How Can We Prepare for Social Unrest & Civil Disorder?

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There's no government like no government.

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I do not know about which "old days" you are talking, but in the "old days" I know, prior an industrialised food-production and supply-chain, the majority of people were happy if they survived winter without too much starvation (a bit starvation was seen as normal).

There are historical experiences in Europe: Even during the collapse of the central government and almost all infrastructure between Feb. and Jun. 1945 in Germany the administrative structures were still working on a local level. The same was seen few years earlier in France, Benelux and other countries occupied by the German forces.

It would take a lot let such structures collapse.

I've already lived detached from society for a bit for recreation.

Water is the biggest essential.

Everyone fantasizes about stockpiling food, guns, and ammunition in your totally non-bulletproof and non-fireproof house, all whilst letting off rounds from your AR-15 and saving your family and neighbours. You're just a target for people who have more guns than you do.

It's either, join a "gang", just like society is now, but on a smaller scale, or vanish and fend for yourself off the land (which is entirely possible).

Not much at all here. I live in New Orleans, after the flood from Katrina, the government spent some $175 billion, most was to have Government employees with guns take over the five star hotels, and spend six months watching sports on Plasma big screens.

They did give $8 Billion to the Republican party in the state to get a Republican governor elected.

There is the cost of occupation by the National Guard for three years, payoffs to local governments, so they are no longer dependant on the voters or tax base.

On a per person basis, they offered $525 if you would sign away all rights to claim more.

New Orleans is a ruins, rotting vacant houses, the Murder Capital of America, a death rate five time national from common illness, stress is a killer, The State of Louisiana is first in murder.

Three and a half years later people are still leaving, stores closing, weeds growing, and now comes the national meltdown.

We had a disaster durning the boom years, we had the full force of FEMA on a one city problem.

Less people have caused taxes to go way up, utilities, some 300% of the national rate.

Due to a housing loss rents went way up. Costs are up, services and income down, it is not a safe place to be.

After the flood, bottled water was the only wealth. You can live for a month without food. When the power went out, no water. I survived sixty miles away with a generator to power the well.

No power, no water, no gas, no ATM, no cash registers, the world stopped.

Government continued, gave themselves raises, sent the money into thier retirment accounts, and are funded to continue for years without the people.

These are the millions of jobs that Obama said he would preserve, Government and men with guns.

As for the rest of us, we are on our own.

Gangs works for me, it works for Government and Wall Street. They are the Bloods and Crips that went to Harvard and Yale.

Am I the only one here who works with "the big bad government"? I come from a long line of civil, law enforcement, and military service. My uncle worked for the LAPD helicopter division during the riots a few years ago - that was some pretty gnarly social unrest - but the world survived.

I am a consultant who works with government agencies to prepare and recovery from emergencies - primarily hurricanes and other weather-related disasters. My ultimate goal is to work for the Public Information Officer's office of the City of Atlanta. (Or the State of Georgia - if, and when, a Democrat is elected).

I know its not just an aspie thing - these comments and fears are pretty much what I see when I pick up my local paper or stumble upon the local AM talk radio. LOT's of guns and fear - here in Georgia.

I don't know what else to say - but as you all discuss the "government" just remember the "government" is made up of millions of hard-working, dedicated people devoting their lives and time and sometimes sanity - to keep you guys safe.

I know you hear about the bad cops and everything - but in my experience - every cop, fire fighter, soldier, whatever - I've ever met has been a good person. Often with a lot of psychological baggage just like us - but way better than the faceless minions many of you all fear and loathe. (Hell - I even know some IRS guys and elected officials who aren't half-bad!)

Thanks for the historical perspective. This distrust of our own government seems to be an American (and probably Canadian) badge of honor. Seems strange for a country who is founded on government for the people and by the people.

If you are "pro-government" you are labeled a "mindless tool of the government".

And you are right - Europe - has seen its share of death and destruction and always comes out more glorious and wiser than before. Despite what many think - people have a natural tendency to band together during crises - not try to eat each other.

Darwinism works the other way, too. We are wired to help each other.

I guess these old days were ye olde cold war (60's-80's) - maybe in Montana, Idaho or Utah? Not sure. Or maybe New Mexico during the Butch and Sundance train-robbery days of the mid to late-1800's?

Not sure.

I think most people are talking about the admin branches of government. Even us Libertarians understand that one the important roles of any government is the support of the military, law enforcement and life-safety organizations from local to national.
As to Germany towards the end of WWII remember that Marks were virtually worthless for some months so a wheelbarrow full would buy one a loaf of bread, assumning you could still find a bakery that was still in operation.
Governmental collaspe is nothing new or all that unusual and in some instance it can occur almost invisibly as long as the financial system are solid. Unfortunately today the financial systems are basically vaporware which is one reason for the heightened awareness of problems down the road.

It is always so gratifying to read that governments have their priorities in order.
Most importantly, Inventor...what size were the plasma screens?

Yeah - but even the paper-pushers and policy-makers are mostly people with good intentions.
I know it feels good to demonize them and the people on Wall Street - but it always feels odd to me because I put family's and friends' faces to these guys.

I also think these troubled financial times are just part of a natural economic cycle. We were on an unsustainable path - and it's just time to pay the piper.

And these are the times that favor the best and the brightest who bring new ideas and opportunities to the table. If you're hunkered down waiting for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - you might just miss something.

I wouldn't expect extremes of civil unrest in the US. We have a very liberal culture, and we should be able to survive even a full-fledged economic collapse. Our positive-thinking, activist culture would help organize mass efforts to bring food into famine-stricken communities and special community watch programs to safeguard against desperate looters. Furthermore, Americans are legendary for their resourcefulness, and most of us should have little trouble staving off the possibility of starvation.

My plans, if the system were to suffer a full-fledged breakdown (not that I'm worried about any such thing with the stock market starting to rebound), would be to move in with established members of my family and add my skills to a self-contained community. My sister is a brilliant business-woman, by the way, and she should have no trouble helping us establish trade with other such communities.

I would spend a great-deal of time practicing my disarming techniques because those NRA gun-nuts will be the first to start murdering innocent people when they start to feel an ache in their bellies. I've never trusted those self-centered goons.

I'm not worried about any such thing, though. We have a Democratic congress now, and the economy should stabilize. I expect the national debt to be paid off in full by the end of Obama's second term.

Last edited by ThisisjusthowItalk on 27 Mar 2009, 10:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

:hail:

Welcome to WP! Now there's a total of 5, count 'em, 5 upbeat aspies here!

^ on a rather downbeat note...don't you mean 5 who agree with you?

Ha ha! That's cool.

And I know I can be a vengeful, downbeat, vigilante when the cause is right. But when it comes to economics - I'm Miss Perky Pants!