw material from Texas(cotton) to China to be assembled into a t-shirt, then ship it back to Florida for sale to realize there is a fundamental problem with global trade and the economic interests that are manipulating it.
We are clearly our own worst enemies in this regard.
We are about to elect one of two men out of the millions of people in this United States of ours , to the position of Presidant . How is it that , as a Democracy , so few have the chance to do the job of directing the activities that make this country the democracy we believe it to be? In my way of thinking the social status of the candidates is not significant , if we are going to behave as a true democracy . If the potentials come only from the privileged strata then as such the elected can only think as the privileged would and have less understanding of the lower classes , i.e. the middle and below. The fact that it takes more and more money , to get elected to the presidency in this country , reduces the pool of potentials to a very few of the elite who often have the least experience , fewest qualifications for leadership and are the least likely to posses the wisdom that makes a statesman a statesman.
Of the two candidates this years , as in other years neither have the breadth of experience nor the strength of personality that commands respect of those they meet and would be leading .
Until we eliminate the barricade of money required to elect the best qualified we will be installing only those that by luck , clever manipulation or inheritance have obtained enough wealth to buy a ticket to stand in the presidential spot light for at least four years . To deserve the office of president one should have more than just the one qualification it takes to be selected ; possession of millions of dollars .
First you have answered your own question - we do not live in a democracy but rather an ecrocracy rapidly escalating to a plutocracy since Ronald Reagan was elected. In our society MONEY has become the god of all gods, the MAKING OF MONEY the worshiping of the MONEY god. Time and space will not allow me to fully explain what has and is occurring in our beloved country, however a few names CHENEY, ROVE,(bush not included as he was just the puppet of CHENEY/ROVE) KOCH, NORQUIST, just as romney will be the puppet of KOCH/NORQUIST. WALL STREET / BANKS were turned in to 1 big gamboling casino for the BANKS/WALL STREET insiders only the HOUSE MONEY was yours and mine and we wonder why they have no respect for the middle class. Your thoughts are right on but we out of necessity let things go too long with out reining in the EVIL PLAYERS because they made sure we were too busy trying to feed our families and make ends meet to really pay attention must less stop the world THEY were creating and the CONTROL THEY were amassing. We only slowed THEM down by electing President Obama, something they never expected to happen and thought no great CHEATING effort would be necessary to prevent his election. This time they know they must CHEAT, STEAL this election just as they did in 2000. My only consolidation is THEY insisted everyone be allowed all the guns they wanted (original thought was let them kill each other and WE will be permanently rid of them, perhaps THEY will one day find all those guns pointed at THEM when people are forced to work as indentured servants and can not feed, clothe or house their families.
The demise of Asheboro does not suprise me in the least. This is a community/county that has refused to change with the times. While growing up in Asheboro, I could not wait until the minute I graduated high school and went to college. Since those days I have never looked back. When I would return during college for breaks, I would always feel like I was stepping back 20 years. Keep in mind this was 20 years ago.
I can remember when it was not even legal to drink in the county, due to the fear that it would destroy the community. Yet you could go to numerous bootleggers and get anything you wanted. The day that I had learned that alcohol had become legalized, I was SHOCKED to say that least. That day that at least stepped into the 20th century. There were numerous residents of the county who would not even let the sun set on them outside the county limits. How sad is that?
Several comments have mentioned the zoo, but what people fail to realize is that the community has failed with the zoo. The NC Zoo is one of the best zoo's in the nation, but the tourist development folks in Randolph County have failed to promote and open all the potential that exists with this world class zoo.
It is a shame that the county is not prospering, but when the residents continue to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to change, nothing will change.
I wish the community the best of luck and hopefully they can retool themselves and move into the 21st century.
