Written by Richard Kane   

As fear of economic collapse spreads, those calling themselves survivalists get listened to by more and more Americans. Hoarding gold coins or bullion is anti-stimulus interfering with the money circulating. It isn’t necessarily true that one is more likely then ones’ neighbors to survive the collapse of America and with euro problems the collapse of Europe too with a big gun, a couple of guard dogs, a generator and water distiller, and a hoard of handy prepackaged dried dinners. In a real collapse, the guard dogs shot and eaten, and needing some sleep will allow the starving in. Why not along with one’s neighbors refill as many empty plastic bottles as possible, sprout seeds, and grow and bury potatoes. Medieval farmers had potatoes no matter how many self-appointed, tax collecting armies passed through.

In the last days of the Bush years things began collapsing, Obama chose to be a mediator, not a blamer, at first accomplishing wonders until he began to inherit the blame for things not being the way they should be.

Mayors can plant potatoes. What about the White House lawn? Oversized pots in your windowsill or yard, will make the robbers know, despite being healthy, you likely don’t have pouches of plastic-wrapped dried food that is easy to haul away. Laws could be passed to allow any weed-filled lot to be planted until the owner makes other use of it. Sidewalk grass could be gardens. The next stimulus should be stipends for urban gardens, since in an emergency they will feed the neighborhood whether they want to or not, except for the potatoes since only the planter knows when and exactly where to dig, and anyone desperate enough to randomly dig wouldn’t be in any condition to wait for any they find to cook, or bake. I personally don’t think gold will be currency if the paper money collapses, gold was highly versatile for many uses besides currency in the ancient world. Potatoes are stable enough to be better than barter.

Obama keeps preaching hope for a better world. Gore spread grim predictions while being part of an inspiring campaign where people plant a tree, and ads glorified kids picking up litter. Churchill’s inspirational book was titled, “Blood, Sweat and Tears”. President Obama stop the prosperity oriented happy talk! Like Gore, talk of the grim times ahead!

Besides predictions of a bright economic prospect repeatedly letting people down, Guantanamo not closing like Obama said he would, and what some see as total stupidity in not leaving the Afghan war, or of Obama being at the defense contractor’s mercy saps the strength of those who conclude that there is no way for ordinary folk to have their opinions heard. The day Obama announced plans to close Guantanamo, al Qaeda claimed a new head of al Qaeda of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, a convicted terrorist who was involved in the bombing of the Cole Than later granted amnesty by Yemen in return for apologizing for terrorism, and picking his own words to affirm that Mohammad doesn’t condone attacking non military targets. If the US government had exposed he was a figurehead pressured into it by al Qaeda, he could have been turned into a remotely-detonated suicide bomb. Others could be cornered as well. There is a bloodbath of Awakening Council members in Iraq of the ones refusing to make amends with al Qaeda. Obama’s problem in closing Guantanamo is not lack of will.

France declared war against al Qaeda in Mali building up from when it tried to rescue instead of paying ransom for French citizens held hostage.. Bin Laden personally threatened to blow up the Eiffel Tower and other targets. If Obama were to announce we are now withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and a hostage was seized some Americans would go out of their minds in anger. Conservatives used to say overly criticizing the President weakens America, believing Obama’s motives are spineless and corrupt certainly makes a collapse more likely. As far as showing weakness inspiring bin Laden, defense spending at a bankrupting rate is a show of weakness. But it’s not yet checkmate for America.

People don’t like chlorine but in a filthy environment, water bottles must be filled to the brim to keep the chlorine in. Later they can be left open for several hours if worried to get the chlorine out. If no running water the plastic storage bins filled with sprouts must contain a drop of bleach from an eyedropper each day or Iodine or silver nitrate.

I would like to thank Warren Buffet and the 44 millionaires who signed a pledge opposing the tax-cut extension. Under Eisenhower the tax rate on the rich was 91% then though the years it went down to the thirties. As there are more and more millionaires as the economy crumbles some hope for revolution. There won’t be revolution as long as those who don’t want it can foment hate between ethic groups like they have between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. A touch of what Cuba has the world needs, to keep the rich at bay.

For free health care people can go to Cuba. If the government would allow Americans to take 10% of their medicare, medicaid, and prescription reimbursement with them or 10% of any welfare payments with them to Cuba, Cuba would put up with the influx of sick people even if they got less than 10% of what US hospitals get. Some Social Security recipients used to retire in cheaper Mexico taking the burden off of medicare, but crime is got in the way of more retiring there. We must cut medical costs, and health care overseas can help.

Manufacturing jobs are gone, the Internet hires toward the lowest paid parts of the world, TV monitors can be watched from overseas replacing some security guards and quality control experts without union or worker actions. An exception to the economic downturn is Australia where nevertheless unemployment is extremely high.

Obama please stop talking of economic recovery any time soon, instead hope that America continues to function.

Meanwhile if we started taking Survivalism in a collective way, and a non-combative way, our own neighborhood could survive even if many things are going wrong elsewhere in the world.

In a previous article I had more detail of ways municipalities and individuals could save costs by way of the internet, but googleing organ donor transplants soured my interest, but it needs to be looked at
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