Posted on 02/21/2009 8:03:31 PM PST by Free America52
It seems more and more people are asking questions on what steps can be taken to prepare for what appears to be a looming crisis, maybe even a breakdown in civilization. This is not a fun subject to discuss, because for most people it represents something that we never thought we would see in the USA.
But the facts are all around us. There is a ever-growing number of people who see the worst of what might happen. And worse, there is an ever-growing list of possibilities that could take our economy to levels not ever seen before. Is it the financial / banking crisis? Is it the ominous threat of a terrorist attack? Or is it a civil war created by an out-of-control government who appears to be over-reaching into individual rights?
The reality is that it could be any of these, or possibly a combination of these and many other scenario's that could play out. Unfortunately, the end result could all be the same. And that is a total breakdown in civilization as we know it, leaving millions of people without access to food and basic care. Think the government will take care of us if that happens? They are actually the ones that have created the mess, so I'm not holding out much hope that they are going to be of any help.
(Excerpt) Read more at emergency-disaster-survival-supplies.blogspot.com ...
“chickens”
I’ve been reading about urban chicken keepers recently. For eggs.
I also remember specifically that Augusta Tabor, the Colorado Silver King’s wife, kept a cow in her front yard in Denver (now that was a while back, of course, but I did meet up with a woman who had know Baby Doe Tabor. That is a great memory. She told the whole story to me in front of a pot-bellied stove in the old Tabor house in Leadville, while it snowed 6 inches outside. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/CP-Tabor5.html)
Well, I really do think that people “rise to the occasion”. I believe that’s in human nature to do so. You don’t know how they can rise to the occasion until something like that happens, though. I think people can do so today, just as they have done in the past. I believe people are resilient.
Now, if it were a terrorist attack, I believe that sort of thing would bring our population *together* much more solidly and quicker than anything else would. Then we would be united (even if it were in misery) to fight an external enemy.
But, if the crisis were something of a deteriorating economy, slowing sinking down and getting worse and worse — and the government was perceived as “doing nothing” about it (or was being shown to be “ineffective”) — then that is a prescription for riots and much civil unrest....
And that’s why I think you’re always going to find the government *always* trying to *do something* to *ease* people’s living conditions in a situation like a coming Great Depression. They *know this* — and they’re going to want to avoid mass rioting based on the perception that the government is *doing nothing* to help them...
In Portland (I’m not there now...) — there was a neighbor directly across the street that had about 8 chickens and had lots of eggs. We would get some eggs from her from time to time. Also, her and her husband would go out salmon fishing a lot and bring home lots of salmon and smoke it. We would be the recipients of some absolutely delicious salmon at times... :-)
Then I suppose dogs could revert back to wolf like packs.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/
and
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/
are good resources as well. SelfSufficientish has some good ideas there for becoming more self-sufficient, especially for those living in the city. (There are a few too many greenies for my taste, but then one is often too many for my taste)
And for those looking to start their own survival supply companies, there are several places that have affiliate programs, like http://www.nitro-pak.com/
(No, I am not an affiliate, that was just the first one I could think of)
keep them safe...maybe not even at your home...but don't let them get lost in the banking system, what is left of it....
“some absolutely delicious salmon at times... “
salmon smoked in fruitwood and applewood. Now you did it. Now I am gonna have to go hunt this up. ;>
http://www.brownetrading.com/smoked_seafood/smoked_salmon/
but what scares me is not financial hard times...its the gummit stealing our guns, our freedom of speech, etc.....
Ummmm..., how is “cat meat”...? LOL...
I mean, if you’re “surviving” — I guess cats would be as good as anything...
Part Cherokee myself. I was serious about coping what our ancestors considered necessities though.
For the worst case:
2 - 4 man tent of expedition quality
Long lasting water filter
Pellet gun
Large rat traps
Back pack
Light weight cooking and eating utensils
Fire starting items
LED light and headlight
Large Knife/Machete
Hatchet
Sleeping bag
Warm cloths, hat, gloves and extra socks
Mosquito net
Small Rechargeable batteries
Solar cell charger
Hand Crank radio/light
Large bottle of aspirins
Dry Beans
Rice
Small Grain Mill
Bouillon Cubes
Salt & pepper Small bottle of liguid detergent Wash cloths Towel Small folding shovel Small camp chair Water enchancers Energy bars
The goal is survice the die-off in a hidden area. Quanities of above depend on the number of people with you.
LOL..., ir’s making me hungry too...
My Grandmother had this to say about the depression in Kansas:
“We didn’t steal. Our neighbors were just as poor as we were. If we took anything they would know we stole it.”
You might be right that society would keep functioning if all we were facing was a depression, but it seems possible that we’ll have a depression combined with other events that could get out of control. Anyway, plan for the worst and hope for the best.
You said — “but what scares me is not financial hard times...its the gummit stealing our guns, our freedom of speech, etc.....”
I understand exactly what you’re saying. And we should be ever vigilant about those things.
The good thing may be (in my estimation) is that I believe it’s harder to remove those things from people in hard times than it is to remove those very same things in good times. So, if we’re in for some hard financial times and we’re all going to be struggling through it all — I don’t think that the government is going to act out on these issues during these times.
That’s just a thought that I have and I think it’s right. But, in any case, be ever vigilant...
bump
I think there’s more risk for a massive and total collapse with a massive terrorist attack (on the scale that some talk about). We’ve been told, all along, that it’s *going to happen* and we won’t be able to prevent it. Now, depending on how massive it is — it could cascade into a sort of total collapse and islands of civilization here and there.
I believe that’s what the government is planning for (that kind of massive terrorit attack) and is going to build those “camps” for housing a lot of people who may be displaced and homeless because of those attacks. That’s what I think those camps are for.
But, if we were to have a terrorist attack in the deep part of a Great Depression, who knows what might happen.
The last fifty years have, for the US, been far different than most of recorded history.
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