Policing needed - Letters - Letter to the Editor

New Internationalist, Nov, 2003

Katharine Ainger (Keynote, Reinventing power, NI 360) tentatively invokes a futurescape where social and economic problems will be increasingly solved through 'local control' and 'mutual aid'. But I would suggest there is an inherent problem with local groups 'doing it for themselves'.

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Ms Ainger alludes to it when she speaks of the complexity of the 'real, functioning social order'. Who will local groups answer to when individuals are excluded from the benefits of action on the grounds of gender, race, sexuality, disability or religion? How would such informal organizations be effectively policed to prevent such discrimination? Or are we to believe the 'intelligent mob' has transcended social prejudices?

I warmly welcome Katherine Ainger's egalitarian vision, but unless mutual aid projects embrace proactive social education, I fear the rise of local democracy may only further the cause of mutual exclusion.

Yakoub Islam West Yorkshire, England