economic collapse is scary, but

I hope it doesn't crash, the longer people are focused on the carrot (paycheck) dangling from the stick, the less crowded my area on the fringes is.

 

That's one way to look at it, and maybe it makes it easier to swallow, but if more of us choose to live on the fringes by ignoring the carrot we can bring about real change. As I mentioned before, the only reason the establishment has any power over us is we let them by leading a materialistic lifestyle. Furthermore, I don't think crowding would be an issue, I think the effect would be just the opposite with less strip malls, factories, asphalt and sky scrapers, and more open spaces, due to reduced consumption, but the powers that be will do their damnedest not to let that happen.

 

It doesn't really have to hell in a handbasket, it just depends on how people individually take it.

Urban houses may instantly become the peoples land (if there's nobody to collect debt, u know?). Whole neighborhoods agree to look after each other. Lawns instantly become gardens, and everybody owns their land. Parking garages become giant market places, jails remain jails or highly secure storage areas.

In times like this it's important that we band together and work towards a goal. Not just avoiding injustice, but creating security. Because chaos can only reign where there isn't order. With no big brother looking over your shoulder anything goes, nobody to steal your hard work, and nobody to enforce rules but yourself. Like those who would gather together to harm you, gather together for create a new place.

When the shackles of society suddenly break, who knows what kinds of unseen possibilities will arise.

 

I've discussed it with my friends; some think it will definitely happen, some say it will never happen. My opinion, I think there's a good chance of it. If the dollar continues to depreciate, if people continue to speak out, fight and riot, if corrupt leaders continue to be in power, something will have to happen. Some sort of revolution.
Do I want it to happen? Overall, with where my life is, and where this country, and the world is, yes. Yes, it will be scary, yes, it will be violent, but this kind of change is neccesary. it might be the only thing that will finally wake everyone up.

 

I dunno if revolution will happen, since that's more of a controlled change of power led by some sort of idealist group. I'm thinking more along the lines of sudden, chaotic disruption of our world systems. A sudden unforseen event that sets a chain reaction of other events which completely halts the system.

If it's something more gradual, such as having social stability while also having gradually increasing energy costs the transition would be much more smooth. The world would look alien compared to how it looks now, but it will be much smoother.

But the momentum of the universe makes me believe in scenario A.

 

I agree with most of what your saying. The major problem is getting a big chunk of money to buy a few acres of land for growing food. Buying a old house on a couple of acres costs at least $30 to 50K around here. It's very hard for the average person to save that much money.
Well water and septic is needed. A source of heat in the winter is needed. Then again, if the economy crashes worse then the great depression maybe properties would be dirt cheap.

I hear ya.

 

I agree with ya Indydude. Basically you just have to wait till society is so sick that gvt. doesn't have enough power to enforce rules / taxes. To where there is no fire/police department, nobody to pave new roads.

Then when cities are simply dense masses of people they can decide on how to best use what they have.

 

not being a slave to "the man" is great and all, but you're not going to accomplish that much being the smelly homeless dude passing out damp wrinkled pamphlets saying how great it is to be homeless.
I hate that i have to work for a corporation to make just enough to survive, but the only alternative I see is being homeless.
any ideas?

 

You could become a farmer. But that's also a terribly hard life. But then again you have to buy the land, which involves workin for the man. You can't hunt wild game without a license (payin the man), which you need a job to get the license.

 

for 99% of the population, the government is more giving and caring than their friends and family.

 

thats a ridiculous generalization.

you must have some fucked up friends,family and neighbors if thats what you believe..

 

That's the catch 22 in a nutshell. I have spent much brain power on this problem, as I'm sure most of us have. I think the #1 problem is the control of real estate, land, zoning, state and fed control of land and land use. City and state laws control what people do with their property. A 100 yrs ago families lived together or close to each other. They shared resources, tools, infrastructure. It seems like the concept of 'nuclear' family split up and made sharing difficult and impossible. EX: Instead of a family with two or three generations sharing resources we have each generational unit working and paying for resources. Society went from cooperating groups of people/families to individuals.
I think the 60's generation and hippies saw this and communal and co-ops developed. Of course they fought against zoning and the establishment because those that govern benefit far more from the nuclear family unit then the co-op and communal group. Think the 'new subdivision' vs. the FDLS Mormon type 'compound'. How does the city and business benefit from each group? Tax's! The nuclear family with their little houses and two cars, separate utilities, and mom and dad working and kids in daycare are engineered by those who govern who usually are realtor's, bankers, merchants, businesses.

 

Maybe thats NOT by accident?

 

There is nothing generous about a man with guns taking from one man and giving to another. When I see the Senate, House, and Mr. Obama sweatin their asses off in 95 degree weather to grow me food I'll be the first to thank them.

But my parents work their ass off everyday so I can have a place to live and food to eat. But the gvt. doesn't drop a sweat, they just use their guns and laws to control the people who do all the real work.

 

Well, the 'govt' is made up of people. The professional politicians are the ones that need to go. Politicians were once part-time reps of their cities and states who gathered once a year to make laws. Not full time with outlandish salaries, benefits and expense accounts to the travel the world.
Soon, the government - sate, county and federal will be the largest employer. 1/2 of all working adults will be payed by the other half of taxpayers. If thats not socialism I don't know what is. Politics will get very interesting then.

 

I'm just gonna say the hell with it and move to a Pacific Island. If the economy collapses, I'll just live it out with the Polynesians. Sipping kava out of coconut shell on the beach, swimming, eating PLENTY of food, getting swoll and the doing badass war dances to scare anybody from "the police state" that dares washes ashore. Always been fascinated with the warrior culture. Not to mention free from the stress of chasing the dollar. I just hope facial tattoos and cannibalism don't come back into style. But would that really be such a bad lifestyle in the end?

 

shit happens..... the end is always a beginning... i hope those who survive actually learn from our mistakes and do something more in tune with nature instead of trying to control and manipulate through greed and fear.... we are all gonna die at the end of our lives anyway and the spirit carries on, so what is there to fear really?.... that's right.... NOTHING :grouphug:

 

I have a feeling that an economic collapse might be an awakening to most Americans and members of western culture. To finally rise up against a system of oppression that has kept us scared of ourselves for so generations upon generations. I also believe that we will finally come to terms as a collective that money is ultimately useless and distorts/distributes power unevenly and that the dollar is what created all of this oppression and materialistic crap culture. I have a very optimistic hope!

 

Can you even imagine a world without the need for money or economy? What would we do to entertain ourselves?

 

^^^ ahhhh.... pure bliss