Althouse: "I don't use or accept money or conscious barter - don't take food stamps or other government dole."

May 3, 2012

"I don't use or accept money or conscious barter - don't take food stamps or other government dole."

"My philosophy is to use only what is freely given or discarded and what is already present and already running (whether or not I existed)."

All right, fine for you, Daniel Suelo. Live that moneyless life. But this video about you, connecting you to larger economic issues, with an insufferable music track, is just awful:

30 comments:

TWM said...: If you want to see something that is truly deep and meaningful watch this video about the Last Creed Fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMNYKwA6OqE&feature=share; 5/3/12, 9:03 AM
Dante said...: I suppose the statists don't care too much for a real hippy's message of freedom.; 5/3/12, 9:03 AM
Motorcycle said...: so why promote him? slow news day or something?; 5/3/12, 9:04 AM
Motorcycle said...: @Dante So if I like having a job that pays me money and puts me (and my family) in a decent shelter that makes me a statist? Really?; 5/3/12, 9:05 AM
TWM said...: BTW, this is nothing new. He's just a hobo without a train . . .; 5/3/12, 9:05 AM
bagoh20 said...: He didn't give up money - he gave up $30. That's not money. That was his life's savings, so really he didn't change anything. He just stop trying so he could tell himself: "Failure? I meant to do that.

If I get hurt or sick, I won't be looking for this dude to help me or anyone else.

He was born lucky to be healthy and in a nation where everyone else is not doing what he is, because there he would compete or die, and not have the option of playing navel gazing games.; 5/3/12, 9:15 AM
Dante said...: @Motorcycle:

Know anything about Ven Diagrams?

This what I said:

If you are a statist, you don't like the hippy (I'll leave it to you to figure out why).

I did not say this:

If you don't like the hippy, you are a statist.; 5/3/12, 9:18 AM
Known Unknown said...: Just checking for the "stupid" tag.

There it is. Move along.; 5/3/12, 9:30 AM
Dante said...: bagoh20:

I read somewhere once (I know), that CA Indians performed all their necessary work 2 weeks of the year, AND it was done by the women (acorn gathering). I suppose this is simplified, but still, sounds pretty good outside the pain and suffering.

Meanwhile, I suspect there is some doctor who would feel the guy's plight and take care of him. I don't care for the mooching, but hey, there are lots of parasites in the world, and if this guy can show that all this government nonsense isn't necessary, that people can live off the milk of human kindness, I'm all for that message.; 5/3/12, 9:30 AM
bagoh20 said...: There is another way of stating his creed:

I don't earn anything I get. Which also means, I don't do anything for anyone else, and give nothing back for what I use.

Commerce is the expression of appreciation for what others do. It says I value your contribution, enough to trade it if for mine. It's beautiful, it's uniquely human, it's the only reason we have more depth to appreciate in our world than cave paintings and baskets, and it's unappreciated by many, even as they enjoy it's fruits.; 5/3/12, 9:33 AM
Wince said...: The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen (Paperback - Mar 6, 2012)
Buy new: $10.20; 5/3/12, 9:37 AM
Joe said...: (The Uncredentialed, Crypto Jew)

I’m a statist…but I think that is becoming a pejorative like “Racist/Fascist…it simply means, “I don’t agree with you, but I don’t want to debate you.” But unlike “racist only 1% of the populace feels it’s a real insult.; 5/3/12, 9:40 AM
Joe said...: (The Uncredentialed, Crypto Jew)

Meanwhile, I suspect there is some doctor who would feel the guy's plight and take care of him. I don't care for the mooching, but hey, there are lots of parasites in the world, and if this guy can show that all this government nonsense isn't necessary, that people can live off the milk of human kindness, I'm all for that message.

How does he show that all this “government nonsense isn’t necessary.”? Most folks don’t want to live in cave and dumpster dive…If THIS is an illustration of the NON-Necessity of the Welfare State, you anarcho-capitalists demonstrate your hopeless position.; 5/3/12, 9:43 AM
bagoh20 said...: "(acorn gathering)"

Sounds like a very rewarding and interesting life. I can't figure out why they ever gave that up?

Now they have some kick-ass casinos, they live past 35 and most of their children don't die over winter.

Oh, and those Indians (the Chumash) bartered with other tribes along the coast for all kinds of things that made their life better. They used money (seashells) and they considered the trade with others to be one of the most important parts of their lives, which is why they would produce extra baskets and items for trade.

No human community could survive working only 2 weeks a year except in Washington DC. You don't really believe that, do you?; 5/3/12, 9:44 AM
edutcher said...: A guy who lived in a cave, but made his own stuff was called a hermit.

