OFF THE GRID - INSIDE THE MOVEMENT [What Off The Grid REALLY Means - Less Government, 2nd Amendment]

YouTube ^ | June 17, 2010 | Nick Rosen

[fight_truth_decay]

Some of the characters (including author Carolyn Chute) from my next book - OFF THE GRID - Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government and True Independence in Modern America, published by Penguin 1st August 2010 - "I traveled around America meeting these extraordinary people and writing about their lives. Above all I wanted to find out WHY they live off the grid." VIDEO

[fight_truth_decay]

There's a whole lot more to living under the "tag words": "Off the Grid", than just installing solar power, driving teeny-weeny electric cars, putting up that the newest and expensive wind mill that can just sit idle for days. I know, as I drive by one just up from a house built into the side of a hill; however, only 5 minutes from a upscale Maine town, nowhere as remote or peaceful as the setting where the people you will learn about here call home.

I have just concentrated on one writer who lives her novels, Carolyn Chute; as I have always admired her works. They really do live Off the Grid.

Carolyn Chute's infamous, Beans of Egypt Maine [some critics have compared to Faulkner’s Snopeses], is an all time favorite of mine. Chute also went on to write Letourneau's Used Auto Parts ('88) and Merry Men ('94)all set in the town of Egypt, Maine. Her Snow Man ('99) is about the underground militia movement. "June", The School on Heart's Content Road, set in the year 2000, is the story of Mickey Gammon, a dropout who turns to the local militia turned on to a world known as the Settlement, a polygamist compound out in Maine-a rural cooperative, deals with alternative energy, farm produce, and local goods, but comes under scrutiny when an article about them is published, demonizing them by deeming it a place of sin."

The Chutes founded a militia group known as the Second Maine Militia. She and her husband, Michael, are fierce defenders of the Second Amendment, keeping an AK-47 and a small cannon at their back-woods home in Maine (usually just she just says: "heavily armed".

Carolyn Chute is said to stitch together her Stars and Stripes in Green, Red and camouflage.

Chute's husband, Michael, explained in a Time interview, How the Beans of Egypt, Maine , Sprouted a Militia:

"From the beginning, we were the No-Wing Militia. "We ain't right wing, we ain't left wing. We're trying to get the folks to see the problem ain't left versus right, it's up versus down." He uses a tool analogy. "A Republican is a standard screw," said Chute. "A Democrat is a Philips screw. So whichever way you vote you get the screw."

Carolyn Chute speaking at her last meeting (?) with the 2nd Maine Militia group : “What is America? The Grand Canyon and the pine tree? OK. A flag? Freedom, or some other twisted, abstract word? Or is it a country? Nope, it isn’t even a country anymore. The WTO (World Trade Organization) has stolen our government, above the one we see on maps. The rulers are a cartel, they’re above national, mega-titans behind closed doors. They are like Caesar, pharaohs. TV, all mainstream media and schools have trained us well to believe that there is an America. I think the American flag is beautiful. I’m fond of it.” [From childhood, she remembered the words] “‘Liberty and justice for all,’ which was a lie then, and it still is, but I feel it as a wish, and I feel it with tears. I would like to think of this flag as mine.” The bumper sticker on the Chute pickup reads, “School Takes 13 Years Because That’s How Long It Takes to Break a Child’s Spirit.”

Michael, of his wife Carolyn leaving the militia: “She’s really a private woman, and she needs peace and quiet”(passion for writing). When suggested the 2nd Maine Militia (started in '95) might not be disbanding, and rather having its "last meeting for the foreseeable future", Mike nodded and said: “That’s right. We’ll (Militia) never die.”

[Note: I am in no way promoting Rosen's book, just some research led me to his YouTube promo).

[fight_truth_decay]

Ping-

you got me thinking with your electric cars posts... what "living off the grid" really means.

[fight_truth_decay]

Ping

[WKUHilltopper]

How are these folks any different than those so-called survivalists of the 60s and 70s?

[Colvin]

I remember when her Beans novel came out. Some New Yorkers were appalled because she described the kids across the road as playing in, gasp, dirt!
She hated Reagan, but she hated the left equally well.

Anyway, if you want to get in touch with your inner hippy, her novels are a good start.

I just built my barn, and have the roof facing south so I can use solar if needed. It will probably come in hand for heating water at the very least.

[thackney]

Bookmark

[Colvin]

Her Novels are not about being survivalist, but surviving being desperately poor in Rural America.

[wolfcreek]

We haven’t made the big jump of being isolated and off the grid but, we are prepared to live without it for a spell.

So should everyone.

[grumpygresh]

Here we see an illustration of the “environmental purist”. Most of these people depicted in the video were 1960s inspired environmentalists. These people believe in an environmental preeminency; the environment as the transcendental or even an object of worship for a revived paganism.
This differentiates them from conservationists who take the most rational view of the relationship between the environment and the good of society. This view balances individual property rights with the rights of society as a whole.
The most insidious group is the environmental Marxists best exemplified by Van Jones. They seek to promote Marxism by exploiting popular concern over the environment. They target these “environmental purists” as useful idiots that can become unwitting activists for the Marxist cause.

