Hey Morris.

whilst I agree that not all capitalism is bad , let’s be honest we wouldn’t have cheap secondhand boats to sail around in if somebody didn’t buy them new when they were expensive ! Certainly. Minimalist sailor couldn’t afford a new version of what they have!

However, I do agree with Alex on one front in particular that the world is broken and fast falling down an ever deepening hole. I have worked as a managing director in a public company and rubbed shoulders with the investment banking top,brass, in fact my business partner was at one time number 2 for HSBC worldwide and the tales I’ve heard from him would make us all want to pack our bags, buy a small boat and foxtrot Oscar into the deep blue sea.

In essence, it all starts with the screw up which is our financial system, designed by the federal reserve, sanctioned and used by the government it was floored the day it was invented and with the risk of sounding like a conspiricy theorist it is a nuclear bomb far more destructive than any terrorist group could dream up…..it isn’t people, even rich people that are to Blaim, it is a very small minority of financial institutions, top banking individuals that benefitted short term, it is the greed of the government to have ready funds available without any collateral that has created an iriversable, floored logic system that is going to make more people homeless and breeds an increasingly ruthless approach to dealing with your fellow man… What makes me really giggle is how simple the screw up is.

For those not aware of how the government gets its money or why people with financial knowledge like Alex refer to the system as the matrix and like Morpheus of the same film preach a different way of life let me explain… It’s really simple.

1) you are the government and need money to finance…well everything.
2) you rely on funds supported by real collatral I.e. Gold., no gold no cash to buy things with, no inflation because we’re not borrowing anything, every bodies happy apart from the government who want more funds available.
3) you are approached by a consortium of banks called the federal reserve who have a cunning plan.
4) the plan is this…. We scrap the whole gold for cash system and instead we create something called a promissory note, basically you tell us how much cash you need and we will give you a piece of paper saying that you owe it’s that amount., no gold or security required …BUT to make it worth our while we will add interest …. And in that moment you have fucked the western world…. Why. Because if I have the only bar of chocolate in the world and it has 10 cubes and I give it to you but make you pay back 11 cubes, we have created a system where it is impossible for you to ever service your debt as you owe 11 cubes but only 10 excist…..so what do you do…..
5) you have to borrow more chocolate, but in term I will charge more interest and so it goes on, the more you borrow the more interest I charge, the debt gets bigger, so to help us service this debt we have to charge the ordinary man more tax, higher inflation and on and on we go until the system grinds to a halt…. Not yet but economists actually have a predicted date for this to happen and my understanding is it is less than 25 years! That ain’t long folks….. So it’s like musical chairs only those in the system know when the music will stop and there making every move they can to look after theirs and their own which is why corporations are getting greedier and greedier….

If you find this alarming then so you should, so finding a different way to live your life like Alex and Carla might just become necessity rather than choice in the years ahead and at the risk of sounding corny…. These guys might well be the first of our pathfinders, our explorers into the feasibility of living A different way, that’s why despit the fact that I am wealthy and still plugged into the system I and many others i know are starting to explore different ways for the future. My business is up for sale and I too will be joining the growing number of liveaboards before the music stops….

So Alex…. Stick to your guns, keep your principles in tact and despite the fact that others want you to be a total marter and not except donations, at present total self sufficiency without finds is not quite possible ……YET….. But you are on the right path and with a little refinement my guess is you won’t need the donations for ever, your knowledge is valuable so keep on keeping on as they say.

Live free….sail far…..

http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3511

Love,
C.

I use my ipad with the Sea IQ open app, like open CPN (same charts) but in a waterproof case and ipad :)

Peace

And by the way I barter with all of my sponsors. I do not receive and money, I exchange product for advertising, and only advertise for companies that I truly believe in, nor have I ever charged for my website over the last 12 years, my audience donates, because they enjoy the product, like one donates to support local radio or art.

My wife and I live on less than $400 a month. We don’t have health care, insurance, credit cards or cars, and together consume less than 5 gallons a month of fossil fuel. “Cherry picking”, you have no idea what I’m about and seem like you just stumbled across my blog looking for something else.

And I’m trying to show you “the promise land”, but if you want to exchange ideas here I think you should learn some manners.

Have you ever lived in a anarchist society? Have you ever lived with indigenous people that have no electricity, phones, TV, police or internet? Have you ever woken up with no responsibilities in the world and just make love, hunt, work, or spend time with you friends whenever you wish? Have you ever lived in a society where children are not exposed to television, video games, or telephones? I have, still do, and it is peace. Anarchy works.

People are meant to live in small tribes where the people can change the chief if his interest isn’t for the majority. Our police protect the government from the people, they do not serve us, and it’s mentalities like yours that put them in control.

Blindly following laws like you suggest just because they are “legal” doesn’t really work for me as our victim-less crimes are solely devised for governments to profit from fines.

We always chose barter over money exchanging hands, Carla, for example, is staying behind in January when I return to Panama for two weeks to do a canvas job in exchange for a new profurl.

You can point your fingers as much as you want, I’ll still approve your comments despite the fact you try to intimidate, insult, and belittle me.

I’m guessing you have never traveled outside of your comfort zone. I’m guessing you don’t have friends that don’t have access to food or clean water. I’m guessing you have no experience at all to point any fingers. If I’m wrong, bring it on. Let us all know who you are and what your about.

And the blog title is living on a micro income.

How did we get on the topic of “socialism”? You seem to be fighting your own battle here with your own issues. If you strive for “betterment” through money enjoy it.

“representative of the sailing community”, “Chief for the day”, your up on Christmas night trying to pick a fight with some blogger you don’t know? Doesn’t seem to me you are up for any sort of educated debate, you just seem quite bitter.

I don’t need any lessons from Friedman (not Feedman)nor do I agree with his “Freedom through capitalism” philosophy. If you really want to talk about economics lets go for it, I’m always up for a good debate. Obviously my view of freedom and economics is quite contrary to yours. If you want to save up for your freedom go for it.

I believe freedom is a human right.

You know I have to approve all the comments here, and always do so we can communicate rationally, grow, and learn together. It’s not a fight for me, is a debate and when you try to belittle someone, in my humble opinion, it makes you seem quite small.

Merry Christmas

Seems to me the outcome in life did not perhaps meet expectatations and repurcussions later in life may exist – so let’s fault those that did strive for bettermeant – what ya say Alex? If someone get’s joy out of things – so what, as who the hell are you to say “they don’t get it” Alex? Who made you Chief for the day anyway. I’m off this site as your frankly a joke and not at all representative of the sailing community. Rather, you appear to be a low life that feeds off of others while biting the hand that feeds you!

Alex, stick to what you know my Brother which is sailing. Regarding Economics, I recommend you listen to Milton Feedman vs. Phil Donohue so you may obtain a lesson in Economics and the world.

Carla is dealing with the Panamanian embassy on what is involved to import Naco, I’m kind of staying out of it.

Do you live in Panama?

I’m always so suprised that some people can’t digest my thoughts and words. Either I don’t write well and can’t get my feelings across, or you don’t get it and you really are confused? Where did I say all companies for profit are bad. I think you should re-read the post? Sure I’d rather trade mangos for a windvane, but my sponsors are not in the business of repressing the freedom of others? Do you see me advertising for coca cola, Monsanto, or CNN? Do you in any way believe I would advertise for them for any amount of money?

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it and that’s cool. I’m trying to inspire people to live with, and consume less. If you don’t want to that’s cool too, your business. But don’t make your business (paying for war) my business, keep it to yourself.