Gloom and Doom group is really a progressive left effort in Wichita

Gloom and Doom may not sound very positive, but for local activist in Wichita, it is the nick name of a progressive group trying to struggle with global problems on the local level. It has been a way for leftist of various tendencies to find common ground.

Gloom and Doom got its nickname by one of the bartenders at Kirby’s and the name stuck. Marxists, anarchists and liberals get together to look at the various ways local people can counter the capitalist monopoly on the local economy. Global Warming and the issue of Peak Oil are some of the topics of interest to many in the group. Some members are from the local Peace and Social Justice group that opposes imperialist wars.

The group meets on Thursday nights. One activity is to show films such as An Inconvenient Truth.

They are also working on perm-culture. This is the idea that large amounts of food can be grown locally, without over fertilizing or pesticides. Some members have enough land for large gardens. Food that grows well in Kansas, as well as a variety of food, rather than large fields of wheat are the aim of the effort.

“Instead of growing food, we strive for food that will grow itself,” said Richard Davies, a member of the group.

There has also been talk of a coop system in which barter can be used as well as money for the poor residents in Wichita. The whole project involves a system of subsistence farming and local autonomy over how resources are used.

Some radicals in other parts of the country have criticised what actually amounts to socialism in a few parts of one city. But those involved believe it will teach people some alternative ways of doing things. It is also better than just using protests, education and newspapers to promote new ideas. This is action over rhetoric.

Radicals all over the country are trying different things and in Wichita we are no different. We have to have projects people can take part in and this is one of those projects.