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quote: Volunteerism was when you shoveled the snow from the sidewalk for the little old lady next door. Now most people are too lazy to shovel their own. Volunteerism was picking up something from the grocery store for her. Now we just send her to the old folks home to die. Volunteerism was being prepared enough to offer some food or money to your neighbor if he/she was out of a job, injured, or otherwise down on his/her luck. But then, you don't believe in being prepared, right? Besides, most of us are too busy jumping through hoops to even know who our neighbor is.
Wow, I'm signing off! What a dim view of our country you have!!! My experience is completely opposite to what you describe. I'm not sure where you live but I guess all is pretty bleak in your range of vision.
Goodbye and good luck in your apocalyptic worldview.
Wow, I'm signing off! What a dim view of our country you have!!! My experience is completely opposite to what you describe. I'm not sure where you live but I guess all is pretty bleak in your range of vision.
Goodbye and good luck in your apocalyptic worldview.
Yes, it is quite dim on the national level; that's because our national IQ is pretty dim. And no, my area is weathering the absolutely idiotic national decisions better than most places. I do not have an apocalyptic world view; I'm not a soothsayer. But I do have a pessimistic view of the direction our society, as a whole, is heading because it's quite obvious where the road is leading. Take that out of the mix and I'd be walking down a path strewn with roses. But, as it is, our direction is neither logical nor intelligent. Rather than facing the fire and doing what we can to dowse it, we continue to pour gasoline on it. At what point do we abandon the fantasy and reintroduce sound thinking? My concern is that it won't be until after our "house burns down."
Unfortunately a lot of folks are going to suffer because of the asinine choices being made right now. Our nation borrowing on one credit card to pay another is not very bright at all. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Sorry, I can't really feel good about the impending situation; all I can do is my best to weather it, or better yet, insulate myself from it before it comes. Bankruptcy, especially on a national level, is nothing to feel good about or celebrate. Not only are we facing bankruptcy, but we really have nothing to offer the rest of the world when they call our debt--we're now only the spoiled mega-consumers who have consumed ourselves into a deep pit and largely lost our ability to produce anything of worth to anyone. You think the rest of the world is going to feel sorry for us? No way. Nor should they. You referred to the great depression a few posts back. At least at that time, we had the infrastructure and industry to pull ourselves out of it. Now we have nothing. And we do nothing. Leisure societies can't last.
We all have the right to our philosophies. However, the difference between the Ostrich with its head buried in the sand and Chicken Little is that should the Ostrich's prediction come to pass, no harm done to Chicken Little. But if Chicken Little's prediction comes to pass, the Ostrich is in for a nasty surprise. I don't like nasty surprises.
Amen. Very similar to the condition we are in right now. I don't want anyone to take what I'm going to say in the wrong way--I firmly believe in education and the pursuit of knowledge (both academic and otherwise). It's a huge part of my life. But, at the same time I see a horrifying flaw in using that academic knowledge as a be-all-end-all. We have educated an entire nation of individuals with largely worthless skills should our collective sandcastle loose it's integrity. And I'm right there in that castle with the rest of you. But at least I see the potential for calamity. At least I don't ignore that potential. At least I try to work out a Plan B.
Right on. I think in many ways we've done ourselves, in the last 2-3 generations, a disservice with our general overindulging, abandoning of God, and an emphasis on academia, "character education," watered down history and curriculums in general, over good old fashioned SKILLS. Somewhere there's a balance. We have knowledge (book smarts) but have lost the ability to PRODUCE and be independent and self-sufficient, in many practical ways. I've heard it said that many of us know how to make a living, but don't know how to live.
How many of us know how to plant wheat, winnow it, make bread, make candles and/or soap, can food, harvest seeds, kill and butcher a deer, build a shed, cull a chicken, shoot a bow and arrow, make a house repair, etc.? What was common knowledge not that long ago, has been largely lost.
I would also say that we have been seduced by the "bling" of society in terms of allowing distractions in the form of TV, media, technology, etc. It has lulled us to sleep as a people. Aside from a few worthwhile channels, TV in particular is nothing but a big window through which we allow the world to pour all of it's notions of right and wrong into our homes and minds. Sad.
Lastly, anyone out there believe in Biblical "end times?" Isn't it true, according to a common Biblical worldview, that things will progressively get worse and worse? Is not mankind sinful by nature thereby essentially gradually screwing up the world? If things get better and better, then doesn't that imply that humankind in all of his goodness will make the world a better place? I'm just not seeing that...
I prepare for the possibility and will continue to do so until DC/power elite show some real interest in our quality of life instead of increasing their power and control.
I prepare for the possibility and will continue to do so until DC/power elite show some real interest in our quality of life instead of increasing their power and control.
Serious disconnect between "them" and "us".
+++1
That hit's the nail on the head...POWER. It is all about power.
Some want you and me (the people) to have, and others want them (the government) to have it.
May I suggest that we all take (1) a step back, and (2) a deep breath?
To me, the fact that we're all reading and posting in a category called Self-Sufficiency and Preparedness strongly suggests that we're more alike than different. We differ only in the details, not in the overall concern. Everything that every poster on this thread has written is true. None of it is universally true.
Some of us (including me) continue to have hope for society and humankind. Though I grew disappointed in Reagan, my general position is similar to his statement "Trust, but verify." Another personal favorite is the Russian proverb that says something like "The prudent man wears a belt AND suspenders." (I think this is a variation of "don't put all your eggs in one basket.")
Others of us have "lost" that hope (though "lost" is probably too strong a word).
My point is that, rather than arguing and bickering among ourselves, might it not be a better use of the category (and our time and effort) to express concerns and share information?
Heck, by the time I got here I think I've forgot the topic.
We all seem to have the same feeling that somethin's just not right and it's not good. I see lots of things could happen simultaneously, climate, economy, crazies with a bomb. All I know how to do is all I can do. I've prepped, stocked, learned as much as I can to be as self sufficient as I can. I feel more and more unsettled tho, like the fuse is burning smaller & smaller.
.....I have a feeling that we are all being "managed" lower just as gently and as gradually as the bankers and politicians can do it. So that we won't notice anything happening, mind you! But anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows the story of the failing banks, insolvent cities and states, Euro nations sinking into depression, high unemployment, federal deficit, etc etc. This will not end well. Whether you define it as "disaster" or "imminent" depends on many things.
Yep. That's exactly why the "stimulus 1 & 2", "jobs bill", and extension of UE benefits to 99 weeks, to keep people from rioting in the streets. Managed decline is the correct description.
Yep. That's exactly why the "stimulus 1 & 2", "jobs bill", and extension of UE benefits to 99 weeks, to keep people from rioting in the streets. Managed decline is the correct description.
Managed Decline -- I think that's probably the best description I've heard for it.
I've never really cared about the "wealthy American" lifestyle. Although I don't like to see it decline, it doesn't really outright affect me personally. Unfortunately, it seems that along with the decline in what I view as "unnecessary junk," our freedom is declining as well. THAT'S the thing that troubles me. I have very modest needs, but I can't do without individual liberty. I may choose to be a servant, but I refuse to be an indentured servant. When it comes down to that, I will not comply.
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I think in many ways we've done ourselves, in the last 2-3 generations, a disservice with our general overindulging, abandoning of God, and an emphasis on academia, "character education," watered down history and curriculums in general, over good old fashioned SKILLS. Somewhere there's a balance. We have knowledge (book smarts) but have lost the ability to PRODUCE and be independent and self-sufficient, in many practical ways. I've heard it said that many of us know how to make a living, but don't know how to live.
What was common knowledge not that long ago, has been largely lost.
