Economic Collapse Preparedness: What to do? (End of USA preparedness)

Surviving Argentina ^ | 1-26-2011 | Ferfel

[Frantzie]

It was during that conversation with Ray a few days ago that he nailed me with that question. We had been talking for about an hour about how things went down here in Argentina, the similarities, inflation, how “shopping carts” keep getting more and more expensive, how crime affects your lifestyle. But what to do? The person now gets it, the person not only understands the wisdom in preparing for disasters large and small but comprehends that due to the current economic situation, life in general is going to change from now on, unemployment, inflation, loss of life quality in general, crime. But now what?

[bgill]

no matter how much mindset you have a person with 100 pounds overweight and no physical conditioning whatsoever is not going to walk 50 miles cross-country during extreme cold weather.

Doesn't matter how conditioned one is, what will he do when he gets to the 50 mile mark - that is if he can even get past the government guns and zombies? Best to stay home.

[LiveFree99]

I’ve been following the gold vs. practical necessities debate for a while now. Sure, it’s great to have plenty of food, firearms, and ammo. Still, gold continues to have a powerful allure for people, and probably with good reason. I know people who are alive today because their ancestors had enough gold to buy their way out of bad situations.

[no-to-illegals]

reading and reading.... I see your point ... LOL ... I should call in all the couch potatoes for this one. No offense meant to all we couch potatoes, which I claim the spud of #1 (couch potato) ... LOL

[LiveFree99]

It is sometimes amazing what an out-of-shape coach potato can do in extreme circumstances. Take this example of a sedentary person who’s 100 lbs. overweight. If it’s extreme cold weather, then all that extra blubber will certainly act as effective insulation. It’ll also keep our theoretical refugee fed for a couple of months. So what if he can only manage five or ten miles per day, he’ll get there eventually. I, with my low body fat, had better get to safety quickly before I starve to death.

[The Comedian]

Do you think people will rise up and overthrow the government when we collapse?

I don't think that's the way it's going to shake out.

I think the government will collapse, making it unnecessary to overthrow it. I think the protection mechanisms for the Powers That Be will dissolve, leaving them as vulnerable as any other average citizen. Of course, the other average citizens won't have a death sentence hanging over them, and several million people hunting them.

Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.

[blam]

I doubt people really realize what the Grocery Store bill is going to look like in say August of 2011 but my one caution is to grow the things that will be the most expensive at the Store as it makes no sense to grow Onions and pay through the the nose for Eggplant or Green Peppers."

Life is like a basket of onions...you just never know.

India Bans Onion Exports After Eye-Watering Price Rise

[blam]

"* Don't count on a bottle of bleach, because it has a more limited shelf life than most people realize."

My son (PhD physics) says that 'store bought' bleach will lose about 50% of it's strength per year.

[The Duke]

That sounds about right. Here's the original article that got me started on this:

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/better-than-bleach-use-calcium-hypochlorite-to-disinfect-water/

Also, in a disaster situation, you may find yourself going through bleach quite a bit for basic sanitation purposes. Bleach is also critical in fighting cholera outbreaks.

Since calcium hypochlorite is used to make bleach, you you just can't go wrong with it (however, it's just as important to know how to properly store, handle and use it).

Also, it's important to buy it in 'granular' form, rather than in pellets (I suppose one could find a way to use the pelletized version in a pinch).

Also, when compare to gathering and using firewood to purify water think of the time, energy and risk you'll save using calcium hypochlorite(!)

[blam]

"reading and reading.... I see your point ... LOL ... I should call in all the couch potatoes for this one. No offense meant to all we couch potatoes, which I claim the spud of #1 (couch potato) ... LOL"

When my buddies and our families are out and about...someone on occassion points out someone an says "there will be an early casualty."

Is that you?

[The Duke]

Once water is covered it's time to move to food. And best start is to start vaccuum-packing rice and beans in mylar, and sealing it away in food grade plastic buckets. If done properly this food will store indoors for up to 30 years.

Pinto beans and rice are almost a perfect source of both protein and carbos. If you Google on 'pinto beans nutrition' you'll be amazed at the tremendous food value of this humble bean.

I tried pinto beans and rice from our own stores last week - quite tasty!

There are plenty of YouTube videos that show this process, however be sure to find one that demonstrates using a food saver to pull out the oxygen before sealing as well as using oxygen absorbers.

In addition to nutritional value, pinto beans are nice because they can be purchased in large bags and are very low cost.

Vitamins should also be put back to augment the beans and rice.

Next stop for the survival bus ... "Rain barrels". :)

[wku man]

"But 2 1/2 men is on hiatus now! And Charlie is in Rehab! And he gets to spend all night doing blow with porno stars! We ALL want to be like him! What else is there to worry about?"

Not to worry...the vapid American Sheeple still have "Skins", "Jersey Shore" and a myriad of other equally mind-numbing programs to turn to. We'll (present company excluded) be sufficiently asleep/stoned/drunk/lobotomized when the forces of tyranny come for our TVs.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[hennie pennie]

Whenever you get a "REPLYS TO YOU" that simply makes no sense, look just below my post and see where it states | To 53 | ... when you click on the TO:POST NUMBER, you'll be magically transported to the precise posting to which someone is replying.

I was SO startled by freeper fromlori's question, that I didn't quote her, but that's how you find what anyone is responding to, LOL

[Kartographer]

Anyone that interested in downloading my Preparedness Manual can do so at:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zx5772aa15x6xga

[I see my hands]

".22 ammo"

If you have ammo that's good. If the other guy doesn't have ammo that too is good. Keep your ammo, trade coffee beans.

[no-to-illegals]

Is that you?

Nay ... unless you see a padded cell, while out and about, you will not see me ....(just kidding honest)

[Frantzie]

Oh I agree. I was a a bit harsh on the one guy cause Texas, FL, TN and some of the SE and southern states have some really crappy RINOs. Texas could actually function on it’s own without the rest of America. They have food, energy, an electric grid, ports, fishing for sea food too. They should be okay with fresh water. They could grab about half of the Army’s armor too.

[Frantzie]

Thanks for the suggestions. yep - print it out now because the internet may not be there when you need it. Sadly - Americans voed for destruction in 2008 and they drool over TV and TV keeps him in power.

I feel sorry for seniors and baby boomers the most. The young will have a chance to start over after TEOTWAWKI. Sadly - I feel America will be more like Mad Max/Zimbabwe than Argentina or the collapsed USSR. It will be worse.

[The Duke]

I've been following the sentiments of members of the Obama constituency on Facebook, and what I'm hearing is really unsettling. These folks think it would be a good thing if the "masses rise up". Of course the "masses" would be the ones to suffer first and most, so it's not a very rational desire on their part.

The US has it's own subculture that is just chomping at the bits to bring about that very "Mad Max" scenario to which you refer. What we're seeing in Egypt tonight we could see in the US in the future.