It is ironic that while the Right rejects Localism and the Left embraces it, Localism will mean the end of Liberalism, Feminism, Racism (racism is not just white bigotry against blacks, even though that is how it is currently defined in the U.S. political discussion), Socialism, etc... Not that the Right's inane positions will be recognizable in this new political environment, either.
Localism will mean, in less than 3 generations - say 50 years, but perhaps as little as 10, that the Family, and your extended kin, will be the primary source of power, strength, and resources for the individual. Think back to your Shakespeare: Juliet is of the House of Capulet. What, exactly, does that mean? What is the House of Capulet? The political base of her extended family.
Do you remember any socialist's in any of Willie's plays? How about an organization like an anarcho syndicalist commune? No?
OK, forget Shakespeare. Can you name me ANY long lived societal organization based on the Socialist/Liberal model prior to the industrial revolution? What about after? I get a great deal of email and commentary about the European model. That model existed only because of the inputs of the aftermath of WWII and cheap oil. And that model is in full scale collapse as we speak. Prior to WWII, Europe was the world's epicenter of political violence and resource destruction for centuries. Europe's complex systems are as vulnerable as any.
As Americans re-localize, and WE WILL re-localize, our political realities will once again take on an agrarian flavor. One of an ethic of hard work, frugality, personal responsibility, family, and community. There will be no room in this new political environment for Liberalism, its ugly Step Child Feminism or its bedraggled, superannuated, and decrepit Mother - Socialism.
What having children does to the political sensibilities of people in our time, will happen as a matter of course to the political sensibilities of EVERYONE living in a Localized environment.
Those derelict in providing for themselves in a Localist Environment will not be met with much sympathy by their neighbors. Amish and Mennonite communities are there for the neighbors that fall onto hardship. They are not there for drunks, drug addicts, thieves, slackers, etc... who are "shunned" by the larger community. These are the best examples of Localism that we have at this time.
Where does Liberalism and Feminism stand in a community that values FAMILY (as in a woman's HUSBAND, or a man's WIFE) above all? It does not stand - at all. Family will once again be everything (there is no such thing as a divorce lawyer in Amish communities).
I look forward to the Localist adventure with great anticipation.
Mentatt (at) yahoo (d0t) com
17 comments:
Greetings from Brooklyn!
Localism will be the name of the 'new' game which is just gonna make what was old, new again. It's gonna be painful and yet, like you, I do look forward to it. I live in an old Italian neighborhood here and from the dense backyard gardens to the simple way to approach life, I look forward to the 'localized' future.
The only thing Italians do fast is drive and once oil is 300 dollars a barrel it's gonna be all about going slow... in the backyard garden.
I know from previous posts, you've written us off here up north and winter will be a killer in the new reality, but it's near 60 today and well, it's time to just be positive... in the 'Candice' sense of it.
Cheers on another great post!
When you say "Liberalism" are you referring to a general "ism" that encompasses what "liberals" (read Democrats) in the United States believe today?
I ask because the first liberal state in the world was the United States of America in the sense of the definition of the word liberalism, and at its founding (and for some time until the full onset of the industrial revolution) it was a largely agrarian state, very much localized in the manner you describe, but still very much liberal in terms of the definition of that term (never mind what 'mainstream' 'Democrats' believe).
Stephan:
Yes, I was referring to today's definition of Liberal - social programs, income re-distribution, detached familial relationships (the Right is equally as guilty in much of this, they merely deny their place at the table).
The idea of a Liberal Democracy has little to do with today's moniker.
Jeff:
what is the "Candice" sense of it? Have we met?
Dude, you're such a hoot!
Those nasty fffing scumbags are robbing me blind.
Sounds like someone had a hard time at school today.
BTW, the Mennonites, which covers a huge amount of territory, have among them some of the most liberal and progressive and grounded and effective social programs going about the planet.
And stop listening to Rush. It will make you start popping pills, go deaf, get fat and get boils on yer ass.
From yer librul reader.
If the localistic-family way of living was oh-so-wonderful, how come modern "liberal socialist" constructs appeared in the first place? Obviously someone was running away from something. Lets not celebrate "Daddy as master and God of the household and the extended farm family" too loudly. Let's not demand the return of frontier justice; lots and lots of racism; jumping to conclusions without a trial; the dirty, smelly and hugely risky world of life on the farm (if Jeffers' Tennessee farm gamble doesn't pay off, he'll be at MCD in an hour); and the cheapening of life, so quickly. Oil is only peaking. It isn't going away. And there are THOUSANDS of changes we can make before all the human complex systems collapse. Ask me nicely if I will give up 10% and perhaps 20% of my pension. If I'm realistic, and it is explained and fair, I might just take you up on it. I've grown my own undersized mutant potatoes (the ones the cat didn't piss on). It ain't a great way to live. :)
"Candice" is probably a mistyping of "Candide" by Voltaire. Everyone should read it.
