Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

[CG6468]

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

Posted by Ben on July 25, 2011 · Comments (4)

Dr. Paul Kengor, FloydReports.com

I just read two very interesting articles on the U.S. economy, written from historical perspectives. They compelled me to share my own historical perspective. And what I want to say is more about our changing culture than our economy.

One of the articles, by Julie Crawshaw of MoneyNews.com, notes that the “Misery Index”—the combined unemployment and inflation rates—made infamous under President Jimmy Carter, has hit a 28-year high. It’s also 62 percent higher than when President Obama took office.

But that’s nothing compared to Mort Zuckerman’s article in U.S. News & World Report. Zuckerman measures the current situation against the Great Depression. He writes:

(snip)

Think about it: If you lacked income for food, or if prices skyrocketed, or your money was valueless, what would you do for yourself and your family?

Americans today are a lifetime from their grandparents and great grandparents. God help us if we ever face a calamity like the one they faced — and survived.

LINK to article

[FreeBorn]

Depends. In an urban area, producing nothing for my family's consumption and having to rely on employment outside the home? Maybe.
In rural setting on a small place with a few head of beef critters, maybe a few pigs, a dozen laying hens and 100 broilers a few times per year, a two acre plot of veggies & spuds and a few deer hanging on opening day. Yes, and quite comfortably so.

[compaqxp]

Think about it: If you lacked income for food, or if prices skyrocketed, or your money was valueless, what would you do for yourself and your family?

I could but I wouldn't be very comfortable the first winter, after that I imagine I would be okay. Right now I buy wood for the winter but I have all the experience to get it for myself if need be, I know how to keep a good garden, etc.

I think being raised mostly on a farm (a small one) would give me a big advantage (experience) and the fact I right now have enough land if I needed to use it in this type of situation. Then again I live in an amazing spot if something like this ever happened.

All in all I think I would survive without too much of an issue, but I've never lived in a time when any of this sort of thing would be needed to simply survive.

I'm not really sure though. If something like this were ever required I think people would have to be more worried about those who couldn't provide for themselves. Those type of people could/would be a real danger to anyone else.

[Evil_Conservative]

I think we could.  We would have to move out of Las Vegas and closer to family though.  My in-laws live in the country with a nice amount of land.  It would suck, but we would have to have three generations under one roof until things got a lot better.

People who are used to money being handed to them from the government would definitely NOT survive.  If they couldn't get off their asses to help themselves before, nothing would ever change them now.

I'm not really sure though. If something like this were ever required I think people would have to be more worried about those who couldn't provide for themselves. Those type of people could/would be a real danger to anyone else.

If you have guns, you could make those people extinct real quickly.

[CG6468]

If you have guns, you could make those people extinct real quickly.

And that's precisely why many of us are armed and ready for the scum to come down our driveways.

[unbiased]

I honestly can't say if I could or not. I do have canned food. I do still have beef and pork in the freezer. We get a whole cow and pig every year. That saves us money for now, but I don't know what would happen if another great depression happened.

Farmers would probably keep their crops and animals for their own families, so there goes that. Grocery stores may run out of essentials.

Good question, though. Guess I need to prepare because I am not sure it won't happen.

Like my old wrestling coach used to say THOSE WHO FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL

[Boudicca]

I'm pretty sure we'd have to load up the gang and pay an extended visit to hubby's older sister and husband.  They own alot of acreage in Idaho, which they currently don't farm, but of course would if things got bad.  We'd have to be careful and make sure we got out early enough to get there intact, before no one was selling gasoline or the roads looked like a Mad Max movie.

Assuming a total breakdown of services, I'd be out of my medications in 3 months and wouldn't have to worry about living for years beyond the crash.  I'd most likely be dead within a year or two after.  Apple cider vinegar doesn't cure everything, you know.

But, yeah, on a farm we'd stand a chance.  I know how to can, as does my sister-in-law, and what my husband doesn't know about planting his BIL would teach him, and everyone else.  There would be no time for idle hands and internet browsing.

Shit, I hope it doesn't come to that.  It's one thing to be entertained by disaster movies like 2012 or The Day After, it'd be a totally unwelcome experience to be living a disaster.

I hope it went without me saying we'd be packing up the dogs and cats, and guns and ammo.