Tragedy of the Commons

You couldn’t write a better script than what Britney’s giving us these days. Better yet, Anna Nicole Smith. And maybe the life of one of the ballplayers who died in the recent Atlanta bus accident. Three incredibily interesting stories to tell. I’m curious to know if anyone’s booked rights yet. Or at least conceived a “based-on” storyline.

Meanwhile, global warming awareness is at an all-time high. It’s about time. Discovery Channel plans to air a show/segment called Plant Earth that explores the wonderous species dyanmic and landscape of our home. It’s presented in HDTV to really drive home the point that… well, if we keep it up all the beauty of nature you see will be devastated and the balance upset by our selfishness, indifference and complete lack of respect for where we live.

When I drive through certain parts of Atlanta (the ghetto) I am amazed by all the trash spread out along the sides of the road. Most heavily near mass-transit stops. Church’s Chicken. KFC. Zesto. To name a few. Bags of condiments, Coke cans, and napkins blown into and treaded among wirey dead or hibernating trees lining the road. Regardless of how messy one is in their own home, you’d think there’d be a little more pride taken in a clean and appealing community.

Maybe because there are bigger issues to worry about. Other things on the mind. Like where that next check is coming from. But it’s interesting to think what correlation there is between depressed financial areas and the literal trash surrounding them.

I like to imagine that despite varying incomes, we live in a community with roads lined in dogwoods, green grass medians, trash recepticals at various points along sidewalks and driveways. Hybrid cars, bicycles. Clean and maintained architecture and homes. People working in their yards. Community involvement in maintenance or socials. A bit tiring to keep up? Maybe. But the psychological benefits and optimism for better living would far outweight any negative socio-economic impact. And isn’t that what the ghetto is? The result of economics and (living up to) social assumptions?

I kind of liken it to feeling good when you’re looking good. Is it possible that by cleaning up a neighborhood, the general attitudes of its residents would reflect positive living? Better moral judgement? I would think that taking modest pride in something like where you live wouldn’t be shameful but necessary for health and well-being. Because you don’t have to be rich to be clean or eco-friendly; you just have to care.