patrick.net

Norway and Sweden use the Kroner!!!

WinCo (which has stores throughout California) sells tubs of wheat and oats that last 30 years. I've been picking 'em up, maybe one a month for $25 a pop. Toss 'em in the garage and hope to never have to use them.

But it sure gives me peace of mind knowing my family isn't going to starve to death. Most food travels thousands of miles. A mild political disruption could damage truck travel for weeks. A year's worth of food storage is good to have ... not that you'll need it for that long. Rather, so you won't have to turn away starving neighbors and friends.

Bullets will be currency as will batteries, candles and preserved foodstuffs. Ax, hammer, saws, smoker - fishing gear. Slingshot to hunt, you can use your bullets:-)

Patrick,

Check out the Red Cross. They sell basic survival/emergency/disaster preparedness kits or at least give you an idea of what to have on hand. Also, I would get an all terrain motorcycle.

Love your website. I read it everyday.

Euclides

BTW, since you are not into guns, try out Jim Wagner's Reality Based Training. He offers 5 different courses. I took all of them and thought they were quite useful.

Euclides

popesnose says

Might not be too smart to say you aren’t going to have a gun. Now people know where to pick up cheap supplies when things get rough.

Or maybe he said that, so we think he doesn't have a gun, and then he actually does, and kills us and takes our gun! Tricky tricky.

You are right though, as soon as the power goes out, people start shooting one another for granola bars. It's a completely risk free activity.

You should have a gun around.

It's not a matter of IF revolution will happen in America; it's a matter of when.

Here's a great article:

http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2011/02/egypts_revolution_is_coming_to.html

And some words from the same man who wrote the article:

Exempli gratia:
Sent: 12/9/2010 11:35:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: An American Economic revolution is coming…

It's a good moment to sit up and pay attention to what may be happening already – or as appears nearly certain, is about to happen.

The most telling clues are not to be found in the predictably rabid anti-Obama rants of the far right which would call down fire and brimstone on the president no matter how often he walked on water or raised the dead to life, but among the discontented within the ranks of his own believers. Much of the recently published anxiety from the president’s liberal flank is expressed as disappointment in his lack of fortitude. But there is a far broader anger building inside those sectors of the electorate that supported him in 2008, both Independents and Democrats, a potentially massive convulsion – an insurgency, really, that is taking on the trappings of Tea Party discontent against the governing superstructure but portends a far more significant movement.

Many of the employed feel lucky but under threat, the many unemployed are losing hope and our student population – the largest such group in our history to face declining opportunity, are just beginning to take notice. The rising angst derives largely from the perception that national narrative of winning, against all comers and in under all circumstances, is flawed is not untrue for them; that it is more about exceptions than exceptionalism. When the narrative is becoming chronicle of slipping viability, of declining self-respect. There is rampant distrust of the establishment’s ability to listen, respond and change. If there is such a thing as a political infection, it is public anger that has become as much about dignity as income.

The rising wrath is directed at those perceived to be in control, the elite of the economy, mainly, but also their enablers in Congress, who have permitted the bankrupting of the country and the impoverishment of our children's economic future, the winners in a system that is enriching enormously an immune few. The discontented seem to view Obama less as a perpetrator than as a Hamlet, the well-intentioned prince at once principled and ambivalent, their frustration rising as they watched his empowering agenda “turn awry and lose the name of action”. And with a decreasing stake in current arrangements, they mean to change them.

What began in the UK (in late November) in the form of surprisingly vigorous student protests against PM Cameron's austerity program – and similar sparking in Italy the week prior, may soon seem only clumsy dress rehearsals for coming attractions here. The continuing stalemate in Washington against a backdrop of trivial chatter on every ideological issue except the economic strength and employment base of our country is fueling a profound wrath. We may soon see it emerge in a form far more potent than the often incoherent throw-back impulses of the Tea Party crowd.

