Fight The System

[Buster's Uncle]

I live in a city where bicycling is common. There are co-ops that help you build bicycles. There are bike lanes everywhere. Walking to a store or to work is common and all the public transportation has bike racks. A good portion of the population does this and here, at least, you are not viewed as a "loser" for not having a car. There are other cities like this as well.

I have lived like this for years and I am in my 40s. However, due to my extreme lifestyle (which is not too extreme here) I look in my late 20s. You hardly ever see really fat people here unless they are tourists. I have seen other folks from the suburbia I left decades ago. Most of the middle class men have had strokes and hear attacks from a sedentary lifestyle. The women my age who were hawt now hideously out of shape behind a SUV that costs a years salary to some. So, I take small comfort.

There is nothing wrong with biking.. even into your 40s, 50s and beyond despite what society declares or some potential wannabe trophy wife may think they need to have to show off to the other soccer moms. One guy I know is my friend. He is 70. He looks 40. He never drives and rides bikes everywhere. Needless to say, dude has a wife 20 years younger, a nice house he bought for peanuts and fixed up, and a free life without rent or employers and his health... all for not paying extortion car notes, insurance, tickets from pigs that ambush honest citezens, and gas.

I find myself turning into a system-hater like you, Green.  I'm barely on the grid, but I had to go in for a debit card last week - I worried that my grumbling about the system sounded crazy to the banker.    But man, the system and the bosses grind you up like hamburger, all the better to press-mold into slaves.

And every time I have to deal with medical professionals, I passionately reflect that something the Republicans are right about is the evils of bureaucracy...

[Green1]

I find myself turning into a system-hater like you, Green.  I'm barely on the grid, but I had to go in for a debit card last week - I worried that my grumbling about the system sounded crazy to the banker.    But man, the system and the bosses grind you up like hamburger, all the better to press-mold into slaves.

And every time I have to deal with medical professionals, I passionately reflect that something the Republicans are right about is the evils of bureaucracy...

Only some of the Republicans. The Right, like the left is also fragmented into different camps.

The rank and file, or shall I put it, common man Republican is typically a state or private college gradute who owns his own bussiness, is some sort of Doc or other proffesional, or is high up in a management position of a corporation or aspires to be. While I do not like thier agenda while I can not hate because I do see why they are the way they are. They simply want to keep a middle class lifestyle with as few constraints as possible. This means being able to do with those under them as they wish and keeping oil at a cheap level to drive 20 miles to and from work so they do not have to live near folks less fortunate. They also may be landlords. They wish to work the higher paid jobs with little physical labor and tons of respect while keeping thier kind in those industries and keeping others out (or making it harder) to crowd them out like what happened in IT.

The big money backers are all country club CEOs and those that go into debt trying to be like them. They want to keep that lifestyle, too. Country Club memberships are EXPENSIVE. Only exception being if you are clergy. If you are a religous leader and have a sponser, most country clubs will let you in cheap. However, you still must afford the house. These folks merely want to be able to drive down costs in any way they can, others be damned. They many times do not see the results of what they do because they live very isolated lives. Plus, if they do not drive down costs, they can be replaced by someone more cut throat. In my 20s, I used to work in one of these places for a stint. They have a very strange and closed culture. For instance, did you know men and women are segregated and only allowed together in common areas? It is to keep a trophy wife isolated and only around other matrons if she is having relationship problems to keep her from landing another wealthy man at the golf course bar. Yeah, she probably has her own Lexus and is free to leave out of the community, but rich men that can put someone up in a 750k to 2M house that are not married are actually pretty rare outside that closed world.

Mainstream Potestant Christian church organizations and whoever tows the line is another faction. The ultimate hidden goal of this is Theocracy. Basically rule by church leaders. Barring that unlikely outcome, at least encouraging opinion and legistlation towards enforcing whatever morals they want while producing an atmosphere condusive to membership expansion which brings in tithes, possibly powerful converts, and influence. Of course, just like the comon conservative, an ability to keep a high respect, low physical work position in life available!

The last faction of the Republicans are Libertarians and non-red Anarchists. Mostly, these guys are more intellegent artists, writers, internet content writers, philosophers, and the disillusioned. They see things a bit differently and see all these groups right and left as using political weapons to slam other groups and keep positions. They want a pie in the sky otion where "If it harms none, do as you wilt" thing. However, this group never gets traction due to the fact that the nature of this system is to keep others in power at the expense of others. If others could do as they please - no one would willingly do things like serve fast food, landscape some dude's house, or work in a nursing home wiping some relative's butt for peanuts. The other factions must maintain control and motivation to keep the wine and nice places up for cheap labor. If the landlord is going to throw you out, most folks will do ANYTHING, even embarrasing humiliting work just to keep afloat, or what society defines as keeping afloat.

SMAX is a VERY strong lesson. Society, just like the city screen in SMAX cannot exist off of all TALENTS. You must have workers. DRONES are when there are not enough TALENT spots open. POLICE is the private army to control and extermitate the drones that get too uppity. One guy said, "I can pay one half the working class to kill the other half." The cops hang out in my area loaded with drones. They are not cruising English Turn randomly stopping people.

Long rant, but it is appropriate. SMAX did play a minor role in my politics!

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm elbows-deep in smilies, and need time to digest this before I respond.  Be back soon.

[Green1]

No worries, BU.

I usually try to keep politics and gaming separate. When I heard "bicycle", I assumed I was talking with fellow anarchists and disobeyed my own rules. My bad and ignorance. This is a large internet

I also should have obeyed unwritten forum formatting guidelines and kept my reply to under one paragragh. Some other forums, I would be blasted, and not in a nice way. I am not on a wiki or collaboration project.

Do not worry about having to have a debit card. It tracks you but IS a tiny bit safer than cash. My only deal is many of these cards have hidden fees where if you do not keep track, you go negative and the financial institutions can "steal" from you through excessive fees. Troubling, is many companies are forgoing paychecks to issue debit cards with horrible hidden fees they split with the company. Check Global Cash Card some time:)

[Buster's Uncle]

All the information they were asking for was my problem with the debit card.  I don't have a large footprint for the system/bosses to track, and I loathe occasions that it gets a little larger.

I know most people can't handle it, but I myself LOVE kicking around politics/religion conversationally.  I do believe I respect you enough to want to get into it.  (Much as I like arguing that stuff, I haveta be selective, not least because most people are dumb and have dumb opinions.)

[Green1]

Well, it is like this:

There are actually forums with folks that (kinda) have some of my political views. I can post there if I wish. Problem you run into is that if you agree it is like you are a broken record. If you do not, I have seen people DDoS wikis and forums, vandalize things, needless banhammering, etc. All over silly stuff. There are also, particularly in some forum communities that are religous and political, even more drama than the wargamer nerds can imagine! It would make some of ya'lls old forum drama look petty. I lurk, and avoid. Always keeping handles separate those places, if it is even worth gracing with my words.

This one (Green1) actually did edit/contribute to an anarchist web project that was mentioned in mainstream books and projects. It also is on many gamer sites as early as 2004. Not that I worry. The only things I wrote about was urban survival stuff and try to fact check, edit, and delete retarded edits or edits that did not follow like 5 basic rules. Imagine being in that position with folks that are homeless, punks, bohemians, liberals, btards/anon wannabees, and libertarian bussinessmen. Tough crowd. Not ashamed of it. I had a great time. I thought we wrote quality stuff. As for me, meh... I just want to game.

However, my personal rule does not rule out sharing what I know even if tempered by my slightly anarchist leanings. I love to dispel, as Penn and Teller like to call BS!

But the gaming forum is not as much a place. The only manifesto I should have to write is an AAR! LoL.

[Buster's Uncle]

That's one of the reasons I'm selctive about who I'll discuss deep stuff with.  In not-quite-four-years, even among a superior crowd, I've tripped over people who only seem to be able to handle it.

[Green1]

That's one of the reasons I'm selctive about who I'll discuss deep stuff with.  In not-quite-four-years, even among a superior crowd, I've tripped over people who only seem to be able to handle it.

Particularly over forums and collaborations! Plus, folks who will outright go on the attack! I have had this personally happen on both the internet and in person. All over what I consider pettyness.

But... these cards. Here is what I know that the "system" does not tell you.

1. Yeah, they can track whenever you use the card, what phone number you activate it from, etc. However, it is like the 1960's sci fi novel Stainless Steel Rat when he talked about mass monitoring and control. Tons of information is boring to sort through all the time. Only if certain flags are brought up will it be an issue. Even then, it's only big players or if folks are trying to place you somewhere. As important and paranoid as some folks like to believe they are, no one cares that they bought a pack of smokes and a beer Thursday at 3 AM at the Quickie Mart. It is only when you are doing something whatever establishment is in control dislikes and they are looking at you, it matters. Though, if you dump a dead body off, I would not use the card near a place you dumped the body! But think this, even if your employer could somehow find out you went to the quickie mart at 3 AM, for thousands of employees, thats like Stainless Steel said... too much info for a person to sort. (info and employers and landlords is a separate rant)

2. Information. Info is worth something. You betcha if you got a prepaid they are going to assume you have someone chasing after you for money. They are going sell this to agencies that pay that company for database access. Also, it is completely legal for companies to share information if they are under the same holding company's umbrella. You do know the Big Three databases are going to get it. 

3. Fees. Most prepaids, you can not get the change (last 99 cents, sometimes dollar) off the card. Multiply that by a million cards. Also, fees for per transaction, NSF, etc. See, corporations do not make much off the little guy who just keeps 100 USD or maybe 500 USD. So, they secretly charge. They will not do that to the guy sitting in the bank with 1M in there. There have been tales of dudes withdrawing 1M because of a 1 USD fee! Dangerous because the bank makes money lending out more money than is out in the economy. The other is fees to the millions of other of poor saps.

4. Plastic Cards are a religion. The power goes down, folks stop accepting it, folks feel it is worthless this can be made worthless regardless of what number shows. Just like all currencies are a religion. They can revoke any plastic card at any time, too. Ask the folks who bought Blockbuster prepaid gift cards a few back.


TL,DR:
Its another form of currency with it's own resellers. Do use it to purchase gas where you dumped a dead body or supplies for your massive pot farm or cocain distribution warehouse. It can be made worthless under certain conditions. It's a scam to make money for bankers - unless you are one of them.

BUT.. at least thieves would need a pin or ID (sometimes) to use it. Well, at least the thieves not wearing suits and ties behind the desk you got it from

[Buster's Uncle]

Well, the economics of plastic is a different subject.  This is a check card basically.  It just means I got a little money in the bank.  (The man don't know about the 9,000 I got with Bank of Mom, but then, I don't spend that money.)  Believe me, I'm a practicing miser, and it took some doing to get me to use plastic at all, but it's not like giving your money away to the credit card company, the way credit does.  The bank hasn't been gouging me with secret charges, and won't ever for two months in a row.

I've only had one falling out over an online collaboration, and that wasn't so major we stopped speaking or became bitter foes...

[Green1]

Well, the economics of plastic is a different subject.  This is a check card basically.  It just means I got a little money in the bank.  (The man don't know about the 9,000 I got with Bank of Mom, but then, I don't spend that money.)  Believe me, I'm a practicing miser, and it took some doing to get me to use plastic at all, but it's not like giving your money away to the credit card company, the way credit does.  The bank hasn't been gouging me with secret charges, and won't ever for two months in a row.

I've only had one falling out over an online collaboration, and that wasn't so major we stopped speaking or became bitter foes...

If it is a bank card not prepaid, there is something else I did not go over. Many of these banks hope you lose track of your balance if you are a typical wage slave living check to check. In fact, this is the reason they do not give you your balance unless you ask or go online. You go over, they DO NOT stop the card. They charge you up to 30 USD each time. One time, I know some one who bought a 2 dollar bag of chips one place, a 5 dollar pack of smokes another, then a beer or two. Ended up costing him 60-70 bucks for 10 dollars in items! Some or worse and charge PER DAY fees if you go over to stop those who want to avoid using the bank.

