The Chaotic, Fractal and Complex City

The Occupy Movement is providing a model of participatory democracy that has the promise to replace the government of cities and regions.   There are many stages that have to happen before this become a reality. But, this blog entry will not discuss this.  It will discuss in a possible framework of how that this can be ultimately institutionalized within the U.S. political system.  However, to arrive at how local governments will ultimately be governed by general assemblies, it is useful to develop the foundation on which it will be built which is a chaotic, fractal and complex urban environment .  I have discussed how urban planning can be adapted on this blog and in articles (see “Complexity Theory and Urban Planning ” in Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy  ) In this blog entry, I discuss: 1)the complexity of cities; 2) brief look at the procession of  political economy paradigms  (focusing on the present transitory phase);  and 3)St...

A new volume of Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy  has now been posted. (see http://www.urbanauapp.org/   ,) The three articles include authors from Latin America (Brazil and Mexico) and the United States, continuing the international view of urbanism that has bee the hallmark of the Journal since its inception more than fifteen years ago.  The articles are presently 'under review.'  Comments from the readers of the articles are welcome and should be addressed to Dr. Michael A. McAdams,  Managing Editor at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com . or submitted on the webpage under the list of articles or  by going to the Contact webpage. This is a moderated site and the Managing Editor has the prerogative not to  post any comments that are not appropriate for an academic journal. Urbana, also has a new server and its webpage has been given a 'facelift' to improve its  useability and design. The new website includes all volumes of Urbana back to 19...

The concepts of participatory democracy which encompasses direct and deliberative democracy was at one-time theoretical and associated with Anarchism. But, no more. These ideas are gaining strength and are being activity practiced by the Occupy Movement at all locations.  Likewise, there are a number of books by academics in the field of political science and others disciplines that are supporting this notion as a viable mode to involve the public in government and produce more equitable solutions than are being made through the present form of representative democracy at the local level.  There is no doubt that the world is ‘turning’ in a different direction that will change local politics forever.  The One Percent (multinational corporations and the ‘economic elite’) have involved themselves in local politics and economy in the same manner that has been done on a national scale. The city is their spatial loci for their operations.  Every phenomena is played out in...

Presently, there is a global political focus on the control of the One Percent over the Ninety-Nine   This is not conjecture or something that it is open for debate, as it has been proven through facts and intrinsically woven in all aspects of existence for all global citizens. Everyone (unless you are a member of the One Percent) can think of  daily activities  that make you aware that this minority controls everything.  If you are shopping at Wal-Mart, you are always reminded that the goods you are buying are not made in the U.S.  Also, if you are shopping at Wal-Mart, you realize that there is now no alternative in many small town or suburban areas, because the One Percent has destroyed the local merchants. When you are buying fuel for your vehicle, you notice that the prices are flocculating and are aware that you are financing the speculators in the One Percent who are causing the price to rise and fall by small amounts to increase their b...

Democracies around the world have been hijacked by the One Percent. Likewise those without democracies are controlled by the non-elected oligarchies, inflicting their will on their population. This minority has no interest in the welfare of the Ninety-Nine Percent. It is clear that but they only want to make themselves richer and make economic slaves and pawns of the vast majority in  globe. However, their slaves are now ‘awake’ and realize that something has to change.  The One Percent is using ever method to suppress this spontaneous and leaderless revolution. But, the more that they suppress, the more the movement grows. They are oblivious to the changing world, like the royality of France before the French Revolution.)  The One Percent are overseeing and furthering the decline of an unsustainable world which inevitably must evolve into one that is sustainable giving way to a greater voice to the majority and more share of the wealth that is being generated. Unfortunat...

Many people in the US and around the world have realized that their lives has been taken away by the minority, who continue to use them and get richer.  The unemployment in the US has endured for an extended period that many have run out of unemployment insurance and are now homeless. Those that are still receiving unemployment benefits beyond the normal period could see their unemployment benefits run out in 1 January 2012.  This will mean that those going into poverty will increase an d homelessness would likewise increase.  There are more homeless families that ever before. Yet they are coping with the plight that has been handed to them by the One Percent. Many in the world have adopted the principles that the US were first to promote: Freedom of Speech, Right to Address Grievances, Equality under the law, the Rule of Law (civil society), a military under the control of the people, ability to better one’s  economic state without being hampered by an elite, and t...

According to the preliminary estimates, spending on Black Friday was up. Somehow, this is good news by the media, but actually is covering up the very sad state of  most Americans. On Black Friday, shoppers mobbed stores in a frenzy buying the 'bargains' offered by stores, particularly the 'big box' stores. Americans demonstrated that they were still addicted to the consumerism handed to them by the marketing firms representing the large corporations. There was one case where a woman pepper sprayed her fellow shoppers to get to some cheap waffle makers. My compliments to this woman for showing what has become the hallmark of the Christmas... greed and uber consumerism. Uber consumerism is the desire for useless items for the sake of buying. (see http://wealthartisan.com/2010/04/07/uber-consumerism-explained / .)  No amount of  goods satisfies those who have been drawn in by the myth created by the One Percent. It is an addiction that can never be satisfied leading a p...