RE: [Futurework] Local living economies

[Karen Watters Cole]

Good morning, Ed. Thanks for your comments, they speak to what “the masses” are realizing: that they don’t have the choice they used to. Yes, we have an infinite variety and choices of products at our convenience but less choice in what actually comes into our lives, happens around us, and to us.  This is the key dynamic of globalism that gets personal, and why I feel it is important to strike a balance as much as is possible vis a vis public policy and community activism to rebuild and maintain local livable options while we continue to live in a global economy.   There are stories every day about local businesses closing down because of company mergers somewhere else that have nothing to do with competition or supply and demand market forces, but rather a distant corporate board’s decision to consolidate one segment of their (often giant but not always) operations to improve their balance sheets, and perhaps later, their private gain when they are eventually gobbled up by the next big fish.   When these closures happen in small communities where no other viable employment exists, we have excellent examples of where public policy has failed to look beyond the short term gain for long term sustainability.  It is not just the loss of jobs vs consolidation of operations but also the loss of ability to support one’s family and then community.  The mega mergers are uprooting many and creating sociological and political conditions that will continue to impact larger segments of (this) society.  Notice some of these groups for local autonomy use the word “movement” a lot, and why organizations such as Take Back America are attracting more attention.    While I agree with Keith’s posting that so much of this current corporate empire depends upon fossil fuels and will likely dominate for some time because of it, I don’t think it will take that long before more people begin to look for ways to 1) survive some other way and 2) make the changes at their local level first to correct the avalanche, both economically and politically.  That’s speaking as a political animal, not an economist or social scientist.  -KWC   Arthur, if we differ it's not by very much.  We get a steady stream of milk, eggs and newspapers from a local convenience store.  I go there most mornings.  The owner knows the neighborhood well and, being from Lebanon, knows a lot about the Middle East too.  I enjoy shopping there.  My wife and I also spend a lot of time at the local (Parkdale) farmers' market.   When I was a kid, there were many general stores that sold everything that is now available at large supermarkets.  Like your friend Bob, they knew the community and the neighbourhood, and I too mourn their passing.   The reason I wrote what I did was because I was somewhat provoked at Darryl's reference to the "masses" once again showing their stuff.  He does seem to want to indulge in rhetoric.  The point I was trying to make is that the masses really don't have much choice.  I too would rather shop at Mr. Gerber's general store.  But to do that I would have to drive some two thousand miles west and some fifty or sixty years into the past.  Shopping at the local Loblaws is ever so much easier and allows you time for other things. Ed Weick    Ed, I think we differ here.  For years I bought gasoline at a station owned and operated by a local.  His name was Bob. He pumped the gas, did some cursory checks on the car and was a fixture in the community.  His presence close to a busy street meant that someone in trouble, a lost child, a bullying drunk---would be observed.  Help could be summoned.  His presence conferred an externality on the community.  He was part of social cohesion.  As I noted in earlier posts the company pulled his franchise and offered him a station in the suburbs, a self serve station with many pumps.  More turnover, more people pumping their own gas.  Savings for individuals, more profits for the company--but the externality that was the watchful presence of Bob.  Well Bob also didn't do well in the new large anonymous station---he died of a heart attack.  His old station was shut down and is now a  parking lot.  Desolate.   Loblaws does deliver high quality at low prices and I shop there as well.  I am willing to shop more locally just to keep the community alive and am willing to pay more in my grocery bill since I believe that in this way I am "buying" community.   The Box Stores are there for one reason only: return on investment.  The buildings are meant to last 15 to 20 years.  Then?  Then they are torn down, remodelled (if the neighbourhood can support it)  or otherwise abandoned.  It is all about short term gain.  About making profits and moving on.  Arthur   Once again the masses show their stuff.  Is it the education or simply human nature, or the coercion of massive ad. campaigns that encourage wanton consumerism and the "get it before the "Joneses" do" syndrome?  Darryl