Frustration and fury at the ascendant "rights" and power of Wall Street to aggregate and redistribute the country’s wealth, the organized special interest lobbies that shape policy, and the sway that the biggest corporations hold over the economic security and dignity of 98 % of our citizens could unite otherwise dispersed and antagonistic groups around a redefined notion of patriotism: saving the American economy from destruction by forcing radical change.

This impending economic and political insurgency ties in well metaphorically with the tectonic pressures building under our western geology: the magma dome under Yellowstone is reported to be higher than expected and more threatening than it has been since the beginning of geological measurement. At this politically fraught moment the most dangerous volcanic geology under North America is showing signs of life.

Timing is everything in tap dancing, comedy and historic change.

The magma in the volcano is rising and I smell revolution.

I grew up in the 80's. There were survivalists then too, knew quite a few of them. If there's one thing that never changes, it's that the pessimists WILL find an END IS NIGH sign somewheres. Then the Cold War ended, survivalists hung onto Clinton turning Hitler and/or UN encroachment. Later there was Y2K. Quite a few food caches going bad in garages and basements.

On the one hand, survivalists tend to be prepared when there is a disaster. On the other, they can be really party-poopers the other 99.99999999% of the time.

You guys are watching waaaay too much Twilight Zone!

Is Pat.net like a siren call for all these guys? Why do they all end up here?

This is a mind blower from Patrick with a survivalist mentality. I thought he had so much trust in the government when he was a super supporter of Obamacare.

Did you note the Egyptians had no guns? They were fortunate the uprising lasted only a few weeks.

I would go with the 4 G's...........God, Groceries (one yr supply), Gold and Guns.

BW says

I have had the misfortune of living through several disasters, including the Rodney King riots, the Northridge Earthquake, Hurricanes Andrew, Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma.

Note to self: In an emergency, don't be anywhere near this guy. :)

rewrew7 says

You are right though, as soon as the power goes out, people start shooting one another for granola bars. It’s a completely risk free activity.

Thanks - I shot a woman in the lunchroom 'cause she had a granola bar... then I reread this post and realized that the power hadn't yet gone out. So I ran around the building counterclockwise several times, reversed the rotation of the earth while listening to a Cher CD, and turned back time to before I shot her. Then I got pissed off when I didn't have enough change for the vending machine and shot her again, just because I could (but I did pry the granola bar out of her cold, dead hand...).

wcalleallegre says

This is a mind blower from Patrick with a survivalist mentality. I thought he had so much trust in the government when he was a super supporter of Obamacare.

Uh, Patrick isn't the OP. It's francophile. Patrick doesn't censor stuff unless it's so damn offensive we all threaten to riot in the streets. wcalleallegre says

I would go with the 4 G’s………..God, Groceries (one yr supply), Gold and Guns.

How do you get a year supply of God?

ohomen171 says

Norway and Sweden use the Kroner!!!

So why did your list include Finland (and Denmark, which pegs its currency to the Euro)?

francophile, I like to read The Surviving in Argentina blog since it is written by someone who is experiencing societal collapse for real. http://ferfal.blogspot.com/ Take it with a grain of salt though since Ferfal is rather determined to survive no matter what. Steve Patterson has a good podcast too at http://twobeerswithsteve.libsyn.com/ Things haven't collapsed yet, but prices of goods are pushing us all in to a corner.

tatupu70 says

Is Pat.net like a siren call for all these guys? Why do they all end up here?

I was briefly excited about your offer to sell sliver, but reading this post realized the only silver you own was probably purchased at the mall from a swarthy guy with a beard named Akmad.

Patrick.net attracts people tired of BS who are facing reality... But some like yourself prefer to keep their reality bounded by the real estate market. Enjoy your soylent green rations!

Vancouver (approximately 2M) in Canada had a slide into their water reservoir a couple of years ago. My friends who were there said every store ran out of water on the first day. The water was non-potable, meaning no amount of boiling was fixing it. By day 3, every store had adequate water supplies again. No government intervention, no rationing, businesses simply ordered it in, and it happened.

