4 ms·

Seems legit, considering so many people view money as a need, rather than a strategy for meeting needs. I currently am choosing to live in a way that minimizes

Seems legit, considering so many people view money as a need, rather than a strategy for meeting needs. I currently am choosing to live in a way that minimizes the amount of money I make/spend, as well as property I own. I meet my needs through the supportive community I've found, by asking for what I need, work-trading, and signing up for government services. My life is better than it's ever been, but I had to change my entire mindset. An old friend in the same community hasn't adopted my approach and hasn't worked on leaving behind the scarcity mindset. They worry about everything, including keeping their job. It leads them to act in ways that keep them employed, eating right, and socializing. This kind of self-imposed stress we adopt over money isn't productive.

emodendroket 9y ago
Losing your home, being unable to pay medical bills, and struggling to provide things for your family isn't "self-imposed stress."
- crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
  Were I to choose to rely on money to meet my needs, I'd be imposing stress on myself. Capitalism is a collective choice and very few people take responsibility for making it. I lost my home. I learned to accept my situation. I was lucky enough to be able to move to a state where the state covers medical bills. I'm starting a family and there's such an abundance of things in the world that I tend to need only ask for them. Learning to grieve & let go of the loss of a resource and how to ask for help are skills not often taught in modern society. Yes, the events you note are hard and can be out of people's control. How those people mentally respond to them is something they can control to a degree and develop resiliency for.
  - emodendroket 9y ago
    How exactly does one not participate in capitalism while living in a capitalist society?
    - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
      It's practically impossible to not participate completely, since the government doesn't recognize the freedom from money. Minimizing one's participation can be done through making conscious choices. I choose to keep my income and expenses small. I rely on sharing what I have and asking others to give. I choose to believe there's enough resources in the world for everyone, though the distribution of the resources may lead to localized scarcity. I'll also be testing the legal theory of the freedom from money. I practice a religion of my own design where that freedom naturally arises from foundational principles.
      - emodendroket 9y ago
        Ultimately even you admit it's impossible not to make the supposed choice you are talking about.
        crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
        Just because it isn't 100% possible doesn't mean we can't minimize things now. We have a government that requires money to interact with it for now. I can choose which direction I want to move toward and so can you. Simply because I can't guarantee 100% extraction from capitalism at the moment doesn't mean I can't start moving away from it.

emodendroket 9y ago

Losing your home, being unable to pay medical bills, and struggling to provide things for your family isn't "self-imposed stress."

crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
Were I to choose to rely on money to meet my needs, I'd be imposing stress on myself. Capitalism is a collective choice and very few people take responsibility for making it. I lost my home. I learned to accept my situation. I was lucky enough to be able to move to a state where the state covers medical bills. I'm starting a family and there's such an abundance of things in the world that I tend to need only ask for them. Learning to grieve & let go of the loss of a resource and how to ask for help are skills not often taught in modern society. Yes, the events you note are hard and can be out of people's control. How those people mentally respond to them is something they can control to a degree and develop resiliency for.
- emodendroket 9y ago
  How exactly does one not participate in capitalism while living in a capitalist society?
  - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
    It's practically impossible to not participate completely, since the government doesn't recognize the freedom from money. Minimizing one's participation can be done through making conscious choices. I choose to keep my income and expenses small. I rely on sharing what I have and asking others to give. I choose to believe there's enough resources in the world for everyone, though the distribution of the resources may lead to localized scarcity. I'll also be testing the legal theory of the freedom from money. I practice a religion of my own design where that freedom naturally arises from foundational principles.
    - emodendroket 9y ago
      Ultimately even you admit it's impossible not to make the supposed choice you are talking about.
      - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
        Just because it isn't 100% possible doesn't mean we can't minimize things now. We have a government that requires money to interact with it for now. I can choose which direction I want to move toward and so can you. Simply because I can't guarantee 100% extraction from capitalism at the moment doesn't mean I can't start moving away from it.