Your editorial on the proposed racetrack ("Racetrack could give jumpstart to county, provide new identity," Jan. 15) cited "diversifying the identity of the county" as its main non-economic benefit. I enjoy the current rural identity of Centre County, and I see increased development not as diversification but as detraction.

I see no need to bring more suburban sprawl to yet another part of the state simply to call Centre County "more diverse." The real issue here is whether promoting diversity means the preservation of local culture or the homogenization of culture in general. I favor the former.

As for the economic benefits (maintenance and menial vending jobs) you mentioned, I can certainly see how they would promote regional residential growth, but that has little bearing on whether or not Centre County would be a better place as a result. Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell. Before making decisions like this, we need to consider how the construction of a racetrack will affect the overall quality of life in the community.

Without such considerations, economic benefits are completely meaningless.