I hope you all are stocking up on food, water, weapons, medicine...

[Full-Auto]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZp0-DOC7Ko&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

I'm not a traditional "survivalist" but I fear we're heading into a global scenario where not only our own government is on the brink of financial collapse, but other 1st world countries are as well.  With such a collapse we'll see riots, violence, protests, shutdown of government... perhaps even war... like we've never seen before in our lives.

I think people are glossing over just how dire the situation really is, or worse, just don't realize how grave the circumstances are.

Where I've never prepared for survival before in my life, but I am now.  I am buying non-perishable foods, ammo, supplies.   I hope and pray I'm wrong, but we're heading for some very troubled times I fear.

What do you think?

[Odin's Hand]

Already there, FA...already there.

[Rebel]

I have ammo and firearms. I can get everything else I need with that.

[franksolich]

I have ammo and firearms. I can get everything else I need with that.

You're right, sir; that's all one needs.

Me, I'd link up with someone who has a firearm and knows how to use it.

Just like in the Old West.

And in the meantime the primitives are stocking up on.....toilet paper.

[Airwolf]

Hard to say from here. But I wouldn't suggest letting things slide until they get to that level FA. Best to be prepared then to find yourself lacking later on.

[Full-Auto]

I've always had weapons and ammo... but right now I've stocked thousands of rounds of ammo, something I don't typically do.  I usually shoot it as fast as I buy it.  But not anymore.

What I've never really done before was stock up on things like canned goods, rice, powdered milk, things like that.

While hunting is always an option, just remember there will be literally millions of people caught prepared who will be devouring everything in sight.  Food will vanish from store shelves at the first sign of trouble.  People in the country will kill all the game they find to store food for themselves or for trade.  The country side near most major cities (several hundred miles around them) will be wiped clean of editable game in short order.

The other less palatable option is to take, by force, other peoples food and goods.  That's something I would hope we would avoid doing.

The best option is to tuck away several months worth of food that gives you a buffer so you can have time to find other options should you need to.

[Ballygrl]

We have a tendency to stock up on food, not for the reasons cited though, but Thom and Neil sound way too much like Nads from DU. It seems like for nefarious purposes the left is aching for Americans to turn on each other and are doing everything they can to promote it.

[Rebel]

I have enough Ramen to last me a couple of years. In the rural areas it'll be easier. Where you are, FA, will be tough. Major cities are inundated with people with an entitlement mindset that'll sit around and wait for the government to come to their aid. When it doesn't, they'll resort to the shit you see in Somalia. I can see a lot of people getting capped for trying to steal people's things.

[Rebel]

Not to mention, the resources in the woods and in the lake might be prime targets, but I don't think it will be for most. How many people actually know how to cure or smoke meat? Hell, how many people know how to do anything other than hop into the car and drive to the grocery store? I can can vegetables, smoke and cure meat, grow vegetables, but that's about it. The knowledge the older generations held has been lost. Does anyone, Delilah excluded, know how to make their own butter? Cream? Bread? Corn Meal from corn? Make flour?

I'd survive, but it would be an extremely high diet of protein.

[catsmtrods]

I have enough of everything I need for about a year even if I have no power! Lots of canned and dry. Wheat and a mill. Rabbits and chickens. Gas and propane, 9 cord of wood. Don't forget the water filters! I have 2 MSR worterworks with rebuild kits. Funny thing is I always have this stuff. I rely on no one for anything.

[catsmtrods]

You're right, sir; that's all one needs.

Me, I'd link up with someone who has a firearm and knows how to use it.

Just like in the Old West.

And in the meantime the primitives are stocking up on.....toilet paper.

Hey! I have about 140 rolls! I sure as hell ain't no primitive!

[rich_t]

Never underestimate the value of enough toilet paper.

[rich_t]

Not to mention, the resources in the woods and in the lake might be prime targets, but I don't think it will be for most. How many people actually know how to cure or smoke meat? Hell, how many people know how to do anything other than hop into the car and drive to the grocery store? I can can vegetables, smoke and cure meat, grow vegetables, but that's about it. The knowledge the older generations held has been lost. Does anyone, Delilah excluded, know how to make their own butter? Cream? Bread? Corn Meal from corn? Make flour?

I'd survive, but it would be an extremely high diet of protein.

It's been a while but I do know how to make butter.  The cow pretty much makes the cream without help (well... you do have to milk the cow first).  I've never made flour, but I have made corn meal.  I also know how to can, cure meat, make candles.  I do know how to hunt (been a very long time though), but I've never really tried my hand at butchering a fresh carcass, so I would need some one to teach me or just learn by trial and error.

