Not Sure What My Next Goal Should Be

Andy | October 14, 2012

I try to be careful with saving money every week, and putting a little away for a goal. I contribute to my pension plan and a little bit my Roth IRA every week to save towards retirement. That’s fine, but I also like to save a lot more money into my boring old savings account for more immediate goals — within the next couple of years.

The problem is I really don’t have another goal. I am kind of saving for nothing, or actually one of many choices that I really don’t have a solid figure on what I want to do with the money. It also has grown tougher to save money these days, as the interest rates are so low that money doesn’t really grow much in the bank.

Idea 1: Save Money to Move Out of NY State.

I am not a big fan of New York State by any means. I think it’s policies are so dracionian, and it’s urban dominance means that Upstate will forever be governed by absentee landlords from New York City, who develop policies in wine bars high above the strip in trendy Manhattan.

I don’t like the Sullivan Act. I don’t like the burn ban. I don’t liek the Adirondack Park Agency, or just the state’s official dislike of all rural areas. I don’t like the fact the state increasingly nickling and diming working folks just to feed the beast.

But, hey I like the Adirondacks, Catskills, Greens, Taconics, and other amazing places being so close to home. The recession makes it hard to find a job elsewheres, and the reality is any place I would go would certainly involve a massive cut in salary, benefits, and a relearning of how to live.

But some day I do want to move out of state, on to some rural land, have animals, do a little hobby farming, play in the mud, shoot some guns, and burn things. I really dislike state’s open burn ban. But for now, the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park works well enough for me.

Idea 2: Go Back to College.

I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to college. But it’s so dang expensive. And I really don’t want to sit in class all day, and learn stuff I am not really interested in or could better learn on my own. I struggled through 6 years of college, in and out of school and at work to get my bachelors degree, and I am less then excited about the whole thing.

I would like to go back to school to study GIS map making, and turn my hobby into actually marketable skills. Doing that would allow me to make more money, but more importantly have more flexiability in where I live, so I can live in rural area not run by citidiots.

Idea 3: Sled.

I have been thinking about getting a snowmobile at the end of winter season for next year. Not something brand new, but something decently reliable that I could use to access the deep back country in winter. It might also be fun for camping in the winter, as I could strap a backpack on with gear.

But it’s also an expensive hobby to say least. Plus, even if I got a snowmobile in the spring time, I would have to store it until the winter before I could really use it for much better. But I figure an end of season special would probably save some real money.

Idea 4: Fix Up My Truck.

I got to fix the bumper on my truck. It annoys the fuck out me, to put it the way I see it. The way it is bent — the particular angle — is so ugly. Yet, do I want to just fix the parts that are damaged or do I want to get a real bumper for my truck? I know they make heavy duty off-road bumpers.

Which got me thinking — if I replace the rear bumper, shouldn’t I also replace the front bumper with a real bumper, so it at least matches? Or should I wait until I do something stupid and damage it?

Likewise, I want to jack my truck up. It would be fun to ride up higher, would add at least “visual” value to the truck, and make me like it better. Although, maybe I would eventually get tired of jacked up truck. But should I wait until the first set of tires are worn out, before going for the jacked up routine? I don’t know.

Many Possibilities.

I continue to chew over my choices and possibilities. Moving out of NY State — to a nicer state with more sane policies — continues to be a priority of mine, but that has to be balanced by my good paying job that pays the bills, and the proximity to the great Adirondack and Catskill Parks.

Then there are all the toys I could spend my money on. But toys require gasoline, which sure is expensive these days. Certainly having more money in the bank account makes it grow faster. But I also got to have fun, and have an excuse for saving money. So I don’t know.

There Ought To Be Sunlight on Non-Profit Organizations

Andy | July 15, 2012

One thing that concerns me is the lack of transparency for all not-for-profit organizations that are involved in influencing government polic or representing themselves in front of government agencies.

While all not-for-profit organizations must disclose how they spend their money, at least on an yearly bases on publically avaliable IRS Form 901, they do not have to disclose individual donors, or the amount each donor gives. In many cases, through the advocacy and other works of not-for-profits, substantial government lobbying and political influence is given by the organization, yet few actually know who is funding the organization, or what the true rational for the organization’s actions.

If persons are afraid to give to not-for-profit organizations, for fear of disclosure, then they should not give. Not all not-for-profit organizations serve the public interest, as many spend a substantial amount of their funds advocate for policies that are highly detrimental to the public interest. Likewise, there should be public pressure on not-for-profit organizations avoid taking donations from corrupting sources of funds.

A great deal of advocacy on behalf of major corporations takes on behalf of citizens groups. Many cases, grass roots efforts are amplified by large corporate donations, but nobody really knows where the money comes from, except that they report large donations as being a key to sustaining their organization. For sake of openess, all not-for-profit organizations should have to disclose all donations and where they came from.

People Who Pay the Individual Mandate Tax Should Get Healthcare

Andy | July 12, 2012

One of the problems I have with the individual mandate, is those who do not get healthcare insurance have to pay a tax, yet get nothing in return. That tax should go directly for paying for healthcare for those persons, by either using that revenue to add them to Medicaid or an assigned risk pool.

Option 1: Automatic Enrollment to Medicaid for Those Without Insurance.

Those who pay the individual mandate tax could automatically be enrolled in the government’s Medicaid program. The individual mandate tax could pay for the costs of enrolling these persons into medicaid. Medicaid would ensure these persons have access to basic healthcare, and because such an expansion would be paid directly out this tax, there would be no cost to government.

