Don't come knocking on my door

[Gingersnap]

Don't come knocking on my door

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Posted: May 22, 2010
1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

On Thursday I made a severe error in judgment. I logged onto the Drudge Report, where these headlines jumped out at me:

Stocks drop most in a year on economic reports, European debt crisis

Roubini: Stocks to tumble another 20%, cash the safest place

Strains accumulate

Fed official: Europe's crisis poses risks to USA

Confusion over regulation moves trigger sell-offs

These headlines got me worried because they coincide with a couple of entries I recently posted on my blog: "Predictions for the rest of 2010," and "More cheery news." I'll pause while you go read those items.

Now that you're back, can you understand why I find myself nervous about the future?

Don't be caught unprepared! Order Gen. Russel Honoré's book "Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters"

When I'm nervous, I tend to can food. In the last two days I've canned 33 pints of mixed vegetables and 14 quarts of chicken breasts.

Because, you see, I expect the bleep to hit the fan within a year, possibly less. Mother hen that I am, I want to gather my chicks close and protect them. The frustrating thing is, those of us with concerns about the economy can't help but wonder how much of it is orchestrated. Whatever the cause, things appear to be spiraling out of control. So I'm doing the only thing I can do, and that's to prepare for hard times.

Of course, most people aren't preparing. History is full of people who ignored warning signs and put their heads in the sand (and their rumps in the air). These are the folks who derive great amusement at us who prepare, smugly calling us conspiracy nuts or lunatics. Then they'll calmly inform us of their contingency plans: "Well, we'll just come live with you if things get tough."

These are the Grasshoppers of society, and I've written about them before. These are the people who still have their jobs and homes, but seem incapable or unwilling to look beyond the shallow concerns of everyday life to read the headlines or see the storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

This attitude makes Ants very, very nervous.

One woman posted on my blog: "I live on 1 acre in town, and we have 48 relatives within walking distance of our house. If only four people show up to be fed and cared for, my six-month supply is cut in half to three months. The more people who show up for help … well, just do the division! I'm trying to build my stock and some nights I don't sleep well just thinking about how quickly it could be depleted. This is not fear talking; this is wrapping my brain around reality."

This woman has tried warning her friends and family, but when she saw them "taking cruises and trips to Florida," she knew the message wasn't getting through.

Grasshoppers, every one of them. Grasshoppers are not people who are unemployed or facing eviction or dealing with medical bills. Grasshoppers are people who have jobs and are perfectly capable of preparing, but who deny that hard times could ever happen.

Whenever I address this subject in a column, there's always someone who "jokingly" announces that he'll just come live with us if the bleep hits the fan. My standard reply is, "Stand in line. There are dozens ahead of you." The honest truth of the matter is, "Why is it MY responsibility to feed YOU when you've had plenty of warning that times are going to be tough, and you've just been too stupid or stubborn to listen?"

And the trouble is, the woman with 48 relatives shares a major concern with other Ants: We love our Grasshoppers to pieces. They are our friends and family. So the question arises – how do we decide who comes to live with us and share our supplies? How many Grasshoppers can one Ant support?

Interesting thought. For those of us who are involved with preparedness, who would you turn away?

WND (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=156921)

[djones520]

I don't like how he refers to people who simply enjoy life as "enemies".

If we were to all suddenly stop spending frivolous money like he's suggestion, what he is preparing for would happen all the quicker. I for one am going to keep being one of those people who take the cruises and such. Because while the ant is busy stashing everything away, the grasshopper is doing what he can to make sure winter never comes.

[Gingersnap]

I don't like how he refers to people who simply enjoy life as "enemies".

If we were to all suddenly stop spending frivolous money like he's suggestion, what he is preparing for would happen all the quicker. I for one am going to keep being one of those people who take the cruises and such. Because while the ant is busy stashing everything away, the grasshopper is doing what he can to make sure winter never comes.

He's a she. I think her annoyance is with people who could probably afford to do both if they ever thought about it, which they don't.

It's usually not a choice between an upscale vacation and doing basic preparedness measures. A lot of people do nothing at all. They literally don't have enough dog food to make it to the weekend. It's not economics, it's short-sightedness.

[Dan D. Doty]

Her big worry shouldn't be the people asking for food, but the ones who show up at the door demanding it. Those are the folks who are going to give her trouble; they either take the food, or try to steal it.

She better get herself a couple of firearms and learn how to use them.

[dixierat]

Her big worry shouldn't be the people asking for food, but the ones who show up at the door demanding it. Those are the folks who are going to give her trouble; they either take the food, or try to steal it.

She better get herself a couple of firearms and learn how to use them.

And PLENTY of ammo. The lines will be fairly long abd the worst of them will be well armed.

[Articulate_Ape]

Interesting thought. For those of us who are involved with preparedness, who would you turn away?


Anyone that doesn't look like good eating.

[JB]

When was the last time someone's had to say "We'll get through this, I have 33 pints of mixed vegetables in the cupboard".

I think I'll keep taking my cruises.

[malloc]

The Wal-Mart by my house has a pretty interesting isle dedicated to emergency preparedness. It's the only one I've ever seen like it. It has like 5 gallon tubs of flour, cornmeal, rice, and beans. All of which should last for nearly every if stored properly and sealed from moisture and bugs. It also has giant cans of canned meats and vegetables, all at the wonderful wal-mart prices.

I've been thinking about buying more of this stuff up, it seems like a rational thing to spend money on.

[CueSi]

The Wal-Mart by my house has a pretty interesting isle dedicated to emergency preparedness. It's the only one I've ever seen like it. It has like 5 gallon tubs of flour, cornmeal, rice, and beans. All of which should last for nearly every if stored properly and sealed from moisture and bugs. It also has giant cans of canned meats and vegetables, all at the wonderful wal-mart prices.

