Back in the 17th century the French economy was at the brick of bankruptcy. Instead of following convention, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French minister of finance, came up with the idea of focusing on ultra-luxury goods to balance the trade. That is the reason why so many ultra-luxury products are from France.
The lesson is that he came up with a unique solution to a problem most economies have gone through. In the process, he gave his economy a unique character, distinct from all other economies around his.
Milton today faces its own challenges of extreme growth and a quickly eroding identity. Do we need our own Colbert to help Milton maintain and further enhance its unique identity even as it turns into a midsize city of 200,000+ people?
