Mixed Messages?

Yesterday on NPR I was listening to really interesting public affairs program entitled "The Shared Economy;" basically it was all about these new and upcoming business that thrive on, essentially, people being generous and open and willing to share with complete strangers. For example, there is a company where you can post your car/vehicle on the web site and put out there that you are willing to give anyone a ride...your phone app lets you know when there is one of these "registered" vehicles in the area, and you basically hail them like you would a cab. Or, there is a company where people can post their homes on line in different countries so that if you are a college student, for example, doing that cliche backpack across Europe thing, you can have your phone app alert you about some people's houses in the area who are willing to let you "crash" on their couch or guest bed for a NOMINAL fee--cheaper than any hostel or hotel etc...

It was very interesting stuff, and I love the philosophy behind it

And then, as I began pondering this, I began to think of the mixed messages that (and I dont want to stereotype here, but they are many times....) "progressives" are sending us. On one hand, these "progressively minded" folks want to preach the importance of diversity, multiculturalism, appreciation for all the differences out there, etc etc etc.....they often times love using the phrase "global village" to reinforce how indeed "small" the world is, and how it is perfectly feasible for a guy in central Maine to make arrangements in Cologne, France to stay for a week on someone's couch and eat for free and travel around the city in someone else's car, etc. In other words, a very worldly view....

Yet, on the other hand, these are the very same folks who extol the virtues of 'staying put' in your place at home and not using expensive fossil fuels to travel--they are huge proponents of bicycle commuting, for example. And, most significantly, they are coiners of the term "locavore," thus encouraging people to stay put, NOT travel, NOT embrace the diversity around them, and, at once, support stuff right down the street from them, eat locally grown produce, and shop at 'Main Street" 'mom and pop' stores that sell the same old 'vanilla' American merchandise....

Which one is it?

Do you see the mixed message here?

All I know is that I
a. Love food of all types, no matter where it comes from
b. love riding my bike anywhere I can because I dislike cars--they are a necessarily evil
c. have NOOOOO plans, whatsoever, to EVER travel to France

so I think I am all set for now.....