Last spring, I was speaking with one of my daughters about my latest off grid project. I told her the original milking parlor has now become the "Power House" and a new milking parlor was established.
A couple of weeks ago, a grid power line came down, so we found ourselves without power, but the wind was amazing! Now, there isn't enough battery storage, yet to maintain being fully off grid, but the wind was a definite bonus that night. As a matter of fact, even with a small battery bank, Adonai provided enough wind to keep the entire house functioning at full capacity, including the heat pump! All of this took me back to that conversation I'd had with my daughter, months earlier.
As we were awkwardly chatting as that is our established pattern, I was grasping for a topic and that's how the new Power House project came up. Now in looking back, our conversations are nearly always about what the kids are doing, what I'm doing, and who/what she is analyzing . . . This conversation was no exception. I told her about a bigger turbine, having the big boom truck set the pole, etc. then just casually included. "All we need now is a $1000.00 worth of batteries and we're set." She immediately interjected that a thousand dollars worth of batteries seemed expensive. I just dismissed it as her usual disparaging comments and went on with life, but now in taking note of my electric bill and knowing I was fully powered up when the line came down, I feel pretty blessed to have spent that $1000 dollars the way I did.
Now, comparing my expense to her lifestyle, I'm thinking this $1000.00 was an actual investment. Adonai willing, the batteries will last for years, whereas $1000.00 in her hand, I don't think covers the monthly rent. I realize things in this world are temporal, but as long as we are in this world, I don't think there's anything wrong with making some investments that will last, even if we are looking at temporary verses eternal. I'm thankful to have no mortgage and no rent, but my house and lifestyle would not be good enough for many. That's okay, it's more than good enough for me.
As I thought of being able to switch over to our off grid power and how truly blessed I am. I continued to see clients, do laundry, and as mentioned previously, enjoy a warm house. And the great thing about investing rather than rent is the differing perspective on temporal. Apparently, for my daughter, it's all temporary, so there is no need to consider long term purchases or investment, but from my perspective, rent removes the "temporal" option. If a person wants shelter and is choosing to rent, that option seems more like bondage, to me.
If I live another 25 years, as far as housing goes, all I have to concern myself with is maintenance and taxes. If I were paying rent, that concern would be quite pricey, not to mention potentially ever increasing. Now, as I can afford it, I like to add to the battery bank. It was nice to know, with offgrid power I could still offer care, comfort, refreshments, and if the power grid shutdown had been wide spread, several of us could have weathered it fairly comfortably together. Everything in this world is temporal, so why pay for it for a lifetime?
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Pocketbook Revolution
The old saying "money talks" is proven every day, in most every way with the Lobby. Without lobbyists, our representatives would have to buy their own lunches and pay for their own recreation on their meager $174,000.00 annual salary. The term actually came from business reps standing in the lobby on Capitol Hill waiting for their opportunity to approach a representative regarding a bill or legislation. Currently, being a lobbyist is an actual career opportunity.
A lobbyist is a professional persuader, a negotiator with cash in hand, "hired" by any collective cause to cajole politicians into legislation to further the cause they represent. Interestingly, since favors are given, rather than money exchanged it's not illegal or bribery to influence a representative by these tactics. Obviously, the individual citizen, does not have the power, a.k.a. money, of the lobby. By the same token, we the people, do not have a largely supported collective cause that is able to send persuasive lobbyists to Washington. In all honesty, the representatives and councils of family values groups haven't really accomplished much in Washington regarding abortion or the gay agenda. Those who desire morality and freedom simply cannot win by the rules in Washington. So what's the answer?
It's time for a pocketbook revolution. It's time to speak loudly and clearly with our wallets. Every company, every collective power that promotes something we don't believe it, just stop buying their products! It really is that simple. If you don't like the way Procter & Gamble used a gay wedding to both promote Tide and deride Kim Davis, then stop buying Procter & Gamble products . . . all of them! If you don't believe in the abortion pill or birth control pills, stop using any of the pharmaceuticals produced by the companies that produce the products that offend you. My latest biggie, was when Frito Lay came out with rainbow Doritos. Frito Lay makes a great many products besides the special order Doritos.
