Posted on 05/10/2009 5:42:44 PM PDT by appleseed
In the 1950s and 1960s, bunkers were a feature of many American suburban homes, populated by families fearful of the prospect of nuclear war. That threat has subsided, but now many reasonable people are stocking up on essential supplies in preparation for a new cataclysm.
When you hear the word "survivalist", what image comes to mind?
Or maybe you think of end-of-the-world religionists retreating to a fortified camp with enough food and drink to last them until Judgement Day.
But today there is a new breed of survivalist – and they're well-heeled, well-educated and more likely to wear an immaculately pressed suit than a camouflage flak jacket.
Civilisation breakdown
Barton M Biggs is about as far as you can get from the old John Rambo-style survivalist. Forget long, unkempt hair and a sweat-stained vest. Mr Biggs is a former chief global strategist for Morgan Stanley, who now runs the hedge fund Traxis Partners in New York.
Yet in his latest book, Wealth, War and Wisdom, he suggests that all right-minded people should "assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilised infrastructure".
"The four horsemen of the apocalypse ride out every two generations, and they come in different disguises," he says. "We are due to see the horsemen again some time in the next 10 to 20 years – and the prudent person with wealth should take out an insurance policy against them."
{Cut}
The price of food is rising dramatically and oil is at record prices. Even brief periods of crisis can have severe consequences.
Blackout looting
Mr Biggs cites the massive power outages that struck north-eastern and mid-western America and parts of Canada in 2003 – also known as The Northeastern Blackout – when for a few hours an estimated 50 million people were without electricity.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
You may need shots guarding against parasites before eating a lib. Or rabies. Probably both, better to be safe. ;)
I love a cool gun! Just fired my first shot gun about a month ago. I know for home defense they are awesome. We have had home invasions around here where the perps are kicking in the doors in the evening and sticking a firearm in the homeowners faces. They know people are home and don’t care. I told my hubby about it and that I wasn’t going to leave lights on when I go to bed to put them at a disadvantage. Told him all I need are nvg on my M4 and if they come in my house I am gonna clear room by room. I’m just a little intimidated trying to build one while he is gone, he is definitely the one with the most trigger time and weapons knowledge.
Only if my aim is off.
We got a hint of that last week when Oprah promised millions of free servings of Kentucky notFried Chicken for her followers, but there wasn't enough available. Just imagine how bad it will be if no one can buy food either.
Aim small, miss small ;)
Yep, I know what you mean. I just catch myself buying an extra bag of rice and extra canned stuff every time I go to the store.
Get the saiga. You will love it. It takes the kick out of 00 buck
I’m a “kook” Army Vet., white male, live in the sticks, gun owner, bitter clinger, on a well and septic, etc...
I agree with everyting you say. Welcome to the jungle (Sticks), We have fun and games...
Good point. I did a search for news articles and it was on line. Like you, I didn’t see it on the local news. However, the postal carriers delivered bags and post cards a week before the food drive. Anyone who checked their mail would have seen it.
Last week, I picked up a Mossberg 590A1 with 9-shot capacity and 20" barrel.
I just couldn't resist a mil-spec shotgun that came with its own bayonet!
Likewise, we're in better shape than many. We're in the suburbs, near main roads, which isn't necessarily the best. However, we have some other advantages. Our house was built with a fallout shelter, which is well stocked with extra supplies - food, medical, camping, pet care, gardening, etc. The house is on a well with septic system, and we have a stream in the back yard, so no problem with water supply. We heat with oil, and have a gas-fueled backup generator, so even in a power outage we're good for heat and basic household functions for a while. Two fireplaces and plenty of fallen trees and limbs are another option for heat or cooking. Our lot and the surrounding area are wooded, and if necessary, deer, rabbits, turkeys or squirrels could become dinner.
We also have a lot of basic skills. My husband is very handy mechanically, and can fix, fabricate and improvise out of most tight spots. I can cook, garden, can, sew and live simply. Our sons are inventive, calm, and capable teenagers. I'd hate to see a societal breakdown, but we've done what we reasonably can to protect ourselves.
I find that it reduces stress to know that we have some self sufficiency. I'm surprised at how little some people do to prepare for emergencies. When I talked to a friend recently about flu preparations, she said she didn't think she had enough food on hand to get her family through more than a couple of days if they were quarantined. These are the sorts of people who pack the stores buying toilet paper and milk before every blizzard or tropical storm.
I love me some Military guns.
There is so much history there besides, Italian over and unders are out of my price range
That’s a black powder gun, right?
I intended to donate to the USPS food drive, but it slipped my mind. We had the first good weather in a long time, and other priorities took hold. I have to say that in our area (suburban Phila), it wasn't well publicized. We got a postcard, but that's the only communication I recall seeing. We didn't get a bag - that would have helped.
Our Boy Scout food drive was in November. Our troop had very good support from the local community, but this was before some of the big economic hits took hold. If we held it today, we might not do as well.
I'm a Mosin Nagant fiend.
Heck I love SKSs and AK variants, too. As for modern stuff, it just occurred to me that I have two current US military weapons with my Mossy 590A1 and my Beretta M9.
Nooo
Pump shotgun
Those are sweet.
I chased Commies around the planet. Now I own their stuff.
How cool is that?
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