Thursday's Internet Edition, August 07, 2008.
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There is a lot of talk in the news lately about Americans getting away from dependence on foreign oil. As I understand it, and I am not an economist, the more money we spend in other countries, including crude oil and manufactured goods, and the less other countries spend here, eventually puts all of us in very hot water. I also understand that most of our manufacturing is now in China and very few American manufactured products remain. Then we also hear about the American people and American governments carrying too much debt.
Even one of these things is cause for concern, but all of these things taken together is cause for real concern. I also believe it calls for planning, and not only planning by state or national governments, but local and neighborhood groups.
I grew up in a world quite different from today’s world and I have always had lots of trouble going from the country farm to the big city. My uncles used to tease me that you could take the girl out of the country, but you couldn’t take the country of the girl. I was ashamed and now I am glad, but I need more country, not less.
As a child, my parents discussed politics at the dinner table and so I did not learn a whole lot about farming. Now I am reading every book I can get my hands on to learn how to live off the land like my parents.
I thought about the monthly “card” club where the neighborhood came together to play pinochle once a month where all the neighbors discussed their problems and solutions. I think it is now time for all of us living here in this wonderful part of Texas to get together and start planning how to solve the problems and solutions to be ready for times where petroleum is too expensive to ship in our food and our other needs, or at least, for any reasonable salary that we could possibly earn. Even if petroleum is not really in decline world-wide, but simply a brainwashing process to get us to pay more, or if it indeed is a fact, does not really matter. Prices will increase in either case and most of us cannot do much about it, except to plan to work around it.
There are all kinds of dividing differences about people, including their political or religious beliefs. I believe it is time to ignore those differences and concentrate on what all of us need. We need food, transportation, shelter, and clothing in a world where that might be hard to come by. If we can sit down together and avoid discussions about either political or religious beliefs and concentrate on how we can grow food locally, share rides to get medical care or do shopping, and most importantly, teach each other the skills it takes to survive high prices and economic fears, then we are better off, no matter what we believe or what we vote for or against. So I am hoping everyone with like concerns will attend a community meeting to decide if this is needed or not.
The meeting will take place on February 20, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at Simon Bros Mercantile at the Back Door Café. The Roosevelt exit from IH-10 is about half-way between Junction and Sonora. As you follow the Loop 291 around you will come to the Simon Bros Mercantile store. It is a very friendly interesting place and the Back Door Café is supplying refreshments. Hope to see you there.
For further information and suggestions, please call Carol Grosser at 210-240-8703.