Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

We all are unhappy about the things going on in the World today.

Sure all of these things are happening or have happened.

But what seems to be missing is that we as the masses do have the power to make the changes.

The best way to make changes in how things are is to stop selling our souls for material things.

We didn't get into this mess over night & we will not get over it over night.

The changes will come about because we of the masses or those that will come after us will seek to do things differently.

There is a shadow economy that is growing stronger.
The bad part of that is the part that criminals do.

But rest assure that life for the masses will go on & our personal life's will go on with out big changes because most of us do or did things needed by others. Things that are the true fiber of life.

The path we need to take is one where when we gain our little pieces of power we use them in a fairer way than is being done now.

Yes the people now rising through the system will make changes to the system if they just look at what needs to be done for the betterment of all & there is less Me Me I want it all right now.

Yes the road to power comes from followers. No leader is a leader with out followers.

We can make the changes with out a leader. All we need to do is look deep inside our souls & seek the right answers.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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And I think the biggest change would be to stop handing them our hard earned money with which to destroy us - but how many Americans would refuse to pay income tax? We are paying the enemy to destroy us.

pixie

exactly tas!!

kate9373 Loc: Lafayette, LA

I have protected myself by fortifying my apartment. Increased my food supply with more nutrients, longer shelf life and lowest cost I can find. If I won't eat it I don't bring it home. The value comes when recession grows out of control. I'm working on strictly a cash basis. There a re risks when I can't cover co-pay on RX. But I love and respect our Nation that was and wan it back for me and the next ggenerations. Kate Redford

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I see you are new here and I want to welcome you! We need as many people involved as possible.

You have acted responsibly re preparing yourself for the collapse which all knowledgeable people expect to see soon. I've done essentially the same as you. I am weaning myself off a beta blocker I've been taking because I suspect the time will come when getting medications will be difficult if not impossible. We have turned our Arizona room into an indoor garden - growing vegetables. We also have a yard garden of veggies. We have made sure of whom we can trust and who should be suspect. When the collapse comes, people need to be amongst people they can absolutely trust. I hope you have friends on whom you can rely.

Seems like you are prepared and properly so! God bless!

kate9373 Loc: Lafayette, LA

Thank you for your kind words. I have experienced difficult times before. Faith and knowledge surrounded by strong friends strengthen one another. I was raised on being active in politics and am very glad I found this group. We each have to do what we can.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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Yes, we do. But there is a large contingent who simply refuse to accept the fact that disaster is on the horizon - and once it happens they will be foraging for food and we must be prepared for that.

Olden McGroen Loc: Texas

May I jump in? You've hit on a subject that has me concerned as well. When the collapse comes, only a small percentage of people will be prepared to any varying degrees. A huge portion of the population will naturally turn to the government for help (i.e. Weimar Republic, Germany 1930's) just for a "dictator in waiting" to claim he will save everyone if they follow him.

However, to your point, there will be many factions of roving gangs of thugs looking to take what they want/need from anyone they can. So, it makes sense to be fortified and armed. My dilemma is that I have a few acres of land that I can plant a nice-sized garden on...But how would I be able to protect it from thieves? I can't conceal it from view. The whole neighborhood could see it, so a garden is only inviting trouble.

I'm thinking of putting in an aquaponics system. That, and I want to build a solar panel array for energy and install a handpump well for water. I live in a semi-rural area with a natural spring on the property. All of this, of course, takes an investment of which I do not want to borrow money for. So, I can either sell off some things, or figure out another source of income. Any suggestions?

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

And as others have said, be armed for self protection.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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You have hit upon a critical problem. I, too, live in a somewhat rural area, but there IS a population. All concerned people, in my view, should get together ahead of time and form a contingency plan for helping out each other. Perhaps you could trade specific chores that suit each of your talents and capabilities. You have some acreage. Perhaps you could put up a couple of small cabins, let couples live there and share the food all of you grow, and they could be helpful in defending your garden and home.

I have no family where I live and my stepchildren have limited family where they live. I have told them, and my partner has told his children that when the shtf, to drop everything and come here immediately. They are all in cities, the worst possible places to be IMHO when the collapse comes. I doubt the kids will listen, but who knows, maybe they will. We know which friends will be one of us when catastrophe comes. We know some who will NOT be one of us when catastrophe comes.

My rural community has a citizen that is a friend, who has a plan in place for stopping city traffic from entering our community, and no, it does not involve killing anyone. :-D :-D I think every community should have some organization amongst its citizens for the coming catastrophic events we are approaching.

kate9373 Loc: Lafayette, LA

We will not be able to travel long distances whiriTX. ch means be constantly alert to all information. I keep up with the opposition and their chatter and movement. M y level of trust is being refined and improves my judgment. It reminds me of block air raid wardens during WW II. We didn't move until someone knew our destination, our path, and estimated time due return. Chatting about this is helping me refine and strengthen my todo list.

saveamerica Loc: Texas

Share it with your neighborhood and have them to help you to protect it. You all win.

Olden McGroen Loc: Texas

That might work, I don't know. I'm not too trusting of people. Especially in desparate situations. The more you share, the more vulnerable you become. And, the more people involved, the more hassels come with it. But, it may be the only viable solution given all the possible/probable negative issues that may arise in a community garden. I tend to try and avoid problems up front by being as self-reliant as possible. Then, on the other hand, a community garden could be just the right cover for my private assets that I would not want to share.
For instance, I could install a private aquaponics system (not sure how concealable it is) and have a community garden as a front. Alright, problem solved! Thanks!

Opal12

Yes, Floyd Brown, you wrote a beautiful piece but it requires a certain understanding to be able to get the message. And it is not what we wrongly interpret as "education" but I would say knowing oneself.

In other societies "education" is what you learn with the example at home, in the community you live in and in a way with what is imprinted in your genetic memory. All this input melds and becomes your base, your frame where to start from.

"Instruction" is the part you acquire at school under the direction of a teacher and of other tools like books.

Instruction many times seem to fail because there is no frame, no prior education, which normally would have started at the time of birth. Both together help you to grow, to become yourself.

I also think as you do, that a leader is not a leader until it has followers.

Reading your piece I immediately think of Gandhi. He was walking by the water. People saw him picking some salt and taking it to his lips something that was forbidden to do to the local people by the British who occupied India at the time. And by that simple act Gandhi broke the virtual cage his people had been confined in. No weapons used. Nothing but a simple act of spiritual freedom is what started the pacific revolution that liberated India.

He started to walk and the people followed him, each of them after having taken a pinch of salt. And so they made Gandhi their leader.

But, do we have the hunger for freedom that those people carried in their hearts and minds that could make each of us a possible leader? We are spoiled, selfish, we love the dollar, we are totally inexperienced in the spiritual ways. (Please, do not write back waisting my time with religion) We are materialistic. We do not read. We do not care enough. We are spoiled Americans.

The proof is in the way we treat our veterans. Most of them are homeless, sick, not only physically but mentally too. We have never experienced a war on our land besides the one with the South in search of secession and we have already forgotten it.

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

Thank you for the kind words & a good post.