Notwithstanding the bogus election fraud canard (Dominion Voting Systems has sued Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, so those two nutjobs are now free to present “evidence” in their defense), @cheah’s recent post lists some “What will you do if…” scenarios (find them in his post) and has some very good suggestions about steps to take:
Develop alternative and antifragile sources of income
Stock up on canned food, clean water, fuel, medicine, camping and essential supplies
Develop strength, virtue and good health
Identify local sources of food, water, and essential goods
Train yourself in martial arts, defensive abilities, survival skills, first aid, and other essential skills
Forge close bonds with sympathetic and friendly people
Create emergency plans for natural and manmade disasters
Let’s look at these in order.
Develop alternative and antifragile sources of income
The days of relying on just a paycheck from one employer, if not already gone, are fading fast. For far too many, the coronapocalypse meant a pink slip. One day you’re the family breadwinner, the next day you’re unemployed and nobody’s hiring. Unemployment insurance might be a bandaid, but it has limitations. It doesn’t last forever, and it’s demoralizing to be collecting it. So it makes sense to try to have more than just one form of income. Maybe a side hustle in the gig economy like Instacart deliveries or one-offs from writing or coding online. Maybe a few quatloos here and there from your part in building the Hive blockchain. Maybe “informal economy” bartering, trading your skills for things you need or vice versa.
Stock up on canned food, clean water, fuel, medicine, camping and essential supplies
We all experienced supply chain disruptions last spring, and things are not even back to what used to pass for normal. If you’ve ever read any Tom Sharpe, you know that things can always get worse. Having extra on hand of what your family consumes is an excellent insurance policy.
Develop strength, virtue and good health
Tough times can be draining, both mentally and physically. Physical and mental conditioning done before things head south can make all the difference if the waste hits the air circulation unit.
Identify local sources of food, water, and essential goods
Do you have several seasons of gardening experience under your belt? Do you know what edible plants grow wild in your area? If the tap runs dry, where will you obtain water and how will you purify it?
Train yourself in martial arts, defensive abilities, survival skills, first aid, and other essential skills
Your supplies might be restricted or unavailable, but your skills stay with you. Developing and practicing situational awareness can protect you from a plethora of bad outcomes. Avoid the conflict is almost always the smarter strategy than win the battle. An EDC folder knife has a bazillion uses. First aid skills are the gateway to being a useful person in an emergency situation.
Forge close bonds with sympathetic and friendly people
”No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee....”
John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, 1624
No man is an island. In tough times, you’re going to need people. Watching your back and augmenting/complementing your skills.
Create emergency plans for natural and manmade disasters
It may be a bit of a cliché, but failing to plan is planning to fail. Making plans in advance of a disaster, and discussing them with your family, is time well worth spent. It’ll help with everything from a house fire to an earthquake or hurricane to a grid-down event.
Pixabay image by johnhain