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So we shouldn't prepare for emergencies or disasters or strive to be as self sufficient as possible because of how things played out in the USSR almost three decades ago?
There's an unimaginable amount of guns and ammo in U.S. rural areas. Whoever is going to be doing all this robbing and pillaging and torturing and burning of the countryside better bring an army with them. To say that the 300+ million guns in the hands of U.S. citizens won't help anything just isn't true. American citizens own more than 40% of the world's guns, more than the next 25 top countries combined.
If large scale collapse SHTF ever happens here, it certainly will play out much differently than it did in the USSR.
I agree with the above, and I don't recall "true" SHTF happening in the USSR. The core country, Russia, stayed intact. The countries that got cut loose (the Ukraine, etc.), after no longer being under control by the Republic, probably reverted back to what they were before they were rolled into the USSR to begin with, and are doing OK, with the exception of some of the outlying countries, especially after being re-invaded by Russia in recent years. Look at what happened to other USSR controlled, formerly eastern-bloc countries - Poland and East Germany flourished after Russia cut them loose, and they re-integrated to western Europe. I think that a true SHTF scenario is what is happening in Syria, and has happened in Lebanon, Somalia, Rwanda, etc.. None of that happened in Mother Russia, that I remember reading about. Sure, organized crime flourished after the breakup, but I don't recall famine, etc. occurring.
Depending on the reason for SHTF in the U.S., different scenarios would play out, well, differently. For instance, if the U.S.A were to go "bankrupt" (since the country can print money, that can't technically happen, but I guess we could become "insolvent", not being able to meet the obligations promised to the populace due to Venezuela-style inflation), the Federal government would simply "dissolve" and be replaced at the local, maybe state levels, since we are a Republic as well. The state National Guard units would be out in force immediately. It would get darned messy, especially in urban areas, that is the last place I would want to be if the checks stop going out - I don't see the population of Chicago waiting patiently in line for soup as they did in the 1930's, there would definitely be some major rioting. I would expect that many small towns would form their own militias and limit travel through their respective counties, and stop shipping food to the cities. The "roving bands of looters" would probably not get too far from their home bases before their numbers were diminished. It takes a lot of logistics to supply a traveling hostile force, especially when the bridges get blown.
In the case of a widespread natural disaster (say, a solar flare that knocks out the electrical grid), things would likely get a lot worse - there would be tens of thousands, maybe millions of deaths in the first few months due to disease, lack of clean water, food, heat, violence, etc.. But think about it - would you rather be in whatever scenario comes, with several months of food (and arms to protect yourself), or without? I'll take the former, please, and live with like-minded neighbors. If everyone in the country would have a "preppers" mindset, the country would be able to withstand any disaster much better than if its populace behave as cattle waiting to be fed, which is the current situation. Heck, most folks in urban centers don't have enough groceries in the house to last two days. Again, unlike the OP, a city would be the LAST place I'd want to be in a true SHTF scenario. If it REALLY goes down, "gold" won't be worth nearly as much as "lead", and you'd get a whole lot of it before you got near someone with your soldering iron, LOL.
Perhaps that's because near the end the Soviet Union already was a SHTF scenario, and the main bullies were the Communists.
Hi, you have chickens. I want your chickens. You can try to kill me with your gun, but we will shoot you and send your family to work in Siberia.
At the end of the day, most men will not sell their family and life for a couple of chickens.
Likely, it's not coming from the Kremlin that your chickens are a necessity, but someone who is a Commie got the right job to where you have no choice. You take on the whole system or you meekly submit, knowing this guy is simply stealing your stuff.
Having a gun....well, that's the first to go. My best man originated from Romania. His grandfather had served with valor in the first world war. He received a rifle for his service. It was no longer military top of the line and served as a showpiece. When the communists came 30 years later, the now old man and old rifle were labeled a dangerous element and it was used as an excuse to relieve him of the rifle and to jail him. His brother was so angered that he buried his tractor in the ground rather than risk it falling into communist hands.
Organized crime at the government level has long ago figured out how to slice things away from people. The take it from my cold dead hands approach doesn't work if they have your family members already, or can do so with a phone call.
That's where gold does come into play. The world will never be conquered by a single government, and so long as there are governments, there will be a market for gold. If you're in a city center, there will be an opportunity for trade.
Hence on the project my group's worked on for years....yes it's rural, but with enough families to defend it. In the meantime, I'm trading in the city.
My opinion....I survived the collapse of USSR and all that followed: cartels taking power, unrest, riots, total lack of food, overall mayhem, in all spheres of life, etc, there were wars all over the periphery. People here discuss expensive crap, tons of tech gadgets, radios, generators, rockets to fly to the Moon, years worth of GMO food crap, etc, etc. Most of what's written here shows people have no clue of what it's like to live through societal collapse.
One thing: guns won't help you...not for a long time. You might shoot a robber or two, but there'll be organized criminals, with guns, outnumbering you and much better organized. They'll kill you just for your guns , ammo, gold, and for your tech survival toys. May be even for your crops, if you try to protect them. The less you have/own, the safer you are. They'll find where your gold and guns are, by torturing you, if they think you got something worth taking, and the word spreads fast... It could be your nice neighbors, who'd tip someone off. Another thing: your nice neighbors you think you can rely upon very likely won't open the door for you.
Live low key, don't focus on material possessions. Urban real estate is the best hedge against this stuff usually (except if it comes to bombing), as all collapses eventually end and things come back up, urban areas tend to do much better in those. Rural RE: not so much....it might end up being worth only the potatoes and goats you can grow around that house, which will be very likely to end up being burned down. Not much incentive to go after an old RV...but much to rob and burn the house built to complete with the Johnses, they won't have enough "guards" for those.
