Ground Breakers Are a Stunning Waste of Effort

A Wedding is a formal declaration of marital vows made before God, a minister or judge, and witnesses.  A Funeral is a final honor and remembrance for a loved one who passed away.  I understand the significance of these personal ceremonies though also caution against overspending on them.

A Groundbreaking ceremony for a new building project is an event that accomplishes nothing.  Participating officials get together and make speeches, thanking each other, while media rolls video and takes pictures.  Then the VIPs take a shovel and dig out a single scoop of dirt and throw it into the air.  That's it.  Wasn't it wonderful?

My issue with the ground breaker is all the effort that goes into it.  Some lower-level administrator had to get the brand new shovels and sometimes decorate them, arrange the hard hats and safety vests, coordinate the calendar with all the distinguished guests, write a press release and send to outlets, decorate the site for a party, and pray to God it doesn't rain or snow.  Perhaps most ironic of all, they may break ground and prepare the dirt to break the ground.

And all this for what?  A photo op of the dignitaries pretending to work.

What happens to the shovels after the ceremony?  Is it a keepsake?  How many shovels do the Billings mayors have stacked up in their garages?

Even a barn-raising get together yields the start of a barn.

Ok Travis, what about a Ribbon-Cutting?

Sigh, yeah, the ribbon cutting ceremony is kinda lame.  An open house on the other hand, once the construction is complete and the furnishings moved in, is an invitation for guests and the public to see the place and to learn about the business or organization.  So there is an educational purpose to the social function.

At the last ribbon cutting I attended, everybody was inside visiting anyway, then we all filed outside for the ceremony, then we all filed back inside and resumed the party.

Here's an idea.  Let's have all these folks actually break the ground and work!!

For one day, or even half the day, these officials should give their effort and sweat into a proper start to the construction.  Dirty up those nice suits and dresses.  Get a little mud on the shoes.  Haul out the dirt, rocks, sticks, asphalt and trash.  Mess up the hairdo.  Actually contribute the first physical work on the new building project.  And let the media and the community see that these administrators are not squeamish about a little dirt under the fingernails.  Show that they are truly committed to the endeavor.

Hard working, tax paying, registered voters might just appreciate seeing this.

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