What else I've decided to do.

[StellaBlue]

I posted yesterday that I have decided to fight to the death. Lots of us are saying that.

I've decided today on some other things that I am going to do. Basically, I am going to become the change I want to see in the world. I am going to talk more, yes, but I am also going to DO more. And, more important, perhaps, I am NOT going to do things that support the oligarchy. Insofar as possible. I am lucky. I am only 27, single, no kids. I am in debt, due to school loans (for the two degrees that have landed me two part-time jobs at $12 an hour with no benefits! what a brillant trade-off! :sarcasm: ) and consumer debt accrued after a shitty break-up with my longterm partner last year, in which I was wiped out financially and emotionally. But now, individual and free, I no longer have the stomach for compromise.

1. I am never buying on credit ever again. I am going to put my two credit cards in a bowl of water in the freezer. I am then going to pay them off, which will take about three years, barring a sudden financial upswing (which is not likely). Supporting the evil multinational banks and credit card companies by buying into the American consumerist McDream is a major part of what's driving this whole mess. I do not "deserve" that dinner out or that new pair of $75 jeans. I reject the materialist, McMansion, SUV, plastic surgery, reality TV, Paris Hilton, fashion industry, self improvement culture completely. I don't NEED anything else. I will not spend hard-earned money - or worse, NOT-earned money - on this shit. And if I can't pay cash, I won't be buying it. Stopping buying into the corporate media (TV, magazines, everything) will also help me be more in control of my life and stop measuring my "success" by the usual, consumerist yardstick. Fact is, I am very happy with what I have. Tuning out will only reinforce my own values.

2. I am becoming a vegetarian. This is a small step I can take to alleviate the suffering in the world, and something I have toyed with off and on for about eight years, but I am getting off the fence. There is no way, barring starvation, that I would ever kill an animal to eat it, so why should I let others do it for me, especially in the current, horrible, industrialized system? I will also avoid the other shit "products" that pass for food in this country, such as cola (and I am addicted to Dr Pepper, but I do NOT want to support the evil of the Coca-Cola corporation) and high fructose corn syrup (have you read about this stuff?! And it's everywhere!!!). I do not want any living creatures killed for my convenience, be they Iraqis for my gas tank or cows for my cheeseburger. A little thing in comparison to the horrors our government is visiting on people around the world, but a step in the right direction.

3. Speaking of gas, I will stop driving. I will probably keep my car, as I need it occasionally, and to visit relatives 400 miles away, but I will walk to work, and ride my bike elsewhere, and carpool whenever possible, as well. I live four blocks from my job, ten blocks from the Whole Foods flagship, and in walking distance to just about everything else, including the library, veterinarian, friends, lake, bank, walking trails, bars, etc. I am lucky, and I should take advantage of my "downtown lifestyle" and stop being such a fucking lazy American.

4. I will stop watching TV. Free cable comes with my apartment, but I have spent way too much time over the past few months watching the utter shite that passes for entertainment. I don't care what's happening on "America's Next Top Model" or what bullshit Larry King is spewing. It only serves to either enrage me or normalize the mainstream worldview, which I find abhorrent. I will probably still watch some football and CSPAN, as well as some of the local access programming. Other than that, I will READ.

5. I will become active in the resistance movement that we - WE - are starting. I will not remain silent. I will not be intimidated. I will also get involved in various organizations here locally, like Planned Parenthood, for one, where one of my good friends, a neonatal nurse, does lots of work.


I've done a lot of thinking about this over the weekend, since Thursday. This is real. I cannot be complicit.

What are you going to do?

[Deja Q]

1. Well

1. Same here. I learned my lesson.

2. I should be more consistent with that one.

3. I do as little driving as possible; but the distance to health clinics is annoying. Worse, permanent inner ear damage makes bicycling impossible and as much as I wouldn't mind walking, the world has timetables.

4. I should be quitting all of it, but I have yet to learn how to be social. Not just by rote, but in action.

[resist_vote on paper]

13. Well done, stella! I designed the new PEACE- Sign

to unite all people, who want to do something.

Th idea was borne, when all people in Germany were carrying flags on their cars and wearing Germany-Flags on T-shirts, caps and nearly everywhere.

I told myself: Couldn't they wear it for the goal of freedom and peace: And this sign resulted of my thoughts:




The .eu is leading to my HP, where I want to inform the visitors about the danger, we are all living in, show the most important links and first of all: I want to unite the people under ONE SIGN, that everybody can see: I am not alone, they are all with us. There is a chance to win this !

Wouldn't it be great, if 80 % wear this t-shirts, and the votingmashines show a win of the republicans :-))))

[peacebird]

2. Hi StellaBlue - your post has started me thinking about changes I can make

Thanks for the excellent ideas....

:toast:

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. I applaud you!

I haven't owned a car for twenty years, but I do have consumer debt, and you're inspiring me to realize that getting out of debt is one of the most important things a person can do. Thanks for the post!

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/658010

[StellaBlue]

5. How have you managed without a car?

I didn't really want to buy one when I got back to the US last year, but my dad bullied me into it, including into the extended warranty.