A guy who lived off other people's trash was called a bum.

Do the math.; 5/3/12, 9:49 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: That bird logo in the upper left corner looks like a loon.; 5/3/12, 9:59 AM
bagoh20 said...: "so why promote him?"

We need to get rid of him, but he's on the bottom rung, and we can't fire him.; 5/3/12, 10:14 AM
Dark Eden said...: Is this sustainable? If everyone lived this way would it work? Doesn't this lifestyle depend on other people embracing money and the American lifestyle to have the things to give to him? Do something to support yourself in a planet friendly way and I would be more impressed.; 5/3/12, 10:51 AM
Dante said...: bagoh20:

I tend to agree with you the guy is a form of parasitic life. I also agree commerce is great stuff, and moves all kinds of things forward.

To me the value of this person is an example. You can live off the cup of human kindness without requiring the state to take from peter to support paul, and get paul's vote.; 5/3/12, 11:32 AM
Joe said...: (The Uncredentialed, Crypto Jew)

You can live off the cup of human kindness without requiring the state to take from peter to support paul, and get paul's vote.

IF you are willing to live in a cave…..that’s an advert for a socio-political theory, “Let’s you live in cave.” Sign me up.; 5/3/12, 11:55 AM
Sigivald said...: Dante: "Real Hippies" worked on (voluntary formed and staffed) communes, growing their own food, and bartering or trading for supplies.

They weren't beggars and scavengers.

Not that there's anything wrong with a few losers living off scraps - but the original hippies weren't the degenerate cases you see now, especially this guy.

Using only what would already be running if he didn't exist? WHY?

Why not create things? The real hippies did that. They understood comparative advantage enough that they engaged in trade!

(Now, to be fair, various authorities haven't cared for the real hippies' messages of (different) freedom, true.

But this guy isn't that.); 5/3/12, 12:22 PM
n.n said...: Well, if nothing else, he does enjoy the benefits of living within America's jurisdiction. I wonder what that is worth to him.; 5/3/12, 1:54 PM
Fred Drinkwater said...: Wait. Time out.
bagoh20 said above: "Commerce is the expression of appreciation of what others do."
THAT is one of the most profound statements I have read here or anywhere.; 5/3/12, 3:20 PM
dbp said...: "'The fact is, if everyone lived like the average American, the world would actually collapse more quickly than if everyone lived like Suelo.'"

This is the opposite of the truth. If everyone lived like Suelo there would be massive famine--the world cannot sustain 7 billion hunter gatherers. And he doesn't even hunt, he just collects road-kill, which there would be none of if everyone lived like him. So, it would just be gathering and famine if the world emulated Suelo.

The Suelo's of the world can only exist if hardly anyone lives like that.; 5/3/12, 5:02 PM
Many Faces Of NORIK said...: Motorcycle said...
so why promote him? slow news day or something?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not only him. Yesterday there was a piece on NPR about a German women that have been living wothout using money for the last 15 years.

I think this a campaign orchestrated buy the media, or maybe even WH, to appeal to, "energize", another Obama constituency, the loosers that can't keep a job and are generally on the left to far left politically. I think we can call it a war on Money. I think we'll hear more of it. It most probably comes to replace OWS IMO, which definitely polls badly, with the same aim - to through loosers little something to feel good about themselves, but without unsavory displays of OWS encampments.

Of course, the problem with people who have "no need for money" is that they live on other people money - the money, that, as Margaret Thatcher had already noticed, tend to run out at some point.; 5/3/12, 5:19 PM
Carnifex said...: Another example of how we are so rich in the west people like this guy isn't starving.

Bagoh has this thread sewed up.; 5/3/12, 6:49 PM
Blue@9 said...: Yes he's a parasite, but I can't hate him either. The beauty of our system is that people can opt out and live their own way. This is one reason I've always hated communism, which depends on coerced participation.; 5/4/12, 12:19 AM
Toad Trend said...: Irony alert: as others have pointed out, this guy doesn't have a chance without the world he eschews.

Its a co-dependency, but whether its healthy or not is certainly debatable.

Its just that I have this thing about talent and ability, and an individual that wastes potential.; 5/4/12, 5:31 AM
Rusty said...: Blue@9 said...
Yes he's a parasite, but I can't hate him either.

Me neither, but I can't help but think that after the first snowfall up near his cave, he's going to living in a homeless shelter.The little snapshot of his life doesn't give us enough information.
Think of camping out 24/7/365. Believe me. After a couple of weeks it gets old, very old.; 5/4/12, 8:02 AM
Methadras said...: Here is a gold star for being a do nothing. People in India live better on far less then you have and they are called the untouchables.; 5/4/12, 1:27 PM