The Seventeen Traditions, by Ralph Nader

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Landscape of My Boyhood 1
1. The Tradition of Listening 33
2. The Tradition of the Family Table 39
3. The Tradition of Health 47
4. The Tradition of History 51
5. The Tradition of Scarcity 59
6. The Tradition of Sibling Equality 63
7. The Tradition of Education and Argument 69
8. The Tradition of Discipline 79
9. The Tradition of Simple Enjoyments 85
10. The Tradition of Reciprocity 93
11. The Tradition of Independent thinking 99
12. The Tradition of Charity 105
13. The Tradition of Work 111
14. The Tradition of Business 117
15. The Tradition of Patriotism 123
16. The Tradition of Solitude 129
17. The Tradition of Civics 135

I posted a couple of comments on Peter Alden Stroble's OLY 2012's Final Position Paper Endorsing the Urban Waterfront Rezone post (about the Isthmus rezone.) I want to separate them and post them here. The first comment is in response to my effort to deepen the discussion about OLY 2012's advocacy of Smart Growth in regard to the furtherance of sustainability. Can "Smart Growth" further the goal of "sustainability?":

Deepening the Discussion

Yes, I would like to deepen the discussion. It's not easy for me. This is really difficult. I don't want this to get personal, because I know there are good people on both sides of this issue, and most people on both sides are honest and genuine when they think their way is the best way.

I would love to respond to every point in your paper. I would love to respond to every point in your above statement. I just don't think that I have it in me. I don't right now. I might not anytime soon. Maybe it will be easier for me to approach these points one by one after Tuesday's Council Meeting.

I just looked up Smart Growth today. I don't know all the details. I just know what it said on wikipedia - my understanding of which is that Smart Growth basically is a meme that seeks sustainability through dense urban living. That sounds great to me. And I am glad that we don't have any disagreement here.