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I went to 7-11 the other day and bought an energy drink and like, two energy/granola bars I believe. $6.30! Ridiculous even for 7-11.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woof
Even if the worst case of a Great Depression type event doesn't happen, food prices are likely to continue to inflate rapidly as a general trend (not necessarily every year) because we are seeing the general trends of increasing oil prices (needed for farming fuel, transportation fuel, pesticides, and fertilizers) and climate destabilization that will likely affect crops.
So best case or worst case, it's good to have a supply of basic foods (especially those that don't need cooking) and your own comfort foods, in case your personal situation becomes so dire that you can't afford all the food you need.
For example, you might only be able to find temporary labor for long periods of time, maybe just enough to pay rent or mortgage.
At the same time, demand on food banks etc may become so great that you won't be able to benefit much from those resources.
So it would be wise to have a victory garden, hunting and fishing equipment, and some stored foods.
The only thing I know for sure is that I no longer doubt that the worst can happen. All along, people have been laying out these worst case scenarios, but downplaying the possibility, and one by one, worse than the worst has been happening. To have three out of five of our top financial institutions disappear would have been considered impossible just a few months ago. Yet we're there today. People saying we'd have $5 regular unleaded gas by 2010 were ridiculed; yet we surpassed that mark last Friday. WaMu is the nation's largest thrift and they have the world's largest exposure to toxic liar loans-- not subprime, but ALT-A, and the majority of these haven't even begun to reset. If WaMu goes under-- and how can it not?-- the FDIC doesn't have enough money to make good on its obligations. Our population is aging as Social Security dwindles, and our most affluent demographic wants to start taking out instead of putting in.
Our financial back is breaking, and the whole world thinks we have brought it on ourselves. If we weren't so globally intertwined, they would let us fall and watch with glee as arrogance and greed meets its fate. Sooner or later, they are going to buy us... and then they will own us. That is the worst case scenario... and it's the path we're on.
It is my guess the price of gas has drained what little money the masses have left. Look at the pumps you see people buying $5 or $10 of gas which is virtually nothing. Just enough to get to a destination and home...maybe. Since their funds have been drained they can't afford the stuff they use to buy and hence the stores and restaurants are not making it and failing.
We know banks are in trouble, and investment houses, I suspect we will see insurance companies suffer from the investments they made. It will slowly move its way through the economy.
GMAC has refused credit to Bill Heard Chevy so all those cars on the lots will need to be paid for or returned... not good for the auto industry. 1 of 3 chevey's have gone through a Bill Heard dealership for your fun facts...
Lehman filed for BK today
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - are in trouble - they are associated with 1/2 of the homes in the US
Some of the restaurants closing - Donatos (all), Bennigans (all), Steak and Ale (all),Chilis (some), Starbucks (some), Fazolis (some)
Look at the malls and see how many empty slots there are.
The issues are compounding daily. Once the Commercial market bottoms out we will see improvement in the consumer end. which will fuel the commercial recovery. In the meantime we have some years that might be hard.
The only thing I know for sure is that I no longer doubt that the worst can happen. All along, people have been laying out these worst case scenarios, but downplaying the possibility, and one by one, worse than the worst has been happening. To have three out of five of our top financial institutions disappear would have been considered impossible just a few months ago. Yet we're there today. People saying we'd have $5 regular unleaded gas by 2010 were ridiculed; yet we surpassed that mark last Friday. WaMu is the nation's largest thrift and they have the world's largest exposure to toxic liar loans-- not subprime, but ALT-A, and the majority of these haven't even begun to reset. If WaMu goes under-- and how can it not?-- the FDIC doesn't have enough money to make good on its obligations. Our population is aging as Social Security dwindles, and our most affluent demographic wants to start taking out instead of putting in.
Our financial back is breaking, and the whole world thinks we have brought it on ourselves. If we weren't so globally intertwined, they would let us fall and watch with glee as arrogance and greed meets its fate. Sooner or later, they are going to buy us... and then they will own us. That is the worst case scenario... and it's the path we're on.
