My localism is not of the neo-agrarian variety. I have no desire to make people accept voluntary impoverishment or to consign them to isolation. What I want to do with localism is:
1) Empower local communities and businesses as well as local governments to have as much say over the direction of their community as possible. So in my hometown what this amounts to is a strong alliance between local business, the local art community, and the local government to create a really vibrant downtown with no chains or big corporations anywhere in sight. All local businesses, local restaurants and bars. First Friday of every month there’s an art walk where you can go see all the local artists’ stuff in bars and studios and there’s free wine and music and such. It’s great. Local cooperation is great.
2) Buy local. We try to buy locally as much as possible but we’re not fanatics about it. We still shop at the big retailers and grocery chains (though we do try to frequent the local grocery stores more). We go to the local farmer’s market.
3) As much political self-determination as possible at the local level. I’d be really happy if we could cut out the states as middle men and just have the federal government and local governments. That’s my kind of subsidiarity. Everything the states can do the feds can do better; everything the locals can do, the feds can’t do.
That’s pretty much it. I don’t want “back to the land” stuff. I do like more promotion of local talent and local art and so forth, and less reliance on Hollywood and Big Music and the rest. But a lot of that’s also taste, I realize. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that I really love my home town.
The Fry/Laurie Jeeves and Wooster is just brilliant beyond words. Fortunately my parents own all of them so I can borrow them and watch them any time I like.
I'll have to check out that curry cookbook though. I need some new ideas.
Also, Gardens is the least good of the books I've read so far. You just have to get through it - it does get better. Subsequent books are better still. I have burnt out on the series for the time being however.
Haven't read the other two, but I find Cromwell pretty fascinating so I might have to check out Wolfe Hall (or at least put it on the shelf and promise to read it eventually...)
Last book I read was Wind in the Willows; before that the Hunger Games books (and something in between but it escapes me at the moment).
I don't see it as giving anyone a pass at all. Once again I am merely attempting to better understand why the comparison is made. Not everyone has the knowledge of or investment in the history of slavery as TNC and for many this is more of an emotional than rational issue.
On “The new old ways are the best”
Francis -
My localism is not of the neo-agrarian variety. I have no desire to make people accept voluntary impoverishment or to consign them to isolation. What I want to do with localism is:
1) Empower local communities and businesses as well as local governments to have as much say over the direction of their community as possible. So in my hometown what this amounts to is a strong alliance between local business, the local art community, and the local government to create a really vibrant downtown with no chains or big corporations anywhere in sight. All local businesses, local restaurants and bars. First Friday of every month there’s an art walk where you can go see all the local artists’ stuff in bars and studios and there’s free wine and music and such. It’s great. Local cooperation is great.
2) Buy local. We try to buy locally as much as possible but we’re not fanatics about it. We still shop at the big retailers and grocery chains (though we do try to frequent the local grocery stores more). We go to the local farmer’s market.
3) As much political self-determination as possible at the local level. I’d be really happy if we could cut out the states as middle men and just have the federal government and local governments. That’s my kind of subsidiarity. Everything the states can do the feds can do better; everything the locals can do, the feds can’t do.
That’s pretty much it. I don’t want “back to the land” stuff. I do like more promotion of local talent and local art and so forth, and less reliance on Hollywood and Big Music and the rest. But a lot of that’s also taste, I realize. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that I really love my home town.
On “Another Open Thread”
A Clash of Kings maybe?
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Yeah I would definitely not put Balloon Juice in red....not anymore or for the past few years.
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Where is 'here' Blaise?
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The Fry/Laurie Jeeves and Wooster is just brilliant beyond words. Fortunately my parents own all of them so I can borrow them and watch them any time I like.
I'll have to check out that curry cookbook though. I need some new ideas.
On “Texas, Welfare Queen”
Pat/Simon - really excellent informative stuff. Thanks.
On “Another Open Thread”
Thank you for the inspiration!
Also, Gardens is the least good of the books I've read so far. You just have to get through it - it does get better. Subsequent books are better still. I have burnt out on the series for the time being however.
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Pleasure now, though both in the long run I'm sure.
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50 cent beer might be enough to convince the missus...thanks!
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Good one. We'll do that one next.
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Brief History was great. Loved that book.
Haven't read the other two, but I find Cromwell pretty fascinating so I might have to check out Wolfe Hall (or at least put it on the shelf and promise to read it eventually...)
Last book I read was Wind in the Willows; before that the Hunger Games books (and something in between but it escapes me at the moment).
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Hey now. For every tea party there's a super-hero adventure or a quest to rescue the knight from the evil dragon.
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Yeah I've been on video game hiatus for a long time now. Sigh.
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Definitely. That will be central to our purpose.
On “What does this say about life?”
Posted a new one just for you Jaybird.
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I guess you were wrong, Will.
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I couldn't agree more, Blaise. Beautifully put.
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Removing wonder and amazement from the minds of our young won't change the world for the better.
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You don't think so? I find that sad honestly.
On “Rules are rules”
Very well said, Will.
On “Abortion and Slavery again”
I agree the title is bizarre. Last I checked there were still lots of black pro-lifers out there.
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Joe, I think the race card was already in play by the time TNC got there...
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I don't see it as giving anyone a pass at all. Once again I am merely attempting to better understand why the comparison is made. Not everyone has the knowledge of or investment in the history of slavery as TNC and for many this is more of an emotional than rational issue.
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I agree.
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Oh I guess I didn't realize we were having a debate about the morality of abortion....
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