Regional Economies

When completely fleshed out, this may be seen as one of the more logical and equitable forms of commerce and wages. The global economy is a force to be reckoned with, but local companies producing goods for local customers transported by local shipping is the paradigm most amenable to fairness for all, including the natural environment. Under this banner, businesses will tend to be local entities, with local control and local accountability. Interregional, interstate, and international trade will continue, but with a clear visibility of the true costs involved, which will be translated into a commodity's final price. Each region will be free to develop its own unique economic models, based on its unique products and services and people. These will be marketed within and outside the region, with interregional trade having ground rules that ensure a level playing field.

International trade and lending, including speculative money movement, as currently practiced, and as encouraged by such agencies as the World Trade Organization and the World Bank, could become obsolete within a generation. Third world debt can be erased. 'Structural adjustment', as espoused by the International Monetary Fund, should be revamped to account for the true needs of every country. Any global economy must be subservient to the beings and environment of every trade partner. Ecosocial concerns must, in all cases and circumstances, take precedence over economic incentives, investments, money movement, trading, etc. If taken to the public, rather than via secret negotiations that have characterized all previous 'trade agreements', this would undoubtedly be what the people prefer.

The transnational corporations can be divided into local entities, ensuring local control and accountability. They have become faceless, placeless monstrosities, able to control entire countries and governments due to their enormous wealth. Should corporations be able to share in the same rights afforded people? Is it fair for anyone to slave for 30 years simply to pay off one's house? Is it fair for a bank to make 3 - 4 times the selling price of one's house in interest? This scavenging style of profiteering can become a thing of the past, if we will it to be. The power is completely in our hands - it always has been.

In concert with this will be a need to address salary and tax structures, which have become bloated and obsolete, and ensure that both are fair for all. Alternative currency and barter systems should be explored. There is an existing structure for the former in Ithaca, NY. Another concept that needs to be seriously considered is guaranteed minimum salaries for everyone in society. This can, and should, be tied to some type of actual service, whether through paid employment or service to society through a charity.

Our entire relationship with that most coveted of assets - money - will evolve. As we grow and change, there will be less of a tendency to tie our sense of worth to something as bland as a portfolio or as conspicuous as material possessions. Our sense of self will emanate from the inside.

  1. Deep Ecology / Biodiversity
  2. Conservation Biology
  3. Bioregionalism / Ecovillages
  4. Voluntary Simplicity
  5. Organics
  6. Regional Economies
  7. Cultural Diversity
  8. Soft Technology
  9. Ecopsychology / Gaia Hypothesis
  10. Negative Population Growth
  11. Human Rights / Non-violence
  12. Green Politics
  13. Natural Health & Healing
  14. Alternative Education / Whole-Brain Learning
  15. Conscious / Cosmic Evolution