Cash isn't necessary, some is nice to have for a couple of days, but banks will have their wireless ATM devices out there quickly. You won't need cash for very long during any emergency. I'm sure everyone has seen those little portable visa machines kiosks have, they aren't tied to anything other than a cell tower.

If your city is without power for more than a couple of days, you won't want to stick around, regardless of how well you've got things setup. Who would actively live in new orleans after that disaster? No one. It would be clear right away that it wasn't going to be "fixed" within 1-2 months. The only people left there were wackos, or the poor,. Just watch some of their interviews "Where is the government to help *ME*!!!!" Everyone on this forum would say how do I help myself, not where is the government to give me free stuff. The people who were in New Orleans after the disaster (who didn't heed the warnings, but were sane), figured out how to leave quick enough, using the mentality of how do I help myself.

An earthquake in the bay area isn't going to take everything out. It might ruin San Jose, or destroy SF, but get 50 miles from the center of the earthquake and damage becomes minimal. If San Jose was destroyed to 0% livability, I would expect 80% of homes would be livable in Walnut Creek. If you lived in San Jose and worked in SF, are you going to sit in your house for 3 months, while they "rebuild" and not go to work? Are you going to put up with huge delays to get to work? Driving for 3-4 hours a day because the main highways are destroyed? Bringing in water by yourself from the nearest city so you can wash up? No. You're going to temporarily move to another part of the city and wait for things to get better.

If the entire Bay Area is destroyed, WHO would live here? Housing isn't going to return in a few years. Jobs will simply leave, if every business has to restart, they aren't going to wait 5 years to do so here. They're going to leave. Everything you expect in the bay area will be gone in that case. You'll be left in a desolate city, living a desolate live, vs your current life. You would move to another city that would offer you the same amenities you're used to, not wait 10-30 years for things to return to normal.

If you need a gun to protect your family, then you're going to just shoot them before this is over. If you're guarding your little house in San Jose, then your entire family has to remain indoors, and they are going to drive you crazy with "Lets leave this crappy city! I have no friends here! I can't go out side! No tv! No internet! WAAAAAAAAAAAH every day, 24 hours a day you'll have someone berating you to leave. You'll have no choice but to move. If you let them out, and things are as bad as you envision, they'll simply be kidnapped and you'll have to turn everything over to get them back. Simply look at other countries for what desperate people will do, and you'll be dealing with that. If your neighbours have no food, no water and no options, no amount of "guarding" will protect your family. Your neighbors will either leave, leaving you in "downtown detroit" when you're used to living in moderate safety and luxury, meaning you'll want out too. You'll have to keep everyone in your house to keep them safe. At which point to smoke you out, they simply need to start YOUR neighbors house on fire and let it move on over to yours. Now you're all outside, with a family with nothing, just like them. Maybe you have a gun still, but when you evacuate your house, how do you take your 5000 rounds of ammo, your family, water and all your food? You don't.

There is a reason we have all moved from farms to city life. It's a much easier life style. All around the world this happens. Farming is *NOT* easy. You might survive one year, but it only takes 1 year of drought to destroy you. It only takes one mistake. You aren't a farmer. You don't have 30 years of farming experience from your parents pounding it into you, your friends discussing things, etc. You've got minimal experience. Your chances of success are basically 0.

If you're on this farm, with your 5000 rounds of ammo, how are you going to go outside to actually farm? People simply have to sit on the edge of your farm with a gun and wait for someone to come outside. Pick you off one by one and you're done. If it's become that lawless, then they'll be free to do this. If you don't go outside, your food dwindles down to nothing, and your farm fails.

NuttBoxer says

tatupu70 says

Is Pat.net like a siren call for all these guys? Why do they all end up here?