Do your homework! Memes and complaint posts on social media aren't going to change things. All these blogs I've been doing for years would have no impact at all if I didn't back my views with my wallet. I'm still not making a noticeable difference, but I'm only one person. If all the people who post memes and articles against abortion, birth control, and vaccines actually stopped supporting Big Pharma straight across the board on all their products, our voice would be heard. Sick and tired of the Bruce Jenner saga, get rid of the channel that carries his show and google to discover which companies are supporting the transgender agenda.
Our representatives are not listening to us, but they do listen to the lobbyists and lobbyists get their money from Big Corp. If Big Corp is losing money . . . the benefits to politicians will slim down. We've had this backward for too long. Big Corp is calling the shots, the lobbyists are delivering the perks, and the politicians are owned. If we the people actually put our money where our mouth is and stopped buying ALL the products made by companies promoting what we don't support, we'd see an all new meaning to "trickle down economics." If we the people don't buy it, Big Corp can't sell it, they have to take a new approach, or lose money. If Big Corp starts losing money . . . lobbyists will be scurrying around like rats on a sinking ship and politicians might have to actually listen to "we the people." Or better yet, without all the perks, politicians might leave Washington after a couple of terms.
Even if there aren't enough people to collectively win this pocketbook revolution, those who do will at least know, we've taken a stand and not contributed to the moral collapse of this country.
A lobbyist is a professional persuader, a negotiator with cash in hand, "hired" by any collective cause to cajole politicians into legislation to further the cause they represent. Interestingly, since favors are given, rather than money exchanged it's not illegal or bribery to influence a representative by these tactics. Obviously, the individual citizen, does not have the power, a.k.a. money, of the lobby. By the same token, we the people, do not have a largely supported collective cause that is able to send persuasive lobbyists to Washington. In all honesty, the representatives and councils of family values groups haven't really accomplished much in Washington regarding abortion or the gay agenda. Those who desire morality and freedom simply cannot win by the rules in Washington. So what's the answer?
It's time for a pocketbook revolution. It's time to speak loudly and clearly with our wallets. Every company, every collective power that promotes something we don't believe it, just stop buying their products! It really is that simple. If you don't like the way Procter & Gamble used a gay wedding to both promote Tide and deride Kim Davis, then stop buying Procter & Gamble products . . . all of them! If you don't believe in the abortion pill or birth control pills, stop using any of the pharmaceuticals produced by the companies that produce the products that offend you. My latest biggie, was when Frito Lay came out with rainbow Doritos. Frito Lay makes a great many products besides the special order Doritos.
Do your homework! Memes and complaint posts on social media aren't going to change things. All these blogs I've been doing for years would have no impact at all if I didn't back my views with my wallet. I'm still not making a noticeable difference, but I'm only one person. If all the people who post memes and articles against abortion, birth control, and vaccines actually stopped supporting Big Pharma straight across the board on all their products, our voice would be heard. Sick and tired of the Bruce Jenner saga, get rid of the channel that carries his show and google to discover which companies are supporting the transgender agenda.
Our representatives are not listening to us, but they do listen to the lobbyists and lobbyists get their money from Big Corp. If Big Corp is losing money . . . the benefits to politicians will slim down. We've had this backward for too long. Big Corp is calling the shots, the lobbyists are delivering the perks, and the politicians are owned. If we the people actually put our money where our mouth is and stopped buying ALL the products made by companies promoting what we don't support, we'd see an all new meaning to "trickle down economics." If we the people don't buy it, Big Corp can't sell it, they have to take a new approach, or lose money. If Big Corp starts losing money . . . lobbyists will be scurrying around like rats on a sinking ship and politicians might have to actually listen to "we the people." Or better yet, without all the perks, politicians might leave Washington after a couple of terms.
Even if there aren't enough people to collectively win this pocketbook revolution, those who do will at least know, we've taken a stand and not contributed to the moral collapse of this country.
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