LOL and they even have a National Geographic special on them

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by The Rifleman

All valued things that you say. The US really falling into anarchy like Iraq or Croatia? Maybe. I saw on the news this morning that 160,000 people in 10 states are asking for succession. Voter fraud is rampant. Fiscal cliff coming. To me, those area all valid concerns. If I can be prepared for them, at no major expense to myself, then great.

I don't want to be dismissive of your fears, and I agree that preparation usually can't hurt, but is any of the above likely to result in a breakdown of civilization? It's possible, but I don't think it's likely. At least, I sure hope it's not. If it is, I guess it'll be guys like me crawling on our hands and knees to guys like you, begging for help.

What I don't want to see is all of this doom-and-gloom becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy- like Charles Manson trying to bring about "Helter Skelter", or the Om Shin Rikio cultists trying to kickstart armageddon with Sarin attacks on the Tokyo subway. That sort of thing is a much bigger threat, IMHO, to American society, than any socialist takeover or foreign invasion. I think the polarization in American politics could lead to social conflicts (Rome's Social Wars being a precedent)- if we don't get over all the finger pointing and inflamatory rhetoric, perhaps there will be a sectional/class split in American. But, this is a worst-case scenario and it can be prevented, if we work towards that end. But if we believe it's inevitable, and act that way, chances are good that it will happen.

[The Rifleman]

Originally Posted by Raellus

What I don't want to see is all of this doom-and-gloom becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy

That is also a valid fear of mine. An economic collaspse is an example. If you think about it, there is no need. There is plenty of food and plenty of work to go around, yet because we just don't have a good system to organize it, the premise is that it will collapse all for no good darn reason (as in Merc 2000).

The danger to all of these things comes back to one source, people. My life experience taught me to trust little. People disappoint alot and have the ability to do outright evil things to each other.

Having a few extra things around the house to preclude that would be a good idea. I would not want to be at the mercy of others in time of need.

[weswood]

Ya'll are all nuts. Econmic collapse? Seccession? Civil unrest and anarchy? Better happen in a hurry, Dec 21st is just over a month away and we're all going to die anyway and the dinosaurs will come back.

(Being sarcastic here if no one picked up on that. Economy is a very valid concern IMO. Major hurricanes & storms are always good to be ready for, especially here on the Gulf Coast. And we've all seen the looting that comes after such disasters.)

[The Rifleman]

Originally Posted by weswood

Ya'll are all nuts. Econmic collapse? Seccession? Civil unrest and anarchy? Better happen in a hurry, Dec 21st is just over a month away and we're all going to die anyway and the dinosaurs will come back.

(Being sarcastic here if no one picked up on that. Economy is a very valid concern IMO. Major hurricanes & storms are always good to be ready for, especially here on the Gulf Coast. And we've all seen the looting that comes after such disasters.)

How can you be worried about mayans when your state is in the middle of secceding from the Union again????

[weswood]

Originally Posted by The Rifleman

How can you be worried about mayans when your state is in the middle of secceding from the Union again????

That's not a worry, that's a fantasy.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by weswood

Ya'll are all nuts. Econmic collapse? Seccession? Civil unrest and anarchy? Better happen in a hurry, Dec 21st is just over a month away and we're all going to die anyway and the dinosaurs will come back.

Maybe, just maybe weswood has something here????

Hostess Baking is going into bankruptcy.

This means NO MORE TWINKEES!!!

Can TEOTWAWKI be real? Is this what the Mayans saw at the end of their great cycle? Can civilization survive with out Twinkees???

I am surfing my way over to E-Bay to buy up those $5.00 a PIECE twinkees!!!

My $0.02

Mike

[Targan]

I've never eaten a Twinkie but I've known what they are since I was a kid because they had advertisements for them in American comic books

[weswood]

Originally Posted by Targan

I've never eaten a Twinkie but I've known what they are since I was a kid because they had advertisements for them in American comic books

I'm sorry for your loss.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Here's a question...

I remember reading the online book "Surviving a Nuclear War" and one of the prep things it said was to not only make ready for yourself and your family, but for one neighbor as well.

Clearly we're not in any immediate threat of a massive, 2500-missiles-over-the-Pole type exchange (I pray...) but as we've discussed, some of us have your Katrina or Sandy level event prepping down or ongoing - anyone here doing the "...and a little for the neighbor, too" thing?