While freeing themselves politically from the British, Gandhi recognized the importance of being socially, culturally, and economically free too. So, he created constructive programs to help Indians regain their dignity and learn to provide for themselves. He even said that someone helping the campaign for independence should be either in jail, involved in civil disobedience, or weaving clothes. Gandhi considered pursuits of craftiness on the same level as going to jail for the cause.
Under this logic, in order to free Detroit from the inside-the-box manufacturing mindset that led the city into the problems its experiencing now, Detroit ought to learn how to support themselves. I think that in order to correct the problems of international trade, community, laziness, warmfuzzy disorder, the recession, and sustainable farming, we need to knit. We need to renew the making of useful items as opposed to the buying of superfluous ones.
If Detroit becomes a sustainable farming community-- so that everything would be local, could be organic, animals kept on the farm too--then the animal fur could be used for knitting. All the people who are unemployed, posessionless, and homeless, may not be able to find work but they could cut the middle-money-man and just make the products they need: food and clothes. It would be a highly sustainable economy because all materials would be local, supplied with carbon-free human labor, and could even be exported to other cities to bring in money. Knitting also creates a sense of community because it is best done together, and this would reduce crime problems. Knitting would instill a sense of connection to simplicity and responsibility for consumerism. Detroit + Gardens + Knitting = Success
I think that changing the way that people have gotten used to doing things is a huge undertaking, even when changes are small. It's difficult to get people to take individual initiative, especially when it's to do something that they do not see the worth in. I feel like a lot of people will fail to see the worth in investing time, energy, money, or even thought into changing Detroit this way. (E)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I understand where you are coming from, I don't think this is as easy as it sounds. Its going to be hard for individuals and local stores to really make a difference in Detroit in my opinion. Although gardening and knitting shops may make an impact in Detroit's economy, it wouldn't be anything significant. You can only have so many gardening and knitting shops, and I don't think other places would be willing to buy the products from these stores, because in most cities or states, there is already gardening and knitting shops, and they would want to buy more local to have a positive impact on their own economy. Also, individuals can only do so much, so if a little store is trying to put out knitted products, their efficiency probably won't be as good as say a knitting store chain. This will lead consumers to go to the chains because they can get what they want quicker, because the products at a knitting store chain would be mass produced. Although this sounds like a really good idea, I just feel like it wouldn't really impact Detroit's economy that much, and the local stores would always be one step behind chains because individuals cannot produce as much as large companies. (A)
ReplyDeleteWhile this idea is cute, it's not realistic. I would love to see big knitting circles in the center of a Detroit slum, but I don't think it can or will happen. A homeless person, as you suggested, isn't going to find a pair of knitting needles and some yarn in a ditch and suddenly start knitting marvelous sellable items of clothing for profit. If this idea were to become real, it would require the giving of supplies and lessons (and the willingness and convincing of residents).
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I don't think the idea is good. It is. If everyone, especially those feeling powerless and down-trodden were to knit and sell their work, people's self-esteems, self-perceptions, incomes, and happiness would all rise. It would be GREAT--especially for Detroit!
Ghandi definitely had the right idea. Similar to the idea about oil and energy dependency, the more independent we are as a nation, the more choices we make for ourselves and the more we can focus on achieving exactly what we wnat to achieve.
A,T