RELOCALIZATION NATION http://www.7dvt.com/2009letters-editor-33
While liberals, conservatives and “radicals” find a lot to argue about, there’s a lot we hold in common: We all want friends and neighbors we can count on, quality goods and services at a reasonable cost, and a clean and healthy environment. We’re also all up against the same challenges. Party affiliation doesn’t change the fact that Vermont, the U.S. and the rest of the world are facing an unprecedented “Triple Crisis” of peak oil, climate change and resource depletion. While our elected officials have their work cut out for them, let’s not forget that the average citizen has a role to play that is just as important. Whether you’re a hybrid-driving liberal or a conservative dairy farmer, a staunch secessionist or an anti-abortion homemaker, there’s never been a better time for us Vermonters to exercise our legendary independence and self-reliance by uniting on one goal: relocalization. By responsibly providing more of our necessities of life — food and energy, clothing and shelter, arts and entertainment — we Vermonters can strengthen community ties, bolster the local economy, and sustain the natural world that keeps us alive.
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