THE traditional face of survivalism is that of a shaggy loner in camouflage, holed up in a cabin in the wilderness and surrounded by cases of canned goods and ammunition.
It is not that of Barton M. Biggs, the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley. Yet in Mr. Biggs’s new book, “Wealth, War and Wisdom,” he says people should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.”
“Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”
Survivalism, it seems, is not just for survivalists anymore.
Faced with a confluence of diverse threats — a tanking economy, a housing crisis, looming environmental disasters, and a sharp spike in oil prices — people who do not consider themselves extremists are starting to discuss doomsday measures once associated with the social fringes.
They stockpile or grow food in case of a supply breakdown, or buy precious metals in case of economic collapse. Some try to take their houses off the electricity grid, or plan safe houses far away. The point is not to drop out of society, but to be prepared in case the future turns out like something out of “An Inconvenient Truth,” if not “Mad Max.”
“I’m not a gun-nut, camo-wearing skinhead. I don’t even hunt or fish,” said Bill Marcom, 53, a construction executive in Dallas.
Still, motivated by a belief that the credit crunch and a bursting housing bubble might spark widespread economic chaos — “the Greater Depression,” as he put it — Mr. Marcom began to take measures to prepare for the unknown over the last few years: buying old silver coins to use as currency; buying G.P.S. units, a satellite telephone and a hydroponic kit; and building a simple cabin in a remote West Texas desert.
“If all these planets line up and things do get really bad,” Mr. Marcom said, “those who have not prepared will be trapped in the city with thousands of other people needing food and propane and everything else.”
Interest in survivalism — in either its traditional hard-core version or a middle-class “lite” variation — functions as a leading economic indicator of social anxiety, preparedness experts said: It spikes at times of peril real (the post-Sept. 11 period) or imagined (the chaos that was supposed to follow the so-called Y2K computer bug in 2000).
At times, a degree of paranoia is officially sanctioned. In the 1950s, civil defense authorities encouraged people to build personal bomb shelters because of the nuclear threat. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security encouraged Americans to stock up on plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows in case of biological or chemical attacks.
Now, however, the government, while still conducting business under a yellow terrorism alert, is no longer taking a lead role in encouraging preparedness. For some, this leaves a vacuum of reassurance, and plenty to worry about.
Esteemed economists debate whether the credit crisis could result in a complete meltdown of the financial system. A former vice president of the United States informs us that global warming could result in mass flooding, disease and starvation, perhaps even a new Ice Age.
“You just can’t help wonder if there’s a train wreck coming,” said David Anderson, 50, a database administrator in Colorado Springs who said he was moved by economic uncertainties and high energy prices, among other factors, to stockpile months’ worth of canned goods in his basement for his wife, his two young children and himself.
This is an article that one might expect to see in Back Woods Home Magazine or something like that, but frankly I was surprised to see that it came from The New York Times. I believe this is a good indication that people are becoming more and more concerned about what is happening in America, especially with the economy. The recent poll says, “more than 80 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction”. To think that our government is able (or willing) to respond in a timely fashion to people in desperate need on a large scale; well, that’s just plain delusional. The immediate aftermath of hurricane Katrina illustrates this very well. Apparently, the mainstream is starting to figure that out.
Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 2783 Location: Tacoma, WA USA
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:
Yipes. Yeah, I think we do need to do our best to be prepared for the worst.
From '01 to '03, I do think it was quite humorous in a pathetic way when the government suggested that people put plastic wrap on their houses though. _________________ Meow.
The folks in this video aren't radical survivalists. I really admire their attitude and way of living. If people have the means, now would be a good time in history to learn how to grow some food.
Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 2783 Location: Tacoma, WA USA
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:
Great video.
It's too bad more people aren't doing things like that. It's too bad the initial costs of doing something like that is high--solar panels are SOOO expensive, but as far as using the land for food, that's totally feasible--but everyone wants their lawns I guess..
I wonder what they do in the winter though.... _________________ Meow.
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