I was briefly excited about your offer to sell sliver, but reading this post realized the only silver you own was probably purchased at the mall from a swarthy guy with a beard named Akmad.
Patrick.net attracts people tired of BS who are facing reality… But some like yourself prefer to keep their reality bounded by the real estate market. Enjoy your soylent green rations!

Sorry--I was joking about the silver. Nickels were never made of silver...

I think people should be "Preparing for the Best".

Take an arts and crafts class. Read a good novel. Enjoy a fine meal with some fine wine once in awhile. Go improve your golf game. Do some volunteer work.

There is a HUGE oppurtunity cost to focusing too much on preparing for the worst. No one needs four years of canned groceries, piles of gold, or assault rifles.

The doom and gloom end-of-days'ers are wasting a tremendous amount of time and resources on something so utterly foolish and improbable that they can practically watch in real time their peers successfully advancing ahead of them in money, careers, lifestyle, and social status.

Reminds me of the penny-wise, pound foolish old man who wastes $50.00 in gasoline driving around town searching for the gas station with a $0.01 a gallon cheaper gas. "Summa bitches won't take any more money from me!" he shouts to the world.

Survivalist mentalities and principles are very EXPENSIVE.

Below is pure and epic win.

Survivalism in the 21st Century does not mean guns and fall-out shelter supplies. 21st Century survivalism requires:

*critical thinking
*higher education
*high tech skills

The Stone Age has come and gone. It's not coming back folks.

pkennedy says

Vancouver (approximately 2M) in Canada had a slide into their water reservoir a couple of years ago. My friends who were there said every store ran out of water on the first day. The water was non-potable, meaning no amount of boiling was fixing it. By day 3, every store had adequate water supplies again. No government intervention, no rationing, businesses simply ordered it in, and it happened.
Cash isn’t necessary, some is nice to have for a couple of days, but banks will have their wireless ATM devices out there quickly. You won’t need cash for very long during any emergency. I’m sure everyone has seen those little portable visa machines kiosks have, they aren’t tied to anything other than a cell tower.
If your city is without power for more than a couple of days, you won’t want to stick around, regardless of how well you’ve got things setup. Who would actively live in new orleans after that disaster? No one. It would be clear right away that it wasn’t going to be “fixed” within 1-2 months. The only people left there were wackos, or the poor,. Just watch some of their interviews “Where is the government to help *ME*!!!!” Everyone on this forum would say how do I help myself, not where is the government to give me free stuff. The people who were in New Orleans after the disaster (who didn’t heed the warnings, but were sane), figured out how to leave quick enough, using the mentality of how do I help myself.
An earthquake in the bay area isn’t going to take everything out. It might ruin San Jose, or destroy SF, but get 50 miles from the center of the earthquake and damage becomes minimal. If San Jose was destroyed to 0% livability, I would expect 80% of homes would be livable in Walnut Creek. If you lived in San Jose and worked in SF, are you going to sit in your house for 3 months, while they “rebuild” and not go to work? Are you going to put up with huge delays to get to work? Driving for 3-4 hours a day because the main highways are destroyed? Bringing in water by yourself from the nearest city so you can wash up? No. You’re going to temporarily move to another part of the city and wait for things to get better.
If the entire Bay Area is destroyed, WHO would live here? Housing isn’t going to return in a few years. Jobs will simply leave, if every business has to restart, they aren’t going to wait 5 years to do so here. They’re going to leave. Everything you expect in the bay area will be gone in that case. You’ll be left in a desolate city, living a desolate live, vs your current life. You would move to another city that would offer you the same amenities you’re used to, not wait 10-30 years for things to return to normal.
If you need a gun to protect your family, then you’re going to just shoot them before this is over. If you’re guarding your little house in San Jose, then your entire family has to remain indoors, and they are going to drive you crazy with “Lets leave this crappy city! I have no friends here! I can’t go out side! No tv! No internet! WAAAAAAAAAAAH every day, 24 hours a day you’ll have someone berating you to leave. You’ll have no choice but to move. If you let them out, and things are as bad as you envision, they’ll simply be kidnapped and you’ll have to turn everything over to get them back. Simply look at other countries for what desperate people will do, and you’ll be dealing with that. If your neighbours have no food, no water and no options, no amount of “guarding” will protect your family. Your neighbors will either leave, leaving you in “downtown detroit” when you’re used to living in moderate safety and luxury, meaning you’ll want out too. You’ll have to keep everyone in your house to keep them safe. At which point to smoke you out, they simply need to start YOUR neighbors house on fire and let it move on over to yours. Now you’re all outside, with a family with nothing, just like them. Maybe you have a gun still, but when you evacuate your house, how do you take your 5000 rounds of ammo, your family, water and all your food? You don’t.
There is a reason we have all moved from farms to city life. It’s a much easier life style. All around the world this happens. Farming is *NOT* easy. You might survive one year, but it only takes 1 year of drought to destroy you. It only takes one mistake. You aren’t a farmer. You don’t have 30 years of farming experience from your parents pounding it into you, your friends discussing things, etc. You’ve got minimal experience. Your chances of success are basically 0.
If you’re on this farm, with your 5000 rounds of ammo, how are you going to go outside to actually farm? People simply have to sit on the edge of your farm with a gun and wait for someone to come outside. Pick you off one by one and you’re done. If it’s become that lawless, then they’ll be free to do this. If you don’t go outside, your food dwindles down to nothing, and your farm fails.

