Community, Self-Sufficiency the name of the Game

Posted by Dave in General Apr 16th, 2009 | Comments

The political sphere and mass media have both been increasingly shouting the cause of globalization. With social, economic, and ecological problems all over the globe, they tout a global solution. Fortunately there are a growing number of people who are realizing that what we need is precisely the opposite, we need to go local!

There are many cultural and material roadblocks to applying local solutions. Consumer culture has disabled the common man, or has let the common man resign himself to disablement. Not only do we lack the infrastructure for local self-sufficiency but also the human resources or cultural motivation to do so. Modern technology has bestowed such a wide variety of goods and services that everything we could ever need can be bought. We are encouraged to buy, to buy our food and our books and our toys and our medicines and entertainment and everything else.  Changing the culture is the real challenge I think. A vast majority of the population is stuck in boring, rote, full-time employment that robs them of their vitality and makes the road to self sufficiency a steep one. Our culture is one of amazing abundance and because of it there is stigma attached to those who apply themselves to what are now esoteric activities. I’m a nut ball for storing 5 days of drinking water, I’m a health freak for eating fresh fruits and vegetables; crazy for baking my own bread, and I must have gotten a DUI if I’m riding my bike all the way (2 miles) to work every day. I’m actively learning new things that improve my life and reduces my reliance on others. I may not have all the time or energy or expertise to become completely self sufficient, but every step forward is another dollar that I can save and less that I have to work.

If we begin to stitch our communities back together and start embracing our neighbors and encouraging them to pursue self-sufficiency, we will have the resources and ability to support one another. It is easy to go through each day saying that people are no good and will never amount to anything, but that is merely a self fulfilling prophecy and is something we need to push past if there is ever going to be progress. It’s time we start expecting the best and giving the best to others and create the solutions we need. Find the zen in doing chores, tending a garden, or riding a bike. “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi