Without getting into politics or policies, laws or restrictions....
Today I read some articles and research paperwork about the continued growth of electric self-generation. In today’s world we often hear about going off-grid, it’s the trend, it’s the “hip” thing to do. Personally I feel it is so much more important than that. As a single Dad of 3, I take pride in the fact that “I AM THE AUTHORITA
TIVE” person in my children’s life, “I HAVE THE FINAL SAY!” “NOTHING” happens in our world without MY permission. Call it ego, call it pride, call it what you will, but my role as their leader, their paterfamilias, their FATHER, taking and making decisions on how to raise MY children, and what environment I CHOOSE for them is my choice and ultimately my responsibility. Me alone will take either the ramifications, or benefits of MY actions. All that being said, I see a world going down a path that if not corrected, will lead to a future where decision making will be based on regulation and law rather than self made actions. Growing up I was (School) taught that Solar, Wind, GeoThermal, etc, was the wave of the future, that fossil fuels will be depleted within my lifetime. I’m not ignorant of that nor am I blind. HOWEVER, it won’t be a pull the bandaid type of change. People and society doesn’t change overnight like that. On a long enough timeline, even a lie can become truth. I have been laughed at, told I was crazy, told I was ignorant, told I was “one of those”, been labeled by society for voicing my own believes. What I see is this: Will Renewable energy sources ever be free of regulation....NO! There is WAY too much money to be made otherwise! Think about this for a second. Say you had a commodity, MILK for example. You are the only farm around, and people only buy from you. You own the cows, the land, the farm, machinery, the containers, distribution, the vendors, everything. Now say someone comes along and says, we have a similar item that achieves the same desired effect. It costs a little bit more now, but with the promise that with popularity and usage, the prices will become cheaper than MILK. What do you do as the owner of MILK
1. “Educate” people about the dangers of Alternative Milk!
2. Remind people that Alternative Milk isn’t safe for YOUR family!
3. “Publish” articles about how your Milk company is better for people because of the jobs it creates.
4. Lobby law makers to STOP the Alternative Milk from “endangering” local towns.
5. Tell people that your company is “looking into and partnering with” alternative milk, BUT it will be a while before you can safely say it’s a good idea.
6. Etc......
Sound familiar? Am I the crazy one? If I am, I will own up to it. But the way I see it, I think the more people ask for hand-outs, the more people use an item or service, the more use-to people become to having it around, the LESS authority we have on our own lives and homes. I had a real gut check moment when I had to explain to my children that I couldn’t give them something because I had to save to pay the electric bill. As a Dad, I really had to think about that. Here I am paying for something that I can create myself, and instead I am paying for someone else to give it to me. Meanwhile my children aren’t getting the FULL life experience. That was my moment I decided, NO MORE! I will not send some CEO’S child to wherever to have fun simply because I procrastinate about becoming independent. I started small, and worked my way up. It takes time and effort, education and patience. But....so does everything else. I choose to raise my children with the awareness that even though something is convenient, it may not be the best, nor be the only way. Education and awareness are the only ways to break free. Sure you may make mistakes along the way, but IT’S OK, everyone makes mistakes. Learn, read, talk to the elders and ask them, HOW’D YOU DO IT? Then shut up and listen! I choose to NOT watch the news, I choose to read books, I choose to be more than I was yesterday, I CHOOSE TO BE FREE. Videos of Off-grid easy to do projects will be posted very soon! Like, Comment, Share, Ask your friends to join!
