Brad Hachten: UOP professor is right, we need more artists

Re “Valley economy’s strengths and weaknesses put in focus” (Page B1, Nov. 12): Reading the Q&A column on Prof. Jeffrey Michael, head of University of Pacific’s Business Forecasting Center, I encourage the city of Merced to take up his suggestion that “some of the effort going toward attracting tech and tourists also be used to attract artists and creative professions and build and sustain professional services.”

However, I anticipate there’s a problem in attracting individuals who might be, by nature, progressive to a region that might be, by nature, conservative politically. This can perhaps be transcended by progressives and conservatives alike through recognizing and cultivating the moral imperative in the arts. This is not didacticism but the inducement of the human spirit that might be fundamental to a vital and revitalized moral culture.

This story was originally published November 17, 2014 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Brad Hachten: UOP professor is right, we need more artists."