I’m watching the live broadcast of the Oktoberfest opening parade. For over two hours, shooting clubs, hunting associations, and traditional brass bands march past the cameras. Everyone in the studio is gushing about "cultural heritage."
I just sit there thinking: Give me a break. The whole concept of these shooting clubs dates back to the Middle Ages, when cities built giant walls to seal themselves off. Even back then, it was all about turf wars, paranoia, and the belief that resources were too scarce to share. What does any of that have to do with real community today? One person shoots at a target while a crowd stands around watching. It's completely out of touch.
Yet right in front of us, we have these massive, deeply rooted local networks. These clubs are uniquely positioned to serve the common good. We don't have to stay trapped in fossilized mindsets. Why aren't we leveraging this huge potential to introduce forward-thinking ideas—like the Economy for the Common Good, sustainability, and genuine community care?
