Underlying "Boy Scout" Sensibilities?

[Parisle]

----I am still pretty new to the DU forum, but I'm impressed by the numbers and participation displayed here, so I'd like to ask a question,....

---- Despite whatever Democratic, liberal, anti-neocon (or other) political attitudes you hold, or activities and efforts you're engaged in,... how many of you have also anticipated the remaining two years of the Bush administration in "worst case scenario" terms,... especially economic terms,.. and made any significant preparations for it? You know,.... Boy Scout preparedness? After all,... Bush DOES seem to be a worst case scenario president.

---- Mainly, that "worst case scenario" refers to massive recession/depression,... perhaps precipitated by $100/bbl oil, and a China-assisted currency devaluation of,... oh, say 25% for starters. Given Bush administration antics, this much could occur practically overnight. Throw in resulting double-digit unemployment and rising civil unrest, and you almost have the makings for the next Road Warrior sequel, eh? I'm not saying it's definitely going to happen,... but the pieces are on the board. So,... what would a good Boy Scout be doing?

----For my own part, I've got my house "passively modified" to keep itself at no less than 50 degrees even in the dead of (Virginia) winter,... with solar hot water and a back-up woodstove and small generator. I keep a rotating supply of 40 gallons of gasoline,.. enough to give my Nissan XE-6 a thousand-mile cruising radius,.. and if I need to leave, I already know where I'm going. We keep a 60-day supply of long-storage foods,.. extra re-fills on prescriptions,... and yes, I have guns. And all this is pretty much on the cheap, ok? It isn't hard to do, and I recommend similar preparations for anyone reading this.

----So,... back to my question. I know there will be some who simply feel that I've gone to that permanent "Idaho of the mind," but that is hardly the case. The difference between overboard survivalists and Boy Scouts may generally be explained in terms of caves and M-16's. I live in a nice little resort town and I go to work every day,... but being somewhat prepared for the nightmare potentials of the times in which we live DOES afford me a degree of added comfort. So how many of you have taken any similar or comparable precautions concerning the fragile future? Just asking.

[acmejack]

1. I am in that state of readiness more or less.

I have access to all those things. But my health renders it moot. I could work to the benefit of those I care about, I hope.

[electropop]

2. Welcome to DU! I'm not as prepared as I should be.

I would add some more worst-case scenarios beyond economic:

(1) Mass detentions. Halliburton is already building the camps.
(2) Massive terrorist attacks. Bush's insane foreign policies have left us more vulnerable than ever, thanks to universal hatred of the US and defenseless borders.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Minimal preparations, here.

As an apartment dweller many options are limited, but I've been building up my savings, have a two-week store of bottled water and canned food set aside which can be quickly and easily put in my car. Have a fairly complete first aid kit already in the car. I can't store gas, but keep my tank topped off, never let it get below 1/4 tank down. Also have a siphon hose in my trunk, and a light chainsaw.

I'm less worried, and less prepared, for economic collapse scenarios than for rapid evacuation scenarios -- if a Cat 5 comes inland and takes out the power for weeks, like Fran did, or if there's a terror hit on the Shearon Harris nuke plant.

[Parisle]

4. City Apartments ARE a Special Case

----I'm lucky in that I'm in a rural area,... The two most important considerations facing the person bugging out of a city are departure time and destination. Departure time comes down to degree of readiness,.... Pack up some clothes, blankets, tools etc, to go with your 1st aid stuff and chainsaw (axes are great, too) and I can't help it, but I am a strong proponent of firearms, too... Anyway, have all that stuff ready to roll. Wouldn't hurt to have a few silver coins, as well. I keep "barterable" items,... whiskey, cigarettes, ammunition,.. in addition to gold and silver coins as a "post-apocalyptic" currency.