A Contest for Freedom...
The question for the contest: What is holding you back from feeling more free?
This is not the simplest question. But it will be a fun one to answer and I am sure there will be a lot of participants...
The list of reasons could go on and on @Sagescrub!!! But I will only give you three, because I do feel pretty free, even if I am not working for myself 100% of the time (I do have the freedom to come and go, relatively as I please) and all these reasons kind of go hand in hand.
Health Insurance...
The main thing that is keeping me feeling trapped at the moment is a health concern. Here in the United States there are many questionable practices in the health industry.
Somwhere down the line we realized having an unhealthy population was profitable. The pharmaceutical industry would rather invent a disease in order to sell (addictive) medication that comes with a thousand side effects and is only a fix, or a patch if you will. The health industry is not interested in curing what ails you, that would be unprofitable.
That being said with the price of insurance and lawyers on retainers to fight against claims of malpractice, seeing a doctor is not very affordable. And I don't really care if we are by law, obligated to buy health insurance or not that is not the point of this post.
It is the price of staying healthy in this Society that keeps me from feeling more free. Even by doing the right thing, eating the proper foods and exercising, I feel like I need health insurance. Luckily it is probably one of the cheapest out there as well as one of the best because of my work. But I still feel like I need it, I depend on it, my family depends on it, and that is not good for us. It's not good for our freedom. I must stay working a specific amount of time (away from our homestead) every six months in order to keep this insurance.
A Sue-Happy Society...
The next thing that keeps me feeling enslaved would be the fact that I live in a country that is trigger happy with lawsuits.
What kind of place do we live in where a robber, for example, can sue your ass if he breaks a leg whilst breaking and entering your home? What kind of place do we live in where owning the trampoline could cost you everything because some dumb dumb decided it was your fault someone got hurt?
I guess once again it's a concern of insurance another industry set up to hurt the population through fear...
Part of being self-reliant is owning up to your responsibilities. If I hurt myself in your home it is my responsibility, not yours... Now if you push me into the fire-pit it's a whole different can of worms. Don't be stupid people, suing is really for the lowest of species...wake up!
Building Regulations...
My third reason for not feeling as free as I should feel comes from building regulations. And I know I could vote with my feet but you know what, I really like the area we chose to build a homestead and we're close to our friends and family. So we're staying and finding ways to go around it all to build with natural materials!
I understand a lot of why building codes are the way they are but sometimes enough is enough or less is more you could say. There are plenty of ways around the code, it's just a pain in the ass to decipher for usefull loopholes. In our case we are lucky enough to have chosen an area of New York State (yes the Big Bad Wolf for homesteaders and taxes on retirement!) where there is a hunter's cabin provision in the code. This means we can build pretty much whatever we want without a traditional foundation and as long as we call it a seasonal Hunter's cabin.
This might not be ideal for a lot of people but we are travelers and we don't mind moving around from time to time... we rather like the change, and this time we will do it on 20 acre of land, staying close so we can have animals, take care of them and the garden!
~ QUOTE OF THE MONTH (@Olawalium) ~
I want love to be the trend and laziness to be a thing of the past.
~~~
Up-Vote, Re-Steem and Reply. Your comments are always welcome! Don't forget...#DreamsComeTrue!!!
Congratulations! You won 3rd place in the Freedom Challenge! https://steemit.com/freedomchallenge/@sagescrub/freedom-challenge-2-wrap-up-winner-announced
Yea just noticed!!! Thank you brother, so exciting!
Hey @senorcoconut thanks for joining in the #FreedomChallenge!
I can definitely appreciate your complaints about our systems. It seems that we have such a greed snowball rolling out of control. I feel the same about health insurance. I don't want it, but the alternative is risking losing all my money in a hospital if I have an unforeseen accident or problem. It's too bad that the medical companies make everything so expensive that we are forced to pay for insurance! That's so great that you have an option to build a natural home without having to get the enforcers involved!
Thanks @sagescrub, I am not one to complain usually. I like to find ways to adapt to any change in my environment if I need it. The changes that are insignificant can be simply brushed off the shoulders. Though I don't have an example at the moment of what is too small of a change. But with insurances we have gone too far, it's really become a ridiculous system!
