Things are looking shaky

[Lostinspace]

Stock markets world wide taking hits, real or fake bombs going to politicians....I just have a real uneasy feeling for the next little while...what about you?

[cvasqu03]

I wouldn't fret about it too much.  There have been predictions of the imminent collapse for decades now.  Historically speaking, it's much more likely there will be a gradual collapse of things than a sudden one.  That's not to say that it can't happen at all, or that it actually will happen either way.  I'm actually not convinced we're looking at a gradual collapse either.

Back in the '70's there was talk about how we were going to be facing a new ice age.  Then in the 80's, they said global warming would usher in water-world.  In the late 80's the story was about how much stronger the Soviets (remember them?) were than us and how Communism was spreading throughout the world, then in the early 90's the talk was about how Japan was likely to be the next world power due to economic power.  These days the arguments are nearly identical except that ice age and global warming have become a generalized "climate change," and the Soviets and Japanese have become the Chinese. 

Being a historian, I'm kind of jaded, and I've come to appreciate what it says in Ecclesiastes 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."  It's one of many reasons I tend not to listen to liberals.  They always act like they're coming up with something new, when in reality, everything they're talking about has been tried and has failed repeatedly throughout human history.  Talk of economic (or other) collapse is among those things. 

Despite all the warnings from all the experts, the world just keeps stubbornly refusing to end.  Still, there's nothing wrong with preparedness.

[PAX]

I too feel that something is amiss, but I think it's going to come out of left field. PAX

[Lostinspace]

I too feel that something is amiss, but I think it's going to come out of left field. PAX

I'm glad our family is fairly prepared but I am concerned for our extended families of brothers, sisters, and their children/grandchildren.  I don't get the sense that they would be prepared for anything that happens of any consequence.

[CG]

When I see gun ships coming up the river,  that's when I'm going to take action.

Until then,  Just roll with the punches!

[Hodgie]

Check out the new book Black Autumn by ex special forces member Jeff Kirkham while it's a work of fiction it's a real eye opener as to what can and will happen once SHTF. I read it over the course of a few days and I'm wanting more.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Autumn-Post-Apocalyptic-Saga-READYMAN/dp/1948035170

[CG]

Think of it.

If SHTF and the armed forces are still in tact and directed by "the government",  the 2nd A means squat.
If the government fails, as it did in Bosnia/Sarajevo.  then it's every man for themselves,  but community effort lets you get some sleep from time to time.

[Hodgie]

Think of it.

If SHTF and the armed forces are still in tact and directed by "the government",  the 2nd A means squat.
If the government fails, as it did in Bosnia/Sarajevo.  then it's every man for themselves,  but community effort lets you get some sleep from time to time.

You have to take into consideration that all the men in the armed forces have families and I bet a lot will choose them over a government in chaos. In my opinion we won't see a true all out SHTF unless the power shuts and says off. once that happens things will be all mad max within a few days at best.

[Lostinspace]

Think of it.

If SHTF and the armed forces are still in tact and directed by "the government",  the 2nd A means squat.
If the government fails, as it did in Bosnia/Sarajevo.  then it's every man for themselves,  but community effort lets you get some sleep from time to time.

You have to take into consideration that all the men in the armed forces have families and I bet a lot will choose them over a government in chaos. In my opinion we won't see a true all out SHTF unless the power shuts and says off. once that happens things will be all mad max within a few days at best.

My family lived through Katrina and I can tell you factually that you didn't hear 1/1,000th of what went on down there from the news media because they didn't want you to know what certain "ethnic groups" were doing and the gubment told the new media what NOT to report. Unfortunately most of my family still doesn't have any food storage and will be in the same boat again if something goes south.  Many of them were without power for a minimum of 2 weeks and some as long as 2 months.  We learned lots of great lessons and saw the worst in people.  All I can tell you is that you need to have a "circle of trust" of people who you would be safe with because the savages roam in packs and will stop at nothing to get what they want.  Even a lowly .22 rifle is a blessing in these times.  The mere sight of a long gun (rifle or shotgun) of any type is enough deterrent in most cases until it really is bad.  Handguns just don't have the range to keep the bad guys at bay, trust me on this and make sure you have at least a couple of rifles and one semi auto or pump shotgun for every family member capable of handling such firearms, you'll thank me later.
 Lack of drinking water is the Achilles heel in a shtf situation so plan accordingly.  Nothing is better than an old fashioned hand pump well for shtf.  We were fortunate as my brother had a generator and 2 55 gallon drums of fuel in his workshop and we were able to get our electric well pump up and working the same day.  Neighbors would come over and fill up 5 gallon buckets to take home with drinking water but man every time you fired up the generator everyone within earshot knew it.

I don't think what I am feeling is "the big one" but I think it's a precursor to "the big one" that I saw when I was dead 10 years ago.  It should be a wake up call to everyone if something does happen.  I look at the "Trump Years" as the same thing as Joseph in Egypt...everything is great now and it's time for us to take advantage of the "time of plenty" before the time of nothing comes around.  Heck even .22lr is plentiful now and the prices are dropping.  Remember 5 years ago when you couldn't find a brick of .22lr for anything and people were selling them for $50+ a brick?  Now's a good time to spend that $20 a month and stash away a brick a month.  Prices on .223 and 7.62x39 are dropping too.