[LC EFA]

I'm not a traditional "survivalist" but I fear we're heading into a global scenario where not only our own government is on the brink of financial collapse, but other 1st world countries are as well.  With such a collapse we'll see riots, violence, protests, shutdown of government... perhaps even war... like we've never seen before in our lives.

I think people are glossing over just how dire the situation really is, or worse, just don't realize how grave the circumstances are.

Where I've never prepared for survival before in my life, but I am now.  I am buying non-perishable foods, ammo, supplies.   I hope and pray I'm wrong, but we're heading for some very troubled times I fear.

What do you think?

Way ahead of you bro.

Munitions, food , tools and tomes and so on.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well-enough stocked, but it won't be necessary for this by any stretch.

[Thor]

Well-enough stocked, but it won't be necessary for this by any stretch.

I dunno, DAT. There's a severe drought in Texas right now. Ranchers are selling off their cattle in droves because they can't afford to feed them, even with hay. I think that there are going to be wide-spread food shortages or it's simply going to get too expensive to eat.

[Mr Mannn]

I live in an apartment. I expect the manager to inspect every home when the owner is not there. There's no place to really hide anything here. My best bet will be to leave for warmer climes.

understand when people get hungry they do strange things. Govts will gather food from any source to distribute out to hordes of potential voters. That means those who prepare will be called hoarders and leathal force may be used to access what little you have.

Tell NO ONE that you are preparing. Especially extended family members...and that goes double for liberal family members (they will be the first to turn you in).

If you really feel this coming on, and you own your home. Do some surgery on the interior of your house. make a secret compartment in a wall or some such place to conceal canned goods. that way you can cover the edges with plaster and paint over it when things begin to hit the fan.

But the best bet is to get out of big cities. Especially cities with a massive ghetto and dramatic gang problems.

Frankly I doubt it will get so bad. We would already be seeing such events in Europe.

a month or two should see you thru any crisis.
On the other hand I live in Iowa/farm state. We aint going hungry. and we be eating our fill before we ship anything out. so nyah.

[Rugnuts]

this reminds me of "si vis pacem parabellum"
i wonder if there is a latin phrase for "if you want prosperity, prepare for cival collapse"

[IassaFTots]

Just about as ready as I can be.  Butter ain't an issue, I am pretty sure I have all the bases covered.  Need more water.  Water is key.

[SaintLouieWoman]

Just about as ready as I can be.  Butter ain't an issue, I am pretty sure I have all the bases covered.  Need more water.  Water is key.

During hurricane season we always have extra water. I've been saving iced tea jugs to store water if necessary. SR likes to go to the big box stores, so we probably have a year's worth of toilet paper and paper towels. They've been having big BIGO sales on jars of nuts, so we have lots of peanuts and almonds. I think we'd be getting pretty tired of nuts and cereal after a while.

The thought of the government checking your canned goods is pretty scary.

[Rebel]

It's safe to know that I am no more than 3' away from a firearm in any place I go in my townhome. The house I own, where my wife lives, well, I left her with several as well. I hope she has the disdain I have for intruders and the strength to drop a sumbitch as I do. If not, I'm 1000' away and only a phone call away.

[longview]

If things got really bad, I would expect the gov't, in some form, to take from anyone who has.  Even living in the rural West, we have moochers who have the entitlement mentality. 

I expect to go out protecting what I've done, but not winning.  I think anyone who isn't in a panic with the rest of the sheeple will be suspect.

[Rebel]

If things got really bad, I would expect the gov't, in some form, to take from anyone who has. 

Good luck with that.

[longview]

Good luck with that.

Not that I think they should, just expect they will confiscate available resources for those that don't have.  Kind of like they do now, but on a more basic level.

If left alone I could survive and support my family and their families at a subsistance level.  I don't think I/we will be left alone.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I dunno, DAT. There's a severe drought in Texas right now. Ranchers are selling off their cattle in droves because they can't afford to feed them, even with hay. I think that there are going to be wide-spread food shortages or it's simply going to get too expensive to eat.

As big a producer as TX is, it's a limited regional issue.  It WILL make beef more expensive, though, you're right about that...and if one staple gets into high prices from short supply, it'll drive up the rest as more people shift their consumption to the alternatives.  Not that the wide-scale price increases in food will affect the CPI, of course, since they aren't considered in it, so we can all count on the fact that Obozo will still be ignorantly prattling about 'Low inflation' long after people resort to putting stray dogs in the stew pot.