I have already backed up that committment by signing into law
bills and appropriations calling for the expenditure of over $1 million
in state funds for developmental projects in Southern Maryland. To
get back to my meeting with the senators about this program — at
that time and during subsequent meetings, all of them pointed out
that neither their proposed program nor any developmental program
for Southern Maryland could accomplish overnight miracles in the
face of the kind of deep-seated economic problems that confronted
the region.

I think they were partially wrong, however, and we are witness to
the fact tonight. For it is at least a small miracle that an organization
embracing the leadership of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties
should have survived for over seven months. And the fact that the
organization has not only survived, but is even stronger than ever,
is almost a full-fledged, bona fide miracle. So I think that in a sense
these gentlemen were understanding themselves when they told me
not to expect miracles. You know, I hope you don't think I am
making light of your tradition of local pride in Southern Maryland.
I come from a part of Maryland which is even more independent
than Southern Maryland, if this is possible. In Crisfield, I learned
to have a healthy skepticism about the propositions of strangers
before I learned how to open an oyster.

This is a new time and a world different from the one I grew up
in. And this would have been equally true if I had grown up in
Southern Maryland. 50 years ago, hard times could be faced in
Southern Maryland by tightening your belt, planting a few more acres
of tobacco and doing more of the work yourself or longing a few
more oysters and catching a few more fish. In short, you just "waited
out" the hard times, and you were assured that you were not going
to suffer to much in doing it if you were sufficiently self-reliant. But
this is no longer true today. And this meeting tonight is proof that
the leadership of Southern Maryland has recognized this fact, and
recognized it well. Just as we no longer expect an individual to "go
it alone" when an economic change costs him his livelihood, we no
longer turn our backs on communities and counties when a decision
or change over which they had no final control drastically affects
their economy's health and stability. This is an extremely complex
civilization we live in today, and the very definition of the word
"complex", in economic terms, is "inter-dependency". Whether we
like it or not, individuals are dependent on one another, communities
are dependent on each other, even states, regions and nations affect
one another's well-being and security. It is the recognition of this

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