The end of the world is nigh!

[Mythsaje]

Every day I see at least a dozen posts on the imminent collapse of civilization as we know it. The collapse of the dollar. Peak Oil. Global warming. WWIII prompted by the nuking of Iran. Bird Flu.

Take your pick.

So what's everyone doing about it? Working against it, obviously. Trying to shore up stuttering American democracy so someone with a little sense can get in there and try to fix something before it's too late.

Sure. Okay. And what else?

Are all these doomsayers just a LITTLE hyperbolic? Is it not as bad as they're saying? Maybe we'll get some technology off the ground that will counter Peak Oil? Is the avian flu not really a threat? Maybe there's a way for a Democratic President and Congress to SAVE the dollar? Perhaps we can stop WWIII by convincing enough people to stand up to the Bush Cabal?

Or maybe not. Some folks seem positively gleeful at the prospect of the collapse of everything. I gotta ask. Are these people stock-piling weapons and food, or are they miraculously expecting the good nature of their (probably Republican) neighbors to keep them from harm if the excrement should hit the oscillating air circulation device?

If I believed that we were on the brink of imminent collapse, I'd be working to get out of the line of fire, and probably stockpiling any kind of equipment that might come in handy. I doubt I'd be pounding the keyboard ferociously trumpeting the oncoming destruction of everything we know.

I'm just trying to figure all of this out. What steps is anyone taking to protect themselves and their families from the onset of the Long Night? Other than rushing around screaming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!?"

I don't mean to be sarcastic here. Honestly. If we're seriously looking at big trouble ahead, what the hell is anyone doing to ensure their survival after the coming catastrophe? Whichever catastrophe it happens to be? Are they teaching their kids wilderness survival skills? Moving to the country away from the cities? Buying horses?

Or is just about every liberal who believes all of this stuff is coming planning on panicking with the rest of the world (or at least the U.S.) and grabbing whatever they can get their mitts on before heading for the hills with their families in tow?

I get the political and social stuff. Do everything you can to stave off the disaster. Educate and inform. Sure. But what about the practical side of everything?

I'm curious. Seriously.

I'd like to know what everyone thinks they're going to do if and when the shit hits the fan.

[CGrantt57]

1. I'd like to know

what everyone thinks they're going to do if and when the shit hits the fan.

Fly low.

Stay cool.

Avoid the carnage.

[MercutioATC]

2. Don't panic, stay informed, prepare.

...regardless of the "disaster du jour".

[Kutjara]

3. Well...

...there's a large minority of people who think we're rapidly approaching the End of Days and that God's chosen people will be whisked off to their eternal reward, leaving the rest of us behind to devour eachother in Armageddon.

This wouldn't be anything other than a disturbingly amusing fringe cult if it's memebers didn't include many of the senior members of our government, including the Comedian in Chief himself.

So, I think the answer to your question is that the appearance of glee at the coming catastrophe is genuine. My worry is that, if it doesn't happen within the timeframe of the current Administration, they might just help it along a bit.

[Mythsaje]

5. I'm not talking about THEM

I'm talking about US.

I KNOW they're nuts and expect Jesus to come save them (or, at the very least, get the chance to live out their 'Left Behind' fantasies) but I'm wondering what the city-bred liberals who are sounding the trumpets about the rest of it are going to do.

[Kutjara]

6. I'm sort of hoping that the End of Days guff is true.

That would mean that, presumably, the faithful of all faiths would get whisked off the planet, leaving behind those of us who are quite happy to live in this world.

After that, I don't see Armageddon happening, just a collective sigh of relief that the crashing bores have finally buggered off and maybe a big party to celebrate.

Perhaps I'm being a bit too optimistic. I'll go out and get a couple of extra cans of tuna this afternoon, just in case.

[Mythsaje]

9. "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

The assholes will be evicted."

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Live Free or Die.

That about sums it up. And realize that the media (this administration) likes to keep us in full panic mode.

[titoresque]

7. many of us are just not in the

position to stock pile or to do any real preparation. But being informed and passing along the info. is crucial. You can look at it as though people are just proclaiming "the sky is falling" or you can see the bigger picture and that is we're not being quiet about it, even if people think it's tinfoil. Because someone may hear what I have to offer and that person might have the means to actually prepare for said disaster. :shrug:

[IndyOp]

8. I sold my house and bought a smaller one

so I could drive down my mortgage payment (and lots more of it paid off).

