The Dead Horse Theory and MIDCOR

The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that "When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount." However, in Madison we have advanced strategies to ride our dead horse.

1. Buying a stronger whip. We've elected 2 mayors that promised to "whip" economic development into shape. Hopefully Mayor Welch learns we need a replacement horse for EDP not a new whip.
2. Changing riders. EDP has new board members including the latest appointments. Dead horse still dead.
3. Appointing a committee to study the horse. We've had lots of committees that refused to admit the obvious. Perhaps the "Blue" ribbon committee will be the first to admit it's ridiculous to try to ride a dead horse.
4. Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride dead horses. Corey and Mayor Armstrong made a couple trips to Japan, maybe Mayor Welch and Corey will visit a new country that will explain it is pointless to ride a dead horse.
5. Change the dead horse's name. A key part of MIDCOR's 2008 Strategic Plan was to change the dead horse's name. MIDCOR became EDP, but it is still a dead horse.
6. Using experienced jockeys because they know how to ride a dead horse. Huntington and Eckert are lifetime EDP board members and still haven't been able to get the dead horse to run. In fact we suspect they are responsible for killing the horse.
7. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse. Despite tens of thousands of dollars paid to consultants and contractors, none were able to get the dead horse to run.
8. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed. EDP and the Chamber merged and both dead horses are still dead.
9. It costs less to feed a dead horse. Each year city and county spends $160 thousand to feed the dead horse and claims it is a bargain. Regardless of how much you feed a dead horse it will never run. But the real cost of continuing to feed EDP is millions of dollars in lost in jobs, investment, business and economic development.
10. Increase funding and training to improve the dead horse's performance No matter how much you fund or train a dead horse it still won't run and will never win a race.