I still have to fine tune what the loop holes are to make sure my structures will slip under the radar...I'm still contemplating going entirely off grid for electricity. I just want a "makerspace" and that might be tied to the grid unless I can figure out a way to run a welder, a washing machine, a dryer and a table saw without it!
Pedal power? :P J/K! Well half kidding. I think when there's a will there's a way. Start small and keep incrementing your systems of independence! You can do it!
Very true, I should start small regardless, it's a good idea for most thing I believe.
In Thailand on a permaculture farmstead there was a pedal powered washing machine!
Woooaah a robber breaking in your house and if he's hurt while doing this he can sue you? That's really scary man.
But also I'd like to say that it's really good that USA provides retirement pension, I don't think India gets that 😅.
You described your emotions very well
Thank you. I try! Well not everyone gets retirement in the US... maybe everyone does get a little something from social security if you worked.
My point was that in some states the government taxes that money even after you've paid taxes your whole life while working!
That's unfair! Indian government really needs to work on taxes here half population doesn't pay tax 😂
I never wanted to move to India until you said that.
Taxation is theft :)
Hahaha you should move to India if you want to save taxes, on the other hand you should be smart enough to fool the government officials. There's a lot of poverty down here & I guess because of that the richer gets rich and poor gets poorer, but if you're well educated and work in any MNC companies the government will surely fuck you in name of tax. So paying the tax and not paying goes hand in hand
oh man... yea like I said to @nateonsteemit above, governments are crooks no matter where you go. Legal gang steeling from the poor... it sucks man
I do agree with you on that Theft thing...!!!! Gov'ments are all crooks no?
They absolutely are! Organized crime rings. Now you're singing the song of my people! End governments, end taxation, free society! #googlevoluntarism
For sure for sure... I try and practice voluntarism as much as I can!
My favorite thing lately is agorism. I'm gonna be making big strides toward implementing a more agorist lifestyle this year. Outside of crypto, that's my big research project right now.
I envy that you actually have states you can go to where there aren't so many restrictions in building codes. They're pretty much the sane throughout Australia and unless land is designated residential, you'll have a fight on your hands to build anything on it.
Having said that, we have a Medicare system here so that healthcare isn't compulsory. You might end up having to pay something, because it doesn't cover everything, but it's less likely to bankrupt you. It's ironic that something communist/socialist can end up giving you a bit of freedom. Yes, it comes from our taxes, but income tax is not optional anyway.
Income tax not optional anyways amazing how the thief in charge can get away with that all over the planet.
With that I know France and England very well and all my family and friends on both side of the anarchyst fence... everyone is pretty greatful for their tax funded medical care. Its hard to refuse that I think.
There are states with very little regulation on building. Alaska for example outside incorporated town limits, you're basically free to build what you want...but again these are grey lines, as the towns still want to put value on your home to collect taxes!
These are some fantastic points!
Most people think Canada has "free" health care. But it's not free, it comes out of our pocket in the form of taxes. And while it may be easier to swallow than health insurance in the US there are still better options out there. I believe Singapore has a similar tax-based structure as Canada but instead of one giant pool of money for the whole Country, everyone is given their own account to manage. Instead of politicians deciding what services are covered you choose your health care. And each year you don't spend rolls into the next. Plus, you can inherit unused accounts and even donate from your own account. As for a sue-hapoy society, what's to love about always having to walk on egg shells and be looking over your shoulder? Nothing! And finally, building regulations... You're preaching to the choir friend! -Aimee
Oh my god... I'm sure I am preaching to the choir, we've had conversations about minimum square footage reqirements and drivway permits... but you guys are working through it and you will succeed!
People always ask me about France's health care system and they think it is free too!!! Same as you I think it is. I left when i was 13 years old, so I'm not the best at understanding the French system...but I do know everyone pays for it through taxes!
I like the system you explained about Singapore, that seems like a good compromise between the two!
Thanks for making me learn something new today!