Re: Smart Growth

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

> the only thing we hate
>more than the status quo is changing it. 
Great observation!  It's at the very core of most past civilizatons' 
undoing, and we tread on their dust. What if our Federal and State 
initiatives, with all their $ investments, really sought to re-empower 
citizens and communities (not just the corporate, health and agribiz 
sectors), with the educational means essential to goal-setting, could we 
begin to redirect fundamentally the crisis-ridden course we are on? If 
people knew that their own self-interest and the survival of their 
children's/grandchildren's way of life depended on a reversal of many of 
the present trends, caused by over-consumption of goods to support 
non-sustainable life styles, would they change?  Europe-North America 
consume 80% of the world's resources, but have only 20% of the population 
(mostly of one color). How long can this last?  A movement called 
"Holistic Resource Management" offers a partial answer to the dilemma, 
but people in community organizations must move into the driver's seat. 
No one else wants to, will or can do this for us. Is there genuine hope?

------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com