Now, a Forbes writer is attacking self-reliant individuals and calling them “delusional moochers.” The writer in question, Adam Ozimek, is a senior economist in the West Chester office of Moody’s Analytics. His article, Dear Homesteaders, Self-Reliance Is a Delusion, claims that people who live in rural areas are only “mooching off of the civil society.”
According to Ozimek, people who grow their own food, hunt and raise their own animals are “delusional” moochers. Those who know first-aid and who make their own remedies, are also “delusional” moochers. People who build furniture and fix their own homes are considered “delusional” moochers. People who generate and conserve energy are considered “delusional” moochers.
The Forbes writer, who is obviously the delusional one, says he is a “big fan of shows about doomsday preppers, homesteaders, survivalists, generally people who live off the grid,” but says that “off the grid people are not self-reliant” and are only “mooching off of the civil society, government, and safety net the rest of us contribute to.”
It’s hard to take this writer seriously, for the simple fact that his knowledge of self-reliance comes solely from watching TV shows. His biggest criticism of self-reliant individuals is that they may end up seeking medical treatment they can’t afford when they become “extremely sick.” He blames such individuals for potentially needing hospital care in the future and not being able to pay for it. He assumes that when all else fails, they will seek charity care or Medicaid benefits.
One of the virtues of self-reliance is learning how not to depend on modern medicine and the medical system. An individual can quickly save tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on healthcare costs by simply learning how to eat better and treat themselves at home. Not to mention, learning how to take care of one’s own health saves time, energy, and mitigates the risks that come from taking side-effect ridden pharmaceuticals.
As an economist, Dr. Ozimek should be writing about all the ways in which self-reliant individuals save money on healthcare.
Instead, Dr. Ozimek stereotypes self-reliance, as if people who learn new skills are somehow separate from the rest of society and should not receive help if necessary. For some reason, he thinks that all thrifty, skillful individuals are exempt from paying property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, and other fees when they participate in society, and therefore are not allowed to receive any services from society.
Homesteaders and self-reliant individuals are an asset to society because they are not draining society of resources. Their self-reliance is a gift to their community and country because they are not constantly seeking to take from others or receive handouts. Self-reliant individuals care about the poor because they do whatever it takes to provide, allowing welfare to be distributed first to the truly handicapped and sick. Self-reliance is less about consumption and more about producing. Self-reliance is not some title or achievement one reaches; self-reliance is something one is always striving toward. Self-reliance is the definition of personal responsibility. We should all strive for more independence and accept the personal responsibility that comes with it. The less we require from society, the less control these failing systems will have over our lives.
With this article, Dr. Ozimek is trying to justify his reliance on failing systems. People like him will never feel the satisfaction that comes from having practical skills, growing food, self-healing, providing or making something. As he clings to his title, he has nothing practical to offer the world. All he can do is display his narcissism, further discrediting Forbes. (Related: For more empowering information on self reliance, check out HomeSteading.News.)
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