From: Dale McMillen <dmcmillen@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: alt.politics.greens
Date: 02 Jan 93 14:42 PST
Subject: Re: Community based economy?
Nf-ID: #R:C08BAo.HAG@fiu.edu:581783607:cdp:1678600009:000:3956
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!dmcmillen    Jan  2 14:42:00 1993


Hi feathers@serss0,
 
                     They say sex is like bread.
   It is better when you make it yourself rather than buy it at a store.
 
Before worrying how "community based economics" is not workable in today's
modern world, I think it is important to point out its benefits:
 
1. It will help build local community by creating many opportunities
for people to relate, build trust, develop common goals, work and
play together, and fall in love.
 
2. It is ecologically more sustainable because it reduces the need
for transportation and excess packaging.
 
3. It promotes sustainable forestry and agriculture since people will
plan more for the future if they realize they will live with the results
of their actions today.
 
4. It promotes a sensible policy towards solid waste and toxics.  If you
have to dispose "in your own backyard", you will "reduce, reuse and
recycle" and eliminate toxics.
 
5. It promotes social justice since the local community will clearly see
the results of their labor, housing and other policies, so they will be
more prone to treat everyone fairly.
 
  You questioned this benefit of a community based economy, "Minorities
  never fared well in small local municipalities before the advent of the
  car and telephone."  I would agree that communities can be prejudiced.
  But, don't you think they would be infinitely better off this situation
  than in Bangladesh, for instance, where their children work 16 hours per
  day in sweat-shops producing clothes for Americans at starving wages?
 
6. It promotes self-reliance, which in turn leads to economic and
political empowerment.
 
  Note, for instance, the disaster that Stalin created in the Soviet
  Union by placing the factories for the separate auto components in
  different Soviet states.  No state was able to build its own car.
  Each was dependent on the centralized bureaucracy to coordinate
  production and distribution.  Look at the troubles it is now causing
  as the states try to gain their own political and economic empowerment.
  (I am sure this example of autos is only one of many.)  How is our own
  economic and political empowerment being compromised in America?
 
7. It will provide for the community when disaster strikes.
 
  Disaster could be war and destruction in another part of the world.
  Disaster could be that global supply of oil dries up (perhaps in
  20 to 50 years) which will bring all transportation to a screeching
  stop.  Disaster could be that our currency looses all its value,
  perhaps because another trading block gained the upper hand.  Each
  and every one of these disasters will happen with potentially
  disasterous results to your community, family and loved ones.  The
  question is only when, and if you are prepared.  Community based
  economics can help to soften the blow.
 
Having stated the benefits of community based economics, it seems the
primary objection is that people seem to like to relate and do business
over a wide geographic area, because, I guess, they are used to it and
it has been so glamorized.  Perhaps, this is because they are not aware
of any alternative?  Perhaps, they don't know what they are missing?
Perhaps, they are denial over being "victimized by the system"?
(see earlier response).
 
So, what should Green Party policy be on working towards community
based economics?  First of all, let me say what it is not.  It is
not about outlawing cars, telephones, communications satelites and
trading securities on overseas markets.  Our goal is not to be
absolutist or to "protect a Luddite vision from people's free will."
Our goal, however, is to build alternatives, and by so building
to demonstrate the irresistable logic and personal satisfaction
which can come from community based economics.
 
feathers@serss0, I hope you continue to participate in this discussion!
 
Dale
 
P.S. What's your real name (or handle)?  It's more personal than
your network address.

Newsgroups: alt.politics.greens,talk.bizarre