"Being There" by Jerzy Kosinski is a modern book in a similar vein. Also a good old movie with Peter Sellers.
Cheers, librul reader
Librul:
I do not listen to Rush, nor Franklin.
I do a good deal of business with the Mennonite community near my farm. I can't speak about any other groups, but I have observed this group a great deal.
They practice "shunning". People that do not conform to their ways are unwelcome in any and all community affairs... it is as if they died.
Read my post again. These Localist groups ARE there providing the equivalent of social programs to their members in need - not to those are in need due to sloth, drunkenness, etc... those folks are shunned.
Feel free to relate to me YOUR personal experiences. Spare me any of the shit you might have read.
Hi Greg
Your experience of Mennonites is my experience of living in an isolated rural mountain village in the French Alps (but only 2 hours from Cannes!). Yes, the family/political ties are strong, but so are the school ties and church ties; its just about knowing each others' personalities really well. Yes, they make judgements about who is worth 'saving' and who's put themselves into trouble (drink, drugs, antisocial behaviour), but wouldn't most of us prefer it if our government-led socialist system would make some of those judgements too?
We seem to have a definition problem with 'Liberal Democracy' and liberal social policies. I'd disagree vehemently with the idea that the US invented these; they inherited all of their political and social systems from European immigrants. The French gave you the revolution and most of your Constitution (and the Statue of Liberty too!) The Swedish and Germans gave you much of your social structure, and the Italians gave you pizza, and the Mafia(or 'politics' as you call it!). As a country you came damned close to speaking French! Now, there's a thought worth pondering ;-)
In my view it was wealth which gave you the possibility of redistributive social programs to replace the ad-hoc systems, especially necessary in a fractured new society, and every wealthier country has made similar choices through the ages. Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavia had organised social polices in the Middle Ages.
Society fixes each problem by adding a layer of complexity. Each layer of complexity adds extra maintenance (labour and energy) and makes the structure more vulnerable to catastrophe. Localism is inevitable because we can no longer afford to maintain our complex society and it'll collapse. It's no longer a political discussion about 'isms', because 'local' will be the only game in town.
I for one will be pleased if 'Socialism' goes back to being society and 'Communism' goes back to being community.
Donal:
"In my view it was wealth which gave you the possibility of redistributive social programs to replace the ad-hoc systems"
Bingo!
STOP STEALING MY THUNDER!!!
That is precisely where I was going with these posts...
I very much appreciate your thoughtful commentary.
It might be just that you and I are of a similar age and come from similar circumstances that we find ourselves pondering the same issues...
or maybe great minds really do think alike!
"Society fixes each problem by adding a layer of complexity. Each layer of complexity adds extra maintenance (labour and energy) and makes the structure more vulnerable to catastrophe. Localism is inevitable because we can no longer afford to maintain our complex society and it'll collapse. It's no longer a political discussion about 'isms', because 'local' will be the only game in town."
Again, you steal my thunder.
I think I might just post your comments as the next post.
Bureaucrat:
I refer only to what will most likely be. Not whether it is better or worse to actually live it.
I would much prefer infinite wealth, permanent youth, Endless supplies of everything, and the banishment of disease, etc...
Unfortunately, nobody asked me.
We went Galt 4 years ago and have never looked back. No more commute, no more ulcers. Just our garden, apiary and orchard. I wrote my book, just in case: How to be self-sufficient when the unexpected happens and started a blog, www.justincasebook.net. My three favorite blogs are yours, Sharon Astyk's and the King Of Simple. Please keep posting. A day with Greg is a day without enlightenment. Best of luck. Free feels so good.
Hello Greg,
No we have never meet, I just like your thunder and visit your blog daily.
Candice was meant to be Candide which basically ends with the protagonist making due with a small plot of land and being happy about it.
In regards to Libertarianism vs. Fascism, I will be doing all I can up here to fight the good fight for Libertarianism.
Yours in the struggle,
Jeff
Jeff, I have lived in the Shenandoah Valley for my whole life and there is a significant Mennonite presence in the community. Way to broad a subject to cover here.
I particularly like this web page from the Eastern Mennonite University website.
http://www.emu.edu/cjp/
It would be a good place to educate your kids. Might be a good antidote to Boca Raton.
You have probably encountered fundamentalist Mennonites in Tennessee. You know those fundies.
Goes for the Libertarian ones too.
BTW, I am not a Mennonite and barely a Christian.
librul
Anon 9:55
I am as Secular as one gets... I do not approve nor disapprove of their religious practices. I merely observe Localism in the form of the Mennonites I buy my tack from.
We have Amish community not far away as well. I don't know them as well, but another interesting bunch. I view them as the ultimate Localists.
thanks for sharing.......
___________________
Sharon
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