Worst Case Scenario? Anarchy?

[Earthmama]

If the economy completely collapses - what are we looking at?

Do you think we will enter anarchy? What would that look like?
Or do you think there is enough local structure to keep it together?

Could we, as a society, reach the point of survival focused living in the next year?

I'm a little scared. I have nothing. I don't know how I'd feed or protect my children.

[Sputterduck]

Don't worry. We'd run off to a remote tropical island and make a bf.com commune.

[jessiehannan]

I don't know either. :(

[hidesome]

If the economy completely collapses - what are we looking at?

Do you think we will enter anarchy? What would that look like?
Or do you think there is enough local structure to keep it together?

Could we, as a society, reach the point of survival focused living in the next year?

I'm a little scared. I have nothing. I don't know how I'd feed or protect my children.

I share your angst. People apparently have no idea how fragile the US and world economy are. There must be a hundred real scenarios that would result in almost immediate collapse. Let's say India and Pakistan lob a few Nukes at each other. Maybe Obama gets elected and then assassinated. Saudi Arabia decides to double the price of oil. China annexes Taiwan. and so forth.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Since my parents and grandparents, especially my father and his family, had a hard time surviving the Great Depression, it is a big concern of mine. Some economists fear that without the bailouts, we'll go into a depression. Others fear that the bailouts will send us into a depression.

My family has land that we could theortically live on and grow crops, but it wouldn't be easy, and we wouldn't be able to do it over night. Also, my entire family (siblings and offspring) would have to be willing to work together, and I'm not so sure that would happen.

[Earthmama]

This is from back in April
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html

[JudyJudyJudy]

Scary but possible.

[Tweet]

I have the same fears. I'm feeling an awful like Scarlet O'Hara the last few days. You know, "I'll jes think about that tomorra". Fiddle dee dee indeed.

[newbie]

That is what is so great about living in the country, my family could literally live off the land. My parents have well water, which is fed by a underground stream, my dh, brothers and father are all hunters (for food only) we canned enough food in the summer to get us by, and my father, brothers and dh have enough firearms (they collect) and ammo to protect us, they also no how to use it they are all military and ex military. This is how we live, we are not preparing for armegedon.(sp)

[HammBugga]

I don't know but I am scared.

[Sputterduck]

Okay newbie, we'll all come live with you if the economy collapses. We'll drag Mimi along to cook for all of us.

[trylyn5]

That is what is so great about living in the country, my family could literally live off the land. My parents have well water, which is fed by a underground stream, my dh, brothers and father are all hunters (for food only) we canned enough food in the summer to get us by, and my father, brothers and dh have enough firearms (they collect) and ammo to protect us, they also no how to use it they are all military and ex military. This is how we live, we are not preparing for armegedon.(sp)


This how we are too but our families with the land don't live near us. We'd be okay if we could get there.

I've been tempted to go buy 50 lbs of rice and beans at costco. Just in case

[Sputterduck]

My grandma's best friend's hubby built a castle in rural california complete with turrets with gun slits in case of something like this. Honestly, that would be the first place I would go.

He's an eccentric dude. Two of the turrets have secret entrances and there is a secret room. lol It was a magical place to play as a kid. I <3 those people.

[cheryln]

I heard on the news that pay rolls could be the next to seize up.

[vulturemom]

I could survive for a few years, if I could manage to keep our house. I have enough seeds and food saved to keep us going. We also live in farm country though, we don't have much land ourselves.

[JudyJudyJudy]

That is what is so great about living in the country, my family could literally live off the land. My parents have well water, which is fed by a underground stream,
If you have a deep well, which is the likely case, the pump runs on electricity. You'll need to figure out an alternative for that.

[newbie]

It does run on a pump, but we can also pump by hand, so we are good there. My dad is 77 yo and very old fashion. He uses a wood burning stove for heat. I have 20 Acres of land and he has 500 wooded, both of my brothers own land also. I think the main thing we would have to worry about is people stealing our stuff. He has always aloud hunting on his land (we do to) and we would continue to do so if there happens to be a food shortage.

[Bohemian]

I seriously can't worry about this. If it happens it happens and there is not a darn thing I can do about it. I have an earthquake survival emergency kit that would keep us going for a couple of weeks for food/shelter/first aid/water but if I started to worry about everything bad that could happen, I'd be miserable. It reminds of the bird flu scenario I saw on Oprah and it wasn't a matter of IF but WHEN. Same thing, I can't do a damn thing to stop it.

Of course if I had the option to buy some land and be self sufficient, I'd do that. Even before the threat of another great depression, it's something I've always wanted to do. If we can make it happen we will but until then, we've done what we can to prepare.

[newbie]

I agree, you can't worry about things before they happen, we are country folks and this is how we live. I think their is a lot of people who will do just fine (if god forbid something happens) not because they prepared themselves, but because that is just how they live. I hope I am making sense. If it ever happens you guys can always head to illinois (where I live) I'll share;)

[Givebac]

http://www.peakoil.com/forum8.html

The America's discussion can be interesting, maybe to tinfoil hat for some.

[Earthmama]

I heard on the news that pay rolls could be the next to seize up.


What network? Have a link?

[Bohemian]

I agree, you can't worry about things before they happen, we are country folks and this is how we live. I think their is a lot of people who will do just fine (if god forbid something happens) not because they prepared themselves, but because that is just how they live. I hope I am making sense. If it ever happens you guys can always head to illinois (where I live) I'll share;)


Thanks, I'll keep that in mind! ;) On a serious note, I do think people will have to come together in order to survive. I think a lot of communal areas would come together in places where hunting was plentiful and crops abundant. If we were in true dire straights I imagine people wouldn't be caught up in hey, don't set foot on my 100 acres of land! and things would be more about just surviving. I know if I had land, I'd let as many families as possible set up camps and temp housing and would hope we could all work together and help one another.

[Earthmama]

so who will officially host our BF.commune?

[pawprint]

I suppose I'd have to throw myself at the mercy of my ILs and parents. At least my bf counseling skills would have some practical use.

[Sputterduck]

so who will officially host our BF.commune?


I nominate Sasha. She knows how to grow things.

[Givebac]

If we were in true dire straights I imagine people wouldn't be caught up in hey, don't set foot on my 100 acres of land! and things would be more about just surviving. I know if I had land, I'd let as many families as possible set up camps and temp housing and would hope we could all work together and help one another.


That would be nice but I doubt it'll happen like that.