same as it ever was

SAME AS IT EVER WAS


Prompted by The Rat, I thought we would discuss in a more rational manner if things falling apart are Same As It Ever Was or actually Different This Time. If you are wondering what in the name of God and all that is holy and good and just I’m talking about, I refer you to the 8-17-11 articles comments section from Mohave Rat. Of course he raises valid points. I would agree with all of them, declare overreaction on my part, we could all go home and have a cocktail, relax, kiss the dog and kick the wife, but for a few minor details. Even if the powers that be are orchestrating a panic to accumulate far more wealth, and I don’t doubt for a second that they are, we can’t relax just yet. Namely, because even if they always cry wolf to steal our valuables after we run away, one day the actual wolf WILL be there. So even if it was a costly mistake to run away all the times before, that one time will make all the difference in the world. Far better to panic at the drop of a hat than keep waiting around for irrefutable proof. Remember, the dinosaurs were big, bad, tough and macho, but it was the cowardly weasel that survived ( yes, I’m ignoring the meteors impact wiping out vegetation through a nuclear winter type event, I’m trying to be cute here pointing out the paranoid survive ).

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Do I feel bad screaming in primal fear and pain like a little girl at the sight of a spider at every little potential life ending event? Of course not. You prep, you relax, and you enjoy the show of everyone else running around and panicking. This is better than reruns of Two And A Half Men. Not to say that you shouldn’t add to your preps as circumstances change, not that you shouldn’t keep a close eye on events, it’s just that once you prepare, it doesn’t then matter if you are right or wrong about if this time it truly is the end. Believe me, I worry that this is just a rerun panic of Y2K. Well, not worry as much as am concerned. Not because I might be wrong, I’ve already stressed time and again I’m usually generally right but really suck at the timing. Because I hate being played the fool by those screwing me.

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Looking at civil rights abuse, the 1930’s were far worse than today as the fascist welfare state was shoved down our throats ( FDR, who I’ve placed in a dead heat with Lincoln as the worst anal licking toad for the rich and powerful ever in the history of mankind, waited a mere 48 hours after swearing into office by promising he’d uphold the Constitution to abolish the private ownership of gold ). Looking at gun rights abuse, that same time period say a bigger jump in restricting ownership that anything in the last few decades. Looking at economics, the 70’s/80’s were so much worse than the last three years. Arab detainees in Cuba are far fewer in number than Japanese American concentration camp victims. Yes, it has all been done before. Yes, it will get far worse. If only because we’ve already been there and can sink just as low again. So, why can’t we recover like all the other times? Why wouldn’t Malthus be wrong again? Heck, I can’t even argue along resource lines, as most folks think the free market ( or, rather, the mercantilist mega-corporate elite ) will just keep pulling energy and ore out of its ass. Peak Oil happened forty years ago to the once global leading oil producer, thirty years ago to the third largest, five years ago to the latest biggest producer ( the US, the Soviets and Saudi Arabia, respectively ), and yet these folks just look at the Artic Circle as the next savior for the continuation of The Oil Age. Hey, I can’t prove they are wrong, I’ll admit that.

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But again, isn’t it better to panic at every provocation than to wait for absolute proof? Look at global peak oil authors. They were totally unsure when it would happen, in books published one year before the event itself. Several years after, we have proof of the plateau. Only in hindsight can you get proof, but by then it can be way too late. Best to panic early. So, yes, I’d agree that economically we’ve had far worse ( an upcoming article will compare inflation adjusted prices between now and the Eighties, and it points to a LOT higher prices to go before it is anywhere near as bad ). This doesn’t necessarily prove the end, just because a few European countries are fixing to default. It could, but we’ve been fooled before. As icky as it feels to have an unscheduled rectal exam by the central bank, then live for another unexpected visit, at least you live. I’d rather be shame faced about it and hide, rather than ignore the possibility and act all tough and uncaring. If I run at the smell of KY lube, I avoid another feel. The weasel survives, the bellowing charging bull gets speared. No harm or foul in acting afraid.

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What is the down side of panicking, as long as you burn no bridges? Not too many, other than money spent. And money is inflated away, even in the best of times. Best to spend it on tangibles anyway. The up side of panic is that you survive. Sure, if you go into full meltdown every time the Dow loses 100 points, call the boss and call him a sheep molesting whore, push the wife out of the way to be sole occupant of the basement fallout shelter, blowing up the house behind you as the police show up on the domestic disturbance call, then you can run into some future problems. But a basement shelter full of a few tons of wheat and 303 ammo isn’t going to hurt anything. It just helps you sleep at night and provides employment for farmers and importers. It is one less person in line at Wal-Mart in the flight to food during shortages, so you are a model citizen. Your current consumption generates more government tax revenue, so you are doing your part for the disadvantaged on benefits. Hell, I’m getting all teary eyed just thinking about how perfect I am for panicking and prepping. Unlike you selfish pukes who refuse to worry.

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