The American Conservative isn’t my publication of choice, but the June 30 issue has two great pieces. First, Rod Dreher, author of Crunchy Cons
Second, there’s an intriguing look at how a conservative (or even reactionary) idea–returning to our traditional foodways culture–has become associated with liberals.
The Local Foods Research Project offers an insightful analysis of the piece. To which, I’d add that the article parallels my thought that preventing food waste is an issue that people of all countries, creeds, and, yes, political persuasions can support.
From my experience, the issue of food waste attracts more attention from the left than from the right. Why do you suppose that is? Because, when you get down to it, what’s more conservative than conserving food?
In other words, it’s a broad tent here at Wasted Food. Come on in!
Comments
3 responses to “Conserving Food”
I will have to check that Crunchy Cons out. There are quite a few ‘crunchy’ conservatives in my area. It’s somewhat of a shock to meet them. I always want to urge them from the dark side LOL, like, you’re crunchy so I know there’s good in you!
The whole conservative/liberal paradigm in this country is very flawed. The word conservative means, in a political sense, a person who does not want to stray from the status quo or wants to return to a past way of doing things and the word liberal, in the same sense, means a person who is more flexible and does not mind trying new things or ideas. The conservatives at The American Conservative seem to write in the traditional conservative sense defined above so maybe that is why they published the article. The main body of people whio refer to themselves as “conservative” in this country though are zealots who have a narrow agenda that seems to be tied up in jingoism, big business, and religious paranoia. Not exactly in keeping with anything traditionally American or anything that is constitutional. The “Liberals” too have become narrow focused and unwittingly show contempt for anybody who does not fully endorse their agenda. There is a lack of openmindedness on their part that drives many working class and so-called red state people into becoming the faux conservatives above. Thus Wendell Berry, who is mentioned in the articles in The American Conservative comes off as both conservative and liberal at the same time by liberals who sense in his various stands on morality as proof of what a red state yahoo he really is and as liberal by conservatives who sense in his antiwar, antibig business locavore stands as proof of what a liberal he is.
I would add to the comment that left above, people shouldn’t be labeled as being on one side or the other because of their ideas or thoughts. They also should not be hounded either for having an opinion or for an idea if it seem wrong to others. There should be a real discussion as to why one person thinks that the other person’s idea is wrong, with the first person offering real proof and reasons why. In the system that we have one gets shouted down or labeled as “liberal,” “fascist,” “sexist” or a whole host of other labels for having opinions. There really should be more fluidity and individualism in this country rather than the polarized two party only system we have now. I am sorry for getting on the soapbox here!