This is a very old thread but so valuable. I'm dropping a reply here so I can come back to this. Great example Wayne...thank you.
wayne stephen wrote:So , let me pose a scene and maybe we can work out solutions from a permie perspective . See if we can create permie solutions to Old Testament age problems . {My personal opinion about Keynsian economics is that they view the corporation as the smallest entity of the economy . I believe the individual is .They are so afraid that thrift might slow the "aggregate demand". Bull. The root source of wealth is human ingenuity.} Ok , this is the scene. Mike buys a 40 acre piece of land and plots out his groundworks and establishes an orchard , pasture with movable electrified paddock systems , pork-beef-fowl, etc. Passive solar post and beam home with rocket mass heater . Ponds with fish . Soon his agricultural acumen has attracted the attention of Michelle down the road , they marry and have a son and then a daughter. Remember , I am starting off Old Testament. The Amish say that 40 acres is the smallest piece of land that is profitable for a farm. Mike and Michelle are able to supply all their own food and heating / cooking fuel . Raise their son and daughter - we will call them Sid and Nancy- home school them and teach them to love the earth and become great stewards and permaculturalists. Their surplus supplies all their monetary needs and allows them to participate in crowd-sourcing their favorite causes . We will say that they crowd source to the tune of 10% of their gain . Very Old Testament still. Soon Sid and Nancy are of age and being inspired permies they have new ideas and a fresh youthful energy and are ready to raise little permies of their own. Economically Mike and Michelle have made a big investment , spent 20 years paying off their mortgage , paid the costs of living as they went along. Would not the next generation profit even more without the huge startup costs ? The farm is liquid now, aside from the upgrades that the new kids on the block will want to initiate. Mike and Michelles strength is waning but can look forward to another 30-40 healthy years . Now , in the days of old Sid would be the inheritor of all his fathers vineyards and chattle. Mike and Michelle would stay on and be cared for by Sid and his family and Nancy would have married off . Nancy though is strong and capable . She is Helen Atthowe to Sids Paul Wheaton. Permaculure has already solved the problem with smaller plots being as or more profitable than the proverbial 40. By common law {in most states} without a will in place - after the death of Mike and Michelle - the right of survivorship would fall to the first born. What economic and cultural instruments would we need to face such situations in a progressive way ? How can we meet the needs of aging parents , convey to the next generations the fruits of our labors , be equitable to sons and daughters , and deal with ever shrinking land assets ? Any thoughts ?
