I keep reading about the "new souplines" when the economy finally does go all the way belly up...

[NightWatcher]

but let's use Katrina and Kentucky to remind us that we are on our own.

I think that if/when we hit rock bottom again, there will not be souplines or government assistance on each street corner as we see in pictures from the 30's. FEMA refused to act during hurricanes, floods, and now we are seeing in ice storms.

Please people, do what you need to in order to care for yourself and your family and dont wait to be rescued.



I would use this as a time to recommend we form an Emergency Prep Forum, but no one will do that for you either, nor would it save your life if one were in place. The responsibility for yourself and your family rest alone on your shoulders.

Get a plan.
Get a support structure.
Get yer shit ready, and get your head out of the sand.

[Donnachaidh]

1. No kidding

And it should be added, even IF the government does try to set up something to help people that are devastated, there will STILL be some who try to take advantage of it, even if they themselves do NOT need it.

During the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake, help was disrupted when it was found that people were traveling from areas unaffected by the quake solely to grab supplies and foodstamps for themselves and their families. It was a heinous act, and it made it that much more of a hardship for the people who truly needed the help.

Take care of your family first. And be sure to have copies of identification for everyone in your household. But DON'T count on the government being there when and if it hits the fan. They've failed people in the past. Administration change doesn't automatically change the broken. smoldering machine Dubya left for us.

[Hestia]

2. If you go back and read about the soup kitchens, it was private organizations

and charities that made up the bulk. Salvation Army was very active, but wasn't it in "Grapes of Wrath" where some women hated the SA because they made them sit for hours listening to sermons before they were fed? Nothing like holding the hungry hostage...

I am really pushing my Master Gardener group (I think the State Group should do this state wide)to do community gardens in my town. There has been a serial arsonist around here for years, burning over 200 abandoned homes. My idea has been to demolish those structures, leaving the water, sewer and electric hook-ups there, and get the people who live on the street to grow their own gardens. It will be the only way to get good food to people, helping them to save money on their groceries, and http://urbanchickens.org, have eggs. Chickens keep the bugs and weeds down, saving on herbicides, plus giving phosphorus (sp? sorry in a hurry) to the crops.

It's a win-win for everyone.

[IDemo]

6. You're the wave of the future

I believe backyard and community gardens and CSA's will be the primary food source for Americans in the not too distant future.
I've just lost my long-held job in high tech and have wondered about trying to get a Master Gardener certificate rather than
chasing after another tech job (which likely will vanish before the year is out anyway).

[Mojorabbit]

3. We have tried to get

an emergency prep group but the mods don't seem to want to do it.
My thinking is the more people who are prepared the more resources that will be available to those who cannot prep.
The govt has been trying to get people to do this on a low level at
http://www.ready.gov/ for a good while now.

It takes a long time to build up a good supply of groceries and emergency supplies unless you are independently wealthy. It could be a wonderful cushion too esp during this time of layoffs.

[Javaman]

4. Check this out...

http://henandharvest.com/?p=315

and here...

http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download.php

[NightWatcher]

7. thanks for the link to the "bucket list"

I'm working on a long term food storage in two of the same buckets, but will be adding a few more for "bug out" or other survuval purposes. It's never too soon to start up for Huricane season....again.

[FirstLight]

5. You are SOOO right!

I am hoping to get a garden going this year for sustenance purposes, but I live in the high sierras, and winters are bitter cold and 6 feet of snow deep! Not to mention poor soil, short growing season, can't do chickens because of the bears & coyotes ...

maybe the best bet is to just start stocking up in the garage :scared:

[ColbertWatcher]

8. We have to remember that the history of this country ...

... has been punctuated by bank failures every 20 years since the Revolution.

All that ended with FDR and started up again with Reagan.

[4 t 4]

9. I have family so I don't

think I'll ever be in a soup line but my fear and frustration is for all the people out there that will be and I can't do a thing to help them cause I really have nothing to speak of. what do you do with that kind of angst

[ColbertWatcher]

10. "I can't do a thing to help" Yes you can.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4944232&mesg_id=4944232

[4 t 4]

11. thank you I do donate from what I have

I have given people a couple of bucks when I only have five so many times I Can't tell you and I'm happy to do it but now at this point anything I have is coming from someone else so how do I take what I have been given to maintain and give it to someone else in good conscience I have struggled with this for some time now

[4 t 4]

12. What should I do?

[ColbertWatcher]

13. ...

The last note on that post says to

Please support candidates and policies that guarantee livable wages.

When you're broke (like we both seem to be) that's what we can do.

[4 t 4]

14. thank you bless you