My motivations for starting this journey are outlined here. I need to deny Corporations access to my income.
Corporate America and the Federal Reserve have a stranglehold on our government and the Global Economy. I watched the movie "Ethos" and I feel it was one of the few movies that presented most (emphasis on most) of the information on this subject without conspiracy theories or trying to promote a political agenda. That's important to me. (Checkout http://ethosthemovie.com). I also believe that where there is smoke, there is some kind of fire, so even in the midst of a lot of misinformation and social agendas, there is an element of truth. So it has prompted me to begin the slow process of unplugging. I want to do as much as I can to be self sufficient and free from as many outside influences and regulations as possible. Unfortunately, you can't become completely independent. That would require violation of ordinances, regulations and some laws. You can't just buy a piece of land and live a self sufficient life. You can't drive off of a public road onto private property without permission to create an access, mainly due to easements and some safety considerations. You can't drill a well or put in a septic system without permits and testing. You're very limited on the types of structures you can build without a permit and inspections. Any type of non-traditional construction complicates matters even worse because there are no guidelines for that type of structure. Now you're saddled with the additional expense of obtaining proof of concept from engineers. Once a structure is built there are increased property taxes because you decided to make improvements. There has even been consideration given to the metering of wells for water usage and taxing based upon that. If that doesn't begin to infuriate you then read no further because you have been assimilated and indoctrinated and are probably beyond reach, and this is just a few of the regulations imposed upon individuals. I have no doubt that violations of these regulations would bring swifter and more severe consequences than insider trading.
Corporate America and the Federal Reserve have a stranglehold on our government and the Global Economy. I watched the movie "Ethos" and I feel it was one of the few movies that presented most (emphasis on most) of the information on this subject without conspiracy theories or trying to promote a political agenda. That's important to me. (Checkout http://ethosthemovie.com). I also believe that where there is smoke, there is some kind of fire, so even in the midst of a lot of misinformation and social agendas, there is an element of truth. So it has prompted me to begin the slow process of unplugging. I want to do as much as I can to be self sufficient and free from as many outside influences and regulations as possible. Unfortunately, you can't become completely independent. That would require violation of ordinances, regulations and some laws. You can't just buy a piece of land and live a self sufficient life. You can't drive off of a public road onto private property without permission to create an access, mainly due to easements and some safety considerations. You can't drill a well or put in a septic system without permits and testing. You're very limited on the types of structures you can build without a permit and inspections. Any type of non-traditional construction complicates matters even worse because there are no guidelines for that type of structure. Now you're saddled with the additional expense of obtaining proof of concept from engineers. Once a structure is built there are increased property taxes because you decided to make improvements. There has even been consideration given to the metering of wells for water usage and taxing based upon that. If that doesn't begin to infuriate you then read no further because you have been assimilated and indoctrinated and are probably beyond reach, and this is just a few of the regulations imposed upon individuals. I have no doubt that violations of these regulations would bring swifter and more severe consequences than insider trading.
There are many problems in our system that are self evident. For me they are:
1. Deregulation of Corporations and Banking systems and increased regulation of individuals.
2. Greed and materialism. The advertisements that we are bombarded with convince us that what they are selling are necessities, or that social status is based upon the acquisition of those products, cars in particular. I won't bother with the psychological aspect of this because to a lot of people it seems a little fringe, but it's all in the name of Corporate and investor profits.
3. Corruption. What can I say? If you are in denial of that, then you're part of the problem. It has invaded every aspect of business and government.
4. De-humanization. People are becoming a commodity and when they can no longer fulfill a financial benefit, they are discarded.
5. The Corporate bottom line. Stock holders and investor's returns take priority over ethics and human dignity. When this starts happening, we've removed the glue that holds society together. The "profits" of the few outweigh the "needs" of the many. It contributes significantly to the disappearing middle class.
6. Debt. This is the hammer that is continually held over our heads. It is banking's most powerful control over society. We are a debt driven, consumer driven society and in being so, we abdicate control over our own lives. I personally struggle under the debt of student loans.
The leverage that we have against Corporations, as brought out in the movie "Ethos", is our wallet. It's virtually our only weapon against their influence. By reducing or eliminating what we purchase from Corporations, we transfer control back into our hands. But eliminating those types of purchases is virtually impossible for most Americans and I believe it's that way by design. Forget about mobilizing society against Corporate America. It's not going to happen. Occupy Wall street is an abysmal failure and in part has degenerated to an excuse for the disenfranchised to sleep on the streets without fear of arrest.
Here are a few ideas that we can use to have an impact on the system. They are ideas that I've learned from others that are also troubled by our current situation.
1. Buy local. Everything but especially food. Our agriculture is controlled by 4 or 5 large Corporations who genetically alter foods for maximum profits with disregard for possible health and environmental concerns.
2. Grow your own. Start a small garden and learn how to save seeds for next season so you won't have to purchase them again. Many genetically engineered plants do don't produce reusable seed. Whether or not that is designed to limit our ability to be self sufficient or not, I don't know, but it's something to consider.
3. Keep what you have longer. If it breaks, fix it or support a local business and have them fix it. Drive you car until it can't be driven further and when that happens, buy a good used car from an individual who doesn't want to be cheated by a dealership who will only give them a fraction of what it's worth. Buy from Good Will and the Salvation Army. Not only does that support organizations that assists those in need but you can find some good quality items with lots of mileage left on them.
4. Recycle and aim for zero waste. Compost.
5. Use renewable energies. Cut as many ties as possible from the oil and utility companies. Solar and wind energies are my strategies. Be cautious of what you buy and who you buy from. Corporations are beginning to exploit people interested in these alternatives and trust me, if they can find a way to make it less feasible, they will do it. Learn to make your own solar panels. It's not that hard.
If everyone did just those 5 items, it would change the world. Is that going to happen? No. For me, this is an exercise in futility but any actions I take, are a step in the right direction. Short of some apocalyptic event, no heads are going to turn. There are too many people already out there trying to get the message across with results so disappointing that it's probably not even measurable. I'm not sure I can reach the goals that I've set for myself but my intentions are good.
One thing I'll speak to before someone else beats me to it is the supposed safety, health and welfare benefits that the government regulations provide. These are items that should be self regulated. Don't be stupid and drill a well next to your septic system. Use the expertise of others to assist you in making good choices. Be accountable to you fellow man. Use the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated, not "the one with the gold makes the rules". These aren't things that should be regulated by the government. You should have learned these things in kindergarten. Small communities are perfectly capable of encouraging their neighbors to make the right choices, even if it takes some "strong" encouragement. That's just MHO.
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