I wouldn't say the entire state is behind the times, but certainly the smaller areas, the old tobacco, textile mill towns are slow to accept newer concepts and progressive ideas. The Baptist and other protestant churches have actually hurt the state a great deal. As a native, I've seen my hometown go from a prospering mill and tobacco market town to a crime ridden, high unemployment area. A failure to establish any social security nets, a weak state government, no legislation to innovate, in fact,the republican ideas that are being touted now have left many areas without any sources of income outside of crime. When I became ill in California, disabled due to a disease, I had to stay in California, as the state had no support for me, and my family there couldn't afford the costs. They catered to the industries, and their reward was that the textile industry walked out to the far east for cheap labor, and didn't look back. They catered to developers, and created a class that couldn't afford the housing that they continued to build.
They should have came to Siler City. Want to talk about death of a town. I have lived here all my life and my family too. It is really sad, problem is those on the board that should be doing all they can do to get more businesses here have their own businesses and are worried alittle money will come out of their fat pockets and the town wants to charge you for having a business here too.
I would like to echo the sentiments of Marlo, and say that, yes, there are people in this town, this county, that are redefining and refocusing what Asheboro is. I started my small company in June of 2008 from my dining room, as a lone employee. Today, we employ over 20 people and pay above average wages with full benefits and potential for anyone to advance. I could have started my business in any town in NC, but chose Asheboro for it's people, its charm, and it's character. There is a manufacturing decline in Asheboro, and Randolph County, and the entire country. It is forward thinking people like the ones here that will replace those jobs with different and hopefully better opportunities. We have seen some amazing things happening in the City over the last four years, and I fully expect that to continue. We are rich with people like Marlo who have a vision, and execute it. We have young civic leaders in the community that have a bigger vision of what we can be and where we are going than this piece reflects. Had 60 Minutes taken the time to speak to some of these folks, they may have left a more optimistic feeling with it's viewers. My heart goes out to the Hill family, and please know that there are people here trying to make change in our county.
RCC has some of the states best cirriculum and is leading the way with new industry specific training that will prepare our workforce for the new opportunities that will be in demand in the coming years. We have Malt-o-meal, Energizer, Timken, Klaussner, Technimark, Dart, Teleflex, and a host of other manufacturers that continue to invest and grow in Asheboro. There are plenty of good things happening in this City, and I would say it is anything but dying.
I grew up right outside Ramseur (where my family remains) and after 12 years in Charlotte decided to move back to Asheboro in 2009. That lasted one year. It had nothing to do with a job, as I can do my job from everywhere. But a few things I would like to share...
First, if you think manufacturing started dying in even the last 15 years you would be well behind reality. My grandfather supervised for Burlington Industries in Cedar Falls until they were closed down in 1980 and he lost his job. The stories they tell me of mills coming and going even before that confirm how unstable some of the positions where. The last 10-15 years have been the slow last throws of death. I don't care what anyone says, replacing a $10-$12 an hour job with a worker making that in a week...economically you can't beat that unless you just flat out make outsourcing and importing illegal.
Second, The mention of replacing 1000 jobs with 100. That is exactly what is happening and worse, the 100 don't pay as well and are just as shaky in the long term. I sat at the induction of Erskine Bowles when he became the leader of the UNC system and heard him say "those jobs are gone, and they aren't coming back." He was speaking of manufacturing, but he might as well have been talking about any job that can be done overseas. This is happening everywhere. Just ask IT people in Charlotte.
Third, the affect the lack of these jobs in small towns has on community growth is understated here. It focuses on a small group of people with ideas and "gumption" to start something new. But without education (and in many cases even with it) there are few options. Thirty or forty years ago a man could graduate high school in Randolph county and if he wasn't going to farm he could get a job at a Mill. He made a decent wage, got benefits and was able to support his family. This gave him the positive attitude that enabled him to be a leader in his church and community. Now those jobs aren't there. That same person ends up working two or three jobs to make the same amount of money. They have no time for anything else or a family. Worse, pop culture tells them not to worry because they can get on a reality show, or win the lottery, or some other pipe dream and they will make it. It changes the outcome of the personality, morality, and priorities of those people.
