Stephen Skeels and Sam Usem
Recorded
November 17, 2022
Archived
November 17, 2022
55:53 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
hub000604
Description
One Small Step conversation partners Stephen Skeels (52) and Sam Usem (36) talk about the effect of the pandemic on their lives, in particular their experiences related to owning and starting businesses. They also discuss their politics, Sam being a progressive liberal and Stephen identifying as an anarchist.Subject Log / Time Code
SU says he signed up for One Small Step because he believes conversation is important.
SK says that, as the owner of the local hardware store, customers often talk to him about their politics and assume that he agrees with them.
SK talks about being a founding member of the Chippewa Valley Libertarian Party in Wisconsin. He discusses deciding to leave the party, as he feels they advocate for too much government.
SU recalls being raised as a Democrat and says he now identifies as a liberal progressive. He says he believes the government is in a unique position to solve problems.
SK discusses identifying as an anarchist. He says he believes that anarchism is misunderstood and that it is based on the self-organization of people.
SU says he believes that it's a misconception that liberals are not fiscally responsible.
SU says he loves living in Cook County, Minnesota, and he talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic changed his family's life path.
SK talks about his love of hiking, hunting, and trail running. He also discusses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on both his professional and family life.
SU talks about how unemployment insurance received by his wife during the pandemic allowed her to start a small business.
SU says change is inevitable and wishes more people would accept this. H
SK talks about the local housing shortage.
Participants
- Stephen Skeels
- Sam Usem