10 Things 100 Million People Need To Do
possiblymaybe
2011/03/03 17:46:46
Let's get to the nitty gritty. There comes a time in life when we have to stop living by excuses and pointing the finger at other people; not only to take the blame but to pick up the slack.
It's like loose change that gets thrown on the sidewalk. It all adds up. Americans need to start proverbially penny pinching; and I don't simply mean financially.
Every opportunity to screw America and Americans is taken advantage of. Only you can close those loops. You cannot depend on enterprise to do it. You cannot depend on the government to do it. Ultimately, you are enterprise. You are the government. You are the "energy" being exploited. So only you can redirect that energy. If you do not, any loose change will be picked up and used for another purpose.
Related post: Are you a monkey?
Here are 10 Things that I think 100 Million People Need To Do
#1. Vote Aggressively - I created a post here entitled 8 OTHER ways to vote. There are actually 10 listed there. It's time Americans make this kind of behavior a LIFESTYLE. Do not be complacent and do not be an example of complacency to your children in these regards. Stop blaming others, stop waiting for someone else to pick up the tug line first and WHEN someone does pick up the tow line, YOU be the person to make that lone wolf into a leader by getting behind him or her.
#2. Food = Life - Spring is upon us. Start planning your garden NOW. And more than that, the word needs to get out on the street (by the millions!) and over the internet (by the hundreds of millions!) that 2011 will be a year for planting food, cleaning water and growing plants. Every window sill needs an herb garden, every basement starting seedlings and every square foot of dirt needs something green (and preferably edible) growing out of it. Get into your municipality and motivate your neighborhood. It really doesn't take long once it gets momentum. Familiarize yourself with your local food resources: family farms, food banks, food rescue programs, heirloom seeds etc. If you don't know what they are, find out. Go on a search engine and get informed. Volunteer wherever you can. Serve serve serve. If you can't, send your teenagers this summer to do something, rather than them spending the whole summer playing video games and french kissing.
#3. BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS - Join The Made In The U.S.A. Sodahead Group Buy American Products. Especially focus on domestic gasoline and domestic food. Be UNRELENTING. Commit to: (a) buying only domestic gasoline and buy a gas can for a backup in case you get stuck or lazy. (b) buying a MINIMUM of 25% of your food from local sources, preferably 50% (c) buying 10% of all your other needs at MINIMUM from domestic sources or buy used. Check out my posts: What won't you buy?
#4. CHOOSE alternative education for 2011 and beyond - Start now to get your kids into Charter Schools and Private Schools. Home School if you can and start taking classes yourself. We need to get the population intelligence up AND FAST. Be involved with your kids and if you can't, hire your teenage niece or a neighbor to be a sit-in study buddy. Start a home school co-op or use your time to tutor kids once per month. The HSLDA is an invaluable resource. Some more good resources I've used are:
Your Baby Can, LLC - Teach your baby to read
Signing Time - Teach your baby sign language
Biz Kids! - Teach your kids about business and money (TV Show)
Teach your baby Math!- Teach your baby mathematics
Check out my posts: Post your 10 favorite books for learning here and share with others and What should American kids learn by age 18?
#5. No More WASTE attitude - I'm saying this broadly and I mean it across the board. Don't waste anything. Don't waste 1 penny. Don't waste 1 ounce of coffee grounds. Don't leave your lights on. Become a stickler about your money and learn to invest wisely and manage every cent to focus it exactly where you intend it to. Don't waste food, don't waste clothes, don't waste anything. Commit to reducing your outgoing trash to 1/3 this year and by 50% by 2012. Two other good resources are Craigslist.com and Freecyle.com for buying, selling and reusing. Many companies rely on recycled raw materials and the less *brand new* items you buy, the less money goes overseas.
#6. Reduce Internet Usage - Whoooo I'm going to get in trouble for this one. No, I'm not saying quit using the internet. Just stop the spiral of dependency on the internet! Buy CD's not MP3s. Start collecting books again. Stop blogging and write a real book, even if it does sell much or if you also blog. Start using the Postal Service and writing checks, quit ebilling for 1 bill. Create a BALANCE. It is imbalanced. If we learn anything from EGYPT, it should be that the internet can go down. Do not be dependent on it. SPREAD THE WORD and BE AN EXAMPLE of NOT using it for everything. Commit to 50% maximum convenience. Think of ways to BALANCE what you do between the internet and real world. Check out my posts Board games not video games and What is your favorite childhood game?
#7. START PRODUCING .. right NOW - Why don't you have a business? and Self Employment and Small Business. Everybody needs to be doing something EXTRA. Sew, babysit, paint, draw, fix things, do anything. Crafting is fine too! But the focus needs to be off consuming and ON producing; anything; not just industrially, but individually.
