Survivalism: The New Black
April 8th, 2008I feel somehow… unclean when the New York Times reads like the Cryptogon archives, circa 2003. Even though I’ve seen much of “this” coming for years, to finally read it in the most criminally corrupt rag of them all makes me glad that I changed my perspective from sudden crash to more of a slow, murderous decline and grim transformation.
Oh well, at least this appeared in the Fashion & Style section. HA
Via: New York Times:
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.”
Well, I don’t wear camo (but I have many years ago). I don’t consider myself a gun nut, but I own several. I’m not a skin-head, but that will come naturally in time. Among other things, I’ve put aside a goodly amount of long-term-storage food and means to store and purify water.
Its good to know I’m finally fashionable.
Tres chic!
Since I’m poor, I’m in the die-off camp. Oh well. I’ve resigned myself to that fate. After all, no one gets out of here alive.
Yes, the New York Times sucks, and the author of this article writes on the subject like he is a disembodied ghoul from the Night of the Living Dead. Sure, this stuff won’t stick to him! Bleuck.
And Star42, uh, that kind of thinking/feeling, sheesh, I have been poor too but learned many years ago “as you think, so shall you experience.” I think 3/4 of being “prepared” for the future to come is being prepared in heart and mind. If you resign yourself to a camp, well there you’ll be. There are lot more options of mind available.
Kevin, as soon as I read that “survivalism for yuppies” article in the NY Times the first thing I thought of was “when would Crytopgon put this up?” And I can just picture all the yuppies trying to do what I do and you do and after a year or two of backbreaking labor just give up, sell out, and move to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas (where my yuppie brother and his wife are living now), where they have paved roads, security guards (this is a gated community), shopping malls, etc., and the lots are a quarter of an acre. Pass the latte!
Since survivalism is pretty much a hobby for the affluent, what is the point of choosing another mind set, when it comes time that the grocery shelves are bare? Thinking positive won’t change the fact that there’s no food. Besides, life isn’t a contest. Surviving a few more years than others won’t get anyone extra points.
Star, don’t you think you have learned things that other people could benefit from knowing. Hasn’t this life ben worth living ?.
Dropping out of the ratrace can be done well and it can be done on the cheap, look at Kevin and Rebecca, they are living examples of living what you believe. I honor and respect them no end.
I am the sport in my family: they are all, every last one, convinced that I am completely out of my mind. “There is nothing wrong with this great country.” “you should be ashamed of yourself. “What kind of officer were you, anyway? When I was in the corps, etc etc etc.” If that was not bad enough, then I quit what was considered the dream job of dream jobs, working for the platinum ring at GS.
Now I trade for myself, and I try to do microgrants for small organic farmers and land trusts. I do not make anything like I did, but I don’t have the stress, either. I homeschool my kids, and actually see them on their birthdays. This is priceless ! This is Life. If I can do it, anyone can.
keep the light
cybele