Cohousing-L Mailing List: reply to Scott

[Fred H Olson WB0YQM (fholson]

KARP [at] XMISSION.XMISSION.COM 
is the author of the message below (dated 12/14) but due
to a listserv problem it was posted by the COHOUSING-L sysop (Fred).

****************  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS *********************
>
>Some good questions, Rob.  Thanks for asking.
>At the risk of being "boring" I'll answer them as best
>I can...
>  
This is a crucial issue for me because I have every
>last penny of my life savings (which took me ten years
>to save) invested in land for a local cohousing project.
>  
I guess because I have enough money I must have a different outlook...
I think being desperate makes one make stupid decisions.  Ten Years is a
long time to suffer for your cause...  I think I would have spent one year
getting a better job so I wouldn't have to worry as much.  If you fail ten
years of your life are wasted.

I've been "political" for a long time, now, and have
>paid for it very deeply and personally many times.

Sounds like the Ever-present Marxist Martyr roll rears its head again.
I too have been political and let me tell you how much it breaks my heart to
work with young people trying to offer them hope when hopelessness is the
easy way out and hence what most of them turn to.

>  I don't think we will even approach solving our most
>intractible social problems in any way other than creating
>Modern communities.

Then why go on and on with the Marxist Rhetoric, spend the next Ten years
building not bitching.  


>  However, I think that cohousing is just as susceptible to
>cooptation by the privileged and powerful as any other
>"liberal" cause.

You're gosh darned right! Count me with the Co-opting!

>As a Marxist communitarian I think that an active
>class-conscious orientation is important to help clarify
>the discussion and steer clear of traps which have virtually
>nullified most progressive legislation of the past 20 years.

As a misguided Libertarian Youth, I would advocate not exploiting peoples
thoughts with dogma, rather just let them think what they want.  Its my
belief that groups will form naturally without having to change the
individuals approach to contemporary politics.  Also, having studied the
intricate tenents of Wallerstein and other neo-marxists, I can tell you if
your sucess is predicated on educating the masses you will need another ten
years.

It is clear to me that capitalists are very capable of
>warping and exploiting any honest sentiment and efforts by
>well-meaning people to establish social trends such as
>cohousing.  We must be clear, clever, and work hard to
>keep them working for us when they do.

I t is clear to me that misguided Marxists are capable of robbing our
spirits under the guise of setting us free.  I'm sorry but I have this
feeling with your life outlook you will probably be working for "us".

>  Like many cohousing groups, ours has priorities of
>"affordability", and "diversity".  We have approached
>every housing agency, the lieutenant governor, and the
>mayor in our city and state and, now that we have
>our site programming down, will begin to make proposals
>to them to include us in their affordable housing plans.


I commend you sincerely on your action.  This is what you and I should be
discussing.

 
Take Care,

Karp aka Karl 
>
>       
> 
>
>
>


------ Forwarded message ends here ------