‘Clear vision for growth’ in Columbia

The feel good coverage of Columbia’s “clear vision for growth” treats public spending and ribbon cuttings as self validating. It assumes that if leaders sound upbeat, the public should be, too. That’s not reporting so much as a press briefing with better grammar.

What’s missing is the hard question: growth for whom, and at what cost? Conservatives tend to look past glossy project lists to return on taxpayer dollars, long term maintenance, and whether the private sector is being crowded out. “Completed” is not the same as effective, and it’s fair to ask how success is measured beyond photo ops.

Real growth rests on public trust, fiscal discipline, and transparent priorities. If leaders want credibility, they should show results, not just momentum, and respect the rule of law in procurement and planning. In the end, stability matters more than slogans.