Where Does One Begin?
Culture, Economics — Posted by David W. Cooney on November 17, 2010 6:47 AM-Some of us begin to catch glimpses of saner principles, reflected in the Catholic social teaching and in Distributism (and elsewhere), but we have no idea how to approach these ideals in our day-to-day lives. The ideal appears to be something quite distant from reality. Where does one begin?-
This question seems so simple, but the complex differences of our varied circumstances make simple answers seem trite and ill-conceived. Until Distributism gains wider acceptance in society, it will view us as though we are crying out from the asylum – just silly people with quaint, but unrealistic, ideas. My belief is that the best way to win that acceptance is by example; while we continue to live in our unbalanced system, we must strive to apply Distributism to our lives to the greatest practical extent. Saying this, however, doesn’t address the question at hand. Therefore, let’s take a look at where we can begin. What are some of the things we can actually do today to begin applying Distributism in our day-to-day lives and, by doing so, show others they’re wrong about us?
Communicate
Distributism remains an unknown idea for the overwhelming majority. Talk to people about it. If enough people in your area become interested, consider forming a study group to discuss how distributist principles could be applied in your local area. Even if you haven’t fully accepted our premises, if you think it’s a worthy discussion, bring others to our site or other places where the ideas can at least see the light of day. We are here to share ideas and participate in civil discussion.
Practice
This, in many ways, can be the most difficult aspect in our current environment and culture. However, I would encourage you to take what steps you can given your current situation.
Plant a garden to provide at least some of your own fruits and vegetables.
Purchase your produce from a local small farm or cooperative.
Support small local businesses whenever possible. I would add that you give preference to businesses run as a cooperative instead of the standard employer/employee model. Pass the big-name coffee stand and go to the locally owned one a little further down the block. Pay a little extra to support that small grocery store rather than the big chain discount “super” store. If there are products produced locally, give them your preference over non-local options. If the only grocery stores around you are chain stores, complain to the management if they don’t sell locally grown produce. Let them know that you’ll switch to any store that does.
Don’t be exclusively local. Yes, Distributism favors the local over the remote because maintaining local economies so that they are as self-sufficient as possible establishes economic stability overall. However, this is a preference of the local, not the exclusion of the remote. If the businesses in the next town (or even further away) are run in a way that’s more compatible with Distributism, choose them over the more local businesses that aren’t.
Focus on more than economics. Distributism is about more than the process of exchange. Commitment to the community, particularly to those in need, is an integral part of Distributism.
If you own or are planning to start a business, consider what it would take to run it on distributist principles. Can your current employees buy in – or at least have the option to do so – to become a cooperative? Can you organize with other local people in the same type of business to establish something like a guild. In the beginning, this could start as a forum on common issues and interests through which these other business owners could be introduced to distributist principles.
Become Active
It is not enough for us to post back and forth about how great we think it would be to live in a Distributist society. We live under various sets of laws, many of which put our way of doing things at a great disadvantage (if not nearly impossible). Contact those in power to let them know you want change. We will undoubtedly be ignored as an insignificant minority at first, but that won’t remain the case if, as our numbers grow, more and more people start requesting the same changes.
Don’t neglect regional and national policies, but focus on local issues. Why are we forced to commute by zoning laws that require the separation of all businesses from residences? If you want to be a baker, why can’t you live in a house behind your shop? I can understand the isolation of certain industries that are particularly noisy or smelly, but that does not necessarily apply to the shoe shop or local grocer. If higher levels of government are blocking local change, tell them you believe they are harming the local community. (No politician likes to hear that.)
If you are affiliated with a political party, get involved in the local chapter and promote distributist principles. Distributism is not Republican, Democrat or anything else.
If you’re really a glutton for punishment, run for office.
Finally
Don’t give up hope, be patient and, above all, pray.
Digg It
Bookmark
Stumble
4 Comments
Thanks David. Distributism is a fairly new concept to me, and I’ve found it tremendously encouraging. It’s refreshing to see a political economic philosophy that’s rooted in the Christian faith and at the same time provides a model that can be a true blessing to all of society. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that there’s great potential for support of these principles outside of Distributist circles. Many evangelicals like me already consider ourselves Crunchy Conservatives and live by many of the principles you’ve just shared without even associating them with the Distributist label. While I love learning from the intellectual leaders of this movement and reading their insights, I have some difficulty finding things to share with others about Distributism. Supplementing vigorous intellectual discussions with simple, bite-sized, practical advice like that found in this article is a great help in spreading the word.
One good way to start is by contacting your senators/representatives and urging them to vote against S510 which will regulate small farms, organic farms and even personal use facilities in favor of Arcer Daniels Midland and the like. If we don’t support the small we will have no food choice any longer.
David,
Thank you for writing this up.
I have long had an impression that Distributism is something typically discussed in a theoretical, historical, or speculative sense (at least in America). Even when we speak of “practical” Distributism, it seems we often take a critical approach with regards to existing standards rather than expanding on whatever might already be happening in the trenches, so to speak.
I would like to hear from people who are actually finding ways to practice these ideas. I have a feeling that substantial change, if it ever takes place, is going to happen from this direction.
In RE2 —”Distributism is something typically discussed in a theoretical, historical, or speculative sense (at least in America).”—–
Yes, if you call it by name; but if you consider the popularity of Glen Beck and his program that is currently urging us to return to small business owned locally (like his fathers bakery), as well as gardening and some self sufficiency,
or his constant refrain that problems should be solved 1st by the family, unless they overwhelm the family, in which case it should be address at our local Church, and so forth with local government next, then state then federal last.
Then if you consider the Ron Paul movement which is basically focused on ending the fiat money system which has created our current state-controlled-capitalism.
Or if you look at the localvore movement, the 100 mile diet movement and the organic movement then what we have are a whole lot of folks who are getting no love from the two parties.
So even if you don’t like Glen Beck (because he sees the founding fathers as the perfect model) you can’t discount the fact that he is getting more people on the right moving in the right direction faster than we are.
Nor can we discount the fact that for an LDS Republican he sure has come a long way and that there is a potential split possible in the talk-radio/Fox News/ conservative blogs world with Glen Beck, Pat Buchanon, and Ron Paul pulling our way
while the neo-cons at NRO, the Weekly Standard and so forth are tending to world trade and state controled centralized big brother government with “more off-shore war” (especially in the Mid-East)
This is happening at the same time that we have Union members not being served well by the big unions, and old hippies finding that their small local organic farm is regulated to death. So yes there are many people being pinched by both parties who are swinging wildly about in search of a better idea.