(2003-05-24) Kunstler Clusterfuck

James Howard Kunstler gives the Clusterfuck Nation Manifesto. The overriding imperative task for us in the face of the problems ahead will be the downscaling (SmallWorld) of virtually all activities in America. This should not be misunderstood. I do not mean that we ought to become any less of a nation, or less of a Democracy, only that the scale at which we conduct the work of American life will have to be adjusted to fit the requirements of a post-GlobalIst, post-CheapOil age. The future is already telling us very clearly what must be done. If we fail to pay attention, we risk very costly distraction in political turmoil, military mischief, civil disturbance, and permanent economic loss. I will focus here on examples of three national "systems," so to speak, that will have to be downscaled sooner rather than later: Retail trade (Big Retail), Agriculture, and schooling (Educating Kids).