“On the other hand many people in the world are already living the worst case scenario we could imagine. It is frustrating to to me,seems undisciplined, to wallow in anticipation of possible loss of luxury.This always becomes a demand on our politicians to look around for solutions. Yes, you could challenge as to what I am doing with regard to that. So far not much. I speak out against our unjust contributions and I would gladly accept poverty to reduce them if it would help.I will not support Obama or Mccain. One dissapointment coming from this blog is that many people seem ready to classify the Iraq war as a success or failure based on how it affects our standard or living. I am pretty much against bailing ourselves out with other people’s blood.
What is your take on this last paragraph. I already know you don’t like Obama or McCain.”
So true, Rus. I despise both candidates and, like you will not be supporting either one. Somehow, given what’s become of our political *system*, I think our Founding Fathers would agree with me. Sometimes the greatest action one can take is to simply not participate in or legitimize a thoroughly cancerous system.
I am deeply in envy of your foresight and preps, by the way.
With regard to your last paragraph, we are in agreement on this point. I am very much aware that the losses we, as Americans, are about to experience are nothing so much as the loss of luxury. But they are luxuries that many have grown accustomed to having, and I fear nothing is as dangerous as a soft, lazy, entitled urbanite (or suburbanite) who suddenly finds himself living like the other 98% of the world. This sense of entitlement frustrates me, and to some extent I believe that not only are we about to get what we deserve, but the *punishment* could serve us well in the long run. May make us sturdier folk. More resourceful folk. More determined, less whiny and harder-working folk. More introspective and less superficial folk. More compassionate folk. Folk with better priorities. What frustrates me is that whenever I voice my thoughts on this topic, I usually get the, “Stop, you’re depressing me!” comment. “Can’t we talk about something happier, like my new ringtone?”
As if we exist solely to experience non-stop fun, joy and happy thoughts? Is this the ethic embraced by those who built this country? Have any human beings in history lived the way we expect to live and continue to live? It’s insane. We experienced a *blip* in history with bountiful, easily-accessed food, clean water, cheap vacations, cheap gas, toys and gadgets, etc. And you are right: our politicians have fed our gluttony, never once warning us that one day the feast would end. And even worse, these demons/candidates are now courting us like angels, even now pretending that the losses we invariably face can be avoided. And my great disappointment on this blog is that far too many people believe that these demons can help us avoid our fate.
You are right, we have lived far too long on the blood and sweat of others. Well, all that is about to come to and end. As for me, I’m not afraid of losing what I have. I’ve already begun to adjust my expectations and priorities. I do not fear living like the other 98% now. Year ago I may have, but not now. I’m not sure I gladly accept poverty, but I do understand and accept that a serious reduction in my standard of living is in order, and there’s really nothing I can do about it. Except try to survive as best I can, nurture the relationships with those around me, enjoy the simpler things in life and slowly detach myself from the physical needs that I have grown accustomed to. Enorah has actually been extremely helpful in this regard. I am coming to terms with the possibility that our lives, in this country and on this planet, are about to get a lot more interesting and transformative in the next few years. For those who resist, the transformation will be painful. For those who let go and roll with whatever the universe provides, the transformation will be pretty amazing, I think.
