Dear Mr. Douthwaite:
First, let me say with unabashed admiration that I found your book "The
Growth Illusion" to be seminal in my thinking. Second, let me apologize
for using extensive quotes from your book to post on FutureWork some of the
ideas that you have so elegantly outlined. Third, I would ask that you
share with me any list addresses on which you post regularly as I would
like to continue to monitor and learn from the clarity of your writing.
Now, in response to your answer which was posted on FutureWork in response
to Colin and Ward, (who I do not know) regarding the ideas of external
investment. Canada, is currently the largest country in the world with a
tiny population of less than 30 million people - it has jokingly been
referred to having a Canadian Passport as belonging to the cult of Canada,
so small is our population in regards to the 6 Billion currently in the
world. In my case, I grew up partially on a farm in Alberta which had been
homesteaded out of wilderness by my grandfather in the 1920's. A thriving
community with churches, community halls, schools every ten miles and small
towns of only 50 or 60 people existing for most within that 10 mile radius.
I can clearly see them know in my mind's eye as they were in the 50's as I
traveled with Grandpa on Sunday outings, neighbor visits and purchasing
expeditions and group work projects. In this area, from 1910 to 1950 the
small mixed farmer had opened up virgin land and built a community with
roads and services. Family's became known through several generations and
it was expected that many would stay in the area, taking over farms or
developing small businesses to serve the agricultural community and for a
mere 40 years this was true.
Now, when I go back, many of the farms have only deserted houses, there are
no local schools, the school buses take kids for a radius of over 30 miles
to what was once a village but has now grown into a small town. The other
small towns have disappeared, often without even a sign telling where the
were. Farmers now think nothing of hopping into the big V-8 pickup truck
to drive 20 miles to pick up a couple of pounds of nails. Women who once
cooked meals from farm produce, now drive up to 50 miles to go shopping for
food in a supermarket and in the process they have lost the basic skills of
food preservation and food preparation. Children do not know their
neighbors and those wonderful old country dances were the kids and
grandparents all went are things of the past, the churches have closed down
and the kids stay at home with the TV. In fact most of them don't even
learn the farming skills of their fathers as it is accepted that an
education will lead to a good job in the city and that Dad and Mom will
sell the family farm to provide for their retirement - usually in the city.
I agree with your exposition that the net flow of capital outside of
communities destroys those very communities and it is with great sadness
that I and many others who had that type of childhood feel when we stop
chasing the buck for awhile and think of the childhood we had as compared
to the childhood we are currently giving our children. My girls, know more
about the Spice Girls than they do about their great grandparents and the
50 years of community living, friendships and relationships that were
developed when small local communities existed. If I find any consolation
in the current world situation, it is that capitalism may self destruct on
the global level and that electronic technology may destroy those great
capitalistic sumps that suck the life out of the country into cities. The
land of my childhood is a wasteland of specialized people growing
specialized crops that are determined by the need to generate income so
they can farm larger so they can make more income. Their life is no
different except that their "job" is in the country. Their lifestyle is as
empty as it is for the rest of us living in the suburbs and fighting the
morning rush hour. This is all rationalized under the concepts of
opportunity - but from my standpoint, this is a word from George Orwell.
Well, enough of my morning rant, I get frustrated with words.
Respectfully,
Thomas Lunde
