Land Empowerment over Universal Basic Income
Growing Human Potential through Self-Sufficiency & Community Engagement
In recent years, the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) has gained significant attention as a potential solution to address poverty and income inequality. However, it is crucial to critically evaluate the consequences of solely relying on financial support without considering the broader implications for human well-being and empowerment. Providing individuals with true access to real land for self-sufficiency in producing water, food, energy, shelter, and sanitation will almost certainly offer greater holistic benefits than a UBI. By reconnecting with nature, engaging in physical activity, and fostering community ties, land ownership empowers individuals and enhances their overall quality of life. As a homesteader myself, I can attest to the incredible satisfaction of growing produce, collecting eggs, harvesting rainwater, cooking food over methane biogas, & collecting solar energy to power many of the tools to work my 2 acres.
Let’s dive into what happens to people when you break the link between meaningful work and fair income…
The Detrimental Effects of Money for Nothing:
The provision of money without the requirement of work has been proven to have detrimental effects on human beings. Numerous studies have shown that a lack of purpose and meaningful engagement negatively impacts mental health, self-esteem, and overall life satisfaction. Human beings thrive when they have a sense of purpose, when they actively contribute to society, and when they engage in activities that challenge and fulfill them. We are part of nature. We are sustained from the soil, we are meant to plant living things, we are supposed to be linked into the fabric of life. When we are boxed away in apartments, watching TV, and eventually receiving government UBI checks, we are truly isolated. “Free money” breaks even our link to work, rendering us truly disempowered for directing our own futures.
The Importance of Physical Activity, Time in Nature, and Hands-On Projects:
Human beings have an inherent need for physical activity and contact with the natural world. Living in dense urban environments, detached from the sources of our basic needs, hampers our connection with the environment. The opportunity to engage in hands-on projects, work the land, and interact with nature fosters a deeper sense of fulfillment and well-being. Physical activity contributes to physical health, mental well-being, and a greater sense of accomplishment and purpose.
The Final Step to Disempowerment:
UBI, in its currently conceptualized form, risks further disempowering individuals by perpetuating the cycle of dependence on centralized, external systems. It disconnects people from the fundamental aspects of self-sufficiency, community engagement, and personal growth. While financial support can alleviate immediate hardships, it fails to address the underlying need for purposeful work, active participation, and connection to the natural world. A society dependent solely on UBI risks losing the potential for innovation, creativity, and personal development. They also risk all political autonomy, as whoever disperses the UBI checks will effectively own the recipients through a massive asymmetry of power.
To break free from the disempowering cycle of a UBI-centric society, we must embrace land reform as a means of empowering individuals. Land ownership allows people the opportunity to build their own environments, cultivate sustainable livelihoods, and restore community ties. The principles of permaculture offer a holistic approach to land use, combining agriculture, energy production, and ecological design to create self-sufficient systems. By gaining control over their local sources of water, food, energy, shelter, and sanitation, individuals become empowered, resilient, and connected to their immediate surroundings.
The Benefits of Land Empowerment:
1. Self-Sufficiency: Land ownership enables individuals to meet their basic needs directly, fostering independence and reducing reliance on external systems.
2. Community Engagement: By reconnecting with the land, people forge stronger community ties, fostering collaboration, and creating support networks.
3. Environmental Stewardship: Land ownership encourages responsible land management practices, promoting sustainability and conservation.
4. Personal Growth: Engaging in hands-on projects, individuals develop skills, gain knowledge, and foster a sense of accomplishment, enhancing personal growth and self-esteem.
5. Economic Opportunities: Land-based activities open avenues for entrepreneurship, local economies, and the development of alternative livelihoods.
Final thoughts:
While Universal Basic Income may provide short-term relief, it fails to address the fundamental human needs for purpose, connection with nature, and active engagement. Land empowerment offers a path to restore these essential bonds, enabling individuals to produce their own water, food, energy, shelter, and sanitation. By embracing land reform and permaculture principles, we can create a society that encourages self-sufficiency, fosters community ties, and empowers individuals to thrive in a harmonious relationship with their environment.
We humans were meant to have a direct connection to our needs. Simple needs. Fresh water, living & local food, clean energy, creative shelter, and green sanitation. Perhaps one of the answers to many of our modern problems is reclaiming our connection to these things.
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