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Two words: KFC Wetnaps!
Posted on 12/09/2011 4:32:06 AM PST by Kartographer
No, gold and silver was not like second money, or second value during SHTF, it was not even worth like in normal times, and in most of the cases it was dangerous to have it a lot (actually it was too dangerous to have anything in great amounts and let other people to know that) If you had for example 1000 gold coins, and let s say that one coin worth 150 USD in normal times, you could think that you are rich in shtf.
But in reality it was hard to find someone who give you some food or battery or whatever useful for one coin. Gold coin was not useful for 90 percent of people, what they could use it for? Eat it? Start fire with that?
(Excerpt) Read more at shtfschool.com ...
Prepper’s Ping!
"...we are not yet half way through the present bear cycle."
I am investing in food, ammunition, water and water purification, firewood and other burnables, LED flashlights and batteries, clothing and especially work/outdoor clothes, and sanitation - soap/shampoo/toothpaste/detergent. As for cash and precious metals, I do have more cash than average, but I’m expecting barter to matter more, not to mention that boxes of 12 gauge will hold their value a whole lot better than bundles of dollars, whether civilization collapses or simply deteriorates. Who knows who I am or where I live and that I have more of each than the average person? Not even my wife. I rotate a little of the stored food into our pantry weekly and she assumes I’ve been grocery shopping; I have but it was to replace what I rotated out of storage.
We are on the edge. Everyday there is a new story about the ‘Yutes’ who grow more restless everyday and when you add the fact that because of the economy people are already on edge it won’t take much to set things off.
Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Siege of AR-558 (#7.8)” (1998)
Quark: Let me tell you something about Hew-mons, Nephew. They’re a wonderful, friendly people, as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same friendly, intelligent, wonderful people... will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don’t believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes.
Today we have ‘yutes’ who roam our streets who are with out morals, without respect for law or life itself. They will look are you with the same ‘doll eyes’ a shark does before he eats you and they will feel no more compassion than the shark does.
That will be the test of many. Most preppers I know are Christian people and they will hesitate to do what they might have to do to stop the ‘yutes’. On the other hand the ‘yutes’ won’t think twice nor lose a minute of sleep, in fact they will smile and laugh about it.
For those who are just starting or are old hands at prepping you may find my Preparedness Manual helpfull. You can download it at:
http://www.tomeaker.com/kart/preparedness1i.pdf
For those of you who haven’t started already it’s time to prepare almost past time maybe. You needed to be stocking up on food guns, ammo, basic household supplies like soap, papergoods, cleaning supplies, good sturdy clothes including extra socks, underwear and extra shoes and boots, a extra couple changes of oil and filters for your car, tools, things you buy everyday start buying two and put one up.
Thank about barter items: Liquor, disposable lighters, tobacco, sweets, being able to recharge batteries could be something you can bater.
As the LDS say “When the emergency is upon us the time for preparedness has past.”
Or as the bible says: A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
NIV Proverbs 22:3
Lastly this for the doubters and the scoffers.
“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger.
Underestimation can be fatal.”
Thanks for the ping. Was wondering where you were.
Preps continuing here. Everyone who is awake is also getting ready.
Right on about ammo.
Think about how long a brick of 22 LR can keep you in small game.
My wife’s cousin works for Blackwater/XE/whatever they’re calling themselves this week. He was in Kosovo during and after the war. He spent several years there. He told me once that three things became trade currency in Kosovo. In no particular order, those items were: toilet paper, reading material (books/magazines) and bullets.
Seriously though, here are the problems with using gold as money:
1. Denominating it. How do you purchase a $5 item?
2. Verifying it. Can you trust that the 1oz coin is really pure gold? If its not a coin, even harder. And as the value will be great, will you really want to take the chance. Also, do you really want to spend the time validating it?
3. If you carry gold coins or bars, you will always be carrying a large sum, making you a target.
4. Other than jewelry and high end electronics, gold has no utility in and of itself.
5. Everyone will have the same 1-4 issues with it.
Gold is great for transporting wealth through a period of time when the monetary system is broken, BUT only if the government doesn't prevent you from doing so aka FDR.
Common ammunition (9x19, 5.56, 12ga etc.) or dry-store food items would seem to be the best barter items in a true SHTF situation. They are everything that gold isn't.
SHTF School Blog is written by Selco a survivor of the Bosinian War. His experiences should open many eyes. Besides his blog you can read some here at this FR post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2798007/posts
Not sure I understand the logic of not even trusting your wife.
Gold has been used to buy passage in tough times. Jews used it to escape Germany for example.
IMO its not a either/or question but to buy some to go with your other preps.
And if you are here in American and things are that bad where would pass through to?
Converting paper assets to gold before hyper inflation sucks the life out of the USD is something that is done so that when the economy returns to normal, one can buy back in and use the gold to purchase whatever is being used as the new USD. It is a protection of your assets....not for buying food and water. That is a whole other topic.
Where? Good question, but its better to have the option than not.
To your point, as America goes so goes the world.
Ping
You be surprised how many FReepers have written me with a attitude that their gold will see them through. They just can not comprehend a scenario where their gold won’t get them what ever they need or want.
A look at the way today’s criminal minds work I say the you have less than a 5% chance of making a successful trade for what you want vs just getting a bullet for your trouble.
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