Will The Economy Collapse If Everyone Starts Homesteading?

45n5 · #1 01/05/12, 09:05 AM

The news is always telling us that spending is a good thing. The more we spend the better we are.

Around the holiday's especially, if you spend tons of money on tons of gifts that is good and if you don't spend we could head into another great depression.

So if everyone quit buying stuff and making more of their own stuff like food, entertainment, clothing, energy, furniture, etc. would our economy collapse?

What is this concept called that the more we shop the better our economy is? It's implied many times on the news.

Would the place fall apart if somehow homesteading got really, really popular and everyone were to start homesteading more?

kellyst · #2 01/05/12, 09:16 AM

Yes. Our economy would collapse without excessive consumer spending.

Qhorseman · #3 01/05/12, 09:25 AM

I read an article awhile back in which they stated thats why the economy is sputtering along like it is, people have cut back their spending, staying home, eating at home.

artificer · #4 01/05/12, 09:37 AM

This question is similar to "will we be able to prevent global warming if everyone stops driving cars, and uses public transportation." Theoretically it might be yes. Practically... absolutely no way it will ever happen.

Practically, if everyone is homesteading, the economy will have switched over, or else the bird flu pandemic has killed off a majority of the city dwellers, so the economy is in the tank already.

Michael

oz in SC V2.0 · #5 01/05/12, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45n5

The news is always telling us that spending is a good thing. The more we spend the better we are.

Around the holiday's especially, if you spend tons of money on tons of gifts that is good and if you don't spend we could head into another great depression.

So if everyone quit buying stuff and making more of their own stuff like food, entertainment, clothing, energy, furniture, etc. would our economy collapse?

What is this concept called that the more we shop the better our economy is? It's implied many times on the news.

Would the place fall apart if somehow homesteading got really, really popular and everyone were to start homesteading more?

I hope it would.

Having an economy built upon ever increasing consumer spending is stupid,it has to end some time.

"SPIKE" · #6 01/05/12, 09:45 AM

Before I answer that let me say that I wish nothing bad on anyone!

Yes it would. But would that really be a bad thing in the long run. I think our society has gone way too far in the wrong direction. Our government has become too self serving yet thinks it can fix everything if we give them all the money. Way too much greed and lack of caring for your fellow man.
History shows that humans start over often and often because of problems similar to the ones we are dealing with now.
Best short answer I can give.

SPIKE

Sourdough · #7 01/05/12, 09:54 AM

It is called "The Maximum Capacity to Consume".

Ohio Rusty · #8 01/05/12, 10:08 AM

QHorseman wrote:
people have cut back their spending, staying home, eating at home

If everything collapses due to lack of spending, then everyone can blame me for the collapse .... I only ate out one time for lunch last year and brought my lunch everyday ... I didn't waste my money at any movie theatres, I only bought two pizza's last year, etc. I have been trying hard to not spend except for the things I need ...... Although I kept both Ebay and Menards in business as those places are the bulk of where all my spending went to. This year, I'm spening less there also.

I have to ask myself a couple of questions ...... Why do those places and people need my money more than me ?????
Is it more important for my personal welfare to give all my money to China rather than keep it for myself and save it ???

Ohio Rusty ><>

mamita · #9 01/05/12, 10:13 AM

maybe. but it's not going to happen, so no worries about the collapse being caused by homesteading.

homesteading is still a great minority, so hopefully everyone else will just continue spending.

pancho · #10 01/05/12, 10:13 AM

As long as there are credit cards, loan consolidation, and credit spending will continue.
If people had to pay right then and there when they bought something spending would screech to a halt. We don't have to worry about that happening anytime in the near future.

olivehill · #11 01/05/12, 10:13 AM

Nah. Have you ever built a homestead or farm from the ground up? Plenty of purchases to be made. It'd just shift to different areas of spending/consuming. Macy's might go out of business but TSC, farm supply stores, etc would be booming!

Nevada · #12 01/05/12, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellyst

Yes. Our economy would collapse without excessive consumer spending.

Isn't that what happened in 2008?

Callieslamb · #13 01/05/12, 10:19 AM

I seem to still be spending plenty - I just spend it at the farm store rather than Wal Mart.

acde · #14 01/05/12, 10:23 AM

Our gov't should try it.

45n5 · #15 01/05/12, 10:36 AM

i think it's interesting that many people think it will never happen

i think it's possible,

i mean it's not hard to sell the homesteading lifestyle

that's why i was wondering what will happen to the economy, or country in general if everyone found homesteading as the way to go.

olivehill · #16 01/05/12, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45n5

i think it's interesting that many people think it will never happen

i think it's possible,

i mean it's not hard to sell the homesteading lifestyle

that's why i was wondering what will happen to the economy, or country in general if everyone found homesteading as the way to go.

Are you serious? Do you not get out much? Go to the city. Watch people. Talk to people. It won't happen. The economy may collapse and people may be FORCED into it, but they're not going to go willingly. It's too much hard, physical labor. It's too dirty. It's too hot, too cold, too stinky. It's too inconvenient.

FarmboyBill · #17 01/05/12, 10:43 AM

(Its not hard to sell the idea of homesteading) No the IDEA of it is an easy sale. Most people thnk that their neighbors should do something in htat direction. The practicality of actually doing it is a much harder sale, at least for those who would be successful about it.

In other words, Its easy to plop yourself down on 10 acres and say Im a homesteader. 3yrs later your back in town telling everybody that you were a actual homesteader, and for nobody to try it cause it didnt work. It didnt work cause they didnt work.

"SPIKE" · #18 01/05/12, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olivehill

Are you serious? Do you not get out much? Go to the city. Watch people. Talk to people. It won't happen. The economy may collapse and people may be FORCED into it, but they're not going to go willingly. It's too much hard, physical labor. It's too dirty. It's too hot, too cold, too stinky. It's too inconvenient.

Yeah Olivehill, don't ya just love it!

SPIKE

Sourdough · #19 01/05/12, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevada

isn't that what happened in 2008?

no........

FarmboyBill · #20 01/05/12, 10:49 AM

It interferes with their social schedule. To far to get into town for ball games, ect. Adds more money in gas to go to the movies, everybodies antisocial in the country. Nobody will help me. My driveway seems like its 5 miles long when the snow is 2ft high.I have to buy extra stuff to have it on hand just incase. Gas, wood, nails, bolts, screws, There arent any machanics out here. My garden spots never been plowed, and I dont own a tractor. I bought an old tractor at a REALLY good price. Now its time to plow my garden, and I dont own a plow, and the tractor boiles over. Can I run over it a time or two with an old pair of bed springs. ect, ect, ect. They told me I could make a thousand an acre. HA