Fourth and finally, I would challenge the town leadership to adapt as well as some of the business in the community have. I grew up on a farm and the place to go was Asheboro. I went to High School, graduated, moved away to college, and moved to Charlotte. After 12 years I moved back to Asheboro to be close to family. I was excited to find the small downtown scene growing and a great old craftsman style home to move into. What I didn't expect was that the cost of living (outside of housing) was as expensive and in some cases more expensive that living in Charlotte. Prices at large stores were high and service was non-existant due primarily to lack of competition. There are several towns Asheboro's size or even smaller with more options for groceries, home improvement and restaurants. Granted, it has grown, but there is still room for more. The deep divide in town leadership over beer and liquor sales and an entrenched "the zoo will save us" attitude is really holding the town back. The comment someone made about feeling like something big was about to happen...it could easily if the town would get out of it's own way. It could easily become a vibrant lifestyle community with an easy commute to Greensboro. They need to cease belief in the return of manufacturing and create a place where people want to live. Let that bring jobs.
When I moved back to Asheboro my family and our family friends made a huge deal out of it. Very few of the kids who go on to higher education and then careers come back. My brothers are in NYC and New Hampshire. I have friends I graduated high school with who live near me in Charlotte. Others I know moved to Raleigh, Chicago, even LA. So when I moved back it was like saying that I wanted to help make a change. And to a point I did. But I couldn't stay there. The division within the town, the lack of options, didn't make up for the house I loved and my family being close. So I packed up and moved back to Charlotte.
It has been almost two years since I left and the house I rented is still empty.
This story was interesting. But the Presidential election won't change anything. The application of it's importance to local communities is very overstated. If you really want to see change, focus on state and local leadership. Nothing either side is going to do at the Federal level will bringa tire plant back to Asheboro.
Who occupies the presidency is not the heart of the economic problem. Rather the Fed is. Ever since Greenspan, the role of the Fed has been expanded through "mission creep", where it now micromanages certain aspects of the economy that the free market used to manage. Before Greenspan, the Fed did not set interest rates. From Greenspan onward, the Fed interfering with the free market and setting interest rates has become part of our widely accepted pop culture. It's insane. And we accept it. And then we watch all kinds of bubbles come and go in the economy, from housing bubbles, to commodities bubbles, to banking bubbles. And today, Bernanke who fashions himself as a student of the great depression, is manipulating and twisting every dial in the economy to avoid what he sees as the next potential depression. Go on to youtube and listen to the words of Reagan's budget director David Stockman. Stockman is right. Ron Paul was right, too, except as a presidential candidate, he also had the 'goofy grandfather' image problem. Unfortunately, a Romney presidency is going to be 4 more years of what we just saw, with simply a different emphasis on the upper class being primary beneficiary. All the prosperity we have seen since Reagan has been an illusion, created out of massive debt, easy credit, and excessive money printing. All those small business owners you see demanding a much better economy are simply demanding the re-inflating of the 30-year falsehood. There is no 'good way' out of this.
I was very excited to find out that our wonderful community was going to be featured on 60 Minutes, and that the intended focus of the segment was going to be how the citizens of Randolph County were rising from the ashes of a struggling economy and working together to weather the financial storms of the last few years. I have to admit, I was rather disappointed because it seemed like it was more of an update on the ailing - rather than a celebration of the healing. While, unfortunately, there are many in our area that are still feeling the sting of unemployment - as the owner of a 16 month-old frozen yogurt bar that is thriving - I wish that there had been more focus on the strength of our people and how in so many ways, we are a county that is working hard to redefine herself, to believe in her citizens, and to create new job opportunities for those out of work. This segment left me feeling like people should still look at us like we're on life-support ... when I very much feel a powerful energy alive and developing amongst our people. There's an expectant feeling in the air - like something great is on the verge of happening - and if I did not believe that with all my heart, I would never have put all of my life's savings on the line to open a business here last June. I did it, because I BELIEVE in our town ... in our county ... and I know that unless we start stepping out and taking those risks ... believing in who we are as a community ... there will not be new jobs for our fellow citizens to apply for, be accepted at, and thrive within. While we might not have completely arrived there yet, it's coming, and I believe we will get there hand in hand. As a business owner, I say every day, and my customers know it ... I would be nothing without them, and I want to give back to the community in every way I possibly can. If we all have each other's backs - then in the end, we will all thrive. In 16 months, not only has Asheboro supported us, we have amazingly become a franchise and our goal is to have signed 15 new stores by the end of 2012. Right now, we're already over halfway there! That is not just my success - it's the success of the community standing beside me - believing in what we're doing at di'lishi - and helping us become the best we can be. In that growth, we're taking as many Asheboro businesses with us as expansion increases ... from design and construction - to signage - to printing - and merchandise. I'm so proud of our great people and I just wish that if 60 Minutes were going to come and develop a segment on "new life" - that they would have truly focused on all that is right and positive in Randolph County. While they did feature a few awesome nuggets, like Spanx at Acme-McCrary and the wonderful pickle packers (I'm a big fan!) - there is so much more they could have featured in the story that would have really tapped into the "life" that is here. I understand they were focusing mainly on industry - but still, Randolph County's future is going to be built on more than just her past. We ARE thinking outside the "jar" as she said - and outside the "cup", as I say ... and outside the mill. Our community has a very bright future ahead - because our people are resilient and we're going to stand together hand in hand as we continue to heal. I would love to see that Ramseur diner have to re-open one day because all those vacant spaces are buzzing with new business. I believe we can get there - and until then, we pray for everyone around us, to keep hope alive and as Dory said it best, to "just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!" I love you, Asheboro!
AWESOME!!! I love Asheboro and can't wait to get moved back there. It still has a very bright future, and God is going to bless that community in some wonderful ways - just like He is blessing your business!
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That there are as many working factories here as there are compared to other places is noteworthy. More factories operate in Asheboro than indicated in the report, although they are under the same pressure as every other American industry. The answers lay in quality, innovation, and response speed. Chinese production is not without its drawbacks, including intellectual property theft, tainted and poor quality, transport time and cost, and increasing costs. On-shoring is occurring in some instances, and places which are prepared can capitalize.
For those with an income or a workable entrepreneurial idea, Asheboro is an affordable town which is a good place to live and raise a family. For those without a college education, just like everywhere else life is increasingly a struggle. The politics are conservative, but because the Republican hegemony here is so total, there are actually moderate Republicans. Would that more would see that Mitt Romney is no friend to small towns like Asheboro. He's a grab-and-smash quick-buck artist who laughs at the little people below his corporate jet after he puts on a show to tell them that he cares about something more than his secret bank accounts. People like to call the Democrats elitist, but history shows that the middle class does better under them.
On the contrary.
I was having this discussion with a business owner recently, who found less and less Americans able to afford his product.
When I told him the Chinese will simply duplicate his product at half his cost, and next begin importing it back into the U.S. he looked at me with a deer caught in the headlights look.
Not to mention the cost of oil and shipping in this new game of economic musical chairs.
It doesnt' take a rocket scientist to understand the implications of shipping a raw material from Texas(cotton) to China to be assembled into a t-shirt, then ship it back to Florida for sale to realize there is a fundamental problem with global trade and the economic interests that are manipulating it.
We are clearly our own worst enemies in this regard.
Of the two candidates this years , as in other years neither have the breadth of experience nor the strength of personality that commands respect of those they meet and would be leading .
Until we eliminate the barricade of money required to elect the best qualified we will be installing only those that by luck , clever manipulation or inheritance have obtained enough wealth to buy a ticket to stand in the presidential spot light for at least four years . To deserve the office of president one should have more than just the one qualification it takes to be selected ; possession of millions of dollars .
I can remember when it was not even legal to drink in the county, due to the fear that it would destroy the community. Yet you could go to numerous bootleggers and get anything you wanted. The day that I had learned that alcohol had become legalized, I was SHOCKED to say that least. That day that at least stepped into the 20th century. There were numerous residents of the county who would not even let the sun set on them outside the county limits. How sad is that?
Several comments have mentioned the zoo, but what people fail to realize is that the community has failed with the zoo. The NC Zoo is one of the best zoo's in the nation, but the tourist development folks in Randolph County have failed to promote and open all the potential that exists with this world class zoo.