Now I can give more money to groups & issues & political candidates who give me hope.

The smaller house and simpler yard also have to do with living simply.

I think we are looking at a period of economic instability and I am doing what I can to brace myself. I transferred all of my retirement funds out of US stock market and into European and Asian Markets - with good result. Today, I opened an account so I could buy precious metal mutual funds (in very small potato amounts).

And, of course, I continue to give my time to the causes I care about: peace demonstrations and progressive candidates and election reform.

I don't think the sky will fall. I think we *need* a true revolution of values and I am trying to come closer to living mine.

:hi:

[mandyky]

10. One of my first posts here at DU

was about forming intentional communities.

Now, I think rural intentional living is the answer.

I've been working on a diary entry on just this topic (communal living).

[Mythsaje]

12. It may actually be our only recourse in the end

We're going to need solid communities, and we've been driven away from having them in the last few decades. People DON'T look out for their neighbors anymore.

[titoresque]

14. I think your

on to something!

[mnhtnbb]

11. Our house in Panama is under construction

Our "hope for the best-- plan for the worst" scenario meant we bought property in Panama a year ago. Construction began last month.
We are applying for a retirement permanent resident visa which will give us all kinds of discounts on everything from health care to restaurants to airfares and hotels.

I suspect we'll have our answer in November with the mid-term election outcome whether the house will become our permanent retirement location in 2008 when our son graduates high school--or hopefully, just an investment/vacation retreat.

But we are taking the doomsayers seriously. The country is not in a good place either politically or economically and we want to have our escape plan in place.

[Mythsaje]

13. Now, see, that's the kind of example of practical thinking

I was looking for.

Thanks.

[mnhtnbb]

16. You're welcome. Anyone wants info on retiring overseas

send me a private message.

[Mythsaje]

18. I wish it were an option...

But, for me, for so many reasons, it's not.

[Hoping4Change]

15. .

.

[titoresque]

17. why don't you quit shoving your beliefs

down EVERYONES throat! :evilgrin:

[Hoping4Change]

29. At first i was puzzled then I was petrified.

then

ROTFL

You have no idea how much I needed that laugh.

:bounce:

[titoresque]

31. .

:patriot: LOL!

[Initech]

19. We have fundies running all three branches of government.

Fundies who take the Bible literally - including that weird, scary, apocalyptic Revelations ending.

Quite frankly, I think they're glad that the apocalypse is approaching and they're not going to do shit about it.

Which is why I'm scared shitless.

[Mythsaje]

20. Oh, I know what the fundies are doing about it...

They're stockpiling arms, and food, and teaching their kids how to kill people.

Liberals.

Us.

What are WE doing about THAT?

[mnhtnbb]

22. That's the problem. The country is no longer being run by reason

or respect for world wide community. It's all about being "right" or righteous. Science is devalued. The end justifies the means--lying, cheating, stealing are all ok. Hypocrisy is the order of the day.
The fundies pretend to be "Christian" but Jesus would be ashamed of this gang. Where is the concern for those without? Where is love for your neighbor, your enemy?

It's quite depressing. And we don't see things changing anytime soon.

[Initech]

34. I always find it hilarious when...

Right-wing fundie nutjobs (including Bush) who dont believe in science think that kids should be learning more math and science. If they're going to be teaching stuff they dont believe in, why dont you just cut the middle man and teach them about unicorns and hobbits for that matter?

[Kutjara]

23. I'm still trying to understand why...

...the politically savvy, eminently sensible delegates at the Council of Nicea decided, from among the 80 or so Gospels available to them, to include the luntaic rantings of John the Divine in place of more sober and sensible teachings. Were they looking for a big finish? A snappy ending that would pack the churches and keep them coming back for more?

Whatever the reason, they did us all a disservice.

[Initech]

35. Simple reason: hate sells.

It's the same reason that fat pigs like Rush Limbaugh, Falafel O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck are allowed to keep their jobs. It's the same reason Ann Coulter keeps getting $30,000 speaking gigs and TV apperances. It's the same reason people like James Dobson have more of a say about our supreme court noms than people in Congress do.

