The Next Depression?

[jjthink]

Quote:
So much to say and so little time - work beckons, but I'm so glad you brought this up Stevie. One place where we can have an impact is in the preservation of farmland (and natural open spaces - they protect the water, etc.). Right now in NJ the land preservation fund is about to run dry so it is time for people right now to contact their legislators and the Governor to ask that they take action this year to ensure that the funding does not dry up (this action has to take place imminently for it to get through the whole process in time). Farmland preservation saves tax dollars in the long run and the developments that often replace them drive taxes up. For this reason, and the importance of having local food sources, less transport time and therefore fuel used to move food etc. make lots of good reasons to keep the program running. There are plenty of farmers interested in having their farms preserved - many small farmers in the mix - the problem is the state funding. And that can be fixed, with enough public attention to this. For Governor and legislator contact info, go to www.state.nj.us. The message: Please ensure that the state's land preservation program gets fully funded this year and into the future.

Same for any other state. Legislators and governors can continually be contacted, asking that land preservation programs be funded. This always costs the taxpayer less than if the land was developed. Sprawl is moving like a wave across the country and the cost to taxpayers will be shocking. NJ's property taxes are the highest in the nation and it is also the most densely developed state. It is not a coincidence. It's simply a function of math because developed properties cost a tremendous amount in government services (tax dollars) to sustain. Farmland and other open space cost little or nothing, yet provide a litany of benefits. In state capitals across the land, it is the squeaky wheel that gets the funding. Decisionmakers look to see what people are asking them to do and judge the importance of that thing by how many people have contacted them on a particular issue. They literally count heads. BYC people and their families and any friends they can get to join in actually could make a huge difference in ensuring that farmers can keep farming...... There will still be plenty of development even with our farmlands and crucial natural open spaces preserved. But if farmland and critical natural lands are lost, the price will be very high.


JJ

 

[horsechick]

LOL!
I have wondered the EXACT same thing about diesel!

Only a few years ago it was "always" cheaper, maybe 10 or less? It was always chealer than regular, a lot of folks went to them, non-farming folks anyhow, maybe thats why it is higher now, they can make more money?
I don't think we'll see anything done about gas prices until after Nov. 2nd.
Too many people interested in making as much as they possibly can while they can.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

IMO I think its more exspensive cause it combust longer then gas. Thats my opinion but I could be wrong

JJ,

I will definatly try to get NJ farms funded. I been to the agricultural museum next to rutgers. I loved it and I would feel sorry if we loose all that. I tried there real peach preserves and its so good. I dont want this to become a memory of what america used to be.

I am sorry to go off subject but I am scared of what america will be like in a few years

 

[MRNpoultry]

Nc small farms are selling out we had just went to two farm auctions recently, the one reason I want land now nc is still half way affordable.

 

[swampducks]

A gas boycott won't do any good because you're only postponing the inevitable. If 100 million people don't buy gas for 3 days all that will happen is that 3 days later everyone buys the same amount of gas they would have bought (plus the 3 days extra as their tanks got closer to empty). The gas has already been paid for by the gas stations, they aren't going to discount it to try to get people back a day early and of course, the oil companies, refineries, etc have also already been paid. None of these places are living hand-to-mouth requiring a daily influx of cash.

"Necessary driving", going to work, school, food deliveries, public transportation, emergency services, etc, things that are required to have a civilized society will continue. So there will always be a minimum amount of gas that will be sold.

To counter the argument; "what if no one drives to work those 3 days"? Work places are not going to allow their people to call in sick for 3 days, and very few will risk it as there are too many other people out of work who would take those jobs.

The only way for the "little guy" to affect gas prices is to decrease demand. That means everyone would have to stop "luxury driving", and that would mean, no driving to the movies, the theatre, restaurants, soccer practice, baseball games, ice cream, etc.

Get 100 million people to do that for a MONTH and maybe someone besides the media will take notice. Then again, as everyone "knows" this boycott is going to end soon, it can be waited out, therefore, I doubt even a month will make much of a dent. Except, of course, to the livlihoods of the people making money in those "luxury" industries, and to the happiness of the kids who can't go to all their after school activities.

Gosh, this is such a cheery thread!

 

[bobbieguyette]

To counter the argument; "what if no one drives to work those 3 days"? Work places are not going to allow their people to call in sick for 3 days, and very few will risk it as there are too many other people out of work who would take those jobs.

Thank you for saying this
Its what I was trying to say im not spoiled by any means we have to drive everyday or no job period.they have been saying boycott for years now but it never happens im sure everyone here has received the boycott for gas email time and time again i know i have
told my 4 lazy bulldogs im gonna have to hitch em up to a sled and deliver the papers
We are down to using one car and its a cheap as can be a 4 cyl geo and thats still costing quite a bit to run and gas just went up to 3.21 today!
edited to also say I dont go just for a drive anymore I love to stay home and be with my critters here heck im on the road everyday and the last thing i want to do is get into a car and go for a drive!im sure this will definatly effect the summer vacations this year tho I dont know what a vacation is

 

[ams3651]

Sorry if i skipped over someone else but Im saving time..... Has anyone heard of Freecycle? www.freecycle.org
Instead of throwing away things you may not need, offer them to someone who does. Many towns have their own site. I just got 4 6 packs of pediasure for my son for free. People give away vegetables, seeds and plants, furniture, wood, clothing, baby items, etc. Just one more way to make a little dent, I believe every little thing counts.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Miss Chessy - check your local library for books on canning and such. If you are in a small country town like I am, our small local library has tons of books on "useful" stuff, like canning and raising livestock. You might also check with your local county extension office for free pamphlets on the same subjects mentioned above.
Canning is not necessarily always "better" than freezing. It just depends on what you are canning/freezing. Some stuff holds up better canned than frozen and vice versa.
Edited to add: I think many people forget how money-saving and useful their local library can be. Instead of buying a book to read, why not get it on loan free from your library? There are some books I buy instead of loaning, but only ones I plan on keeping for a reason. Some libraries also have how-to videos and movies for loan. Many have children's programs (puppet shows, reading groups, etc.). I think it's a shame that there's been such a decline in library usage as people have become accustomed to buying whatever they or their kids want without thinking of the alternative.

 

[GwenFarms]

In regards to the gas boycott, as I stated above, this is wishful thinking. It would be impossible to organize. People would have to make grand gestures and possibly sacrifice their jobs in the process. The entire population just is not going to do that. However, IF it ever happened it would be successful. There would be no neccesary driving, there would have to be no driving..period. No work, no school, no nothing until the boycott was over. The middle eastern shieks may not feel much a loss, but everyone from there down would. Each of those folks, including the US government, would recognize our efforts.

The last time I posted about this it was primarily in regards to the trucking industry, which is my family's main source of income. Independent truckers have been trying to organize something like this since gas prices began to spike. They haven't even been able to stage an important boycott within themselves. These are the people that gas prices are affecting the most. If it can't be done by this smaller group, I can't see us being able to accomplish this as a nation.

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
It's amazing how few people I know go to our local libraries. I would have thought that with the poverty level of some of my neighbors, they'd jump at the chance. I know a few of them read because even our post office has a shelf of books people can borrow.

Both DH and I have our own cards and I've borrowed books on everything from cooking and gardening to building projects, and scifi.

And today Hal just picked up a book on economics. I have no idea why, but I'll just bet the bookstore at the mall, more than 48 miles away didn't have it to buy.