#8. Learn from the Great Depression. Start a local economy - I created a post here called: Do you pass the buck?. A good place to learn about it is by example: Check out the PRESS from the Berkshares economy. Get started by visiting The E.F. Schumaker Society. You can even start your own trade program. Do a web search about clothing exchanges, local currency and local economy.
9. START WRITING and DRAWING EVERY DAY! NO EXCEPTIONS. Okay look, every single "movement" in history started off with some kind of communication. Either text, or book or a picture. All of the major world agendas and programs started out with someone writing a book or journal. It is time to counterbalance the flood rush of one-sided propaganda. It starts with YOU...and you..and YOU. Commit to keeping a diary every day and be an example for your kids. It may one day be a historical memoir! Buy your kids a diary each. Write at least 1 book per year, even if it is a 4 page children's book. Start a blog but don't depend on it (remember Egypt? See #6 above) Paint, draw or even SCULPT. Get new, get fresh. Many people in the world do not think for themselves and without guidance, they go with the herd. Be a Shepard. Write.
[If you're thinking that was a spiritual confirmation...it was. Go.]
10. Last but not least, become the change you want to see in the world.
It's like loose change that gets thrown on the sidewalk. It all adds up. Americans need to start proverbially penny pinching; and I don't simply mean financially.
Every opportunity to screw America and Americans is taken advantage of. Only you can close those loops. You cannot depend on enterprise to do it. You cannot depend on the government to do it. Ultimately, you are enterprise. You are the government. You are the "energy" being exploited. So only you can redirect that energy. If you do not, any loose change will be picked up and used for another purpose.
Related post: Are you a monkey?
Here are 10 Things that I think 100 Million People Need To Do
#1. Vote Aggressively - I created a post here entitled 8 OTHER ways to vote. There are actually 10 listed there. It's time Americans make this kind of behavior a LIFESTYLE. Do not be complacent and do not be an example of complacency to your children in these regards. Stop blaming others, stop waiting for someone else to pick up the tug line first and WHEN someone does pick up the tow line, YOU be the person to make that lone wolf into a leader by getting behind him or her.
#2. Food = Life - Spring is upon us. Start planning your garden NOW. And more than that, the word needs to get out on the street (by the millions!) and over the internet (by the hundreds of millions!) that 2011 will be a year for planting food, cleaning water and growing plants. Every window sill needs an herb garden, every basement starting seedlings and every square foot of dirt needs something green (and preferably edible) growing out of it. Get into your municipality and motivate your neighborhood. It really doesn't take long once it gets momentum. Familiarize yourself with your local food resources: family farms, food banks, food rescue programs, heirloom seeds etc. If you don't know what they are, find out. Go on a search engine and get informed. Volunteer wherever you can. Serve serve serve. If you can't, send your teenagers this summer to do something, rather than them spending the whole summer playing video games and french kissing.
#3. BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS - Join The Made In The U.S.A. Sodahead Group Buy American Products. Especially focus on domestic gasoline and domestic food. Be UNRELENTING. Commit to: (a) buying only domestic gasoline and buy a gas can for a backup in case you get stuck or lazy. (b) buying a MINIMUM of 25% of your food from local sources, preferably 50% (c) buying 10% of all your other needs at MINIMUM from domestic sources or buy used. Check out my posts: What won't you buy?
#4. CHOOSE alternative education for 2011 and beyond - Start now to get your kids into Charter Schools and Private Schools. Home School if you can and start taking classes yourself. We need to get the population intelligence up AND FAST. Be involved with your kids and if you can't, hire your teenage niece or a neighbor to be a sit-in study buddy. Start a home school co-op or use your time to tutor kids once per month. The HSLDA is an invaluable resource. Some more good resources I've used are:
Your Baby Can, LLC - Teach your baby to read
Signing Time - Teach your baby sign language
Biz Kids! - Teach your kids about business and money (TV Show)
Teach your baby Math!- Teach your baby mathematics
Check out my posts: Post your 10 favorite books for learning here and share with others and What should American kids learn by age 18?
#5. No More WASTE attitude - I'm saying this broadly and I mean it across the board. Don't waste anything. Don't waste 1 penny. Don't waste 1 ounce of coffee grounds. Don't leave your lights on. Become a stickler about your money and learn to invest wisely and manage every cent to focus it exactly where you intend it to. Don't waste food, don't waste clothes, don't waste anything. Commit to reducing your outgoing trash to 1/3 this year and by 50% by 2012. Two other good resources are Craigslist.com and Freecyle.com for buying, selling and reusing. Many companies rely on recycled raw materials and the less *brand new* items you buy, the less money goes overseas.
