Ready to feel guilty about having a job and buying things?There is a moving tale in this article from the Connecticut Post today about Zaac Chaves, a "Freegan" who spends money on as little as possible, doesn't use a car, and lives predominantly off of items he finds in the garbage and people's trash. A greater catalog of the philosophy of this group of people can be found at Freegan.info.
These people are fighting capitalism, and live "based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed. "
Being a Freegan means you have an awful lot to be proud of! You swim through the dumpster, finding food, clothes and other goodies to survive off of.
I remember when we used to call these people bums. And now there's a political and moral lesson to being a bum.
Here's a slice of the life of the Freegam Chaves from the Post: "In addition to the foods he's found in the trash, his discoveries include a new flashlight and a perfectly good computer mouse. Sometimes, even if an item isn't usable, it can be transformed into something that is. For instance, the shoes Chaves wore on his recent dumpstering expedition were fashioned out of an old car tire."
There's even a "Dumpster Directory" on this site, presuming all these hobos have computers that someone threw away.
Seriously... being a bum is now considered a level on the moral high ground? What's so moral or high-minded about wandering down a back alley with a shopping carriage filled with cans while defecating in your pants?
Mr. Chaves, take a shower, hose out the seat of your pants, and get a job.
14 comments:
Sometime's I think the Republican's try to set the bar of common decency too high. Then I see a story like this and decide I'm right and want to just kick the guy square in the a..!
Yes... with the modern left, perhaps the bar is set too high at showering and being gainfully employed.
I mean, look at Code Pink.
Well, if one wishes to dive through garbage all day risking their own health to do so, then perhaps that's their perogative. However, I doubt it makes their parents real proud, and really is this an indication of the product of our public education system?
I understand recycling and not wasting resources, but this is a bit much even for the everyday liberal eco-terrorist.
Yup - glorified bums. I am waiting for the TV folks to make a sit-com or series out of this occupation. The title "Biggest Loser" has already been taken though.
This punk"s last name is Chaves? One makes me think he has a man crush on the dictator of Venezuela and friend of Code Pink, Cindy Sheehan, Jimmah Carter, Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover and most recently Naomi Campbell--HUGO CHAVEZ!
sigh......
Funny thing is that if it weren't for capitalism these people wouldn't have anything to live off of.
Good point Judy.
This is actually going a far way to prove my theory that lefties and eco-geeks are dumb animals.
Living off my garbage like a crappy raccoon? Buh Haw haw!
Hey judy, don,t you mean if it weren't for the amount of capitalist WASTE these people wouldn't have anything to live off of. The amount of perfectly good things that we as wasteful Americans throw out on a daily basis should make anyone sick.
i agree with nicola. you're full of horse SHIT.
Excellent. The next time you two wordsmiths want to contribute try showing up sooner than eight months after the discussion.
In the meantime, have fun eating my trash.
there was no need to be eloquent.
you are a horses ass!
i think it funny, you dont even know who youre talking about. how do you know he doesnt have a job, pay rent, and have a family? for all you know
he might just be you next door neighbor, your coworker, or your boss.
also.....he has more fun that all ya'll.
as someone who actually worked for some time with the folks behind fregan.info, and had very mixed feelings on the concept, i must tellyou that I guarantee you these people work harder at their activism that you have ever worked at any job you have ever had. They are truely great people who's dedication, enginuity andgeneral work ethic something not to be scoffed at but rather commended. If we all were as committed to what we do as the freegans this world would be a far better place.
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