tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35705301.post3027681094072460352..comments2024-03-28T02:31:25.356+00:00Comments on de moribus liberalibus: Thoughts on Reinventing the StateDavid Rundlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02281990170681280571noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35705301.post-83649526275981483002007-09-26T01:06:00.000+01:002007-09-26T01:06:00.000+01:00The idea of progress is an interesting one. The id...The idea of progress is an interesting one. The idea of one generation having a better standard of living than the previous is of course a recent phenomenon. Sadly probably a temporary one.<BR/><BR/>One could also start with an anthropological view of our origins, and say much of what we refer to as community is really descended from tribal roots - but I'll leave that train of thought alone. <BR/><BR/>The concept of multiple identities, with people from similar backgrounds living in different locations but sharing much in common has probably always existed. <BR/><BR/>However a generation back those individuals had less opportunity for the deep and regular communication that created a "community". <BR/><BR/>The last 50 years' improvements in technology means virtual communities can replace/supplant a local community. <BR/><BR/>On a personal level I'm not (even remotely) part of the facebook generation, but I've found visiting US/Canadian friends that we share similar technology based sources of reference. <BR/><BR/>We read the same (online) papers, have access to podcasts of radio programmes of current affairs. When we talk we have a shared understanding - that's much more than just a shared language. That's a significantly closer relationship than with many people in my own locality.<BR/><BR/>At the same time the ties of local community can be weakened by the way we organise work. Moving every five years to take up different jobs means we have fewer developed roots in a locaility. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps no wonder we hold onto the communities of interest which have the potential to be more long-lived.<BR/><BR/>Lyons made the point in the introduction to his recent report around 30% of people (figure quoted from memory) had little feeling of local community identity. Much bureaucratic effort is going into trying to get local government to create "places" to address this.<BR/><BR/>But perhaps its a canute like fight against a technology driven paradigm shift. Countries will remain but their citizens increaingly look across to other communities.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately I recall such perceptionsexisted in Edwardian Britain, subsequent events reinforced a feeling of national identity that shaped much of the 20th century.<BR/><BR/>We must be careful what we wish for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com