#6. Reduce Internet Usage - Whoooo I'm going to get in trouble for this one. No, I'm not saying quit using the internet. Just stop the spiral of dependency on the internet! Buy CD's not MP3s. Start collecting books again. Stop blogging and write a real book, even if it does sell much or if you also blog. Start using the Postal Service and writing checks, quit ebilling for 1 bill. Create a BALANCE. It is imbalanced. If we learn anything from EGYPT, it should be that the internet can go down. Do not be dependent on it. SPREAD THE WORD and BE AN EXAMPLE of NOT using it for everything. Commit to 50% maximum convenience. Think of ways to BALANCE what you do between the internet and real world. Check out my posts Board games not video games and What is your favorite childhood game?
#7. START PRODUCING .. right NOW - Why don't you have a business? and Self Employment and Small Business. Everybody needs to be doing something EXTRA. Sew, babysit, paint, draw, fix things, do anything. Crafting is fine too! But the focus needs to be off consuming and ON producing; anything; not just industrially, but individually.
#8. Learn from the Great Depression. Start a local economy - I created a post here called: Do you pass the buck?. A good place to learn about it is by example: Check out the PRESS from the Berkshares economy. Get started by visiting The E.F. Schumaker Society. You can even start your own trade program. Do a web search about clothing exchanges, local currency and local economy.
9. START WRITING and DRAWING EVERY DAY! NO EXCEPTIONS. Okay look, every single "movement" in history started off with some kind of communication. Either text, or book or a picture. All of the major world agendas and programs started out with someone writing a book or journal. It is time to counterbalance the flood rush of one-sided propaganda. It starts with YOU...and you..and YOU. Commit to keeping a diary every day and be an example for your kids. It may one day be a historical memoir! Buy your kids a diary each. Write at least 1 book per year, even if it is a 4 page children's book. Start a blog but don't depend on it (remember Egypt? See #6 above) Paint, draw or even SCULPT. Get new, get fresh. Many people in the world do not think for themselves and without guidance, they go with the herd. Be a Shepard. Write.
[If you're thinking that was a spiritual confirmation...it was. Go.]
10. Last but not least, become the change you want to see in the world.
Because we have a business selling antiques and vintage items, I've learned the power of buying used over new whenever I can. Flea markets have such a plethora of every day items at a fraction of the cost you'll wonder why you are spending money on imported Chinese junk at the dollar store.
If you buy good quality shoes, instead of PayLess, and buy classic styles, you can resole them 2 or 3 times. Not only is it saving leather, it is cheaper in the long run!
2. I have pots all over my house, from pepers to melons, waiting for the time to put them in my garden. Don't forget to plant fruit/nut trees.
3. I try to use Murphy gasoline. If I can't you won't catch me using Venezula gas. Other than Mruphy gas, I try to stay away from WalMart ("the China store"), and check EVERY item I purchase. I hate when a company has on their product "Packaged in the USA." That means it wasn't MADE here.
4. My kids are grown, but my 8 year old granddaughter is being home-schooled - and were she to take a standardized state/fed test, she'd probably be working on 5th or 6th grade levels in all areas but math.
5. I've been poor for a long time - I don't waste.
6. I am usually on-line less than a hour a day. I read and I love working puzzles (cryptograms especially).
7. I have one full-time job but also do some cleaning and some bookkeeping.
8. You got me here. I live in a very rural area so about the only community around will find all members doing close to what I am to preserve America and the American way of life.
9. I've not written a book or anything significant, but I do keep somewhat of a journal for my kids and grandkids to read one day.
and
10. I don't know if it is because I am older or because I see the turmoil in the world, but I have had to change my habits, my attitude and my plans.
Did you know that if half of American citizens spent only $50 per month of their food budget on domestic goods, it would save/create 2 million jobs?
They don't vote on the facts, but on their emotional level and their party leanings.
Most of them would not know which end of the hoe to put to ground.
A good many of them will not buy American as it costs more than they can afford, being the the Unions and the Government control the cost of everything, Not the Free Market.
The Government won't allow us to have and us our own resources, they want us to support and build things that are not logical. Instead of building more Nuclear Power Plants, allowing us to drill and produce our own gas and oil products. We have to remain strapped to the OPEC Cartel. Obama has been in office over two year. Do any of you see anything Green being produced, build other than what USGE is feeding you on the Boob Tube. And just how much will it coast to produce the millions of powering stations for the Electric cars that don't have any range, speed or cost to much. Not to mention that nobody wants them. And how are we going to transport all the good that we us, by electric mini cars.
Alternative Education is a great concept. But how many people can both afford it or do it the...
They don't vote on the facts, but on their emotional level and their party leanings.
Most of them would not know which end of the hoe to put to ground.
