Letter: Simple, cheap living is possible for those who don't consume by reflex

Editor,

I enjoy living simply and healthy on less than half the United States poverty level and less than half the federal income taxable level for me as a single person -- to boycott the U.S. empire’s greed and wars. I lived well in 2014 on $4,923 for my total expenses -- rent, food, etc.

I am glad I own no car, no refrigerator, no TV, no cooking stove, no gun, no washer/dryer, no computer, no big house, no cellphone, no air conditioner, no credit or debit cards, no charge account, no jet travel, no tattoos, no business suit ... I am glad I consume no cigarettes, no booze, no junk food, no prescription drugs, no illegal drugs ... Freedom for me is not having and not wanting these things.

Sadly, most USAans are as addicted to buying crap we do not need as any heroin addict is to the needle. The spending addictions of most USAans keep Wall Street feasting on profits.

I buy nothing at Wal-Mart, McDonald’s or large shopping malls. I shop at thrift stores, yard sales and the flea market. I write down every penny I spend every day and add it up.

I would trade places with no millionaire, no billionaire. I would be ashamed as hell to live like that. I have no right to more than I need while others in this world have less than they need.

I receive $419 per month in retirement social security. I have never received food stamps. I switched from a bank account to a credit union 25 years ago. Credit unions are member-owned, exempt from paying federal tax, not for-profit and not invested in Wall Street.

I have washed my clothes by hand since 1998 and I hang them up to dry. I enjoy having a food and flower garden. My home is a sunny 9.5x12 rented room with six windows in the house of a friend.

The United States is less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but steals and hogs 25 percent of the world’s resources. I refuse to live that way.

As long as most USAans believe they deserve more than poor multitudes worldwide, and as long as most USAans crave and buy crap no one needs, the US empire will rob, exploit, injure and murder millions.

Change as fast as you can as long as you enjoy it and are quite sure you will stick with it for life. Regardless of what others do, the main person I am responsible for changing is myself. I pledge publicly to live simply, to own no car and to pay no federal income tax for war for the rest of my life.

Sincerely,

Don Schrader

Daily Lobo reader