[taildragger]

These folks seem to be from both right and left and have just had it. They only thing they may have in common is that they feel the defecate is going to hit the rotary oscillator real soon.

[Lurker]

I may not agree with their politics but these folks are putting their money where their mouths are.

[WKUHilltopper]

Oh, ok...so not necessarily based on self-sufficiency?

[fight_truth_decay]

..yes and it becomes BIG Business and commercialized for those that can afford to Live off the Grid, go green but not lose comfort. Green bundled stocks on Wall Street.

Some of us have always been told to turn out the lights when we leave a room, not waste gas, but do that errand on a day when you are going in that direction, burn wood in the winter and not rely on electric, gas etc; recycle, buy local (which I am able to do), support those that GROW local. Save your pennies. Support the local farmer. There is nothing new here.

People that can afford to do so will pay for the latest in solar, geothermal, tank-less hot water heaters..the "green stuff". etc.

Just as I point out the Chute's are not telling anyone how to live their lives, they just don't want anyone else especially BIG Government (with the likes of Antiwar past flower child protester ("I served in Vietnam")John F Kerry & others telling them how to live their lives. Taking their land for the good of others which are for recreation/developers etc.

There's a good newly debuted mystery book out now called "The Poacher's Son" by the editor of Maine's DownEast Magazine. Shows all this in a similar light. Takes place in Maine. Game wardens. The back woods. Nelson DeMille gives it kudos. Excellent read.

Just now the flower children old and new, whether and ex of Urban Outfitters or some hippie artist are now packing.

It's about defining comfort and needs, nothing new there just we tend to forget.

If you have always lived a certain lifestyle, you have to laugh at those that all of a sudden discover it and THINK they discovered it.

I admire Chute and her novels.

There's not much difference between their thinking and the Tea Party..or mine on many issues. We can all agree on being grateful for what we have, and not letting the government take away everything we have worked for. Be self sufficient is nothing new. Some just have always talked the walk, but just never walk the walk.

[fight_truth_decay]

Plus have learned next house (I will build) will not have any water pipes on the north side..no matter how well it is insulated--you still worry when it drops down below 0. Masonry chimney set into the house not on the ouside wall keeps heat in absorbed in the masonry etc..things you learn from experience. Paint all (primer) 6 sides of a clapboard so will not grab and moisture and peel--especially when insulating heavily. Old houses could breathe more, but then heating costs were less.

[fight_truth_decay]

kids across the road as playing in, gasp, dirt!

Laughs!

..which reminds me of a nurse friend who says kids are made to be "too clean" with 'anti-baterial this and that wipes', can get sick more often and will not be able to fight off sickness on a much grander scale.

[fight_truth_decay]

They target these “environmental purists” as useful idiots that can become unwitting activists for the Marxist cause.

The Chute's for example are not naive people. They live how they are used to living, they see things the way policy, laws effect their friends, neighbors etc. They just want to be left alone. They are not out there saying buy a Prius Hybrid, they drive the pickup which gets them from that place to the other in any kind of weather, dirt roads etc. They want a good education for their kids--home schooling is often relied on now. Of course Chute has made nice money over the years..so am sure their needs will be met. Their wants just aren't what others may want.

I am sure they are on the government's "watch list".

But you are correct, the newer (financial restraints for doing so) recruits moving to the "off the grid" mentaliy might have a more difficult time staying pure without politics.

Maine is like Alaska in that the inhabitants of these states have for generations lived in a rugged climate, spectacular but can be very remote, not an easy place to live. We adapt to our environment. Survival of the fittest.

[Leisler]

We used to have dirt ball fights. We used to let the dogs lick our skinned knees, arms. They do it anyways. I can remember, and it happening to others commonly of falling out of trees and us picking them up by the pant belt a bit to get whoever breathing. Multiple bike crashes with bent tires, chipped teeth, road rashes everywhere. Pocket knifes, sharp sticks, old rusty fish hooks.

No DSS back then. If your parents ( back when kids had two, and not the same sex, either ) were sort of no good, you’d more or less grow up in one of your friends house.

[fight_truth_decay]

lick our skinned knees, arms = healing powers ;)

They go right for the injury don't they--to naturally heal.

Yes..neigbors there forever (rooted) were like "family". They raised us as well.

Thanks.

[fight_truth_decay]

Anti-Government feelings continue to grow, even flourish under Obama-Imagine that!

What's the Right or the Left politicians to do? Worry!

Gold prices an time high is the fear of Government and what it will do. Gun and ammunition sales flourish. Maine is said to have more guns than people.

The future is as bright or as dark, as you want to think it will be.

[Americanexpat]

Ronald Reagan promised to have smaller government and get them out of our lives. However, it seems government has only grown larger and is in facet of our lives. They tell us what we can say with the silly PC rules and hate crime laws. Try to tell us what we can read by constant attacks on the right wing media and the Internet. They intrude into our homes and families by telling us what we can eat, how we raise our children, etc.. The have taken over the education of our children and are trying to turn them into homosexuals or promiscuous sexuality with their sex education, giving out condoms and helping our children obtain abortions without consulting the parents. Maybe we just need to tear it down and start over, I do not want to live in Obama’s world and will never support a communist government.