I agree a dispiriting tradition of sectarianism and academicism gets in the way of talking the talk. BUT, there are a variety of approaches to how the commons is viewed in a contemporary context – from liberals to Marxists – there are real differences in contextualization.

That said, and as an apostate anthropologist, I do recognize that historically the commons was a social arena for people-centered practices that today we would refer to as stewardship.

For me, the urban commons (as opposed to the rural one) is problematic. What to include in it? And how? Are worker cooperatives for instance little commons? Where are the boundaries, then?

And lastly, I think with the “fair share of the commons” we have the means to begin thinking about divorcing jobs from income and begin to use the benefits from the commons as the basis for a guaranteed income for all that meets our survival needs. But that is another essay!

For those interested in a good (radical) approach to the commons, I recommend this: commoner.org.uk

Outstanding article! I wish people would stop using ‘privatize’ and start using ‘profitize’. Because that’s the true agenda.

I’m huge into sustainability and am basically an ‘Eco Maniac’. I just started a sustainable building program this weekend. Hopefully I’ll be able to contribute when I’m finished.

I’ve seen you on RT and it is truly inspiring what you’ve created and accomplished! I loved you harassing Rand Paul! LOL

Anyway…..you go girl!
Nick