Some people bundle all their views into one nice package: my religious views, my political views, my musical tastes, my cuisine, my philosophy of money management, and my hobbies are all one cohesive block. Anyone who doesn’t fit the entire package is considered an outsider, weird, or maybe even a leper.

Other people find just an area or two of commonality and relate to people in a variety of spheres. These are the people who are connected to their community and noted as bridge-builders.

The same is true for a city. Kokomo has been connected to industry, but our industrial past is dwindling. Although we do rely primarily on the auto industry, recent news has shaken our confidence. It seems clear: Kokomo needs to reinvent itself. We cannot continue being the self-contained, cohesive package we once were. Manufacturing IS moving out of our nation to places like China; closing our eyes to this reality does not change the facts.

You don’t have to be Albert Einstein to realize it is wise to maintain and shore up our industrial base as best we can; I doubt if anyone disagrees with such an approach. Community leaders are attempting to do just that as they seek to lure EnerDel to The City of Firsts – and we even have space for them: vacated Delphi buildings! Developing improved rechargeable auto batteries (for electric cars) holds tremendous potential. Perhaps such a company could add some new “firsts” to our legacy (it’s been too long!). Let us hope our community leaders succeed in their efforts.

Our hope is that Chrysler (with its modern approach and plants) will survive our economic meltdown. Since many auto manufacturers depend upon Delphi, there is a good chance the company will eventually pull out of bankruptcy.

Still, if either corporation folded, you may as well return half of our city to farmland! Kokomo needs to take a new role to assure its survival, or every economic downturn will threaten our survival. We must take the new role of becoming a commuter community! Besides being a city in its own right, Kokomo needs to become a (far) Indianapolis suburb – as a matter of survival.

The city of Kokomo Web site offers a link to carpooling resources; out of work Kokomo residents who find employment in the Indianapolis area can reduce the sting of high gas prices and enjoy the camaraderie of others as they ride together.

Kokomo needs a better plan than this stop-gap approach, however, if it is to thrive as a commuter community. In a recent article in the Kokomo Tribune titled, “Goodnight looking at rail plans,” our mayor is quoted: “They’re talking about connecting Bloomington, Muncie, Noblesville ... Kokomo should be a part of that and utilize that to alleviate some of the effects of the economy,” he said.

“Just like the highways connected the country in the 20th century, we need to be part of high-speed rail.”

The article elaborated that the speed of the trains would be 110 mph! If Kokomo becomes connected to Indianapolis via a high-speed train, Kokomo will become an “instant suburb,” an island away from the hustle and bustle (and higher taxes) of the big city. Additionally, Indianapolis attractions would become Kokomo attractions. Want to watch the Indianapolis Indians baseball game? Hop on a train. Want to take the kids to the Children’s Museum? Hop on a train.

My brother-in-law, for example, commuted by train (from a Chicago suburb to downtown) for 25 years. During his one-hour commute, he sipped coffee, read the newspaper, and organized the material in his briefcase. He did not have to be concerned about snow, ice, traffic jams or parking.

Being connected to Indianapolis will not change our nation’s economy; but it will make Kokomo-area residents part of a larger pool so that unemployment would not be higher in Kokomo than in Indianapolis.

These are changing times, and issues like transportation, fuel prices and traffic congestion will probably worsen. High speed public transportation is more than a great idea – it’s a no-brainer.



Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.