[walldude]

21. I thought we were coming around till all this bomb Iran shit started

sounding serious. That is the only issue that really concerns me now. We bomb Iran and I'm pretty sure that'll be the start of WWIII, the last holy war. All I gotta say is I'm set for my first vacation in 5 years and the goddam world better not end before I get some time off....

[mnhtnbb]

24. LOL!

[greyl]

25. You skipped overpopulation. ;)

In my educated opinion, the shit has already hit the fan.

You may be interested in reading some Daniel Quinn to see how one can have rational hope and motivation after accepting some "hopeless" realities about our culture's place within humanity at large and the community of life.

How can people teach themselves to escape Mother Culture's story and start creating a new one?

...and the response:
Interestingly, it is the central character's determination to "escape Mother Culture's story" that drives the action in my novel THE HOLY. All the other characters in the book are dragged in his wake -- ultimately to become transformed themselves. I'm happy to say that quite a few readers have given THE HOLY the one accolade I want to hear -- that it changed the way they see the world.

People can teach themselves to escape Mother Culture's stories and start creating a new cultural story by listening to her stories, by recognizing the lies, and by helping others recognizing those lies. Cultural stories change when the members of the culture begin to think a new way. This is why, when his student asks what he should do, Ishmael tells him to teach a hundred what he has learned and urge each of them to teach a hundred. The modern world was born when the people of Europe began to think a new way during the Renaissance, because this new way of thinking influenced everything they did. The same thing will happen with us. A new era -- and a new story -- will begin when the people of our culture begin to think a new way.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

Folks, I urge you to give some of your attention to the matter of climate change. This debate is on the cover of every magazine from Wired to SEED to Vanity Fair this month, and we all need to become more familiar with the arguments, pro and con. Take a look at a conference website, www.environmentalwars.org which tells you about the June 2–4, 2006 Environmental Wars conference which will host scientists, writers, environmentalists, and thinkers from all points along the environmental spectrum at the California Institute of Technology. At that conference, you’ll find questions, answers, and opinions on this important subject.

Why are we still debating climate change? How soon will we hit peak oil supply? When politics mix with science, what is being brewed? At this powerful conference, speakers from the left & the right, from the lab & the field, from industry & advocacy, will air the ongoing debate about whether human activity is actually changing the climate of the planet.

Just look at the array of speakers Michael Shermer has assembled: ABC News anchor John Stossel and science fiction writer Michael Crichton will attend an evening session. Nobel laureate and President of CalTech Dr. David Baltimore, Caltech environmental scientist Dr. Tapio Schneider, Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science will debate with science editor of Reason magazine Ronald Bailey, Occidental College paleontologist Dr. Donald Prothero, archaeologist Dr. Brian Fagan, Dr. David Goodstein, Professor Jonathan H. Adler, Dr. Gregory Benford, and our good friend Dr. Paul MacCready will all participate in what will be as comprehensive a discussion of this matter as you could ever wish.

You can register at www.environmentalwars.org, and you’ll be better informed on a matter which threatens to damage our world.
http://www.randi.org/jr/2006-05/050506imminent.html

[Mythsaje]

26. Oh, damn near any of the others will solve THAT problem...

But I get your point.

[Lady Effingbroke]

28. I believe overpopulation is the prime issue to which all other problems

can be traced.

Peak oil -> overpopulation

Global climate change -> overpopulation

(Soon-coming) resource wars -> overpopulation...

etc.

It is the proverbial "elephant in the living room" which few are willing to admit exists, let alone discuss.

[greyl]

30. Yep, I thoroughly agree. nt

[sendero]

27. I understand what you are saying completely..

.... and here is my quick answer.

Yes, I'm stockpiling food and I'm making other arrangements, and I have been working on this since late 2003.

Yes, I'm concerned about a lot of things. I'm concerned about hyperinflation and/or depression. I'm concerned that our government has proven itself completely incapable of being useful in a time of emergency. I'm concerned that we are are the bare beginnings of an energy crisis that will eventually be solved by technology, but maybe not in our lifetime. I'm concerned that, countries, like people, have to hit rock bottom before any real reform is taken. We're well on our way.

