  We discuss a possible form for a theory akin to local density functional
theory, but able to produce van der Waals energies in a natural fashion. The
usual Local Density Approximation (LDA) for the exchange and correlation energy
$E_{xc}$ of an inhomogeneous electronic system can be derived by making a
quasilocal approximation for the {\it interacting} density-density response
function $\chi (\vec{r},\vec{r} ^{\prime},\omega)$, then using the
fluctuation-dissipation theorem and a Feynman coupling-constant integration to
generate $E_{xc}$. The first new idea proposed here is to use the same approach
except that one makes a quasilocal approximation for the {\it bare} response
$\chi ^{0}$, rather than for $\chi $. The interacting response is then obtained
by solving a nonlocal screening integral equation in real space. If the
nonlocal screening is done at the time-dependent Hartree level, then the
resulting energy is an approximation to the full inhomogeneous RPA energy: we
show here that the inhomogeneous RPA correlation energy contains a van der
Waals term for the case of widely-separated neutral subsystems. The second new
idea is to use a particularly simple way of introducing LDA-like local field
corrrections into the screening equations, giving a theory which should remain
reasonable for all separations of a pair of subsystems, encompassing both the
van der Waals limit much as in RPA and the bonding limit much as in LDA theory.
