What's the Gov Smoking?

At his Economic Summit at the Grand America last week, Governor Huntsman said, "Our state's economy is resilient and strong."

Earth to Jon: Utah doesn't have an economy. The descendants of the sturdy pioneers of '47 like to believe this is still an enclave in the wilderness, but as my grandfather used to say, "That's a bunch of hooey." Utah isn't California; it doesn't create its own economic climate. Utah is a derivative of everywhere else.

Take a look around. ZCMI is long gone. Novell's HQ is elsewhere. SCO will be dragged out of bankruptcy by New Yorkers and Arabs (BTW, take a good look at Utah County. The only local businesses of any size there are network marketing companies.). Howell's Photo is gone (a tragedy, in my not-so-humble opinion). After 18 years, Dreyer's has dropped the hammer and discontinued Snelgrove's (Oh, the humanity!). The Downtown and Trolley Square overhauls will be populated by national chains, not Utah businesses. Utah is a leaf blown by national and international winds.

On the other hand, there will always be people who want to walk into a business and talk to the owner. With such businesses getting scarcer, it may be time to open up your own.