The one thing that has me most worried about an economic collapse...

[regnaD kciN]

...is the number of Lounge threads about members losing their jobs, being foreclosed on, etc.

Remember when the Lounge was a place to escape from the harsh realities of the rest of the world?

[KitchenWitch]

1. I know.

I am really scared.

[Shell Beau]

2. It sucks!

x(

[texanwitch]

3. I grew up hearing stories about the depression of the 1930's.

I can say we are prepared as much as possible.

What worries me is that people today cannot feed themselves like people could back then.

Where I am living now there were lots of open spaces for gardens, cows, and chickens.

People could catch fish from the bayous and the neighborhood park.

I have talked to many of the older people who grew up here in the 1930's and nobody went without food.

How many people can feed themselves now.

[wartrace]

6. The problem for 80% of our population is they don't know how or lack the means.

Food comes from the grocery store & water comes in 16 oz plastic bottles. Backyard gardens would provide a little relief but they are a LOT of work, much more work than a lot of people would be willing to do. A lot of areas do not allow farm animals in yards. It wouldn't take long for all the game animals to be hunted out & the fish at a dangerously low level.

I live in an area similar to what you describe, I have 15 acres that I have been slowly working on as cash allows to become more self sufficient. You could provide sustenance for a few people on 10 or 15 acres of land. It would be difficult for people living in suburban or urban areas to live off their land. Even if you were able to grow enough for yourself it would be hard to hold on to in an area with many hungry people competing for food. Theft alone would be enough to make it impossible to survive in some areas.

I've talked to people about their plans if things don't always go their way. Most have never even thought about it. They have no back up plan, no worst case scenario ideas. As long as they have nice counter tops in the gourmet kitchen in that 4000 sq ft house in a gated community on one acre lots they cease to believe that they are anything but special. Nothing will ever go bad in THEIR lives. They will never be wanting for anything in life.

Yes, I am pessimistic on peoples ability to survive on their own if it gets that bad. If "the plan" is to wait for FEMA to arrive and provide for your every need you are screwn. Royally screwn.

[texanwitch]

7. I am glad to have land in the country and for growing up in the country.

I can grow food, and raise animals for food.

My Grandparents made sure I knew how to can food.

I will make it but it won't take long for things to go to hell fast.

You are right about FEMA, our Mayor had to kick some FEMA ass to get ice and water going here after Ike.

We will have to look after each other.

[Deja Q]

4. I've also seen people leave job for another of their own accord...

It's not great right now, but even I don't think there will be a collapse.

And if there is, well it's been a splendid life.

I'm just tired of the negativity. And the whole world wants the US to fix itself because the rest of the world will go down like a pack of dominoes too.

So it's not going to happen.

[Redstone]

5. Now, that is a great Lounge post; caring about individual people.

No sarcasm whatsoever.

Redstone