"Take an arts and crafts class. Read a good novel. Enjoy a fine meal with some fine wine once in awhile. Go improve your golf game. Do some volunteer work."

Don't you think that's what we've all been doing a little TOO MUCH of?? My goodness.

SoCal Renter says

I think people should be “Preparing for the Best”.
Take an arts and crafts class. Read a good novel. Enjoy a fine meal with some fine wine once in awhile. Go improve your golf game. Do some volunteer work.
There is a HUGE oppurtunity cost to focusing too much on preparing for the worst. No one needs four years of canned groceries, piles of gold, or assault rifles.
The doom and gloom end-of-days’ers are wasting a tremendous amount of time and resources on something so utterly foolish and improbable that they can practically watch in real time their peers successfully advancing ahead of them in money, careers, lifestyle, and social status.
Reminds me of the penny-wise, pound foolish old man who wastes $50.00 in gasoline driving around town searching for the gas station with a $0.01 a gallon cheaper gas. “Summa bitches won’t take any more money from me!” he shouts to the world.
Survivalist mentalities and principles are very EXPENSIVE.

phoenix.426 says

“Take an arts and crafts class. Read a good novel. Enjoy a fine meal with some fine wine once in awhile. Go improve your golf game. Do some volunteer work.”
Don’t you think that’s what we’ve all been doing a little TOO MUCH of?? My goodness

Yes--exactly right. All that volunteer work is what got us in this mess.

Everyone stocking up on wheat and guns is just the ticket to get the economy rolling again.

A message, perhaps a little off the subject:

I am 38 years old and sadly enough, up until a few years ago, I had NO IDEA what being American was all about. I had no idea what it really took for a country to weather the test of time and maintain freedom for its people. Heck, I even joined the military right after high school; still, I had no clue at all. It took me two full years of studying and more importantly a lot of deep thinking about what I BELIEVE in to finally realize what is required of a countrie's citizens in order for that country to survive. You have to BELIEVE in what your country was founded on and then stand for that 'til the end!

This is what I believe:

Like it or not America was very much founded around GOD! That's right - god. Without the influence of god we shall surely fail as a country. For a country founded on god is a country lost without god. God was taken out of the public school system in the early sixties.. Why?? Why on earth would we do this?? Is it because a few people didn't like the idea of god? Well, I suppose that's fine but they should move else where because we Americans believe in god. Heck, christians are practically looked at as freaks in this country any more! It's sad.