[Dino412]

What with the ever increasing political climate these days, it is hardly imaginable that "things will work out for the best". We have a political party that will stop at nothing to gain power again, an invading mob of 7-10K at the border, most likely brought about by same political party, and explosives designed not to explode popping up in leftist mailboxes. We no longer experience the "shock factor" when we hear of these things. It has become the norm. A President that speaks thru his ass dosen't help matters either.
 I know very little about the stock market, except to stay away from it, yet i still managed to build a sizable retirement nest egg easily attainable when I would need it. I think the proverbial SHTF is already here, except its more like vomit hitting the fan. When we see it, we are thinking what a mess its gonna make, then the stink of it sets in, creating a chain reaction.
 My wife, friends, and family all thought I was nuts with the collecting ammo, guns, and supplies, in preparation for SHTF, but not anymore. When they asked what made me start doing it, I told them I had all of them and their well being, in mind.
Yes, things are looking pretty shaky, but I am not worried about it so much as I used to be. The circle of trust has long been established, I am prepared for whatever comes, hopefully, and the bulk of my fortune is not measured by the material things I have, but with the friendships that I keep.
Sounds corny but its true.

[Lafayettegregory]

Geezzz... With all that has happened over the last few years- What will it take to create a tipping point ?  Apathy will be our destruction. It will not happen in a flash, we will just waste away a little at a time while the rich and powerful are ushered in by the week and poor. Battle lines are being drawn now.  Look what is happening now. Press soon to be fully censored. Election fraud and tampering will become more common and it wont be just a few dead people still on the rolls.  The states with the most poverty, more people working at min wage, lowest drop out rates, least available medical care, are the top voters for rich republicans and the Trump lemmings. With that said the other side is just as bad because the truth is all Federal politicians are the same!  We got 20 years of democracy left at the most!   Most likely within the next 3 federal elections we will see martial law enacted the constitution suspended and Federal troops in every major city with interstate roads restricted to Federal troops and their caravans.  When the first overpass/bridge/grid tower is bombed you will see a search for all explosives from salt peter and charcoal, to fertilizer. Hide your black powder deep for they be a comin. When all the gun stores are closed and the BARFE collects all the forms - they will have a database of ALL gun owners in America. With all that have closed in the last 5 years they already have most of us on record already. It ain't lookin good folks- While we argue over who is best of the two parties.   

[Lafayettegregory]

[jonnyugo]

Geezzz... With all that has happened over the last few years- What will it take to create a tipping point ?  Apathy will be our destruction. It will not happen in a flash, we will just waste away a little at a time while the rich and powerful are ushered in by the week and poor. Battle lines are being drawn now.  Look what is happening now. Press soon to be fully censored. Election fraud and tampering will become more common and it wont be just a few dead people still on the rolls.  The states with the most poverty, more people working at min wage, lowest drop out rates, least available medical care, are the top voters for rich republicans and the Trump lemmings. With that said the other side is just as bad because the truth is all Federal politicians are the same!  We got 20 years of democracy left at the most!   Most likely within the next 3 federal elections we will see martial law enacted the constitution suspended and Federal troops in every major city with interstate roads restricted to Federal troops and their caravans.  When the first overpass/bridge/grid tower is bombed you will see a search for all explosives from salt peter and charcoal, to fertilizer. Hide your black powder deep for they be a comin. When all the gun stores are closed and the BARFE collects all the forms - they will have a database of ALL gun owners in America. With all that have closed in the last 5 years they already have most of us on record already. It ain't lookin good folks- While we argue over who is best of the two parties.                

          Well said, when the coup moves slow, most, by design, figure thing out too late. The closest thing thing we had in this country that resembled a Democracy officially died when the ink dried on the Patriot Act. Corporations own the politicians both Rep & Dem at all levels of government, city,state and federal. Our military industrial complex is total corporate. That, by definition is Fascist. Look around, not to had to see if your eyes are open.  There is no hurry to take, or have fear of our firearms. The elite will take great pleasure, thru propaganda and manipulation, watching us line up to kill the Fk out of each other. When we are done, they will take whats left.

[Onepoint]

We got 20 years of democracy left at the most! 

Good god I hope not.  Another 20 years of our experiment with injecting direct democracy into a constitutional republic has caused more destruction to the American dream than any other single thing.  So long as people keep electing people who promise to give them things at the cost of others,  there is no turning anything around politically.  How many more trillions do we really want to rack up in debt while we play around with socialism?   

[Lafayettegregory]

We got 20 years of democracy left at the most! 

Good god I hope not.  Another 20 years of our experiment with injecting direct democracy into a constitutional republic has caused more destruction to the American dream than any other single thing.  So long as people keep electing people who promise to give them things at the cost of others,  there is no turning anything around politically.  How many more trillions do we really want to rack up in debt while we play around with socialism?

Hmmm,,, ??? According to this information the dept of health and human services, which includes disease control and work in foreign countries is only 6.2% of the federal budget --Depot labor only 2.6
 That's only 8.6% of the federal budget???