I'd rather not feel the need to worry about this stuff, and anyone could make the argument that I'm worrying too much and I could not completely dismiss that claim. After all, especially on the economic front, folks have been crying doom for 3 decades and it hasn't happened yet. Or has it? Fact is, just like in the 90s when the markets were booming and there was actually a popular meme that the "laws of business cycles have been repealed", just because someone cries wolf a bit early doesn't mean there is no wolf. It is impossible to look at our debt and trade situation and see any way out that is not going to involve major pain for most people. In fact, I'm totally convinced that the "elites" already know this and they are busy raking in whatever they can in preparation.

I fully understand that others don't feel as I do and I'm not about to try to convince them to. We all have to look around and interpret what we see. The world is not coming to an end. But hard times are coming for Americans.

[B2G]

32. All I know

is that I'm buying my turkey in June. Prime rib for Thanksgiving is just wrong!

[Warpy]

33. Watch the show

Everything I have is now paid for and my only debts are the monthly utility bills. I've been thinking small in everything.

However, I know that the last time the shit hit the fan economically, that was no guarantee of being able to ride it out.

So I'm going to watch the show, roll with the punches, and pay attention to everything that is happening. I'll help others out as much as I can, but only if they will listen to me tell them who their real enemies are for a couple of minutes.

As for heading for the hills, forget it, even though they're only 10 miles away. We'll all be in the same boat, and disease and disaster has a nasty habit of following us wherever we go.

[Deja Q]

36. 4 things:

Every day I see at least a dozen posts on the imminent collapse of civilization as we know it. The collapse of the dollar. Peak Oil. Global warming. WWIII prompted by the nuking of Iran. Bird Flu.

1. May or may not happen. Not until they can safely leave.

2. Won't happen. Only a shift is taking place.

3. See point 2.

4. Won't happen. Kinda hard to live in a radiation soaked planet with enough EMPs to ensure anything electronic is wiped out.

5. There was a pandemic Asian Flu scare during the 1980s. It didn't come about either.

[haele]

37. When the shit hits the fan, we're SOL.

Cold evaluation of our current situation indicates that all bills should be paid off, one should have a free and clear homestead, no chronic medical issues to act as money and resource drains, and there should be at least a year's savings in store to be able to handle the initial panic and get to a "safe" situation to ride out the storm.

Unfortunately, we (my family) is not in the position to do so. Rent (and our rent is middling) is too far above "sudden unemployment" level to maintain (just at one-third take-home pay) for more than a month and our bills - basic utilities, insurance, medical co-pays, medical "credit" debt, gas for our one used vehicle so I can work and we can go to the doctor - are about half our take-home pay. The rest goes to food and leaves perhaps $20 - $50 for anything else a month for anything else that comes up. No savings except for a 401K. Not enough money to move should we not be able to stay here.
Because of medical issues, we can't buy "cheap, filling" food - and even with a garden to supplement, we have to shop around for bargains on everything.
We live paycheck to paycheck, even though we are considered "working middle class" - right around the median income scale.

When the shit really hits the fan, and the profiteers, con men, and other parasitic entities start feeding off inflation and panic, my family won't be able to make it. Perhaps the kidlet might be able to pull through, but she's still in that narcissistic stage and thinks she's entitled to whatever she desires - and I don't see that changing any time soon; especially since she is a diagnosed and under treatment bi-polar. That sort of problem is a killer when it comes to survival. As for me and hubby; we've got too many disabilities of our own to allow us to start all over, survive.

It's mainly a matter of luck; when the shit hits the fan, will I be able to keep my job for long enough that we can negotiate with relatives concerning a family homestead on family land; could we manage to have enough resources to travel to that location, would we be strong enough and lucky enough that we can make the trip?
The knowledge my husband and I have concerning "back to basics" and "roughing it" is great (years of foxfire books, basic "handyman" skills and historical re-creation went into that training) - five/ten years ago, we could easily have just vanished into the hills and made a go of it - however, now that our bodies are falling apart, we can't show how much we know or do as much as we can to convince others that we have worth other than as a "consumer unit".

Haele