Economic Independence - Will you Change?

The reason for me starting this thread is simple.

Fundamentally I would like to use ATS (due to it's broad base) and our commonality here as members, as a control-set with a focus on our current economic meltdown crisis.

I would like to know how many of us ACTUALLY are willing to change our lives forever, whether it be by municipal monetary exchange, bartering, villages under the radar. The vehicle at this point truly doesn't matter; in fact that VEHICLE should not really be discussed here. Not how to do it, not how to change our Government for the good forever, BUT simply a list, like in congress, the Yea's or Nay's!

So, how many among us would actually do this?


I for one, am a Yea.


Thanks for participating, and I will publish the results.


AB1


Edit to note that Here I will be posting the tallies to date:

Yea - 8
Nay - 1



[edit on 6-10-2008 by alphabetaone]

[edit on 6-10-2008 by alphabetaone]

[edit on 6-10-2008 by alphabetaone]

Sorry, but its a Nay from me.

I would rather fight to reclaim our present civilization and institutions from tyranny.

I would rather retake the current system than abandon it.

My fiscal metamorphasis began a bit over a month ago. I shredded all of my credit cards, unburdened myself of as much debt as possible and decided that the only path to financial salvation and independence was to clearly and unequivocally live within my means.

If I want it, save for it. If I can't afford it now, don't buy it. Be shrewd about purchases (never buy ANYTHING at full price ever again), barter for goods and services where ever possible and to build a war chest of everything I need to survive even the worst of times.

That is a dramatic change of where I was in my life three months ago, but after a ton of sleepless nights, anxiety filled moments when thinking of the future and the perilous nature of employment, it is the only way to go.

Forget credit . . . forget about keeping up with the Jones' . . . forget about bigger is better . . . forget about newer is nicer . . . forget about all those trappings that got all of us in this mess to begin with . . . live lean . . . but live.

Ok, but again, I would prefer to emphasize that the vehicle by which to change shouldn't be brought up though.

No options should be, that's exactly why I'm doing this, this way.

Abandoning may or may NOT be the answer. I just want to know how many WOULD do something to change, not HOW.

But thanks for answering


AB1

YEA,I do alot of outdoor activities, and here lately i have just got tired of this rat race. i would rather get up in the morning climb out of a tent open up my chair with a cup of perculated coffee and a fishing pole in my hand catching my days lunch. injoy the nature that has been given to us for our bounty. life was meant to be simple not all stress and craziness. I just wish everyone else thought the same way.

[edit on 6-10-2008 by crawgator406]

I personally would like to see some great changes and would gladly take part in it. I would like to see humanity move away from a monetary system. I like the idea of a technological society as presented by the Venus project, but even they themselves admit it isn't without it's own problems (which is actually quite refreshing to hear that admitted lol)

YES I am willing to change my life in order to make our next move as a species/culture and become better. Just remember it wont be easy and it will probably take a long time.

Its time we have faith in OURSELVES as a people...not E.T's, not religion etc etc
Any help from the outside would be much appreciated but we shouldn't bank on it.



[edit on 6/10/2008 by Kashodi]

Guys,

Sincerely I appreciate your participation honest!

But I prefer an answer to the question that I asked, so far I agree with all you guys to one level or another, but I seriously want a Yea or Nay... anything you offer afterwards is your choice as far as substantiating your reason for it, but I really would at least like to see the simple answer first, just to collect what I see as valuable data.


AB1

Yes. Most definitely. A resource community, without money, but with technology.

[edit on 6-10-2008 by mystiq]

Bombeni reporting to duty, Sir.

Nice ideas. I already changed, years ago. But I'm in another country so cannot answer your question. It's obvious you are not alone. Similar sentiments are being expressed on many forums.

"We’ve come far down this road to oblivion, hustled along by lies, fraud, deception, distraction, fiendish exploitation of our own pathetic gullibility...and omission. How might we shatter the gullibility?
Imagine the American people...imagine us turning around and marching back toward truth. Can we still save the Republic, still save ourselves? The Big Bailout just blew us miles further, down the road."

from

/3vflmt

Maybe there really IS something to that Chemtrail story.

Yea.
This line inserted to avoid a one-line post.

I would like to thank those who have replied so far.

I'm really interested in the result. Thanks you guys ^^


AB1

reply to post by alphabetaone


In principle and in terms of the small changes i can make - its a Yea. I have cut down on my grocery bill to about $70 per week from about $200+. About to start a vegie patch, started using 'fresh produce' instead of the processed stuff - all in the aim of moving towards breaking depends on the system.

If I was single once again, then i would be following my instinct of finding a cave in the mountains and stocking up with the non-perishables. but unfortunately i am married to someone who even now hasn't even considered looking at the news let alone consider changing our lifestyles - I fear that i may have to stay and fight once things get bad in my part of the world (outside of the USA). The bad thing is that we dont have access to arms like the United States and considering that I am a muslim (adhering to the non-crazy version), born in an Islamic country, with an (estranged) father who held a senior authority position in the 'intelligence' service - I don't think that I will somehow qualify for a fire arms permit.

