How do a person's political views relate to self sufficiency?

[me&thegals]

First off, and most importantly, this is NOT a thread to start a fight. I have noticed this question come up repeatedly over the course of the year and a half that I have been a member of this forum. In the most recent instance, the thread was locked before I had a chance to respond.

So, I wonder if we could calmly and respectfully discuss how or how not a person's politics are related to their desire to be as self sufficient as they choose to be.


It brings to mind an old "dietary" dilemma that used to annoy my mom. I used to drink diet soda, then indulge in rich desserts. She thought it was hypocrisy. Either go ALL diet food or go ALL rich food. To me, it made perfect sense! Of course, if I saved calories in the soda, I could splurge on what I wanted even more, right?! These days, my eating habits are much different, but I'm sure you get the point.


It's the same way I view self sufficiency along with a political liberal bent. If I save $ for my family, then I have extra "calories" to splurge on other things I really want. For some people, that's going to be 2-year supplies of food, caches of weapons and ammunition and bottled water. Still others might put it into livestock, animal feed and garden seeds. Some may choose to pour some of it back into their communities, send it abroad for people hurting severely or stash it away in an IRA.

I also want to point out that a love of "social programs" being the sole defining characteristic of being a Democrat or a liberal is as narrowly defining someone as claiming that all Republicans belong to the NRA and love their guns above all else.

What (politely ) do you all think?

 

[miss_thenorth]

Just for clarification, liberal is democrat, and conservative is republican?

We have three main parties here in canada, (liberal progressive conservative, and Nnew democrat) and I am not familiar with american terms ( I know, I do live close to the border, but I just don't follow it much)

 

[me&thegals]

Just for clarification, liberal is democrat, and conservative is republican?

We have three main parties here in canada, (liberal progressive conservative, and Nnew democrat) and I am not familiar with american terms ( I know, I do live close to the border, but I just don't follow it much)

You got it I know, I hear liberal and conservative applied to other country's political systems, but then realize they're not the same "values" as those in America.

Hmmm....would you be willing to briefly describe your country's 3 political parties and their basic values, plus how that might relate to your feelings about self sufficiency?

 

[miss_thenorth]

I could but it's gonna hafta wait, as it will require me to sit here and actually think . Right now I am up and down doing different things. Let me get back after all my chores are done.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Just for clarification, liberal is democrat, and conservative is republican?

In general, yes, but not necessarily, there is a broad spectrum of political thinking. You have reps who are anti-gun & pro-choice, you have dem's who are members of the NRA & pro-life (Just to name 2 devisive issues)

Personally, I don't see a dime's worth of difference in the political parties, nor how it effects anyone's desire to be self sufficient.

You can be a complete liberal & still enjoy hunting, fishing, gardening & the like. You can be completely conservative & want to protect the environment, allow people to end their lives if they are in severe pain near the end of their lives and so on.

The desire to be self sufficient comes from many things as well, fear of TEOTWAWKI, a desire to be closer to nature, a desire to have good foods that you can't get at a grocery store, a general disgust with the commercialism of today's societies, etc, etc, etc.

I don't buy into the political parties, I think they are all a bunch of whoey. But then again, I "class" myself as a libertarian bordering on anarchy, that view is not for everyone.

**Hope this stays civil**

 

[me&thegals]

Well put, Noobie. You made my point much better than I did , which is that political views are more finely nuanced than we often give credit for. I'm definitely "conservative" on some things, "liberal" in others, and working towards more self suffiency through it all.

 

[Wifezilla]

It does look like a contradiction to me to support a political party with policies that create dependency at the same time you are trying for self-sufficiency. Can't wrap my brain around that.

 

[farmerlor]

In a very, very broad sense the conservatives tend to be all about big business. So selling precious farmland to mega-business for production line farming or feedlots presents no ethical problem for that group. Destroying national parklands or watching endangered animals disappear so that more oil can be found is a good thing to conservatives. And again, this is a very broad generalization. You'll find many people on each side of the aisle who will sell their souls to watch a baby seal get clubbed so that we can drill for another five gallons of oil to put money in someone's pocket.
For me, a dyed in the wool liberal-life long democrat and pagan, self-sufficiency is about protecting the land, protecting the small farmer and protecting my neighbors. I want more education, more economic sense and more environmental sense. I want LESS government interference in my life-the government has no say in when or who anyone marries, or when we choose to breed or where we choose to worship.

 

[inchworm]

Hmmm.... as I get older, I don't see so many differences between people. Right and left often want the same things, but see the means to get there differently. When I started homeschooling, I thought we would meet a lot of homeschoolers who would be classified as on the right (religious and conservative, distrustful of government and popular culture). Instead, I found a lot of people on the left (liberal, anti-religion, and distrustful of government and popular culture). Sometimes I think the whole political spectrum is really a circle where liberals blend into moderates which blend into conservatives which blend into libertarians which blend into liberals.

I think it would help if people thought a bit more independently. The problems arise when people start hurling out catch phrases coined by the media of both sides. Catch phrases promote close-mindedness and prevent people from really listening.

Inchy

 

[me&thegals]

It does look like a contradiction to me to support a political party with policies that create dependency at the same time you are trying for self-sufficiency. Can't wrap my brain around that.

I think this is where it usually breaks down. I have the belief that *most* people want to take care of themselves. I want help for those who are in big trouble due to multiple causes, often out of their control.

Some people, as in disabled or mentally incapable, will need to be helped their entire lives.

Some people, as in the elderly, will need help the end of their lives.

Some folks, like the unemployed, will need help until the economy revives or somehow their circumstances change.

I personally hope to never need that kind of help and work hard to build a cushion and be as self sufficient as possible. But I still want help for those who need it. I'm also lucky enough to have a big social support, healthy body and mind, college education, land to grow and raise food/animals on, great benefits at my part-time job, etc. So, I figure it's a lot easier for me to stay SS than it is for a lot of people.

But, that's just *one* reason for voting the way I do. There are so many other aspects to being a Democrat or liberal.

In fact, I would argue that being very conscious of environmental degradation (a liberal view) is absolutely crucial to all of our abilities to be self sufficient in the future. Climate changes (I don't want to argue their source) are impacting my and my husband's ability to grow food already.