Comments for Nathaniel Poole's Loose Moorings http://loosemoorings.org Thoughts and Ideas While Living Aboard in Victoria harbour Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:08:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Tragedy of the Commons by Nathaniel http://loosemoorings.org/2012/02/18/tragedy-of-the-commons/#comment-1027 Nathaniel Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:08:54 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1718#comment-1027 Thanks for this; it's fascinating. I wasn't aware there were fixed rules as such. But in the case of my article I guess I wasn't clear enough that the commons that is being degraded is the environment itself; the shared resource of land, air, water, and biosphere that we can almost without limit degrade at will. The irrationality of automobile design is just one manifestation of this; we can each take a bigger degrading chunk out of the environment without paying our fair share of the consequence. With BC's carbon tax there is a tiny effort to implement this, but massive taxation of both the purchase and operation of inefficient vehicles would be required to start allocating responsibility. Of course this also applies to other particularly damaging consumer goods, such as electronics. I have read ideas of "enclosing the commons", which is the idea of assigning a value to common resources like the atmosphere, and then charging individuals for the right to utilise or consume aspects of it. An intriguing idea but the inherent massive inequality in such a scheme makes it hard to see how such a system could be implemented. But as long as nobody owns it, nobody has responsibility for it, and as Kyoto has shown there are so many conflicting needs and beliefs a commons it shall always be. Thanks for this; it’s fascinating. I wasn’t aware there were fixed rules as such. But in the case of my article I guess I wasn’t clear enough that the commons that is being degraded is the environment itself; the shared resource of land, air, water, and biosphere that we can almost without limit degrade at will. The irrationality of automobile design is just one manifestation of this; we can each take a bigger degrading chunk out of the environment without paying our fair share of the consequence. With BC’s carbon tax there is a tiny effort to implement this, but massive taxation of both the purchase and operation of inefficient vehicles would be required to start allocating responsibility. Of course this also applies to other particularly damaging consumer goods, such as electronics.
I have read ideas of “enclosing the commons”, which is the idea of assigning a value to common resources like the atmosphere, and then charging individuals for the right to utilise or consume aspects of it. An intriguing idea but the inherent massive inequality in such a scheme makes it hard to see how such a system could be implemented. But as long as nobody owns it, nobody has responsibility for it, and as Kyoto has shown there are so many conflicting needs and beliefs a commons it shall always be.

]]> Comment on Tragedy of the Commons by The Olive Ridley Crawler http://loosemoorings.org/2012/02/18/tragedy-of-the-commons/#comment-1026 The Olive Ridley Crawler Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:08:11 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1718#comment-1026 Nice post. But before you call something a tragedy of the commons, it's always a good idea to check in with Elinor Ostrom's rules for managing a commons to see if what you're looking at is even being managed as a commons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_Principles_for_CPR_Institutions Car manufacturing/design is not a commons, because we do not manage it as such, so it runs into all the troubles you so eloquently describe :) 1) Clearly defined boundaries (effective exclusion of external un-entitled parties; 2) Rules regarding the appropriation and provision of common resources that are adapted to local conditions; 3) Collective-choice arrangements that allow most resource appropriators to participate in the decision-making process; 4) Effective monitoring by monitors who are part of or accountable to the appropriators; 5) A scale of graduated sanctions for resource appropriators who violate community rules; 6) Mechanisms of conflict resolution that are cheap and of easy access; 7) Self-determination of the community recognized by higher-level authorities; 8) In the case of larger common-pool resources,organization in the form of multiple layers of nested enterprises, with small local CPRs at the base level. Nice post. But before you call something a tragedy of the commons, it’s always a good idea to check in with Elinor Ostrom’s rules for managing a commons to see if what you’re looking at is even being managed as a commons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom#Design_Principles_for_CPR_Institutions

Car manufacturing/design is not a commons, because we do not manage it as such, so it runs into all the troubles you so eloquently describe :)
1) Clearly defined boundaries (effective exclusion of external un-entitled parties;
2) Rules regarding the appropriation and provision of common resources that are adapted to local conditions;
3) Collective-choice arrangements that allow most resource appropriators to participate in the decision-making process;
4) Effective monitoring by monitors who are part of or accountable to the appropriators;
5) A scale of graduated sanctions for resource appropriators who violate community rules;
6) Mechanisms of conflict resolution that are cheap and of easy access;
7) Self-determination of the community recognized by higher-level authorities;
8) In the case of larger common-pool resources,organization in the form of multiple layers of nested enterprises, with small local CPRs at the base level.

]]> Comment on Harken Roller Furler Maintenance by Nathaniel http://loosemoorings.org/2009/05/10/harken-roller-furler-maintenance/#comment-969 Nathaniel Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:06:57 +0000 http://7f562243-7f7a-4c83-a117-bcb9f620fafa#comment-969 THanks! Point them here, I hope, although I haven't posted a boat article for awhile as I'm no longer living aboard and can't go sailing cause a friend is squatting in her. I did get an article published in Pacific Yachting in January of this year. Several years ago I also had one published in Yachting monthly. THanks! Point them here, I hope, although I haven’t posted a boat article for awhile as I’m no longer living aboard and can’t go sailing cause a friend is squatting in her. I did get an article published in Pacific Yachting in January of this year. Several years ago I also had one published in Yachting monthly.

]]> Comment on Democracy is worth voting for by Nathaniel http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/04/democracy-is-worth-standing-up-for/#comment-968 Nathaniel Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:03:47 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1021#comment-968 Thanks Seb, I appreciate your kind words. And I really support you in getting out there to motivate your peers, never before in the history of Canada have your people ever had so much power to change our path. Cynicism is easy and engagement can be a challenge, but the young people of this country can completely reverse the results of the last election. The government chosen by old, angry and uninformed men is yours to replace if you choose. Thanks Seb, I appreciate your kind words. And I really support you in getting out there to motivate your peers, never before in the history of Canada have your people ever had so much power to change our path. Cynicism is easy and engagement can be a challenge, but the young people of this country can completely reverse the results of the last election. The government chosen by old, angry and uninformed men is yours to replace if you choose.

]]> Comment on Democracy is worth voting for by Sebastien Leblanc http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/04/democracy-is-worth-standing-up-for/#comment-967 Sebastien Leblanc Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:03:35 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1021#comment-967 Very nice article! I discovered your blog an hour ago and I am enjoying reading all of your well crafted sentences. I'm happy to have discovered you and your writings and I look forward to exploring your blog and novels even more. As a young Canadian, I promise I'll do my best to revive the sense of political responsibility in youngsters of my circle. Thank you Seb Very nice article!

I discovered your blog an hour ago and I am enjoying reading all of your well crafted sentences. I’m happy to have discovered you and your writings and I look forward to exploring your blog and novels even more.

As a young Canadian, I promise I’ll do my best to revive the sense of political responsibility in youngsters of my circle.
Thank you

Seb

]]> Comment on Harken Roller Furler Maintenance by Tom Cunliffe http://loosemoorings.org/2009/05/10/harken-roller-furler-maintenance/#comment-965 Tom Cunliffe Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:18:38 +0000 http://7f562243-7f7a-4c83-a117-bcb9f620fafa#comment-965 Dear Nathaniel I write for the UK magazine Yachting Monthly. I'm doing a piece on surveying your rig and dealing with any on-going maintenance. I thought your page on servicing the Harken Furling gear was really helpful. I have one myself on a boat I've just acquired and it had all I needed. I'll be giving you a mention in my article as an example of what a great, friendly place the internet can be. Thanks. Tom Dear Nathaniel
I write for the UK magazine Yachting Monthly. I’m doing a piece on surveying your rig and dealing with any on-going maintenance. I thought your page on servicing the Harken Furling gear was really helpful. I have one myself on a boat I’ve just acquired and it had all I needed. I’ll be giving you a mention in my article as an example of what a great, friendly place the internet can be.
Thanks.
Tom

