07-24-2019, 07:11 AM
Why exactly can't we have local agriculture and also a cellphone?
You can, if the agrarian infrastructure can support it. Individuals living closer to a subsistence lifestyle don't have a lot of extra money, don't pay much in taxes to support government services or private services, and there's a great deal of opportunity for cash sales or bartering which reduces tax obligations even further.
When you farmed full-time did you give up electricity, television, and cars?
Certainly not! I had grid power, a wood stove, and a black & white TV with vise grips clipped on the channel tuner because some of the stations came in better in between the clicks. Had to balance the vise grips just right for an evening of Miami Vice and Magnum P.I. which even in black and white encouraged me to move to Hawaii, especially on below zero nights. Drove my grandfather's '67 Dodge (great cruiser!) and a pickup for work. I didn't have much more than the basics as did my neighbors. I remember a conversation one spring evening around a campfire with 10 or 12 young farming neighbors. The question was asked, do you think you could take your wife or girlfriend on a date anywhere in the county, for dinner and a movie and spend more than $25? For both? To which someone added, "does that include gas money?"
Farming is not a 1% lifestyle is all I'm saying, and island wide it probably won't support a lot of services.
You can, if the agrarian infrastructure can support it. Individuals living closer to a subsistence lifestyle don't have a lot of extra money, don't pay much in taxes to support government services or private services, and there's a great deal of opportunity for cash sales or bartering which reduces tax obligations even further.
When you farmed full-time did you give up electricity, television, and cars?
Certainly not! I had grid power, a wood stove, and a black & white TV with vise grips clipped on the channel tuner because some of the stations came in better in between the clicks. Had to balance the vise grips just right for an evening of Miami Vice and Magnum P.I. which even in black and white encouraged me to move to Hawaii, especially on below zero nights. Drove my grandfather's '67 Dodge (great cruiser!) and a pickup for work. I didn't have much more than the basics as did my neighbors. I remember a conversation one spring evening around a campfire with 10 or 12 young farming neighbors. The question was asked, do you think you could take your wife or girlfriend on a date anywhere in the county, for dinner and a movie and spend more than $25? For both? To which someone added, "does that include gas money?"
Farming is not a 1% lifestyle is all I'm saying, and island wide it probably won't support a lot of services.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves