"Tragedy of Commons"

I am reading an article in Surfer magazine called "Localism Doesn't Work" and it struck a chord with me.

Basically, the writer (Brad Melekian) quotes Garrett Hardin's paper written in 1968 called "The Tragedy of Commons." The gist of it is that "individuals, motivated purely by their own self interest, will inevitably destroy a commonly held resource."

I've always been bothered by people who aren't aware of their surroundings. These are the fuckers who drive like they are the only ones on the road, or the ones who walk through the mall, oblivious to what's going on around them (like the fact they are moving at a pace about half of everyone else, creating a logjam of folks trying to get by them). Or these fuckers who won't let you merge; we all got places to be what fuck is 10 seconds to me in a ahead of you?

These people I call selfish. There is a common good. Now, I don't believe in total self sacrifice, but I believe in a balance. I look for and respond to people who are aware that there is something besides themselves in this world. If we shared equally, then all would be good. I realize that. And I would make that sacrifice, if everyone did it. Yeah, I could set the example, but I got a family to feed and a mortgage to pay. I am not Ghandi. But I want to be with these people who recognize that.

And I as I write this, I realize this might sound like socialism, but it's not. I believe in pulling your weight.

My dad, when I was a kid, used to say "I should be President" and I though, Dad, you pompous prick how you can say that. But now I get it. He always thought if everyone thought like he did......

I love my Dad. I wouldn't be where I am today without him. I attribute all my success in life to him.