]]> Comment on The last acceptable bigotry by Nathaniel http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/24/the-last-acceptable-bigotry/#comment-953 Nathaniel Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:07:33 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1039#comment-953 I agree with you, but I was thinking mostly of what appears in the mainstream media. While public figures are starting to mind what they say about women, First Nations, and Gays, talking down the poor is still seen as acceptable. It seems to me that social compassion tends to end with victims if there is any way they could possibly be blamed. Your comment about the bigotry directed towards atheists is quite interesting to me. Brian Topp evoked "the Lord" a few times last night in reference to Jack Layton's death, and I thought to myself, "Really?" I expect that from the Right, but not from an old Lefty. Of course socialism is far more in line with Christ's teachings than anything the Right promotes but still, it's uncomfortable in the context of secular politics. I agree with you, but I was thinking mostly of what appears in the mainstream media. While public figures are starting to mind what they say about women, First Nations, and Gays, talking down the poor is still seen as acceptable. It seems to me that social compassion tends to end with victims if there is any way they could possibly be blamed.

Your comment about the bigotry directed towards atheists is quite interesting to me. Brian Topp evoked “the Lord” a few times last night in reference to Jack Layton’s death, and I thought to myself, “Really?” I expect that from the Right, but not from an old Lefty. Of course socialism is far more in line with Christ’s teachings than anything the Right promotes but still, it’s uncomfortable in the context of secular politics.

]]> Comment on The last acceptable bigotry by Nathaniel http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/24/the-last-acceptable-bigotry/#comment-952 Nathaniel Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:59:34 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1039#comment-952 Thanks Chantelle. I do know of some people who were truly made to feel small and ashamed in an intake session, although I agree a real professional would take that approach - although government policies are repressive and offensive enough. But I wouldn't have that job for any money. Thanks Chantelle. I do know of some people who were truly made to feel small and ashamed in an intake session, although I agree a real professional would take that approach – although government policies are repressive and offensive enough. But I wouldn’t have that job for any money.

]]> Comment on The last acceptable bigotry by The Olive Ridley Crawler http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/24/the-last-acceptable-bigotry/#comment-951 The Olive Ridley Crawler Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:22:25 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1039#comment-951 Nice post friend, and very true about the bigotry that underlies poor bashing. I will say, however, that the "acceptability" of any bigotry is circle dependent. You will find that anti-indigenous bigotry is acceptable in many white circles. You'll find anti-woman bigotry is mainstream in evangelical circles. And of course, anti-atheist bigotry is universally acceptable, most people appear to feel that people who don't believe in god are also lacking in morals. But, I like your post and writing a lot, thanks for bringing up an important issue. Nice post friend, and very true about the bigotry that underlies poor bashing. I will say, however, that the “acceptability” of any bigotry is circle dependent. You will find that anti-indigenous bigotry is acceptable in many white circles. You’ll find anti-woman bigotry is mainstream in evangelical circles. And of course, anti-atheist bigotry is universally acceptable, most people appear to feel that people who don’t believe in god are also lacking in morals.

But, I like your post and writing a lot, thanks for bringing up an important issue.

]]> Comment on The last acceptable bigotry by Chantelle http://loosemoorings.org/2012/01/24/the-last-acceptable-bigotry/#comment-950 Chantelle Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:40:42 +0000 http://loosemoorings.org/?p=1039#comment-950 You make some very good points and I appreciate your view. You did lose me on paragraph 7 and the few following ( I assume you know why)but then regained my interest. I do know this, there is no one I know that goes out of thier way to be punative but are quite the opposite and I will give you this "they are caught in a system that is utterly malignant to those it serves', so please do not shoot the messanger as you will fond the majority were where these folks are at one time too. Also not hearsay! You make some very good points and I appreciate your view. You did lose me on paragraph 7 and the few following ( I assume you know why)but then regained my interest. I do know this, there is no one I know that goes out of thier way to be punative but are quite the opposite and I will give you this “they are caught in a system that is utterly malignant to those it serves’, so please do not shoot the messanger as you will fond the majority were where these folks are at one time too.
Also not hearsay!

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