A good many of them will not buy American as it costs more than they can afford, being the the Unions and the Government control the cost of everything, Not the Free Market.
The Government won't allow us to have and us our own resources, they want us to support and build things that are not logical. Instead of building more Nuclear Power Plants, allowing us to drill and produce our own gas and oil products. We have to remain strapped to the OPEC Cartel. Obama has been in office over two year. Do any of you see anything Green being produced, build other than what USGE is feeding you on the Boob Tube. And just how much will it coast to produce the millions of powering stations for the Electric cars that don't have any range, speed or cost to much. Not to mention that nobody wants them. And how are we going to transport all the good that we us, by electric mini cars.
Alternative Education is a great concept. But how many people can both afford it or do it themselves. When both parents normally have to work to survive. And besides the fact that they Government runs and controls the Non-Education System. And will fight the people tooth and nail that want a real education for their children, and not a Government indoctrination. One like Pol Pot taught in Cambodia, while killing millions.
As for Want not Waste not, that should be all out motto. But its not very practical. As Civilization has also been wasteful in one form or another. Mostly through its Government Agencies, and Spending.
Start producing, that may not be possible for a lot of us. As a good many of us have medical issues, or are working all the time to survive the Tax Man, Buy Food, and now Pay the Outrageous Gas extortion prices. and the unneeded regulations forced upon us but the unelected.
But don't let me discourage anybody, as they are very good suggestions, and I might even look into lots of the thins you mention. I was just trying to show, that there are many roadblock thrown up by out Government, and by the Lemmings on the Left. The mere fact that so many depend on and think that the Government is the answer to all life's problems, and that the tax payer owes them a living if the CURSE of this countries people.
The problem is that those feelings are perpetrated by our own Government, and for the most part by the Democrats with the Aid and Comfort of the Republican turncoats that go along to get alone. Instead of doing what is right for the Country. They bend and beg to keep their worthless seats. There is not one Statesmen among them.
The President has done noting to lead this Country forward. if has all been a back ward step. He does not have any common sense, nor experience. He depends on his worthless advisers for everything, and he takes what they feed him without questions. He has done nothing but turn this Government into a hope we did it right, instead of a We can do it right the first time. Nobody thinks America is worth the effort anymore. They all laugh at us. They all think we are weak, and that now is the time to strike. Which they are doing. Every chance they get. It may not be here yet, but they still try.
I would ask one very important question. If Reagan were still President. Do you think the Muslims and their Religion of Peace crap would get anyplace in this Country. Do you think that their Religious Killers would get away with manipulating our government, and our courts. Do you think that as many of these Dictators would still be threatening us. Do you think that Russia would still be the winning side on Start. Do you think that we would be beholding to China? I don't think so. At least the issues would be addressed instead of ignored.
"Let's Roll"!
Now the same question for SKYNET?
SKYNET was from the movie Terminator, where the computers had all of the information and eventually became intelligent to the point where they built their own smart machines to terminate the human race. SCI-FI, but think if another nation such as China or a group such as Al Qaeda wanted to do harm here, hack the CLOUD, gain access to everyones personnel data and OMG what do we do now...
Ever hear of "Look before you leap" ?
Popping people's egos is kind of a past time for me.
Bill
I'm not sure that the focus on domestic gasoline is wise. What is the motivation here? There's a finite amount. Shifting demand means running out faster. I would prefer to focus instead on reducing overall consumption.
Regarding eduction, there are no numbers to support an assertion that Charter schools provide a higher level of education than public schools. I find it odd that an attempt to educate the country would begin by telling them to go to private schools, again, many of which do not provide higher levels of education than their public counterparts. Perhaps just ask people to place a greater emphasis on education. Let competition work out the details.
Public schools just don't care and there is no competition. Even in college I was told that everyone had to pass to get the funding so I did the homework for the next class while he was giving the lecture. How slow is that? OK, I run in warp drive, so...., still I would have liked to justify the drive to school at least. It was barely worth the 21 cents a gallon gas.
I'm done advocating saving the system, which I did for awhile. I've personally done research in the past and decided I prefer the strategy mentioned. You have a right to your opinion though. And thanks for sharing.
As for gasoline, it's about sending a message really. Right now foreign oil companies are outside the "law of supply and demand"; they have the supply and they make the demands. Honestly, I feel that way about Wally World and quite a number of megalo-corporations and organizations that our outside of supply and demand. While people still have some control, and it might not be for long, it's important to shift financial power away from global giants that dictate everything from production to consumption.
Reducing consumption could occur naturally as gas prices rise anyway. I estimate we will see $7 by November. Consumption will reduce if people take up the LOW WASTE attitude as well. By no means is this a manifesto. Maybe I will write one, as there are many good ideas out there that people should consider - including buying a bike.