Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Feb 22, 2008, at 9:08 PM, tom wrote:

> > Certainly a far more localized and diversified economy is superior in
> terms of resilience and overall stability as far as the lives of the
> 'average' person are concerned.

I need facts on that. Food stability and security is greater when the  
source is spread more broadly. Think garden failure. Think the great  
potato failure in Europe. If we choose to rail at globalism we might  
start with out recent ancestors who left their caves and huts and  
crossed an ocean.

Localism is important in terms of energy use and community health. I  
see globalism as the inevitable result of free enterprise and  
resultant free trade.

>  Most 'homesteaders' seem to be drawn
> to an ethic of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, for a number of
> reasons- not least ethical ones and for a desire to create a more
> secure existence for themselves.  Why should not the same ethic apply
> on the scales of community, state, country?

"Should?" When I see "should" I get nervous and want to look out the  
front window to see if the pamphleteers are here. Homesteading barely  
works for a very small number. It is impossible on a national scale.  
The motivation for modern homesteading is based less on ethics and  
more on economics, space and freedom. We live more simply than the  
masses, but we freely pick and choose advanced technology. Indeed,  
this homestead list is possible only because of advanced technology.  
Take a deep breath and inspect your computer for country of manufacture.