Option 2 Assigned Risk Pool for Those Without Insurance.

Alternatively, those who do not enroll in a private market insurance plan could be placed in the assigned risk pool, similiar to those who can’t buy insurance on the private market due to DWI or bad driving records. The individual mandate tax could pay for those individuals who don’t have insurance to be automatically assigned to an insurer, for it’s most basic plan.

Insurers would be forced to accept persons assigned to them, at random, by the government, who don’t currently have insurance. These individuals paying the individual mandate tax, would have their tax revenue handed over to the private company they are assigned to. Insurers would cover their healthcare costs, with very basic plans.

People Still Would Want to Get Insurance.

Being enrolled in Medicaid or a an Assigned Risk Pool insurance is far from an ideal solution for most people. People would be actively encouraged to buy insurance on the exchange, rather then taking whatever the government has randomly assigned to them, or government sponsored Medicaid.

Yet, the assigned risk pool is better then nothing.If for some reason a person didn’t sign up for insurance, they should be covered with basic healthcare insurance. Assigned risk is very market friendly, and is less government involved then expanding Medicaid, so it seems likely that would be the reform chosen for healthcare coverage for all.

Twenty-Nine

Andy | January 29, 2012

Today is my twenty-nineth birthday. Last year before turning 30. While people assure me that turning 30 is not a big deal, and everybody goes through it, somehow I feel like I got to make my 29th birthday, and make my 29th year something special.

Everytime around this time of year, I like to take a few minutes to think back about the past year and the coming year. In many ways this year is kind of a blank slate, something to be planned as things go along.

Not having big plans doesn’t mean I won’t do big things…

I already are thinking about many weekend and longer road trips, hikes, and camping trips. I at least don’t have to worry too much about my truck breaking down. I probably won’t set anything down in stone for sure, but I do want to get back to some of my favorite spots in the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.

I got to get a truck cap this spring, and kayak racks for my truck. Hopefully by mid-summer, I can my truck wired up with a second battery to power my camping gear without fears of running my main battery dead. I need to work to build up my savings, a lot of which went into purchasing my pickup truck last year.

I also got to look forward to future years. This year I will become vested in the State Employee Pension Plan, which means I will have other options opening. I might consider going back to college, or even moving out of the state. I look forward to the adventures of the coming year.

Liberty as Wilderness

Andy | November 29, 2011

I have written many times in the past on how much I dislike State Parks and State Campgrounds. I dislike the high degree of enforcement, the rules and regulations, and the number of people that are crowded into a small area. I much prefer to be alone and make my own rules, limited only by a basic respect for the natural world around me.

I have never viewed wilderness as a fixed or pure landscape. There is no pure wilderness for me, no set of clear definations, except for the need to be fairly remote, fairly private, fairly free from the big government enforcement precence. Certainly, a scenic view is nice, and quiet from passing traffic is great, but it’s not everything.

Liberty should be the primary goal in wilderness. Wilderness is a place with the fewest regulations and rules possible, the farthest place possible from an enforcement precence. I just like to be myself, spend time in the woods, observing nature, and doing things on my own pace, without the regulations or control of the government.

License Schoolyard Bullies

Andy | October 8, 2011

Across New York State, bigger and meaner children are stealing the lunch money from smaller and weaker children. It happens every school day, and while it may not be fair or right, it’s likely to continue for the forseeable future. As it would be almost impossible to stop — we should do next best thing — license schoolyard bullies.

Licensing schoolyard bullies could bring in a sizable portion of revenue to the state. Nobody knows how much lunch money is stolen every year, but figuring there are millions of kids in Public Schools, there is the potential for millions of untapped revenue. Licensing schoolyard bullies could be a potential goldmine to tap to reduce the state’s yearly deficit.

Understanding the problem of bulling in schools, the state could dedicate a portion of funds coming from licensing and taxing bullies go to bullying prevention. A 50% tax on profits by school bullies could do a lot for all children. It would make the bullying business theoretically less profitable, and discourage bullying. It also would provide funds to monitor the actions of bullies to ensure that actions are appropiate — extracting funds from weaker children — while making sure their actions aren’t too abusive or harmful.

The fact is we are never going to get away from bigger and mean kids bullying weaker kids, and stealing their lunch money. It’s just part of growing up for the most unlucky of children. Yet, if this insitution is to exist, then at least their should be a kind of public function to schoolyard thief of lunch money, specifically funding of government.

… and remember, school yard bullies are not organized, and are too young to vote.

Population Density-based Democracy

Andy | May 7, 2011

One of the concepts I have grown interested in lately is the use of density to draw districts for governing bodies. Rather then draw districts based on historical lines, partisan politics, or ethnicity, why not draw them based on a formula that considers density?

How it would work…

Take the entire population of a region, state, or country, and divide it by the number of districts one views as appropiate.
Neighborhooring census blocks with the closest average density would be grouped together until they had equal population.

Why this is a good idea…

Areas with similiar densities have the most similiar needs.
Connect farming areas with other farming areas, connect dense urban areas with other dense urban areas, suburbs with suburbs.
Representives are non-conflicted by different consituencies, they can be pure in what they advocate for in their elected bodies.
Rural, suburban, and urban infrastructure needs are best met when communities are grouped together and non-conflicting in their nature.

Politicians probably would not like this system as it would make it hard to game the system. There would be far fewer marginal districts, far fewer competitive non-primary races. Yet, fewer consituencies would be underr-epresented due to their minority status in their districts, and there would be more cohesive blocks of land.