Econ lesson No. 2: Centralization destroys opportunity, prosperity, risk
The eye at the top of the pyramid tells of Uncle; in his world, relationships are vertical and most of us are at the bottom. In a decentralized society under God’s blessing, horizontal relationships among equals (more or less) are more common. By David Tulis A handy way to perceive the free market and local […]
Nehemiah, a model official, relies on local economy, refuses to tax
By David Tulis A favorite character in the scriptures is Nehemiah, the Israelite who was cupbearer to an alien king, Artaxerxes, and sent back to his home country to look after Jerusalem and the deplorable state of those of his fellows left behind. As our family has read about Nehemiah at family worship, I have […]
With store, website, woman lives ideal of community, local economy
Mandy Henderson and her daughter, Autumn, stop by Tammy Drennan’s store and hangout in Fort Oglethorpe. Tammy Drennan’s store in the little Georgia town of Fort Oglethorpe has very much a homemade look. It’s full of inexpensive cards,150 kinds of Dover art books, volumes from Mrs. Drennan’s personal library, Fort O magnets, puzzles, cookbooks and […]
Goats help family pour sweet milk into small farm, soaps sold online
Holding baby Elizabeth, Becky Ensinger prepares to sit down to milk a goat as her husband, Bill, shuffles buckets. By David Tulis Becky Ensinger’s soaps grace our shower stall dish and emit a pleasant, healthful fragrance. The couple supplies families at my church with eggs, though they won’t take a cash payment to avoid commerce […]
Old guard media seek to refashion itself in market decentralization
Callie Starnes and Antwan Harris, journalists for WRCB TV-3, tell bloggers and social media activists how the station is shifting operations to the Internet. Behind them is Derrall Stalvey, the station’s news director. As a latecomer to independent local media, I have much to learn from people to whom use of Internet networks is old […]
As U.S. falters, paper can prosper by refocusing on local economy
My sketch sees Times Free Press staffers under a deadening bubble, where all their professional lives are directed to two main products (paper, website). I propose that their servitude under employment not exclude other writing, that they be given liberty to be productive on their own websites as collaborators or clients of the company. By […]
The value of your own people and local economy in a personal crisis
You have agonized over your plan for an abortion, half horrified at yourself, and half proud that you are bold enough to consider such a difficult step to exit your dilemma. You are pregnant, not married; the baby’s father doesn’t want to marry you, and you are not sure you would want to marry him, […]
Why the Internet won’t make my local newspaper go extinct
In the cool honeysuckle-laced air of the morning, a Times Free Press awaits its subscriber to retrieve it. By David Tulis The crisis in the newspaper industry in recent years, particularly since the economic meltdown in September 2008, should prompt people who love their hometown paper to look into underlying realities they perhaps have not […]
Lee Anderson vs. the avatars
Lee Anderson greets visitors who are part of the reception crowd Thursday in the Chattanooga Times Free Press newsroom. By David Tulis The passing from the Chattanooga newspaper scene of Lee Anderson leaves a big gap in a vigorous defense of the concept of local economy.It is unlikely that the Times Free Press will account […]