[Buster's Uncle]

Again, practicing. miser.

That ain't never gonna be a problem.  Most people in this country can't keep a nickle in their pocket to save their lives, but I can.  That $9,000 is left from a $10,000 inheritance a bit over 9 1/2 years ago. 

Also, the bank is a Credit Union, and I think they're not very predatory.

[Green1]

Again, practicing. miser.

That ain't never gonna be a problem.  Most people in this country can't keep a nickle in their pocket to save their lives, but I can.  That $9,000 is left from a $10,000 inheritance a bit over 9 1/2 years ago. 

Also, the bank is a Credit Union, and I think they're not very predatory.

Awesome! CUs are not nearly as bad. You do not have so much an account as have a "membership". Still, I am glad the subject of cards I got to touch on. A lot of folks do get screwed. I want the info out there, not on a document in very small print.

[Buster's Uncle]

This is not something I can talk to people about.  I try sometimes IRL, believe me, but there's no telling most people how to hold onto their duccies.  I mean, a good 80% of everyone is just plain stupid about money.  Smart people are, almost as often, and I don't waste time trying to explain it to the stupid ones at all. 

It's an impulse control issue as much as anything. 

We are in the rear-end of a golden age, watching morons pee it all away.

[Green1]

Many folks have impluse control issues. I can say that in the past, I was like that, too.

Hell, I still waste money on expensive energy drinks. At least I do not go to the pub a lot like I did in my 20s and 30s. I think back and remembered spending 3 to 5 USD plus great tip per drink so some dude would not talk crap about me. I could have gone to the store and gotten a cheap six pack for that. Better off, do some study and get equipment and brew my own! Yeah, I did meet some people. But, it was very superficial and I will dare say I did not gain any real long term friends there. Did get laid a few times. Nowadays, it is boring and I can not stand it. Nor can I stand the people that still go those places.

The money thing, at least for me, is a thousand little things. I do not think I am alone from watching folks. It is not the big things. It is a manic mode folks get into when they get paid good after being broke. For a day or two... just that day or two.. do what they want. Ah.. a beer. To hell with cooking the chicken and rice, get expensive Chinese Buffet! At least until the bill collectors swoop in and take everything else. It is convienience over price.

Even 9k would only last about 6 months to 8 months if someone was not careful. Many folks less. Impressive you kept it. I know folks who would have bought an Alienware laptop that would be a paperwieght in 5 years, a bigscreen, and gotten in debt in a car for that.

Do not worry about the stupid folks. Some may wake up eventually, but maybe they have some world view they are on a kick with and do not care. The others, though, even just one... it's worth it. Just be careful of advice to folks that do not want to hear.

[Buster's Uncle]

I bought a bottom-of-the-line computer.  It's a paperweight for a little over a year now, alright, but I got 7 years for $550, and only upgraded to my current rig because it was a gift.


Wisdom with handling money begins with nickle-and-dimeing almost everything in your universe.  You go cheap on the small things, a million of them, so you have the cash on hand for the big things, like cancer, or a house.

Food comes from the grocery store, and you cook it at home.  McDonalds is a luxury you shouldn't do more than once a week or so if you've got some cash flow going - a real restaurant should be something of a special occasion.  It goes on from there.  My dad practiced this philosophy, and just plain GAVE both my siblings HOUSES before he died.  Now, I don't have to work for money as long as I'm content being a hermit who takes care of his mother and doesn't get out much or indulge in any vices beyond smoking.  The last time I was working steady was Renaissance Fairs 94-02, and the money there sucked pretty hard.

You work out a pretty strict idea of what's a luxury and what isn't, impose some self-discipline, make sure you're always spending a little less than you have coming in -this has a profound effect on what counts as a luxury-, pay your bills on time to avoid late fees that will beggar you, and you should be set.

It's that simple in tha basic principles - and most people can't do it to save their lives.