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> It's ignoring looking (and planning) ahead I think this is an unfair statement. You make it sound like rural communities intentionally do not plan ahead, whi

> It's ignoring looking (and planning) ahead I think this is an unfair statement. You make it sound like rural communities intentionally do not plan ahead, which is both a generalization and inaccurate. I've lived in (very) rural communities that definitely plan ahead. When the consequences of not planning ahead can include death or financial ruin, the incentive to plan ahead is high.

tstrimple 4y ago
Yes, they plan ahead so effectively that they have thrown their most valuable resource, fertile topsoil, away while ruining the water for everyone in the search of short term profits. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2021-02-24/new-evidence-shows-fertile-soil-gone-from-midwestern-farms https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2021-02-24/new...
- anonporridge 4y ago
  This seems like much more the result of external pressures from city dwelling corporate executives who drive competition for cheap agricultural produce to such an unsustainable level that everyone has to do the same destructive practices just to stay in the game. There are many farmers who would love to manage their land more holistically, but recognize that it's financially impossible to do so unless they get lucky and hook a privileged group of rich people who are willing to pay an extreme premium for their food in order to buy non religious indulgences to relieve their guilt for their own contribution to the problem. And really, to lay blame for this problem on the backs of any singular entity alone is absurd. It's a systemic problem that every single one of us participates in. All hail Moloch. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/
- bovermyer 4y ago
  How many small towns or rural areas have you lived in? Wait, don't answer that. Instead, tell me how much time you've spent studying rural economies, rural infrastructure, and the development of rural communities over time.

tstrimple 4y ago

Yes, they plan ahead so effectively that they have thrown their most valuable resource, fertile topsoil, away while ruining the water for everyone in the search of short term profits. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2021-02-24/new-evidence-shows-fertile-soil-gone-from-midwestern-farms https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2021-02-24/new...

anonporridge 4y ago
This seems like much more the result of external pressures from city dwelling corporate executives who drive competition for cheap agricultural produce to such an unsustainable level that everyone has to do the same destructive practices just to stay in the game. There are many farmers who would love to manage their land more holistically, but recognize that it's financially impossible to do so unless they get lucky and hook a privileged group of rich people who are willing to pay an extreme premium for their food in order to buy non religious indulgences to relieve their guilt for their own contribution to the problem. And really, to lay blame for this problem on the backs of any singular entity alone is absurd. It's a systemic problem that every single one of us participates in. All hail Moloch. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/
bovermyer 4y ago
How many small towns or rural areas have you lived in? Wait, don't answer that. Instead, tell me how much time you've spent studying rural economies, rural infrastructure, and the development of rural communities over time.