Hi there, and thanks for replying

I'm really curious, If you dont mind me asking, why is your partner (I'm not sure if husband or wife so forgive me), so intent on not watching the news?

Under normal conditions I think I can understand, but these are extraordinary times, so I would assume that most people at least want an awareness of the day to day changes.

AB1

[edit on 6-10-2008 by alphabetaone]

About to start a vegie patch, started using 'fresh produce' instead of the processed stuff - all in the aim of moving towards breaking depends on the system.

That is great. I've had a garden as long as I can remember, and we saved a ton of money, and in addition, we knew that what we fed our children, and now our grandchildren, doesn't have any poison chemicals. If you can grow tomatoes in your area, cherry tomatoes are a must, in addition to larger varieties. Once you plant cherry tomatoes, you'll have them for life. Some will fall on the ground, and the next year, you'll have literally hundreds of cherry tomato plants. Children love them (and so do grandma and grandpa)!
The larger varieties we grow for sandwiches, etc. but mostly we, grow them to make tomato sauce and vegetable soup. Two dozen plants of the beefsteak variety will give you enough tomatoes to process about 40 gallons of vegetable soup and tomato sauce, enough for the average family for a year. Since pasta is still fairly reasonable, and has an extremely long shelf life, as a survival meal, vegetable soup and tomato sauce (both from your garden) and pasta will feed you family, and avoid starvation. Make sure that you grow beans in your garden (a VERY easy vegetable to grow), and add them to your vegetable soup, and you have protein. Onions are also easy to grow, especially if you use the onion sets (small onions that have been dried).
Here in the US you can get 200 onion sets for about $1 to $2 total, and 200 onions will usually last you about 6 months, using them in soup and tomato sauce.
If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them for you. I've been gardening for almost 50 years.

reply to post by alphabetaone

Alphabetaone:
My husband is a wonderful guy, but he is very close minded about things which threaten to disrupt the lifestyle we have built. I am deeply religious (but will not impose my ideas on anyone) and have been lucky enough to be given the opportunity to have 'faith' in things which dont physically manifest themselves but have the potential of having greater implications. I was also encouraged to be open minded and question things in order to get a better understanding of why things are and what could be. I also come from a line of people who can be called 'self made'. My great grandfather was a 9 year old orphan with six mouths to feed. He worked hard and provided for them - his grandchildren are all now either doctors, lawyers, scientists or engineers and have been taught the virtues of self reliance & hardwork.

All the while, our society has 'groomed' a vast majority of people in the last twenty odd years to just go along with the flow. They are spoon fed things on the news and conditioned to not question things and pursue a very materialistic lifestyle. No wonder the current state of affairs has come to pass and people are becoming more insulated in their own world. My darling husband belongs to this category - where his parents did not suffer any economic hardships and enjoyed a life of previlage. So like a lot of others, he has busied himself in hobbies and video games and the latest cars etc. As far as he is concerned, why read books when you can watch a movie and why worry about money when you have a good job. If one has never suffered then how can we expect them to understand.

After all ignorance is bliss for many I am sure that you come across many in your everyday dealings who have not yet 'awakened' and probably never will.

ProfEmeritus:
Thankyou for the heads up about the tomatoes and onions. I have been trying to figure out what plants i need to establish as I have a very limited garden space. I will most likely end up using long planters instead of the backyard so llet's see.

I am totally hopeless at the whole planting thing and may just take up your kind offer and will ask for advice in the next few days.

I'd be glad to help you. By the way, there are several threads that discuss home gardens. Here is one:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
Again, though, I'd be glad to help you. Just let me know what kind of soil you have, and what kind of climate you live in, e.g subtropical, temperate, tropical, wet, dry, etc. That will determine, in large part, what you can grow. I mentioned tomatoes because 1>)They grow in most climates and soil conditions 2.)They are very prolific 3.)They are easy to grow

A hearty yea here, even though we do not live in the U.S. We're U.S. citizens living in the Caribbean. We've embarked upon a minimalist lifestyle many years ago, and constantly tweaking that to more and more self-sufficient and simple, but yes!!! We would change our paradigms if we could see a clear benefit to the populace as a whole.

It's a comparative thing though. I would give up my foodlove -- hot peppers -- to see someone who was charted for a foreclosure to be given a second and adjusted mortgage...... but I don't think life works that way.

I would change to contribute toward the whole, if it meant a betterment of life for all in the long run. I would sacrifice. I have a niece and nephew that live near Vegas. I have friends and family scattered out over the globe.

Short answer: yep.

Originally posted by argentus
A hearty yea here, even though we do not live in the U.S. We're U.S. citizens living in the Caribbean. We've embarked upon a minimalist lifestyle many years ago, and constantly tweaking that to more and more self-sufficient and simple, but yes!!!

Now THAT'S the way to go!! Carribean AND minimalist lifestyle...this I could do

Thank you for answering Argentus ^^


AB1