One of the problems for the US is that we have had such a remarkably long period of history in which our systems have never been stressed much. We have grown accustomed to things working and being fairly dependable, which means we have become dependent upon the systems and have no localized reserves to handle disruptions.

In second and third world countries disruption is a fact of life. You expect it every single day. The whole country learns to live with reserves in store. You get what you can when its available and perform warehouse functions in the home and village. You don't expect other people or companies or systems to handle your food storage program for you. Even banks are not used. People have multiple trading schemes and use them.

The folks who will have the most problem will be folks, like us, who have come to completely trust the works of men's hands to support and insulate them from reality. Country folks will have a bit less trouble because they have less expectation of continuity in supplies.

I suspect the world will be a very different place in a few years.

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), September 16, 1999

Answers

I suspect you're right about the world being a very different place. And hopefully for the better eventually.

Do you have any ideas or theories of what could happen if the world loses the U.S. as the leader in international business and the keeper of the status quo of the political/military balance? Say to the point of disruption where the U.S. becomes a threat to other countries. Do you think an out of control U.S. would have any friends?

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), September 16, 1999.

"Do you think an out of control U.S. would have any friends? "

No.

Lots and lots of enemies tho :(

-- Brent James Bushardt (brentj@webt.com), September 16, 1999.

ditdotdash:

"We have grown accustomed to things working and being fairly dependable, which means we have become dependent upon the systems and have no localized reserves to handle disruptions. "

Please don't include everyone in that we. You should say you.

Best wishes,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), September 16, 1999.

dit@dot.dash

I saw your earlier post on the Cambodian community GI. When I read that I had the same thought. Many people have not had the experiential base to understand how bad things could become. I am one. That just makes it harder.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), September 16, 1999.

If one never has to deal with uncertainty or disruption, one never learns to cope (patience, skills, critical thinking, self-sufficiency, and willingness to try). In short, one never obtains survival skills. Unfortunately, that reduces one's odds of survival when TEITRAH.

I suspect that the same is true for nations. The U.S. has been a superpower for the past couple of generations. It is not entirely obvious that the U.S. would obtain the diplomatic negotiating skills required to be less than powerful and still survive in a hostile world.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 16, 1999.

"Do you think an out of control U.S. would have any friends?"

Heck, I've lived in several foreign countries over the years...and I'm left with the impression that we don't really have any friends or respect, even now. If TSHTF, it can only get worse.

-- Norm Harrold (nharrold@tymewyse.com), September 16, 1999.

Norm- I know exactly what you're talking about, as I have experienced it firsthand. They sure are happy to latch on to our decadent western culture though, no? :)

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), September 17, 1999.

A prosperous uncle may inspire envy and greed. A bullying, prosperous uncle also inspires hate.

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 17, 1999.

Z1X4Y7,

Hey, more or less if you live in the USA then you live it. If that's not you then you are in the small minority. When I use the inclusively WE I mean to include myself in the total social context. I try to do this only when I know that the vast majority of the group I am including myself in has the characteristic of which I am refering. It is a matter of saying 'yes, I am part of that whole'.

Maybe you live in an isolated rural setting and are a homesteader who makes everything you use or consume. That's possible. Most people in the US just go down to the store to buy what they need right then. They depend upon the store to be there for them, to be their 'on demand supplier'.

Even if you live the homesteading life you still live within the context of the USA (if you live here) and so are part of the whole and are influenced more or less by that actions of the others around you.

But I don't know about you or your situation. Do you care to talk about that? As it is I've picked a few pellets out of my skin coming from your direction, which is what one gets for talking out loud sometimes. Maybe its time for you to come out into the open and have your opportunity, eh???

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), September 17, 1999.