Forum Post: Let's create a potential solution to what ails us all...
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 22, 2011, 3:45 a.m. EST by JPHOENIX
(124)
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Most people in our country have culturally ridiculed the old-fashioned lifestyles and "create it yourself" nature of the Amish, and originally the Native American tribes who first inhabited this land before Europeans stole it from them.
But if the dollar collapses, which it may very well do within the next few months/years, as every single fiat currency in history has done, guess who will be able to survive best without much change in their lives? I wonder if the Amish will be laughing at us and saying "who's stupid now?"
Now, I don't believe that living like the Amish is the be all end all solution, because modern technologies have added many benefits to our lives - the internet, machines that can detect if you have a life-threatening condition, low-cost global travel etc. Additionally, I do not believe in any one religion dogmatically and feel many have become nothing more than meaningless rites and rituals that are completely removed from the initial focus of what it means to be a good person. So they do have their flaws too.
But relying 100% on the financial markets to buy whatever we need and not knowing how to do anything for ourselves anymore is obviously not the answer as everyone on this page fully understands, due to the monopolizing of wealth and financial enslavement of the masses. However, if we can figure out a way to combine the best of these differing ways of living, perhaps we can create a better solution. One that allows us to know how to do all that is necessary to survive without needing to be a wage slave to do so, yet also having the ability to engage in financial markets to purchase things when we see fit (of course with environmentally conscious tendencies for consumption, waste reduction/recycling and renewable energy development). I am confident we can find a solution that allows us to have our cake and eat it too. We can have the benefits of modern technology without being a slave to those who have the most green pieces of paper. What do you think?
I think you're on to something. Something I've been thinking for a while now, and I'm sure a few others but not many. Self-sufficiency, self-sustainability, both on an individual level and as a community. Like the good old days but with modern conveniences and technologies. The best of both worlds. The most important thing is self education in areas like being able to grow your own food, etc. The way things are going, it would be very wise to start moving yourself in this direction now before it's too late.
If I didn't have debt from school loans and whatnot, I would be working on this 24/7. It's almost a dichotomy - Should I focus on working on how to survive if there is a collapse or spend time trying to find a decent paying wage to pay off debt in case the economy doesn't collapse so that I don't destroy my credit/financial future if the system does somehow survive this crazy period in time. What do you think?
That's a tough call. It depends a lot on what you honestly think the future holds. Personally, assuming you have enough time on your hands, I'd do a little of both. I'm in the same boat as far as the employment situation. I've been out of work for quite some time. I'm probably less concerned than most with my credit rating, I believe there's much more important things going on right now than to worry about some arbitrary number. I would however, plan on a worse-case scenario; stock up on food with a long shelf life, water, stash some cash at your house (assuming you have any to stash). Those sort of things. Ideally, enough to get you through maybe six months. And it wouldn't hurt to have a firearm or two either. Do this, and you're at least covered for a brief period of time. Like they say, hope for the best but plan for the worst.
I believe that this is what we have to do. Except for health care, we can take care of the basic requirements of life ourselves. You do need to get started ASAP. Plan as much as you can, but I think the idea is to commit and get your feet wet as soon as possible. We've forgotten, in general, how to live. Except for housing, there should be little need for credit. Buy used cars, re-purpose/recycle.
You'd be surprised about healthcare. Look up "Natural Medicine A Survival Guide" by Gwen Scott.
http://gwenscottnd.com/
Also, here's a guy who creates tiny houses simply that you can build by yourself.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
The resources are out there.
Yeah, I do what I can. I've also been collecting medicinal plants. Anti-inflammatory plants, I have a fair number of joint problems, analgesics, plants that are supposed to help control blood sugar for type 2 diabetes, antihistamines, plants w/ high levels of antioxidants, plants w/ anti-biotic and anti-fungal properties, etc. etc. I also control my weight, but I also smoke. I at least switched to a pipe, but I'm definitely addicted, plus I like tobacco. Plan is to at least grow my own to get rid of the additives. However, I don't plan on self surgery, although I should be able to at least stitch up minor lacerations.
One of the problems w/ using plants as medicinals, is that we've lost a lot of knowledge regarding usage. There can be a huge difference in effectiveness if not used properly. At least there are studies being done on traditional medicinals that help to get you into the ballpark, but I tend to concentrate on the plants w/ extremely low toxicity.
I was extremely grateful that I had insurance when I blew up my knee. I could have lived w/ the ruptured ACL, but the torn meniscus felt like there was gravel in my knee. Not fully satisfied w/ the surgery, and the care could have been better, but I was at least able to return to Capoeira. W/ better care I'm sure that I would have retained more range of movement and utility, but I can compensate.
I wasted money seeing a doctor for unintended weight loss. I at least had the peace of mind knowing that cancer or auto-immune disease wasn't the cause. Apparently gall stones. Too little fat is also bad for you. They wanted to schedule me for gall bladder surgery, but I resisted because I wasn't experiencing gall bladder pain. Just nausea, and intestinal pain. Stool color was the clue I missed. I just adjusted my food intake and schedule, and the symptoms eventually subsided, so apparently no pancreas problem either..Although my weight jumps up and down now.
My younger brother died of liver cancer, and my mother has Parkinsons. My brother was in his early 20's and w/o insurance. My mother has insurance, but I was/am not pleased w/ the level of care.
Agreed that there are housing solutions if you have the property, time and resources. After all people used to build their own dwellings.
Market transactions have to be brought back to serving the people exchanging their real goods, not the people handling the money.
Energy based currency does this as there is real product on both sides of every transaction and no room for the massive fraud and never-to-be-fulfilled promises that are inherent with fiat currencies.
One site which promotes this and also explains money fairly well is the perfect currency. http://www.theperfectcurrency.org
The section on money history also outlines which currencies have worked (all commodity based) and which have not (every fiat currency). I particularly likes Egyptian wheat currency.
Also, energy currency has some strong hooks to relate well to the environment, something which fiat currencies are totally devoid of.
I want you to go to this post. I want you to speak truth to power!. Say it once, say it twice. Say it loud. Say it proud. I'm down with the KTC. The Revolution starts here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGaRtqrlGy8&feature=related
http://occupywallst.org/forum/make-a-stand-join-the-clan/
The Revolution starts here! No one can silence the Revolution!
there is no political solution within the current system. corporations control and own our government and our economy. Also, you don't need the markets to advance technology. in fact, the markets probably inhibit advances. but, the thing the markets absolutely do not do is advance society. the markets do not facilitate social advances.
I think the market is certainly inhibiting solar and wind energy production right now. What do you recommend as a solution?
replace the existing system with a new democratic economic system where the people's voice is THE voice in making economic decisions. corporations must be taken over by the government temporarily and all profits need to go to rebuild this country.
You might want to check this out. It's pretty mind blowing and may help you form up your ideas even more! :) http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-new-common-sense-incredible-document-defines-a/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w
The Revolution has a theme song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGaRtqrlGy8&feature=related
http://occupywallst.org/forum/make-a-stand-join-the-clan/
The Revolution starts here! No one can silence the Revolution!