I don’t
necessarily like to emphasize
this idea as a "survivalist" tactic, or some sort of response to possible future events.
There is an aspect to that kind
of approach that is antithetical to the
spirit of community. I'm not saying it is
wrong to think of oneself, to want to "survive", that is only
natural; it's just that I doubt the idea put forth here, frankly,
will even interest
those who are only interested in themselves,
and not the well-being of the larger whole as well. I like to think of
this approach to community as a pragmatic balance between self
interest, AND a desire for the common good.
So here is a list of dark clouds on the horizon which may serve to
motivate one to study this idea a little more thoroughly. Ultimately of
course, the future is hard to predict. However, people have
certainly correctly predicted future events in the past, so I don't
think it unreasonable to expect some of today's predictions to come true.
I don't believe many
grasp the full gravity of our dilemmas, and their possible
consequences. Denial is a funny thing, and something most of us have had
some experience with, I know I have. Derrick Jensen calls our society
"The Culture of Make Believe", how appropriate.
Of course not everyone
suffers, or suffers the same. The clever, well positioned, and those
more prepared fare better. The idea I’m putting forth for this style of
cooperative living would prepare us to do just that, avoid suffering. But
more than just survive, it would allow us to thrive, perhaps like never
before. And also, if this proves to work as well as I think it will, we
would be paving the way for others, by our example.
In other words, make
our own personal lives better, yes; but do it in a way that is truly
just, ecological and available to all.
Some of the more significant concerns I can think of
presently
1) “Peak oil” and
all it portends is certainly a big concern, and one easy to deny in
the present. Its consequences are profound enough for some people to
concentrate all their efforts and concern on it alone.
2) The two
deficits, trade and government are headed for the proverbial brick
wall. I personally think these are as significant as “Peak oil”. And
the Iraq war may be the find budgetary blow. And if we go to war with Iran, America as we know it, may quickly
unravel.
3) The most serious
however,
and most immediate threat, I believe, is that of our personal health. The
Weston A. Price Foundation,
http://www.westonaprice.org/ has announced the average
life span of Americans has dipped to below 70; that's lower than 20
other nations. This means that the
older folks who grew up on farms, eating purer food, and getting
plenty of exercise, have had more intact government or corporate
provided social services, (and I might add,
despite women's liberation, perhaps, have been generally more
happily married) are still bolstering those
statistical numbers. Check out the
obituaries if you dare, I say. You will most likely see a goodly
number of baby boomers there now. Just recently a leader in the
"communities movement", has died at age 57. That's not right. Not a pleasant subject of course,
yet one that needs to be faced. We need to be happy, eating right and
getting plenty of exercise. Many of us aren’t accomplishing any of
these.
The headlines about
increased longevity are pure headline catching propaganda. And
even if modern medicine, and government disability payments keep
many going on for a long time, does everyone have that option?
Hardly! It's the height of cruel arrogance, and a completely
self-serving approach to life with no regard to anyone but oneself.
At least others should be allowed to live differently if they wish.
And of course we can. We must. It is our only hope, I believe.
But really, both liberal and conservative government and corporate
workers do not, and will not make it easy for us; such things as
building codes, taxes, or even providing government land (just to
use, not own).
4) There are indications and gathering consensus among
scientists that climate change may not be nearly as gradual as has
recently been assumed. It may be much more sudden, dramatic and
drastic in consequences than we would like to imagine. Even though
the way of life I am proposing, I feel, is the best and the most
just way to live even in the best of times; and I might add, a huge
step up in quality of life. For those who think otherwise, you may
find it hard (living in the "everyone for themselves" mode),
even finding enough to eat in the future, never mind quality of life
issues.
5) It's not at all a pleasant subject, but the economy is very
likely going to "tank" in a most horrendous and horrible way.
There may be few jobs. And it may be far worse than the 1930s
because in the 1930s America was much more rural, much more
agricultural, we had more skills in self-sufficiency and we still
had abundant natural resources. Many are expecting a sort of
Renaissance, a sort of flowering of compassion and cooperation.
I think this is rather unlikely. I believe that those who have
capital resources will attempt to use and take advantage those who
do not. I doubt it will even matter if they are even vegan or
Buddhist. This is our capitalistic legacy and unless we change
it now, I don't believe it will change, ever! As far as I can
see, when it comes down to opportunism and exploitative capitalism
there is very little difference between liberal and conservative,
man and woman, or vegetarian and carnivore.
A lot of people who are
talking about surviving "peak oil" or "the crash" by living in the
country, having a garden, and doing the self-sufficiency thing are
people who have been working, if not in the cities and suburbs, in the
"system". And they may still have a good position or a receiving
retirement checks. I have lived most of my whole life in the country
doing the self-sufficiency and the self-employment thing and I can tell
you, I find it lacking.
This is not to say there are not satisfactions and pleasures and
accomplishments and that there are not connections with other people and
friends in the community at large. It has just been my experience, the
people living in the country are not nearly as "self-reliant" as it
might appear. And this is true for a variety of probably rather complex
reasons such as social, physical distances, values held, economy, things
to give meaning and purpose to life and the pursuit of pleasures. I find
the country to be lacking intellectually and spiritually and culturally.
And this has nothing to do with being in the country, it has to do with
how people are living in the country.
And I
repeat..........
Many think that future
crisis will bring about the positive changes we in the progressive or
green movements hope for. We can only hope. I personally am extremely
skeptical of that happening. The opportunistic, exploitive capitalistic
approach trumps all from what I can see. In that context I see little
difference between liberal and conservative, rich or poor, man and woman, or vegan and
carnivore. They are all equally given to the completely self centered,
“everybody for themselves” approach, as well as to opportunism, and
exploitation which is the fundamental source of our problems. Ultimately,
all, seem no more inclined to simplicity, cooperation, and sharing of
resources than their opposites, at least as far as I can tell. The
future, unless we change it now, I'm afraid, will resemble a Charles
Dickens's novel of terrible poverty and oppression, rather than any sort of new utopia.
We all perhaps
intellectualize, rationalize, and deny to some extent our own situations, what we’re doing,
and what may lie ahead personally, economically,
and culturally. Ultimately though, contrary to the popular bumper
sticker, “Shit Happens”......I say....shit DOESN’T just happen.
