@OldM8 @icedquinn @Cara @galena @Indigo @ringo yeah I'm not even saying it's all about me or anything. Honestly most of my effort toward self sufficiency is mainly to protect the people I care about. I could do with much less if I were alone. I just don't have trust in the systems built by strangers. I also think we tend to rely on centralized solutions way too often. It's an easy trap to fall into because at some levels centralization makes sense, but the habit of trying to make every issue a global one that we all have to acknowledge and work toward solving at the cost of our (and our families/communities) wellbeing is one I'd rather avoid.

As far as unions go, I think the idea is reasonable, but they are a target and will inevitably be infiltrated and seek to control the members.