It is a shame that the county is not prospering, but when the residents continue to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to change, nothing will change.
I wish the community the best of luck and hopefully they can retool themselves and move into the 21st century.
They catered to the industries, and their reward was that the textile industry walked out to the far east for cheap labor, and didn't look back. They catered to developers, and created a class that couldn't afford the housing that they continued to build.
RCC has some of the states best cirriculum and is leading the way with new industry specific training that will prepare our workforce for the new opportunities that will be in demand in the coming years. We have Malt-o-meal, Energizer, Timken, Klaussner, Technimark, Dart, Teleflex, and a host of other manufacturers that continue to invest and grow in Asheboro. There are plenty of good things happening in this City, and I would say it is anything but dying.
First, if you think manufacturing started dying in even the last 15 years you would be well behind reality. My grandfather supervised for Burlington Industries in Cedar Falls until they were closed down in 1980 and he lost his job. The stories they tell me of mills coming and going even before that confirm how unstable some of the positions where. The last 10-15 years have been the slow last throws of death. I don't care what anyone says, replacing a $10-$12 an hour job with a worker making that in a week...economically you can't beat that unless you just flat out make outsourcing and importing illegal.
Second, The mention of replacing 1000 jobs with 100. That is exactly what is happening and worse, the 100 don't pay as well and are just as shaky in the long term. I sat at the induction of Erskine Bowles when he became the leader of the UNC system and heard him say "those jobs are gone, and they aren't coming back." He was speaking of manufacturing, but he might as well have been talking about any job that can be done overseas. This is happening everywhere. Just ask IT people in Charlotte.
Third, the affect the lack of these jobs in small towns has on community growth is understated here. It focuses on a small group of people with ideas and "gumption" to start something new. But without education (and in many cases even with it) there are few options. Thirty or forty years ago a man could graduate high school in Randolph county and if he wasn't going to farm he could get a job at a Mill. He made a decent wage, got benefits and was able to support his family. This gave him the positive attitude that enabled him to be a leader in his church and community. Now those jobs aren't there. That same person ends up working two or three jobs to make the same amount of money. They have no time for anything else or a family. Worse, pop culture tells them not to worry because they can get on a reality show, or win the lottery, or some other pipe dream and they will make it. It changes the outcome of the personality, morality, and priorities of those people.
Fourth and finally, I would challenge the town leadership to adapt as well as some of the business in the community have. I grew up on a farm and the place to go was Asheboro. I went to High School, graduated, moved away to college, and moved to Charlotte. After 12 years I moved back to Asheboro to be close to family. I was excited to find the small downtown scene growing and a great old craftsman style home to move into. What I didn't expect was that the cost of living (outside of housing) was as expensive and in some cases more expensive that living in Charlotte. Prices at large stores were high and service was non-existant due primarily to lack of competition. There are several towns Asheboro's size or even smaller with more options for groceries, home improvement and restaurants. Granted, it has grown, but there is still room for more. The deep divide in town leadership over beer and liquor sales and an entrenched "the zoo will save us" attitude is really holding the town back. The comment someone made about feeling like something big was about to happen...it could easily if the town would get out of it's own way. It could easily become a vibrant lifestyle community with an easy commute to Greensboro. They need to cease belief in the return of manufacturing and create a place where people want to live. Let that bring jobs.
When I moved back to Asheboro my family and our family friends made a huge deal out of it. Very few of the kids who go on to higher education and then careers come back. My brothers are in NYC and New Hampshire. I have friends I graduated high school with who live near me in Charlotte. Others I know moved to Raleigh, Chicago, even LA. So when I moved back it was like saying that I wanted to help make a change. And to a point I did. But I couldn't stay there. The division within the town, the lack of options, didn't make up for the house I loved and my family being close. So I packed up and moved back to Charlotte.
It has been almost two years since I left and the house I rented is still empty.
This story was interesting. But the Presidential election won't change anything. The application of it's importance to local communities is very overstated. If you really want to see change, focus on state and local leadership. Nothing either side is going to do at the Federal level will bringa tire plant back to Asheboro.