The Good Life is rubbish so shop in A5da.

[oldjerry]

I'm not sure why I'm commenting on anything from the Mail,but some people have raised some interesting points.Some things will always be bought at a cheaper price,than you can grow them(spuds,cereals etc.) because they benefit from large scale production,BUT,this is an economic cost,not necessarily an enviromental one ,and my 3 kids (all under11) and their children will probably still only have this earth to live on.Furthermore,surely the selfgrown/s.market comparison isn't simply about where you get food the cheapest.A guy I know was homeless in the late 80's / early 90's and lived in central London (true story),most of his food came from passersby,he begged half the day by cash machines,and towards midday moved to a pitch near a sandwich shop in Wardour St.He managed to stay fed..... tended to get what he was given though...pretty humiliating too...no sense of self-worth.

[boboff]

True, as an economy we are all connected. We may all have pensions or investments in Farmers, manufacturers, supermarkets.

My only point is really this, please recognise that some things in Supermarkets are good, that Supermarkets do try and support local markets, them making a profit is a good thing ( the taxes pay for our NHS and benefits) Its not all black and white, being ish is good, Capitalism Bad.

Jerry is right there are far more important things in life to worry about, and sustainability in the long term in extremely important. I wouldn't be posting here if I didn't believe that.

Not agreeing with people on here feels fundamentally wrong, as the usual friendly love fest is welcome, but...... well enough said, sorry.

[oldjerry]

For gods sake don't apologise,cosy concensus(even when you agree with it) is stupifying,check out what Lovelock thinks about Nuclear Power these days. Hey , Thesis,Antithesis,Synthesis,isn't that what it's all about? (Idon't think it is actually!!) Anyhow more power to you......even when you're wrong!! OJ.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

I don't have a problem with supermarkets per se. I reckon we spend about 40-50% of our grocery budget in them.

I certainly don't have a problem with captitalism. I am a capitalist, albeit in a small way.

What I am concerned about is abuse of market power, which I believe is an issue with respect to the activities of supermarkets and the ogliopoly of intermediaries who supply them.

Competition is a fine and desirable thing, provided it is free and fair.

And reasoned (well, mostly reasoned) disagreement is an essential part of any forum.

[123sologne]

Nothing's wrong with a decent argument
It just get us all to think and that is very good. What would be wrong is to get nasty about things. We are all allowed to disagree, we just don't have to beat each other up in the process.

[grahamhobbs]

The problem in the article as I see it is, that the Daily mail is written by and for self-satisfied, blinkered, right wing people and their opinions display all their narrow predjudices. The article wasn't really against serious self-sufficientish people (not a significant part of their readship anyway I imagine) but was a supercilious put down of a small section of the middle class who might be thinking of dabbling, the types that would go out and buy the latest plastic beehive or expensive chicken hutch because it's a bit trendy at the moment. Hardly the types that would dream of going to Asda anyway.

Those who are proper Ishers know that self-sufficiency can be much cheaper than supermarkets but more importantly it makes you a healthy, skilled and independent person, rather than a mere wage slave/consumer.

[oldjerry]

OK ,Graham,that's what I wish I'd written. ...100%.

[southeast-isher]

Those who are proper Ishers know that self-sufficiency can be much cheaper than supermarkets but more importantly it makes you a healthy, skilled and independent person, rather than a mere wage slave/consumer.

And even those of us who can't be classed as proper ishers know that self-sufficiency can be much cheaper than supermarkets but more importantly it makes you a healthy, skilled and independent person, rather than a mere wage slave/consumer. Like me! And i would love to see society shift towards this way of thinking/living.

[Susie]

I agree with the riff raff element especially now I have looked up ogliopoly.

[MKG]

My parrots were always beautiful.

Mike

[hmk]

And guess what my mum will greet me with the next time I see her She says she agrees with my principles but whenever there's an article like this it gets saved for me.

And I am going to try to get 'oligopoly' into a conversation tomorrow Except I really really want to say ogliopoly....

HMK

[Millymollymandy]

The problem in the article as I see it is, that the Daily mail is written by and for self-satisfied, blinkered, right wing people and their opinions display all their narrow predjudices.

That'll be me then.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

And I am going to try to get 'oligopoly' into a conversation tomorrow Except I really really want to say ogliopoly....

HMK

Oh dear.

I had had a couple at that point. A small celebration had been undertaken....

[southeast-isher]

My parrots were always beautiful.

Mike

Squarkkkkkk.

[boboff]

Free Range Eggs 85p, Pot of Jam £4, Leg of Pork £45, sitting drinking Tea looking at a neatly weeded and Manured Raspberry bed looking at the chickens flapping and flying and rooting and bathing in your newly dug seedbed..... Priceless.