Tag Archives: pluralism

India: A Resilient World Leader in 2050

Posted on March 2, 2012 by admin

India must overcome the same serious challenges facing many emerging economies: immense rural to urban migration, rapid growth and industrialization, massive infrastructure needs, corrosive corruption, large cultural divides, and an uneasy relationship with meddling foreign nations and transnational organizations. Despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Convergence 2050 | Tagged India, pluralism, sustainability | Comments Off

Education, Propaganda, or Brain Washing?

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin

Sustainable developers sometimes act like zealots. They believe that past patterns of land development are deeply flawed and unsustainable. They know climate change will place huge burdens on our industry and agriculture. They are confident that the ecological systems providing … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged Fear, language, pluralism, sustainability | Comments Off

Higher Ground in the Tea Party Sustainable Development Debate

Posted on August 10, 2011 by admin

The intense focus on sustainable development by the Tea Party creates a valuable learning opportunity. It exposes core values and unstated assumptions, forcing us to be honest about our own motivations, hopes and dreams and to learn about the motivations, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged freedom, language, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, smart growth | Comments Off

We Need More Democracy, Not Less Government

Posted on August 9, 2011 by admin

The Tea Party is partly right. Democracy is faltering. But at this difficult juncture in America’s history we need more democracy, not less government. Tea Party laser-like focus on the size of government and the taking of private property … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged freedom, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, regulation, responsibility | 1 Comment

Values and Assumptions Embedded in Sustainable Development

Posted on August 8, 2011 by admin

In the last few blogs I’ve focused attention on the assumptions and values hiding behind the Tea Party critique of sustainable development. Here I focus attention on the assumptions and values hiding behind sustainable development. I do this because I … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged freedom, language, liberty, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, regulation, responsibility, smart growth | 1 Comment

Liberty through Sustainable Development

Posted on August 6, 2011 by admin

For the sake of argument, let’s assume we agree that members of our community, whether or not they own property, deserve the liberties of free speech, religious choice, voting in elections, privacy in their homes, freedom from fear of bodily … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged freedom, liberty, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, regulation, smart growth | Comments Off

Dear Board of Supervisors

Posted on July 30, 2011 by admin

Dear Supervisors, I am writing this letter to express my support for sustainable development planning initiatives in our region. Sustainable development, for me, boils down to wise investment in our community’s infrastructure: the systems that provide us food, water, energy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged Fear, freedom, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, regulation, smart growth, sustainability | Comments Off

Tea Party: Deeper Issues Simmering Below the Surface

Posted on July 27, 2011 by admin

The critiques of sustainable development by Tea Party activists are many and I review the specifics elsewhere. Here I summarize and critique five deeper issues that seem to simmer just below the surface and motivate many of the concerns: 1) … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged equity, Fear, freedom, humility, neoliberalism, pluralism, regulation, religion, smart growth, sustainability | 3 Comments

SUMMARY: Tea Party Critiques of Sustainable Development

Posted on July 25, 2011 by admin

Tea Party activists are raising serious concerns about community-based planning efforts promoting sustainable development, smart growth, green infrastructure, comprehensive planning, sustainable agriculture, local foods, and related outcomes. The issues being debated are significant, and bear upon not just how our … Continue reading →

Posted in Tea Party | Tagged equity, freedom, language, liberty, neoliberalism, pluralism, property rights, regulation, smart growth, sustainability | 23 Comments

Tea Party: Confusion and Fear

Posted on July 23, 2011 by admin

I attended my first tea party meeting. It confused me. Discussion ranged over a wide range of topics including sustainability, local economic development, food security, sustainable agriculture, protecting farms, forests, and other open spaces, reducing tax burdens caused by unplanned … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental Fundamentalism, Tea Party | Tagged equity, Fear, humility, neoliberalism, pluralism, religion, sustainability | Comments Off