Could STEED Gallop To Victory?
STEED stands for Social Security, Taxes, Energy, Education, and Defense. I came up with the acronym by adding Energy to TEDS, which was the rallying cry of some Nevada Libertarian Republicans whose meeting I stumbled into once. Never heard of TEDS? You’re not alone.
Naturally, the media is covering more important issues like Mindy McCready and uncovering new ones such as Miley Cirus. As for real critical issues like STEED and Britney Spears? They’re just leaving them alone.
Al Gore will tell you that Energy is the er, hottest issue this election cycle. As a principled non-voter since Jimmy Carter, I can say to any voter that at least I didn’t support (insert opponent they don’t like). Only really deep thinkers like me seem to fully understand the superior moral standard of Libertarian Voluntarism. And lazy guys.
An example of someone with “voter’s regret” about W is found here and here.
I prefer to offer tactics for ordinary people instead of prescribing policies for politicians. For example, those who live on a fixed income in the Los Angeles area probably spend their entire pension check on rent. They have to work a job to buy luxuries like food and clothing.
Instead of renting, they should spend that pension check on buying cheap land on eBay (sometimes the owner will have a purchase agreement with low monthly payments without needing bank approval–but caveat emptor, etc.). After paying one tenth their rent for the land payment, they could afford to buy a trailer under $1,000 on Craig’s List to live in while they have a nice off-grid house built on the land they will quickly own. iPhone or DirectTV will replace their cable/landline phone. They would likely have money left over for food, propane tanks, fuel for the generator, & etc.
Newsweek Project Green is as skeptical about national politics on this issue as I am on all issues:
It is extremely unlikely that Washington will ever supply a coherent energy policy, regardless of who takes the White House in November.
And they even list reasons and stuff.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 am
Hmm. Not sure that tactic is actually workable. Folks on fixed incomes may have other needs or desires that are incompatible with it. Example: they tend to view ‘access to healthcare’ as important.
Forget about affordability for the moment, I just mean that if healthcare is hours away by car, it isn’t ‘accessible’.
Similarly, being stuck out in the boonies may not give them the social stimulation they want.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:15 am
There are hospitals or at least health clinics within 30 minutes or so of the Winnemucca, El Paso, Holbrook and Pahrump land parcels I’ve researched in person and online. Whether the doctors and facilities are adequate depends on your medical needs. Winnemucca and Pahrump definitely have rapid helicopter air ambulance service to Reno and Las Vegas respectively. Holbrook, AZ has an airfield (perhaps to nearby Winslow or Show Low). In no case am I talking “hours away.” Your mileage may vary. For day to day health, there’s the “Grow Your Own Pharmacy” approach. I’ll be reviewing that book soon along with the much more common The Green Pharmacy.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:21 am
As for social interaction, perhaps like-minded folks could buy neighboring cheap parcels, and hang tough until the city grows out to their outlying area. Then they’ll have an increase in property value resulting from new development without having to deal with bankers. Then they’ll be even more popular.