Thinking what policies FIRE grads might reasonably champion
I’m exploring a set of 4 policies that could both benefit people as they climb the FI mountain, and set the stage for #FIforAll – a world where we all have a a personal and economic safety net that offers security and freedom. While these 4 policies have not caught fire in the FIRE circles, I’m including them for you to consider.
- Eliminate Medical Debt. Some form of Medicare for All., which is gaining traction state by state and nationally by the day in the US. People who live in industrialized countries outside the US look at our health care system – and the stresses it puts on us – with pity.
- Eliminate Educational Debt. Some form of free K-16 education for kids –tech or college education depending on interest and ability. No education debt.
- Enough for All. Some form of basic income for all – call it a citizen dividend. If health care and college were low cost to free and available to all, imagine how much could come off your monthly expenses. Then a $500/month citizen dividend, could make a big difference. It could make housing more affordable. Free up parents to spend more time with their kids. Help entrepreneurs start a business. We’ve gotten to FI on our own steam in a roaring (since 2008) economy and a strong one since WWII. Will generations behind us have that same opportunity?
- Some form of national service for all– be it military, social, environmental, political, medical, artistic, etc. A year of service with a stipend plus a universal basic training that would be a major re-mix of cultures and viewpoints. Oh, and your year of citizen service kicks in your Citizen Dividend.
I hope these forms of service, from inner work to family, community, learning, and being world-changers, feeds your imagination a bit for ripe old financial independence decades. It’s not exhaustive and it’s definitely slanted towards my values. Pete Adeney would have a different set. Others would as well. Homesteading and local production. Writing and speaking to inspire others to meaning and purpose. The small acts of kindness that nourish others souls.