The very piece of paper that protects our GOD GIVEN rights - the Constitution, was written for a moral society. Where do you suppose our morals come from?

I also believe guns are a great way to teach your children about freedom. Take them out shooting and while you're out there teach them about freedom. Teach them about America and what we were founded on (this isn't being done enough).

I urge everyone to dig deep, study and find out what YOU believe in because there might be a better country out there for you if you find you don't fit in here.

America already knows what it is - do you believe in it?

I am an American. And what makes me an American is my beliefs. My belief in AMERICANISM. Go find out for yourself!

God bless

PS - revolution is as natural as peeing.

Hardly, this country was founded on people who were persecuted by god. There is a reason state and religion were separated, because the founders had no interest of having religion being part of their new country.

Well said Phoenix.....you are a true American. I'm 50+ and my father fought in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. It took me many years to recognize the sacrifice's he made for God, family and his country. A man of ourageous courage, faith and loyalty. A dying breed. thanks for posting!

I dont think anyone is advocating armed revolution. Guns are a deterrent to tyranny in a democratic society.
When the majority of the electorate becomes ignorant of the Constitution, American history, Christianity and vote for who looks and sounds good we are in serious trouble like its been happening a couple of generations we get trashy leaders and politicians AND STATISM.

Someone quoted "this country was founded on people who were persecuted by god. There is a reason state and religion were separated, because the founders had no interest of having religion being part of their new country." This is a very ignorant saying and believing in a lie (historical revisionism).

Someone commented my quote about the 4 G's asking "How do you get a year supply of God?" The bible says "O ye of little faith". Faith in the true God will carry you through bad times and give you wisdom. Do what you can to prepare for bad times and faith will carry you through. In the meanwhile eat, drink and be merry! Balance is the key.

Nomograph says

The Christian Taliban have just arrived. Excellent.

Much better than the God-less Taliban, however. A man with a value system and morals is a more trustworthy man than one without.

Pleaaasssee! I said God not Christianity. I respect all paths and that is a part of being a true American. Jesus was a great way shower, who taught love, faith and courage, as were many other great prophet's. Taliban isn't a very good example. Either is religion.

redrider says

Pleaaasssee! I said God not Christianity. I respect all paths and that is a part of being a true American. Jesus was a great way shower, who taught love, faith and courage, as were many other great prophet’s. Taliban isn’t a very good example. Either is religion.

I recommend you read Niki Raapana's material regarding why Christianity is under attack in the United States. Very insightful for thinking people of faith.

I know exactly one person in Los Angeles with a gun. Last year he had a home invasion robbery while sleeping and the home invaders found the gun and held him up with it. He is a rabid right-winger and if it wasn't such an awful thing to happen to someone I would've laughed hysterically and thrown his teabagger words right back at him. But I just couldn't, it was just too pathetic and predictable.

The fundamentalist Christians have rewritten the history of Ronald Reagan. Give them time and they will convince everyone that the founding fathers ideal was a nation of fundamentalist Christians who keep eachother distracted with non issues while the plutocracy and the corporatocracy slowly enslave us.

wcalleallegre says

I thought he had so much trust in the government when he was a super supporter of Obamacare.

The funny thing is that "ObamaCare" hasn't changed a goddamn thing with my health care.

Other than jacking up the premiums 20%, largely thanks to it not allowing companies to discriminate premiums based on gender any more. The other stuff -- young adults staying on parent's plans, no rescission, is maybe 5% according to BlueShield.

The right wing nut brigade (see above) has somehow gotten it into their pinheads that the bill passed last year was something the socialists up in Canada might be envious of, while the reality of the situation is that "ObamaCare" is just pretty much what Mitt Romney got implemented in MA and what Republicans like Bob Dole, Ted Stevens, Orrin Hatch supported in 1993 (the Chafee bill).