Over the weekend one Wall Street analyst said "the unthinkable is now thinkable".
I don't know about worse case never happening. Roubini, Schiff, Janzen and many others laid out a worse case back in 2003 (a few of them as early as 2000), and by gosh they have been spot on.
Not knocking them either way, but there is not $5000 tp $10,000 gold, and there are not Social Security checks bouncing down the streets -- at least not yet.
I guess you follow this is all from Scenario Planning (I will put some more info in the "Books" thread about that). Anyway, you sort of have to declare that Full Worst Case (a full nuke war for example) and the Full Best Case (we all win the Lottery tomorrow) are not really real or people (like Doomers) get stuck in them, and cannot get to the practical application part -- for example --
School Fire. (very rarely happens, and if it were common, no kids would go to school). But the good application of the study are Fire Escapes and Fire Drills.
Titanic Sinks (again rarely happens) Application -- 100+ % lifeboats and life preservers and look out for icebergs.
Car Wreck. Most of us drive daily with out a wreck. But the awareness and study gives us cause for seat belts and air bags.
Life Insurance. Don't plan on dying today, but . . . well you get the idea.
Here is why you have declare the Worst Case rarely if ever happen -- not only because they do rarely if ever happen, but . . .
If one cannot acknowledge these events rarely happen, folks cannot get past the imagined trauma, and get to the mitigation and prevention parts (the useful application of the study).
And THAT imagined loss or trauma is where Doomers tend to get stuck, so they go dig their hobbit holes and stock it up with canned goods and wait for the end rather go on living life and being blessings and assets in their community.
And THAT imagined loss or trauma is where Doomers tend to get stuck, so they go dig their hobbit holes and stock it up with canned goods and wait for the end rather go on living life and being blessing and asset in their community.
Not all doomers are hardcore that are digging holes and stocking MRE's, guns and ammo.
Those are the extreme doomers and IMO actually want disaster to happen just so they can say "I told you so".
You probably don't want these types of folks as neighbors in any crisis.
Not knocking them either way, but there is not $5000 tp $10,000 gold, and there are not Social Security checks bouncing down the streets -- at least not yet.
I guess you follow this is all from Scenario Planning (I will put some more info in the "Books" thread about that). Anyway, you sort of have to declare that Full Worst Case (a full nuke war for example) and the Full Best Case (we all win the Lottery tomorrow) are not really real or people (like Doomers) get stuck in them, and cannot get to the practical application part -- for example --
School Fire. (very rarely happens, and if it were common, no kids would go to school). But the good application of the study are Fire Escapes and Fire Drills.
Titanic Sinks (again rarely happens) Application -- 100+ % lifeboats and life preservers and look out for icebergs.
Car Wreck. Most of us drive daily with out a wreck. But the awareness and study gives us cause for seat belts and air bags.
Life Insurance. Don't plan on dying today, but . . . well you get the idea.
Here is why you have declare the Worst Case rarely if ever happen -- not only because they do rarely if ever happen, but . . .
If one cannot acknowledge these events rarely happen, folks cannot get past the imagined trauma, and get to the mitigation and prevention parts (the useful application of the study).
And THAT imagined loss or trauma is where Doomers tend to get stuck, so they go dig their hobbit holes and stock it up with canned goods and wait for the end rather go on living life and being blessings and assets in their community.
Good advice Philip T... and that was what I was getting at too.
We are here in a doomer thread discussing good/bad best/worst and preparation.
Over in Politics there's a thread saying "the media is out of control" when they read or heard about depression and global crisis and there are responses agreeing with the OP.
Now that's a person who I might label as a sheeple.
Well, let's hope you all continue to have great jobs that keep up with inflation, and won't need a pantry with some canned goods!
Well, we have a pantry... and it has canned goods and water. Part of the prepare for the worse situation
But really, it's our normal food supplies (costco comes in bulk)... but it doubles as a good food bunker in case of earthquakes and ... total financial collapse
-chuck22b
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