Thanks to The New Yorker and Ben McGrath for this in-depth article on the emerging 21st century world we inhabit. Interested readers may find Vermont Commons editorial board member Carolyn Baker's critique of McGrath's essay illuminating.

Ian Baldwin is Vermont Commons: Voices of Independence news journal's first Publisher Emeritus.

After he has sworn the oath of allegiance to the Constitution on January 20th, will President Obama begin the process of unraveling the evil and unconstitutional decrees of his predecessor? Will freedom of speech and assembly once again be absolute, protected rights in these still United States? Will that most ancient and hallowed right of the West, habeas corpus, once again be guaranteed to all citizens?      

For months now, Truth to Power has been informing readers about Barack Obama’s emerging leadership, including the fundamental underpinnings of his agenda and his likely appointments in the areas of economic, foreign policy, and energy issues. Despite the promise of change, Obama’s adherence to neoliberal, globalist policies offers no substantial departure from the U.S Empire’s ultimate strategies of imperialism, corporate capitalist supremacy, and almost total ignorance of the destructive nature perpetuated by endless growth.

While many people claim that local food is “elitist,” some of the world's great cuisines – Chinese, Italian, country French, Indian – come from the people who had the least to work with: peasants.    

“Vermont consists of small farms and agricultural based businesses that are thriving and improving the ecology of Vermont foodscapes. Organic farms and gardens supply local food to all members of their community and everyone knows their farmer.”

Educational policies in the United States represent the agenda of modern technocracy: Through standardized curricula, relentless testing, ruthless “accountability,” and unforgiving sanctions for failure, the corporate state has sought to turn schools into efficient factories for producing reliable employees and consumers. Young people are treated as human capital, their skills and aspirations harnessed to the demands of our voracious economy.

Ben Falk.Ben Falk writes: Amid the excitement surrounding technological advances that may be useful in our transition beyond fossil fuels, there is surprisingly little discussion about the daily living techniques required to make this transition a reality.  This proficiency-building of the individual, home, and community – increasingly referred to as “The Great Re-skilling” – is the focus of this Homestead Security column.

Editor's Note: Cheryl King Fischer’s “Movement Within Movements,” is a new column exploring how social change takes place, in New England and particularly here in Vermont.