Fighting corporatism by knocking back a few in British pubs

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



Why should investors always have the upper hand in "development" plans when the resource at stake is a beloved building or public space? Why should the divine right of capital necessarily prevail?

How refreshing to learn that England has created a special legal process for preventing market enclosures of community pubs. There is even a Community Pubs Minister, whose duty it is to recognize the value of pubs to communities and to help safeguard their futures. So far, some 100 pubs have been formally listed as "assets of community value."

I know, I know—what would Margaret Thatcher say? "Damned government interventions in the free market!" Fortunately, that kind of market fundamentalism has abated for a bit, enough that the Community Pubs Minister—Brandon Lewis, a Conservative Party member of Parliament!—now extols "the importance of the local pub as part of our economic, social and cultural past, present and future."

He adds: "We have known for hundreds of years just how valuable our locals (local pubs) are. Not just as a place to grab a pint but also to the economies and communities they serve and that is why we are doing everything we can to support and safeguard community pubs from closure." ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/uk-pubs-are-officially-recognized-as-community-assets

[tech3149]

1. I can't think of a better place to start protecting the commons.

Those of us of a certain age (old) probably remember when we knew all of our neighbors for at least a mile from home. When you didn't need a babysitter because one or another neighbor would "keep an eye on the kids".
Where I grew up the "local" was the Slavonic Club just across the road. It was a fun place where you could BS with everyone without limits. There were parties and,my favorite, softball tournaments. That common gathering point helped hold a piss poor dying community together.
It might be I'm just a stupid old fart remembering things that never were but I'm curious if my perception differs from the world that others see.

Please comment on your experience!

[BrotherIvan]

2. I agree with you

It is definitely a different time. The small, college town where I grew up is still very big on having community gatherings and events. We have some very nice parks where they have concerts and free things for kids. They also have classes at low cost for adults in hobbies, cooking, life skills. It makes more of a feeling of community.

I do believe that the breakdown of the commons, the sense of being a part of something, is the reason why so many are taken up with religion. The churches have taken advantage of people's need for community. Whether it be for good or bad is part of the problem. I'm all for liberal churches who add to the community and thank the heavens I live in the bluest of blue states so our insufferable fundies are in small pockets and I don't have to deal with them very often.

I agree that if we focus on community and making our towns, schools and neighborhoods a better place, we may get somewhere. It seems as if on the national level, we are pretty much screwn.

[hunter]

3. It applies to other community resources too, not just pubs.

The pub framing is interesting. I do think this is an excellent idea, but I'm sure speaking of pubs makes it more appealing to the anti-immigrant right, as Muslim immigrants may not be comfortable in places serving alcohol and other non-hallal food and drink.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. "the village of Hampstead" - that would be the London district of Hampstead

Yes, it is sometimes known as "Hampstead Village", but it's only 4 miles from the centre of London:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=%22london%22+%22hampstead%22&ll=51.523911,-0.125656&spn=0.117913,0.338173&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=Hampstead,+Greater+London,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=12

http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/historic_old_white_bear_pub_in_hampstead_saved_after_huge_community_campaign_1_3310301

While the idea of being able to designating a pub as a community asset is a good one, I hardly think the residents of Hampstead are going to be stuck without alternative pubs within walking distance. It seems a strange example to use for this story.

[MisterP]

5. they already did this with beer overall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_for_real_ale
the corpos tell us that watered-down horse piss and reconstituted "cheese singles" (legally not "cheese&quot is more goods for more people at ever-cheaper prices, but the technocratic dream died in 'Nam and the flaming rivers of Lakes Aral and Erie