I owe $5,000 on it and pay $175/month to the bank, $56/month for the warranty (have another eight months to go on the payment plan!!!), $68 for insurance, and about $60 for gas. What COULDN'T I do with that much extra money???

Like I said, I can walk or ride my bike everywhere, and I can ride a bus for 50 cents or $10 a month for a pass! The only problems are groceries (it's hard to get much when you have to physically carry it, though I suppose I could take a cab twice a month!) and going home to visit relatives (which I do maybe once every 3-6 months, so I could just rent a car).

More insight would be appreciated. Cars are SO expensive. I would be saving like $400 a month, all told, but of course I would lose money selling the car.

[Swamp Rat]

7. Get a bike trailer for the groceries.

Maybe you can find a used kiddie trailer real cheap.

http://www.wicycle.com/

"Dear Sirs,
I am a retired 63 year old male. I do not drive and recently purchased one of your Super Shopper bicycle trailers. I cannot tell you what a Godsend it has been for me. Grocery shopping was always a major problem. I either had to take a taxi or walk. I could only carry enough groceries for a couple of days. Now I am able to bring home a weeks worth of groceries in the trailer. The bike trailer is very easy to tow and I was very impressed with the quality. Thank you for making my life a lot easier. "

biketrailer.com offers several trailers for under $100. http://www.biketrailer.com/

http://www.electric-bikes.com/trailers.htm

[StellaBlue]

8. Awesome, thanks for that!!!

How are you, anyway? How is NOLA?

My girlfriends and I were toying with the idea of going on a little trip on our four days off at Thanksgiving, and I insisted we go to NOLA if we went anywhere, but, alas, none of us really have the money, and, as per my above post, do not want to encourage my friends to max out their credit cards to do so. Nevertheless, next place I go on vacation will be Louisiana.

:hi:

[Herman Munster]

12. cars are not expensive

NEW cars are expensive.

If you aren't going to use it much, get a 15 year old toyota or honda with 130,000 miles or so for $2k.

They can last 300,000 miles if they are well maintained. And if you aren't going to use it much other than buying groceries or the occasional trip out of town, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new.

New cars = scam. I've never bought one in my entire life.

[bigbrother05]

4. Sounds like you got a good head on your shoulders

It's the way i raised my kids, but we all get caught up in the american dream {nightmare}.
Good for you, its not as hard as it may sound, who are the Jones anyway, never meet one that I really cared for.
As far as a plan for now, just living.

[cynatnite]

6. Eat at McD's, watch junk TV, gas up the hummer...

and max out the credit cards at Walmart.

[tularetom]

9. I've done a lot of what you are doing (for less noble reasons)

1. Wife and I shit canned all credit cards but one since I retired. We sold a piece of property for an amount that will keep us comfortable for the rest of our lives, allow us to donate to animal rescue organizations and still leave something for our kids and grandkids. We only charge what we can payoff each month.

2. I'm an almost vegetarian mostly because at age 65 I just feel a lot better when I don't eat meat. The reason I'm almost a vegetarian is I can't give up bacon.

3. I've always walked whenever I could instead of driving but in our rural area that's not always easy. Plus I hurt my ankle last spring making it hard for me to walk long distances. But I can and do bicycle the 8 or so milles to town when I don't need to haul something back.

4. Other than KO, an occasional Mythbusters episode and a football game from time to time I've been TV free for years. My wife can't turn it off (she says she left it on for companionship during the years I worked away from home.

5. As far as activism is concerned we've both volunteered for years at the local spay/neuter clinic and Special Olympics. We're beginnig to burnout though and will be looking forother opportunities.

Sounds like you've got it together pretty well for a kid (I have a granddaughter almost your age and she and hubby are still into the consumerist lifestyle bigtime). Keep it up and good luck.

[VeggieTart]

10. Good for you!!!

1) I only have one credit card. I live paycheck to paycheck, which is difficult, but I'm going to try to get out of debt.

2) I'm already vegan, and I waver between cooking a lot and eating a lot of prepared foods. I consume very little soda, and try to buy the natural sodas when I do (i.e., ones without HFCS). If you like soda, buy fruit juice and seltzer water and make your own! And let me congratulate you for your decision.

Tom, good for you to reduce your consumption. I gave up meat because I didn't like the way it made me feel, and I've become quite the feisty vegan activist.

3) I don't own a car, I rely on public transit. That's easy when you live in an urban area. I occasionally have used a cab (usually when taking my kitty to the vet), but I mostly use bus and rail.

4) I watch game shows, "Countdown," the occasional drama (I like "CSI" and "Law and Order: SVU"), "Real Time with Bill Maher," and the occasional sporting event. I agree that most TV is garbage.

5) I'm very active in the local vegetarian organization (something I recommend new veg*ans and near-veg*ans do) and the local animal rights organizations. I have been somewhat active in feminist organizations in the past, but it's kind of fallen by the wayside.

[BuyingThyme]

11. You rule.