Symbolic economy
Dear Editor:
Communists and capitalists alike, “liberal” and “conservative” capitalists alike, have needed to replace religion with some form of determinism, so that they can say to their victims, “I am doing this because I can’t do otherwise. It is not my fault. It is inevitable.” The wonder is how often organized religion has gone along with a lie.
The idea of an economy based upon several kinds of ruin may seem a contradiction of terms, but in fact such an economy is possible, as we see. It is possible, however, on one implacable condition: The only future good that it assuredly leads to is that it will destroy itself. And how does it disguise this outcome from it subjects, its short-term beneficiaries, and its victims? It does so by false accounting. It substitutes for the real economy, by which we build and maintain (or do not maintain) our household, a symbolic economy of money, which in the long run, because of the self-interested manipulations of “controlling interests,” cannot symbolize or account for anything but itself. And so we have before us the spectacle of unprecedented “prosperity” and “economic growth” in a land of degraded farms, forests, ecosystems and watersheds, polluted air, failing families and perishing communities.
Matt Linder, Twisp/Langley
Time to decide
Dear Editor:
It’s that time again. Now that we’ve resoundingly re-elected Darold Brandenburg as fire commissioner, we’re faced with a question that’s been hanging over the valley for, well, longer than the eight years I’ve been a firefighter: “Do we or don’t we build a new district station and training center in Winthrop?”
Okanogan County Fire District 6 volunteers, supporters and staff held open houses at all four stations for a total of 28 hours last week, ready to answer questions and explain all aspects of the issue. If you weren’t able to attend, for whatever reason, we remain available on an appointment basis. Please don’t hesitate to call or email, and we will do our best to answer your questions and, as necessary, guide you through the various materials we prepared for the open houses. Contact us at cacord@okanogancountyfd6.com, or call 997-2981.
In addition, there will be a special meeting of the fire commissioners at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the Winthrop fire station, 223 Englar St. This meeting is intended to help clear up remaining questions and confusion about the issue, and to assist the commissioners in preparing for a final vote on funding and other logistical considerations in the very near future. The public is, as always, welcome and encouraged to attend.
Alan Fahnestock, Winthrop
