“[...] lingering poor economy [...]”? Seriously?
Thought Mel Tappan was the GF of preppers (survivalists back in the 80s), but he was a student/cohort of Stevens.
Mel passed in 1980, “...still living...” from the article is correct. He used to type articles in G&A, SoF, and I think Backpacking magazines.
“...it’s not if, but how much one should be paranoid...”
KYPD
We need to be ready for Y2K.
Doowat?
Simply put, if you live in a huge metro area near downtown, you are toast if anything really goes bad. Look up golden horde. In the city it will be a meat grinder. Outside in the burbs you are not able to do anything real except shoot. In the outer bands you have a small chance.
EMP it will be a walking horde.
Read “One Second After”
Read more books
You are on your own or in a small group or town may pull together. But otherwise, you will die, painfully, and brutally. Odds are not in your favor. Your bugout is not good enough. Sorry, but misery will only be the result. And I’m prepared, chickens, horses, donkey, water, small farm/ranch and I’m still screwed. If you don’t have anything, you are really done in the first day. I expect I’ll last hours, maybe a few days before being overrun.