Always waiting for Superman.
Living in the so-called “rust belt,” there are many communities in need of uplift.
For years we’ve waited on Superman.
First in the form of government support. Then in the form of industry. And then in the form of entrepreneurs. Every time, the response has been the same.
Someone else. With money. They can solve the problem for us.
Or else it is one of our own. The wealthy person in town, buying all the real estate with the out-of-state connections and promises of new business.
These, of course, are the same phenomenon. Both are Supermen expecting us to wait for them to save us. Then to offer our support in tax breaks, business, and support for years to come.
Even when they can’t save us. Or don’t.
There is always a reason.
We keep waiting for Supermen because we expect only Supermen can save us. Even when previous Supermen have come or not. Delivered or not. Lived here or not.
But the question is not whether the Supermen can save us. It is why we see this as the only option. Especially when these Supermen are unworthy of our support.
Fans of the actual comic book hero know that the Kryptonian was not a wealthy businessman, looking to make money. He was an altruistic hero offering a genuine, bodily sacrifice for the sake of the whole world.
If we’re waiting for Superman to profit off of our community, we’re reading our comics and our communities all wrong.
The person we’re always waiting for is never Superman. It’s Lex Luther.
The best way for the wealthy to help the community is not to build something to fix the community, but to enable the community to build something for itself.
Normal people should be able to get stuff done. People who want to make our communities better and are willing to sacrifice for it.
Invest in people, in dreams, and in communities themselves. The things and people that reflect superheroic values.