History

It has been a while since these posts have turned toward the political. However, I came across this diary on the Open Left site that I frequent.

I won't bother running a series of quotes. If you are interested you'll read it, if not - oh well. One part I'd like to emphasize however is this part:

The leaders of the American Revolution were heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, so naturally the United States was founded on progressive ideas. They're described in the Declaration of Independence:

"All men are created equal."

"Governments derive their powers from the consent of the Governed."

In other words, every citizen—a president, a clerk, a multimillionaire, a fruit picker—has the same rights and is bound by the same laws. And the nation's leaders work for its people—not the other way around.

At that time, most nations still operated according to conservative ideas: the rich and powerful should have special rights and privileges, and regular people had a duty to obey their "betters."

American colonists saw the problems with this sort of society firsthand: they were oppressed by a rich, powerful king who refused to obey his country's laws, treated them like criminals and second-class citizens, and prevented them from engaging in manufacturing and trade.

Progressive-minded colonists considered this unacceptable. They started and led a rebellion against the King's rule. They risked their lives to make progress and install a new system of government based on Democracy.

Conservative-minded colonists, called Tories, did not support the rebellion. They supported the King's rule, were afraid to change it, or thought that the costs of political progress outweighed its benefits.

Fortunately, the progressive-minded colonists prevailed and won their independence—with help from France, the birthplace of the Enlightenment. Tragically, conservative-minded colonists insisted on preserving an old evil that would tear the new nation apart: slavery.

What would Thomas Jefferson say to Sarah Palin? to Barack Obama?

How about Rand Paul or Dick Armey? (Now, THAT is a visual name, if ever one was).

Or would he organize a resistance? What kind of resistance? To which nations would he turn for aid? France, again? Are the Tea Partiers the new Minutemen, or are they just a shill, a populist veneer on the Tories of today?

A Crop Share Summer Progresses

The promise of counter-top mushrooms has yet to be realized. The first attempt was a flaming disaster. Too warm I surmise, atop the kitchen 'fridge. Anyway...

This season we joined a Crop Share at a local farm. Tangle Town. Relative to the many Farmer's Markets, the 1/2 share has been quite cost effective. It has also taught us to eat with respect to the local environment. Implicit in this approach is the need to prepare foods that one might otherwise avoid. This lesson has already been learned by many of you, no doubt, and I have always made an effort to pertain to the seasons. In any case, the most abundant is the most cost effective food. No matter what so-called economic system one lives beneath. Or above and apart, as the case may be.

With the help of the Flavor Bible , suggested by Middleman's recent roommate in Chicago, I have come to terms with beets. Still can't quite stomach the red ones in a plain presentation. Borscht is out of the question.

Gulin has learned about beans. Specifically those mixed with greens. Solid meal, this. Especially with kale and/or collards. Crisp up a piece of bacon before starting the flavor symphony and you'll forgo heaven for a plateful of the Earth's green bounty.

The two recipes that follow were developed along the lines of the Flavor Bible and the early summer harvest of from Plano, MN.

Add on where you see fit. How does one pickle cauliflower? Conjure mead?