Innovation Center

This is a "thought" page... Moving a town towards being more self-sufficient...

All humans require basic needs: food/water, clothing, and shelter. Most humans, especially those in the US, live well beyond our "needs." Simple food items have been replaced by highly processes "food" in order to appeal to our desires. Tap water has been replaced with bottled water. Basics clothing has been replaced by fashion. These "beyond-basics" needs have been driving our economy for many years; our cars get fancier, our electronic become fasters, our needs in general have become inflated.

All of this perceived "innovation" has raised the overall quality of life for most and much of it is well deserved, payoff for those hard working individuals. Let us not forget the difference between what is considered a basic need and a luxury item.

Basic Needs: Food:

1) Water

2) Bread

3) Vegetables

4) Meat (for many, debatable)

5) Eggs

Basic needs: Clothing:

1) Pants

2) Shirts

3) Socks and underware

4) Shoes

5) Jackets

Basic needs: Shelter:...later...

In a small town like Monmouth IL the residents acquire their basic needs from vendors. Many of these vendors have used a model to mass produce in order to lower prices and hence attract customers. Many people will drive significant distances to pay a lower price for a basic need without reference to the indirect costs related to transportation or their own personal time.

So it is reasonable to believe that a local community should provide basics needs for their residents. Therefore Monmouth should have the following businesses:

1) A dariy (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc)

2) A bakery (bread, rolls, etc.)

3) local eggs

4) local meat

5) Textiles

So why do we drive 10-40 miles to purchase these items as a lower price...if we all work togehter as a family, we can support local businesses which inturn then support the local economy.

Many of us drink beer...lets make beer HERE and buy beer HERE! All of us eat bread...let's make bread and lets BUY bread HERE! If you want something special ask! Many of us eat eggs...let's raise chickens in town and lets BUY egg HERE! Many of us eat ice cream...let's make ice cream!