Some say invest in gold. I say invest in you.
Everywhere I go, there is this intensity of apprehension. It’s like this buzzing of fear in the background. Peoples’ portfolios are tanking. The bailout, and the prospect of the american taxpayers footing even more of the bill for corporate and government corruption. The bald face lying, the naked short selling, the outraged finger pointing. You hear things… Like when the IndyMac Bank failed, the regular depositors, people like you and me, got on $.50 on the dollar. How the hell would you deal with that? If your bank lost half of your money and the FDIC insurance just was for 50%? Wow. You talk to people who’s homes have lost 50% of their value and they are now stuck owing 3x what the home is worth (I know. it doesn’t make sense to me either). The one thing I really remember about high school history’s simplified causes of the Great Depression is that it was buying on margin that caused the Crash. That is exactly what all of Wall Street has been doing. And the experts are just as afraid that it’s too late. Hell in times before rapid inflation, it’s better to spend that credit while prices are low, because you will pay off that same money with the new inflated $100 bill you use like $20s. But then that’s more buying on margin, isn’t it. As a friend coined in a song, the fit is about to hit the shan!
It is times like these that my short sighted, slap-shot financial style may just work out for me. I have no assets beyond what gear I can pack in my element, a low car payment, low rent from a friend in a depression proof industy (gaming) and my family is nearby. I’ve been thinking a lot about support systems.
Back in 2001 when 9/11 hit the world with the last big fear wave, we all talked about if a serious terror attack happened, going to and gathering at Abundant Sugar over at the Brewery. There were people there who made things happen, and we were all just kids. But now, I feel like it is us who must stand and make the difference. We need to look at the hard choices and make some real plans. I’m scared. It really could be another Great Depression.
I’m not ready to make the plans yet. But I want to open up the conversation.
The good news is, it probably won’t all fail at once. The internet is designed to take a nuclear disaster, but tribe is definitely a victim of not having enough money to keep the doors open. So look to decentralized networks and have backup for your communication. Civic wifi will be up for a while hopefully. Starbucks won’t fail for a while, hopefully. (a hack at starbucks: buy a giftcard, register it at starbucks with a lappy, you now get a login with free wifi). If massive foreclosures happen, look at squatters rights. If enough people are losing their homes, there will be no way for them all to be evicted. Stand your ground. Keep your car hidden from the repo man (have you seen that movie lately? too close to home, its about a post economic collapse america). But ultimately, surviving an economic collapse is going to come down to community, only together will we be able to weather this storm.
Some say invest in gold. I say invest in you.
Look at your skill set. Survival is a technology. Can you survive? Do you even know your neighbors? What do you bring to the table as a member of the community. Do you have tools and can you fix things? Can you make clothing, or mend clothing? do you have technical knowledge that can help your community. Are you the kind of people that get along with people? Can you love your neighbor? Are you the kind of people that can repel bad people who want to take your survival from you? Can you fight? Are you the kind of extraordinary human being that will come out of all this to usher in that golden age?
Like I said, hard questions. And I really hope it doesn’t come to any of this. Except the golden age part, that would be pretty sweet.
image source: Fallout 3. Consider it training.
also check out Mother Eagle LLC www. for preparedness tips, he’s far more knowledgeable than I. Also look at what our friends at Homeland Security have to say about it they have specific tips for staying in business.