Ways to improve society without the political process

1. 67

   innersmiffposted 12 years ago

   http://lewrockwell.com/spl4/improve-soc … itics.html
   
   As some of you may know, I'm a libertarian, and naturally believe that politics can only affect change in a limited way. Ron Paul and Gary Johnson are rays of hope, and have a little influenced up top that affects all of us (audit the Fed, yay!), but all-in-all politics is not a libertarian's game (everything else ).
   
   However, I'm sure that there is a growing number of activists and even normal people from across the political spectrum that are kind of fed up with the usual bickering between parties whilst nothing gets done, so I'd like this thread to be suggestions from Hubbers about how to affect social change without voting and/or campaigning for a representative. After all, if we do believe in the principles of our representatives there's no reason at all why we can't contribute ourselves!

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2. 78

   kirstenblogposted 12 years ago

   It's a small one but....
   
   Don't trow your litter on the ground, put it in a bin. Local governments usually have to pay someone to go around and pick up the garbage we mindlessly toss on the ground. That person gets paid, and where does their pay come from? Taxes. Eliminate the need for the government to provide a nanny like job to the community (someone to clean up after us is very nannny like, don't ya think?). When the need is gone, the government will have no justification for such a spend of tax monies nor would anyone call for it.

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3. 0

   PrettyPantherposted 12 years ago

   Buy local as much as possible.  Don't shop at Wal-Mart.  Spend your money at your neighbor's businesses and buy from your local farmers.  Use your money in a way that reflects your values, even if you have to pay a little more.

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   1. 69

      ptosisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That would never happen. I hate Walmart - loathe it - yet I know I can get certain things there cheaper.
      Game theory is not what it "should' be but reality - individual choices for selfish reasons.
      
      But unlike math - people do make choices that are not totally selfish - illogical choices based on something math can't put into an equation.
      
      It's like in the movie the Matrix reloaded with Neo & the Architect
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3OXs_5A … ature=plcp
      
      

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   2. 67

      innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Voting with your dollar. I like it!

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4. 0

   EmpressFelicityposted 12 years ago

   On top of the "shop local" I would also add learn to cook decent meals from scratch, i.e. wean yourself off additive-laden convenience foods and soft drinks. Growing your own food would be another one, although most of us urban types are never going to be self-sufficient.
   
   I have often pondered this topic and long ago I came to the conclusion that what I wanted in life was to let my values dictate my lifestyle rather than the other way round. I don't think I'm there yet (not by a long way), but at least I'm not chasing after something I don't really even want like a lot of people are.

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   1. 67

      innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I've made a tentative list of 'do's and don'ts' as far as my diet is concerned and I've followed it well so far. I consider it a good start anyway.

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5. 59

   Hollie Thomasposted 12 years ago

   I agree with Empress Felicity and Pretty Panther, bypass the corps, cook your own food from scratch and ensure that you to teach your kids to cook and to be discerning about where they buy their goods/food from. I'm also interested to find out a bit more about food co-operatives, too.

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6. 60

   SpanStarposted 12 years ago

   The ideas is a good one unfortunately I personally believe too many people are too far gone in order to make that kind of a change. If one reads a number of these arguments, comments it would appear as though we have already divided America into a political playground.
   
   We can't even get Americans to stop buying gasoline for one day-how sad is that?
   
   We remain suspicious of one another seemingly endlessly.

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   1. 67

      innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hehehe so what we should do is put a gun to their heads and FORCE them!

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      1. 59

         Hollie Thomasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for this thread, Innersmiff. Spent loads of time tonight researching food co-operatives and found corporationwatch.com. Next hub in the offing!

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         1. 67

            innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            No problem, but don't forget to GovernmentWatch. The EU banned the growth of medicinal herbs in an individual's garden for selling. You can't get anywhere without liberty, don't forget that.

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            1. 59

               Hollie Thomasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               The Govt and the influential lobbyists are in there, too.

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               1. 67

                  innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  The lobbyists can't do a thing if the legal power to do it does not exist. The government is the violent and clearly destructive aspect of the control system. Who are the lobbyists going to lobby if we live in a society that respects liberty?

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                  1. 59

                     Hollie Thomasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes, but how many from the HOL, who, don't forget, put their rubber stamp on legislation, also have *interests* outside of that job? We should stop allowing Lords, and politicians, to merely transfer their shares to their spouses when they accept governmental roles.
                     
                     Who are the lobbyists going to lobby if we live in a society that respects liberty?
                     
                     Well, I'm not sure how you would replace Govt, but without one, and without legislation which holds big business to account (I admit the current legislation is really lame) big business would not have to lobby, they could just do whatever they wanted, anyway.

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                     1. 67

                        innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        It is quite patent that the government neither has the power nor the inclination to hold big business to account. Only through governmental action, with its power to deceive the populace under the banner of 'democracy', can the lobbyists enforce their will. If they came out and did it openly there would be a massive uprising. Much better to lobby the government, get the legal power over the police and the legislature, and the propaganda centres that can shape the legislation and money manipulation for 'the common good', than risk doing it through the market where the consumer has more power.
                        
                        Moreover, if we're agreeing that the government is absolutely useless at regulating business, what is stopping them from doing it directly anyway?

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                        1. 67

                           innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           I'd also like to point out that it is lunacy to campaign for the expansion of government whilst admitting that it is bought and paid for by big corporations.

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                           1. 59

                              Hollie Thomasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              I'm not campaigning for the expansion of Government, I'm campaigning for the expansion of integrity within Government, there's a massive difference.

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7. 69

   ptosisposted 12 years ago

   Emma Goldman's anarchy?
   
   ]http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/goldman/Writings/Anarchism/anarchism.html
   
   Referring to the American government, the greatest American Anarchist, David Thoreau, said: "Government, what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instance losing its integrity; it has not the vitality and force of a single living man. Law never made man a whit more just; and by means of their respect for it, even the well disposed are daily made agents of injustice."

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