I've been thinking about buying more of this stuff up, it seems like a rational thing to spend money on.

Same here. My ex boyfriend has the same worries. I'm trying to teach myself some sort of useful skill so he'll be willing to take me in.

Hey, If I'm not gonna be prepared, I'd better get a skill that makes me valuable to the ones that are.

~QC

[malloc]

Hey, If I'm not gonna be prepared, I'd better get a skill that makes me valuable to the ones that are.
~QC


Bah, I don't think even the zombie apocalypse could diminish the demand for exotic dancers! :D That's a trade with universal appeal.

[m00]

Bah, I don't think even the zombie apocalypse could diminish the demand for exotic dancers! :D

I thought they were already dead on the inside.

[malloc]

I thought they were already dead on the inside.

The Zombies or the Strippers?

http://enciclopediadelhorror.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/zombie-strippers.jpg

(Yes, I've seen this movie, yes it was funny, don't expect any deep meaning from it though.)

[m00]

The Zombies or the Strippers?

Strippers, of course.

[malloc]

Bah, no way.

My sister in law is a stripper, and she's effing awesome, so are most of her friends in the profession. The horror stories must come from the no-talent drugged out ones she tells me about.

[Kay]

Where she (in the opening post) is going wrong is in assuming that she will live off what's been purchased and stored indefinitely. Those of us who survive whatever catastrophy nature may bring, will be the ones who know how to hunt and trap food using only our bare hands and what's laying on the ground. That is what survivalists should concentrate on most in my book. How to survive and provide food and shelter for yourself after all the ammo and store-bought supplies have been used up.

[Dan D. Doty]

Where she (in the opening post) is going wrong is in assuming that she will live off what's been purchased and stored indefinitely. Those of us who survive whatever catastrophy nature may bring, will be the ones who know how to hunt and trap food using only our bare hands and what's laying on the ground. That is what survivalists should concentrate on most in my book. How to survive and provide food and shelter for yourself after all the ammo and store-bought supplies have been used up.

Kay, its a good idea to have supplies to start with; anyone who thinks they can hunt and fish to survive are going to end up starving.

Its also a good idea to have something to trade with others ( booze & tobacco) is not a bad idea either; everyone needs their vices.

[Dan D. Doty]

Same here. My ex boyfriend has the same worries. I'm trying to teach myself some sort of useful skill so he'll be willing to take me in.

Hey, If I'm not gonna be prepared, I'd better get a skill that makes me valuable to the ones that are.

~QC

CueSi, the first you should learn is how to defend yourself.

Get acouple firearms ( 22. rifle is a good start), learn how to use them. A good knife and melee weapon are also good ideas ( go to COLD STEEL SPECIAL PROJECTS, finest knives in the world, and they are running a sale this month). As a young woman, you will be in greater danger from the unholy bastards that we are forced to share the world with; be on guard.

If you need any advice, just ask, there a lot of people here who can help you.

[Kay]

anyone who thinks they can hunt and fish to survive are going to end up starving.

You wouldn't have made a very good pioneer. :p

[Gingersnap]

You wouldn't have made a very good pioneer. :p

Well, to be honest - pioneers weren't self-sufficient either. They weren't dependent on 7/11s but they bought guns, ammo, needles, plows, tack, salt, coffee/flour grinders, horseshoes, nails, etc.

In a complete collapse people would live off the debris but the biggest dangers would come from other survivors, infectious disease, and trauma injuries. Do you know how to treat cholera? Dysentery in infants? How many plundered antibiotics could we try before stumbling on the right one to save a limb? I don't know how treat any of those things even though I do know how to make a running noose trap.

Let's hope that disturbance is short-lived. :eek:

[malloc]

Well, to be honest - pioneers weren't self-sufficient either. They weren't dependent on 7/11s but they bought guns, ammo, needles, plows, tack, salt, coffee/flour grinders, horseshoes, nails, etc.

In a complete collapse people would live off the debris but the biggest dangers would come from other survivors, infectious disease, and trauma injuries. Do you know how to treat cholera? Dysentery in infants? How many plundered antibiotics could we try before stumbling on the right one to save a limb? I don't know how treat any of those things even though I do know how to make a running noose trap.

Let's hope that disturbance is short-lived. :eek:

Well, since I have guns, ammo and food already crossed off my list of "things to do in case of societal collapse", so my list is kind of in a different order.



1.) Kidnap doctor.
2.) Pillage Hospital Pharmacy
3.) Don't forget Physician's Desk Reference at Hospital



There, that should do it.

[Kay]

Well, to be honest - pioneers weren't self-sufficient either.

That's true, but you're thinking more along the lines of the pioneers who invaded us from the east in covered wagons. I'm thinking more along the lines of the native Indians. They were 100% self-sufficient living off the land. As for medicines, they knew how to make a poultice and chew on peyote.

Not a lifestyle I'd choose for long, but I feel fortunate that I was raised by the 1950's version of Ted Nugent with a burr haircut. Here's a song that seems to fit here:

I4s0nzsU1Wg

[noonwitch]

I work for the government, I'll be able to get food.

[Dan D. Doty]

I work for the government, I'll be able to get food.

Guess where the hungry, angry hoard is going first :D

[noonwitch]

Guess where the hungry, angry hoard is going first :D



We're the last place they think of when they think of actual food. We're who they think of for money and EBT cards.

The USDA is who keeps the food stockpiles. That's where government cheese and other giveaways come from. In Michigan, we just have to hope that the USDA has learned from the 70s and no longer stores food for people or animals in an area where it can get mixed up with fire retardant.

[DU+NU_Reject]

I don't think my course of action would matter, as I'd be dead 6=7 days after running out of insulin. (and in a coma after 3-4 days to start with)

Doesn't mean I wouldn't care, though...