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The simple answer is that it is government policy, laws, and regulations that have brought about all those changes, so the solution is to repeal, repeal, repeal, and reduce the size and power of government.

For instance, we have small, flimsy cars that are driving up accident fatalities for one reason, and one only: Federal CAFE standards. Obama just ratcheted up the screws on automakers again, now requiring all cars and light trucks to average 50 mpg by 2020. Ford motor company announced it was discontinuing the Ford Ranger pickup in response. They cannot achieve the required fleet average if they want to keep selling the full size F-150 pickup, so the Ranger had to go because of government diktat. The truth is that the F-150 is doomed too; there’s no way automakers are going to be able to produce a pick up truck that gets 50 mpg.

So, just like that, with a stroke of the pen, the Enviro-Whackos and the Socialists are going to succeed in erasing the pickup truck from the American landscape. It is very sad to me, and I wonder what the public response will be when the news finally trickles down to the general public consciousness. Will Americans just roll over and accept it? Will they respond in anger? Just one more log on the bonfire that will be the year 2012.

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It was not my intention to devalue our currency by that great a degree. Nevertheless, pegging our money to a real commodity remains sound policy. An exchange rate that would be equal to today’s buying power for coal would be, picking an average price of $50 per short ton for Illinois Basin coal, $1.00 for forty pounds of coal. That actually makes redeeming your dollars harder.

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I enjoyed reading your thoughtful reply, you made several good points.

In the event of a prolonged societal collapse, you are indeed correct that those who rely on prescription medication are going to be in trouble. This is another factor contributing to the expected death toll from such an event.

You are quite correct that those who have prepared the most will be targets for marauders. This is why I counselled being as far away from cities as you can and being around like minded people. The cities are populated by people who are not preparing and where the sense of community is at its lowest, and the sense of entitlement at its highest. Today, with the lights still on, people in the cities are beating each other senseless for looking the wrong way at someone in a McDonalds, brawling over a bottle of syrup at Dennys, and rioting over discounted x-boxes at Walmart. If economic collapse comes, the cities will be the scene of unspeakable savagery and barbarism. Out of that orgy of violence and murder, the worst of the worst who survive will then fan out into the suburbs to loot and pillage. There will be bitter fighting, and the good guys will not always win.

Experts agree that in the event of a collapse, you have 72 hours to get to your safehouse or other location you intend to make a stand. 72 hours is how long, on average, it takes the criminals to figure out that the police are not going to respond to crime. After that window, things deteriorate rapidly.

Lastly I agree with you that for those of us who are married with families, spouses must be briefed and on board with your survival plan, and even children of a sufficient age to be of help. You won’t have time to debate the issue once calamity strikes. Remember the Normalcy Bias, and be patient in pointing out the warning signs to reluctant family members. Start getting them used to thinking in worst-case scenario terms so they are not shocked and panicked in an emergency. Its all that we can do.

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I can deal with a few days without electricity, but this scenario anticipates many days without power of any kind. Thus, we would not have fresh water or clean water, power for our heating, lighting, or other appliances, etc. We can manage with all this as long as we have stockpiled food. However, there are some problems:

One, those of us who rely on prescription drugs will be screwed.

Two, those of us who have precious metals and/or barterable goods could very well be targets for marauders. I am not sure that I can count on my neighbors for mutual protection and ultimately my lead and brass will not compensate for an armed mob. A preplanned escape route to a safer location must be created. At the same time, we need to know when it is time to escape.

Three, I can’t take all my supplies with me unless I have a truck or a large van. The alternative is taking minimal supplies and escaping early, but that may be very premature. What to do?

Four, while I am physically and emotionally capable of engaging in escape, other family members may not be. This is something that must be discussed with the entire family because waiting for the last-minute may be catastrophic.

Five, keep your vehicles filled with fuel. If power goes off, there will be no electricity to pump gas. Having a few extra containers at the ready would be a good thing. They can be rotated to avoid the problem of water contamination.

There several good publications on survival in place, as well as how to engage in an escape or evacuation. It would be a good idea for all your readers to buy one of those books and take their advice.

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The biggest challenge is to overcome what is called “the Normalcy Bias”. It is human nature to assume that today’s conditions will be the same tomorrow. It is difficult for most individuals to make the mental shift and
“think the unthinkable” and prepare for it. It makes me pretty nervous to know that George Soros declared a failure of the Euro to be “inevitable” today, and that he is sitting on ten TONS of gold himself.

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