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You said — “Note to self: start survivalist equipment company, because it’s a bull market right now.”

There you go! That’s the most reasonable thing I’ve heard so far about this big crash in our civilization... LOL...

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Mind you, I do believe we’ve got a Great Depression on our hands and it’s going to continue deepening throughout 2009. And we’ll see if it continues deepening throughout 2010, too.

But, one can look back to the last Great Depression and realize that people did get by, although it was mighty hard for some. And now, our population has more assistance to help people from starving completely to death.

And now, our population has more assistance to help people from starving completely to death.

The trouble is that we now have outlawed most practices that people could use to get by.

I dont think you see the difference in the people. In the 30’s people had skills, motivation and honor to make due and maintain civil accord. But now with the Me generation so many do not have the skill or resources to be self sufficient (land and green thumb, camping style skills), many are lazy (as the stimulus/pork-o-less shows), and when push comes to shove there will most likely be civil disorder especially in the big city’s. Yes it will get bloody if we continue down this road.

What you're not taking into consideration is the composition of the society then vs. now. It may be debatable as to whether people still have enough fight in them.

I personally can, without too much strain, envision huge, destructive riots. Before the Great Depression people weren't used to air conditioning, refrigeration, electricity, etc. In other words, the relative drop in their standard of living wasn't as extreme as it would be today should there be a disruption in the food supply. I suppose I am speaking more to a terrorist attack or other calamity, but hopefully you see my point.

actually, some parts of the country from what I've read didn't realize there was a depression....poor is poor.....

but what scares me is not financial hard times...its the gummit stealing our guns, our freedom of speech, etc.....

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.

<And now, our population has more assistance to help people from starving completely to death.

My son and I were discussing whether there would be food riots. My thought was that we have food stamps, WIC, and other programs that help people get food, so if things got really bad, more people would go on these programs, which is just what Zero wants.

So far, so good. But, what if businesses refuse to take on government promises to pay? If I give the grocer a food stamp, he expects the government to pay. If the gov’t is so indebted that its promises to pay are no good, then what happens?

I could be wrong, but that is the only scenario where I see food riots. I’m open to other theories of doom and gloom.

I think the farmers were the most creative, and intelligent survivors during the first depression. They had the survival skills and instinct that I’ve ever read or hear about. They grew gardens, canned their own meat and vegies, sold eggs and milk to stores in return for sugar and flour etc. My grandmother and greatgrandmother had so many stories to tell abourt that era. Not to mention the fact that they also had crops to take care of, and wash laundry the old fashioned way. I can’t imagine how many people could stretch their $$$ the same way now.

That is true, but back then most people had some self pride and didn't want hand-outs, they were willing to do any kind of work to earn what they were given. Not so much now.

Now we have more people, massive numbers of illegals, gangs and move government leaches with the entitlement mentality. I'm afraid there will be more violence this time due to these people wanting to "take" what you have.

the last Great Depression and realize that people did get by,

My dad was born 1898, he witnessed the depression fist hand, he described it to me in detail.

In his area there was no money and for those who had (some money) could hire labor, “hard labor” ten cents per hour.
He stated there were many family's who's’ father or bread winner was deceased and these were the ones’ who suffered the most. For those who were fortunate enough to raise crops, they would allow these familys to gleam their fields for food as in the Old Testament.
Yes, it was a difficult time but, people got through it.
According to Dad, family's and communities were much closer then today, it was neighbor helping neighbor.
I sure wouldn't want to depend on this in todays society's with so much greed.

The question to ask is if in the last Great Depression, did society quit functioning totally and leave everyone “out in the cold”. No, it didn’t. It was severe and it was a really big problem, but society was still there doing its thing. And so it will be now, although I do believe it will be quite severe.

While true, the demographics and people's mindset were a lot different. We have a lot more people now and less of them on land that can be farmed. Or even knowing how to farm, sew, cook from scratch, raise livestock, etc. We have a generation or two with an entitlement attitude and they were taught they didn't need to work to get their needs met.

I see this time around as being a lot more violent. We have a lot people now that don't mind stealing what they need (welfare didn't exist back in the 20's). And people were a lot more honest then.

"The question to ask is if in the last Great Depression, did society quit functioning totally and leave everyone “out in the cold”. No, it didn’t. It was severe and it was a really big problem, but society was still there doing its thing. And so it will be now, although I do believe it will be quite severe."

Uh...excuse me...but....

there is a huge difference between the culture of Amerians then and now. Back then, there was not an entire segment of "society" that had become 'entitlement-minded' and indoctrinated to believe that government was their cradle to grave nanny. Back then, there wasn't a threat of hoards of Afican Americans threatening to riot merely due to losing an election. You think we have a crime problem now? If the government teat dries up due to NO MONEY.... the group of people that leftist/liberal policies has created will be rioting in the steets, breaking into homes and stealing everything that isn't nailed down....much like they already do now, but on a much grander scale.