In Defense of the Public: We must not let the commons be privatized

[marmar]

from In These Times:



In Defense of the Public
We must not let the commons be privatized.

By Eve Ewing


On a recent weekend evening graced with unseasonably warm weather, I invited a few friends and family members to spend the twilight hours at the public park near where I live on the south side of Chicago. The park, situated on a tiny promontory that juts into Lake Michigan, is well-used thanks to its beautiful views of the skyline and proximity to the lakefront bicycle path. We brought a picnic dinner and sat on stone benches encircling a fire pit, where we built a small fire and enjoyed the warmth, light and camaraderie offered by the makeshift hearth.

Fires were a catalytic invention in human evolution. Not only did they allow us the physiological benefits of cooked food, but they also brought us together in a shared reliance on common resources, laying the foundation for cooperative social structures. Whenever I sit before a fire, I imagine what our earliest ancestors must have felt as the heat drew them close, providing refuge from the threats of the night in those times before man was the conqueror of all he saw.

As I sat with my loved ones, eating snacks and staring amiably into the fire, I saw a man and a woman watching us from nearby. Hesitantly, the man approached. “Excuse me,” he said, “I was wondering… do you have some kind of permit for this? I mean, did you have to make a reservation or something?”

I swallowed a gulp of lemonade, unsure of where this was headed. “Um, no,” I said, watching his companion nod inquisitively. “We just showed up.”

“Wow,” said the man, taking off his hat. “And did you have to come really early? I mean, for this view and everything?”

“We got here around five, and just sat down.” ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/6648/in_defense_of_the_public

[rhett o rick]

1. We are done, poke a fucking fork in us, we are done. Even on DU, many are ok with what is happening

They rationalize away our lives. Fuck them.