Relax and enjoy your life. You won't face STHF during your lifetime, by all chances. The worst SHTF happening here will probably be Happy in Wyoming having a legal dispute with neighbors over parking of his armored RV
I couldn't agree with you more. When I see some of these preppers storing canned goods and ammo, it makes me think how futile their efforts would be if the SHTF. If things collapse, we won't be dealing with one bad guy or a few, it will be either a mob or an opposing army. They will have bigger and better weapons than we do, and more manpower.
This prepper movement reminds me of the people in the 50's who were building bomb shelters in their back yards. How did that one work out ? If I had to live my life in fear, like some of these people, I am not sure living would be what I would call it. Somehow, the majority of us get through our lives without the fears some of these people possess.
I couldn't agree with you more. When I see some of these preppers storing canned goods and ammo, it makes me think how futile their efforts would be if the SHTF. If things collapse, we won't be dealing with one bad guy or a few, it will be either a mob or an opposing army. They will have bigger and better weapons than we do, and more manpower.
This prepper movement reminds me of the people in the 50's who were building bomb shelters in their back yards. How did that one work out ? If I had to live my life in fear, like some of these people, I am not sure living would be what I would call it. Somehow, the majority of us get through our lives without the fears some of these people possess.
America is not Russia (nor the USSR).
In fact, America is unique among the world, though its people do not know it.
". . . at the Revolution, the sovereignty devolved on the people, and they are truly the sovereigns of the country, but they are sovereigns without subjects, and have none to govern but themselves. . ."
- - - Justice John Jay, Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 U.S. 2 Dall. 419 419 (1793)
Unfortunately, most Americans are victims of the world's greatest propaganda ministry and are tricked into granting consent to be governed, taxed, ruled, and violated.
There is a remedy, but it is politically incorrect, and requires that Americans [shudder] read their own laws.
Summed up : _ withdraw consent from _ socialism _ usury _ submission to the state (citizenship) _ restore Creator endowed rights under the republican form of government.
Imagine what would happen if 97% of Americans did that? Since no endowed right can be taxed, only privileges are taxable. And if the majority cease exercising privileges, the revenues drop 97%. In addition, without consent to be governed, the government has only 3% to 'rule'.
The civic minded 3% delegated power to help secure endowed rights, would have few means to get into mischief let alone waste resources on 'socialism' and other nonsense.
I couldn't agree with you more. When I see some of these preppers storing canned goods and ammo, it makes me think how futile their efforts would be if the SHTF. If things collapse, we won't be dealing with one bad guy or a few, it will be either a mob or an opposing army. They will have bigger and better weapons than we do, and more manpower.
This prepper movement reminds me of the people in the 50's who were building bomb shelters in their back yards. How did that one work out ? If I had to live my life in fear, like some of these people, I am not sure living would be what I would call it. Somehow, the majority of us get through our lives without the fears some of these people possess.
prepping is not living in fear, the opposite in fact.
do you have insurance? car insurance, house insurance, life insurance?
prepping is like that, its insurance. SHTF may happen, it may not, if it does we are covered, if it dosent then it dosent matter.
living with your head in the sand saying "it'll never happen" is not living your life, its called "normality bias" look it up.
once SHTF happens, things will collapse very fast, have you ever heard of "the just in time" delivery system that supermarkets use? not many people have, food will be gone within hours once a disaster happens, supermarket shelves will be empty , I have seen it with my own eyes, without food you can live for 3 weeks, without water 3 days, tops.
each person makes their choice and takes their chances, its up to each and every person to decide.
My opinion....I survived the collapse of USSR and all that followed: cartels taking power, unrest, riots, total lack of food, overall mayhem, in all spheres of life, etc, there were wars all over the periphery. People here discuss expensive crap, tons of tech gadgets, radios, generators, rockets to fly to the Moon, years worth of GMO food crap, etc, etc. Most of what's written here shows people have no clue of what it's like to live through societal collapse.
One thing: guns won't help you...not for a long time. You might shoot a robber or two, but there'll be organized criminals, with guns, outnumbering you and much better organized. They'll kill you just for your guns , ammo, gold, and for your tech survival toys. May be even for your crops, if you try to protect them. The less you have/own, the safer you are. They'll find where your gold and guns are, by torturing you, if they think you got something worth taking, and the word spreads fast... It could be your nice neighbors, who'd tip someone off. Another thing: your nice neighbors you think you can rely upon very likely won't open the door for you.
Live low key, don't focus on material possessions. Urban real estate is the best hedge against this stuff usually (except if it comes to bombing), as all collapses eventually end and things come back up, urban areas tend to do much better in those. Rural RE: not so much....it might end up being worth only the potatoes and goats you can grow around that house, which will be very likely to end up being burned down. Not much incentive to go after an old RV...but much to rob and burn the house built to complete with the Johnses, they won't have enough "guards" for those.
Relax and enjoy your life. You won't face STHF during your lifetime, by all chances. The worst SHTF happening here will probably be Happy in Wyoming having a legal dispute with neighbors over parking of his armored RV
I think you are probably right when it comes to the long term. Even with a bunch of canned goods, generators, and guns and ammo, very few will be able to hold out for an extended period.
On the other hand it makes prefect sense to prepare for hurricanes, ice storms and other natural disasters. Everybody should keep on hand the basics necessary to make it through power outages and the like.
canned goods and generators will only last so long, but it will be more than the masses have for they will have nothing! and people with no food will not be around for long. humans need to eat, and drink, to survive.
prepping is not mostly useless, doing nothing is what is mostly useless.
The reds didn't have far to fall on the survival ladder...I have Family in Ossokino, Omsk Oblast. The live likes it the "30's/ '40s everyday. No inside toilets, horsesheit electric system that fails almost daily. Giant gardens for survival food not for fun...wood heat in the Winters...
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