what can I do to prepare for an economic depression?

[wade-w]

What do you call what we're experiencing now?

[Socratoad]

Well Abe, having just awakened, well almost, something that immediately occurred to me, considering a most unfortunate earlier thread, would be to consider moving to Europe, perhaps Sweden or some such nation. A culture where they would be less likely to say "fuck him" its his own fault let him starve. Its called enlightened socialism.

Seriously though, have given a hell of a lot of thought to what is referred to as the "great depression" I find it almost surreal that although not a great deal in the natural world had actually changed during that time, with the exception of the dust bowl area, everything collapsed so bloody fast. Well not for everybody, some actually profited mightily during that time. As are many right now, while for others the depression already has arrived

In short: methinks that there is something very very artificial about our economic system. But then again my theories concerning economics are very unorthodox.

[Dingfod]

Originally Posted by Socratoad

In short: methinks that there is something very very artificial about our economic system. But then again my theories concerning economics are very unorthodox.

I've been calling it a house of cards for a long time. I think the current administration is trying to fix it by building the house of cars even higher.

[Socratoad]

Originally Posted by warrenly

I've been calling it a house of cards for a long time. I think the current administration is trying to fix it by building the house of cars even higher.

I couldn't agree more friend. It becomes an ever growing crock of shit as the days fly by. Wizard of OZ anyone?

[ApostateAbe]

Originally Posted by wade-w

What do you call what we're experiencing now?

I am experiencing comfort and ease. I get heat, food, medical care, water, sanitation, and electricity. If I were living in the 1930's, I would be out of work like one third of everyone else. The times we are living in now is nothing compared to what I fear is to come.

[Dingfod]

I don't know how many were unemployed during the depression, but the dollar amount that the economy shrunk from 1929 to 1933 was equivalent to 55% of the wages in the workforce prior to then. I've heard actual unemployement was only about 18-20% at the peak, but there were a lot of people that took lower paying jobs to get by.

People in the 1930s were, for the most part, a lot better equipped to survive hard times because they weren't that far removed from pre-mechanized society. People were used to walking everywhere, used to not having airconditioning, used to not having television, used to hard physical work, used to knowing how to repair things, hell, used to having things that even could be repaired, etc. They were tough by comparison to todays people.

[Zoot]

Get out of debt. Get to know the people in your neighbourhood. If you have a yard, start a vege garden.

And maybe check out the history of the Catholic Worker movement - http://www.catholicworker.org/historytext.cfm?Number=78

[wildernesse]

Originally Posted by Zoot

Get out of debt. Get to know the people in your neighbourhood. If you have a yard, start a vege garden.

And maybe check out the history of the Catholic Worker movement - http://www.catholicworker.org/historytext.cfm?Number=78

Good advice, IMO.