It is HIGHLY conservative in nature, since it had to pass through the Senate Finance Committee, who changed it to what they could get 60 votes for after Kennedy died and Brown replaced him. Basically the most conservative Democrat (Lieberman) determined what was going to pass the Senate, since no Republicans voted for it, for their usual BS hyperpartisan reasons.

marcus says

Give them time and they will convince everyone that the founding fathers ideal was a nation of fundamentalist Christians

They're already doing this, bigtime. wallbuilders.org does weekly presentations in churches, for some reason my sister dragged me to her church down in OC and half the service was a powerpoint from some affable Texan telling them about Gouverneur Morris and all the rest of the founders were Christian men making a Christian country.

That was the last time I went to church with her. Now when I'm visiting I let mom & her go do their church thing and I just fuck off for the morning.

Troy says

The funny thing is that “ObamaCare” hasn’t changed a goddamn thing with my health care.

The majority of changes don't kick in for years - yet I have patients/families blaming Obama for everything. I love it when they complain that Medicare won't pay for their room & board just because they don't have a medical need to be there.

I've been yelled at, sworn at and called a liar (this week it was twice) when a patient's family is told the patient isn't eligible for Medicaid and the patient must either pay out of pocket or go home. My new nickname is "bitch."

The newest assessment tools were created while Bush was in office, but no one wants to hear that.

elliemae says:

How do you get a year supply of God?

Answer: I went to church once. That pretty much held me for a year.

tatupu70 says

NuttBoxer says

tatupu70 says

Is Pat.net like a siren call for all these guys? Why do they all end up here?

I was briefly excited about your offer to sell sliver, but reading this post realized the only silver you own was probably purchased at the mall from a swarthy guy with a beard named Akmad.

Patrick.net attracts people tired of BS who are facing reality… But some like yourself prefer to keep their reality bounded by the real estate market. Enjoy your soylent green rations!

Sorry–I was joking about the silver. Nickels were never made of silver…

My mistake, dimes quarters and half dollars only, again before '64.

The US Government is completely aware of what's going on. While Bush was President they made plans for the food and job riots this depression will soon cause when people revolt because they hit the breaking point. The camps were constructed with barbed wire in 1,800 locations all across the country. The truth is, society doesn't need all of us anymore. They can get by just fine and still generate huge corporate profits. Us extras are just a burden now. I think what's going to happen soon may be similar to the inhumanity we saw during WWII and that's what you have to prepare yourself against, though how do you prepare for 20 million deaths in your own country and the rise of the corporate/police state?

vandervert says

The US Government is completely aware of what’s going on. While Bush was President they made plans for the food and job riots this depression will soon cause when people revolt because they hit the breaking point. The camps were constructed with barbed wire in 1,800 locations all across the country. The truth is, society doesn’t need all of us anymore. They can get by just fine and still generate huge corporate profits. Us extras are just a burden now. I think what’s going to happen soon may be similar to the inhumanity we saw during WWII and that’s what you have to prepare yourself against, though how do you prepare for 20 million deaths in your own country and the rise of the corporate/police state?

Lots of God. I'd say at least 3-4 years worth.

wtf's going on with the flood of new account whackos?

maybe shrek invited them all over from one of his other online forums.

I got an AM/FM/Weather band radio for $25 from Amazon, Eton Microlink, self powered by handcrank and solar cell, has cell charger capability and LED flashlight too, decent audio.

Next survival step is an ebay bid is a DC/AC inverter big enough to power a room AC and refrigerator. A $100 inverter is a better deal than $1000 generator since I'll only be using it for a short term emergency. We had a blackout here (metro NYC) with 3 days of 103 degrees and a/c or a fan isn't a luxury then. Obviously a diesel is better for long term idling but I bet a fuel injected 4cyl with synthetic oil won't have any trouble on a cycled basis.

There have been some horror stories here about keeping guns in the home. You should always keep the ammunition separate from the gun and the gun is easy to lock in a number of ways including a trigger lock. A shotgun is the safest and most effective gun you can get for self protection in the home IMO.