A Secret Inheritance Is Being Stolen From You Right Now

[marmar]

A Secret Inheritance Is Being Stolen From You Right Now
Can the American Dream survive the plunder of the common good?

By Jay Walljasper


Here’s some great news in these tough times! Everyone has a long lost aunt who’s giving us an inheritance of incalculable value: clean water, public services, the Internet, parks, scientific knowledge, fashion styles, and much more.

The name of our aunt is the commons—and while she is metaphorical, the commons is as real as the Great Lakes, Route 66, the National Weather Service, your favorite recipes, the local fire department (either volunteer or municipal), open source software, libraries or the latest dance steps.

The commons means everything that belongs to all of us, and the numerous ways we work together to share these gifts and protect them for future generations. Although few of us ever stop to think about the commons, it remains central to our lives in numerous ways—from the tap water we brush our teeth with in the morning to the fairy tales we tell our kids at night.

The natural commons makes life itself possible thanks to air, water, biodiversity and DNA. The cultural commons makes human civilization possible through the sharing of knowledge, language, inventions, stories and art. The social commons makes our modern way of life possible through educational institutions, medical expertise, engineering know-how and communications tools. Even the market economy depends on the commons for the natural resources and human capital that drive its profits, as well as the legal and regulatory systems without which it would fall apart. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://onthecommons.org/secret-inheritance-being-stolen-you-right-now

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[Fantastic Anarchist]

2. K&R!

[felix_numinous]

3. 'The commons' is the Earth,

and anyone who is an advocate of taking care of the land, sea or air these days is ridiculed and preyed upon by the corporate elite. This is the true wealth, the planet that gives us life. In actuality, we are a part OF the Earth, not apart FROM it.

They hang the man and flog the woman That steal the goose from off the common, But let the greater villain loose That steals the common from the goose.
— English folk poem, ca. 1764

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. And our parents and grandparents fought for that inheritance, built those

wonders, rallied for those rights, stood up for preservation...

What will we do to carry on?


thanks marmar

[pmorlan1]

5. Excellent Post

Excellent commentary. While I agree with Rand Paul on civil liberties issues, he is totally in favor of privatizing everything that belongs to all of us. I sent him an email about this very issue concerning the National Parks and the Post Office. This is a huge issue that we really have to be vigilant about or even our Democrats will snatch our "inheritance" out from under us.

[bvar22]

6. Proud to K&R.

This was well written.

There are also some responsibilities in The Commons,
and we all lose when the responsibilities are Privatized.

These include:

*Prisons

*The Military

*Vote Counting

*Education

ALL of the above (and more) are our common responsibilities,
and should be transparent and accountable to The People.
When they are Privatized, they are hidden behind the veils of Corporations,
and are accountable NOT to The People, but only to a select few.

AS far as I'm concerned,
The Commons should also include:

*Health Care

*Energy

*Transportation

*Communication

*Banking/Investments


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Uncle Joe]

7. This is an excellent article.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[midnight]

8. k&R.